USS Waldron — Equipment Manifest & Asbestos Exposure Record

Documented equipment manifest and asbestos exposure record for USS Waldron. 34 machinery and manufacturer entries derived from the public asbestos...

By Rights Watch Media Group LLC •June 6, 2026 • 3 min read

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USS Waldron — Equipment Manifest & Asbestos Exposure Record — public-domain photograph — USS Waldron (DD-699) underway at sea, in 1964 (NH 96835-KN) Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)

Service History

From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›

USS Waldron (DD-699), an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer commissioned in June 1944, served primarily as a fast carrier task force screen throughout World War II in the Pacific Theater, participating in major operations from January through August 1945 including Lingayen Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, while also scoring confirmed antiaircraft kills against Japanese aircraft. Following post-war occupation duties and a Mediterranean deployment in 1949-1950, the destroyer was decommissioned on 17 May 1950 and placed in reserve.

Construction & Service Dates

Builder: Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Kearny, New Jersey
Laid down: 1943-11-16
Launched: 1944-03-26
Commissioned: 1944-06-07
Decommissioned: 1950-05-17

Notable Tours / Service Eras

WWII Pacific Theater 1944-1945
Post-WWII occupation duties 1945-1946
Cold War Atlantic/Mediterranean deployment 1949-1950

Combat Actions

Lingayen Gulf / Luzon Campaign · 1945-01
Fast carrier task force screen
South China Sea raids (Cam Ranh Bay, Hainan, Hong Kong, Formosa) · 1945-01
Carrier screen and antisubmarine patrol
Iwo Jima invasion support · 1945-02
Carrier screen and naval gunfire support
Japanese home islands air strikes / Kyushu operations · 1945-03
Carrier screen and antiaircraft defense
Okinawa campaign · 1945-03-1945-05
Carrier screen, antiaircraft defense, shore bombardment

Home Ports & Forward Bases

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii — October 1944
Ulithi Lagoon, Caroline Islands — December 1944-February 1945, March-April 1945
Saipan — February 1945
San Pedro, California — October 1944
San Francisco — January 1946
Norfolk, Virginia — home port February 1946 onwards
Charleston, South Carolina — 1947, 1950
Boston Naval Shipyard — 1946
Mediterranean ports — November 1949-January 1950

Drydock & Overhaul Periods High Asbestos-Exposure Window

New York Navy Yard · 1944-07-08-06
post-shakedown availability
Saipan · 1945-02
bow repair
Boston Naval Shipyard · 1946-05-12
extended repair
Charleston · 1950-05
pre-inactivation overhaul

Asbestos rip-out, insulation replacement, and gasket-packing work occurred during these yard periods. Sailors aboard during overhauls had peak exposure to airborne asbestos fiber.

Notable Incidents

18 February 1945 — rammed and sank Japanese picket boat amidships after it attacked USS Dortch
20-21 March 1945 — radar-directed antiaircraft action brought down Japanese Yokosuka D4Y 'Judy' while escorting damaged USS Franklin
14 May 1945 — scored confirmed antiaircraft kill during Okinawa campaign

Final Disposition

decommissioned and berthed with Atlantic Reserve Fleet

Read the video transcript

Did you serve aboard the USS Waldron? This Navy ship carried asbestos in nearly every compartment. Here is where it was, and who is responsible. The USS Waldron was a Navy ship. Public naval references list this equipment aboard the USS Waldron — insulated and sealed with asbestos. Each shipyard overhaul and major repair meant asbestos insulation was torn out and replaced — peak-exposure work for the yard workers and the crew aboard. Exposure was worst in the engineering spaces, where the snipes worked — but asbestos lined the whole ship, so all hands were exposed. The companies that made the asbestos equipment aboard — not the Navy — are who asbestos claims are brought against. According to asbestos litigation records, the equipment aboard the USS Waldron from makers such as Babcock and Wilcox, General Electric, Westinghouse, and Worthington allegedly contained asbestos. If you served aboard the USS Waldron and were later diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or another asbestos-related disease, you may have a legal claim against the companies that made the asbestos products used aboard your ship. This is educational information from an independent publisher — not a law firm — and is not legal advice.

USS Waldron is a documented U.S. Navy vessel with asbestos-exposure evidence in the public litigation record. The equipment manifest below was assembled from depositions, expert reports, and manufacturer interrogatory responses filed in U.S. asbestos litigation that reference equipment installed aboard this vessel.

Equipment Manifest

Equipment Manifest — USS Waldron. 34 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.

Equipment	Manufacturer	Qty	Notes
Geared turbine (H.P. and L.P. turbine with double reduction gear)	General Electric	2	Main engine sets, 60,000 S.H.P.; minor steam erosion noted on L.P. turbine blading
Double reduction gear	Falk	2	Geared turbine transmission component
Horizontal main condenser (single pass)	Worthington	2	Evidence of erosion observed
Horizontal auxiliary condenser (double pass)	Worthington	2	Evidence of erosion observed
Four stage high pressure turbine driven air compressor	Worthington	1	Ran satisfactory at time of inspection
Two stage low pressure electric motor driven air compressor	Worthington	1	Ran satisfactory at time of inspection
Boilers	Babcock & Wilcox	4	Express; superheated single uptake water tube design with Economizers
Economizers	Foster Wheeler
Blowers	Westinghouse Electric Co.
Main Propulsion Turbine	General Electric	6	Single Flow Impulse Stage Type: 2 High pressure, 2 Low Pressure with astern turbine, 2 Cruising turbines
Reduction Gear	Falk Corp	2
Reduction Gear	De Laval	1	Single
Main Condensers	Worthington	2
Auxiliary Condensers	Worthington	2
Main Distilling Apparatus	Griscom-Russell	1	12000 gpd capacity
Emergency Distilling Apparatus	Griscom-Russell	1	4000 gpd capacity
Ships Service Turbine Drive Generators	General Electric
Turbine Drive	Westinghouse
Emergency Diesel Generators	General Motors	2	3-368a model
Ships Service Air Compressors	Worthington
Main Refrigeration	Carrier Corp.	2	Main units
Auxiliary Heater Deaerating Feed Water	Elliott Corp.		Installed aboard USS Waldron DD-699
Main Feed Pump	Worthington Pump Co.		Installed aboard USS Waldron DD-699
Main Feed Booster Pump	Buffalo Pump Co.		Installed aboard USS Waldron DD-699
Auxiliary Feed Booster Pump	Buffalo Pump Co.		Installed aboard USS Waldron DD-699
Main Condensers Pump	Worthington Co.		Installed aboard USS Waldron DD-699
Auxiliary Condenser Circulating Pump	DeLaval		Installed aboard USS Waldron DD-699
Main Fuel Oil Pump	Westinghouse		Installed aboard USS Waldron DD-699
Main Lubricating Pump	Westinghouse		Installed aboard USS Waldron DD-699
Distiller Circulation Pump	Buffalo		Installed aboard USS Waldron DD-699
Distiller Condensate Pump	Buffalo		Installed aboard USS Waldron DD-699
Distiller Distribution Pump	Buffalo		Installed aboard USS Waldron DD-699
Evaporator Brine Pump	Buffalo Pump Co.		Installed aboard USS Waldron DD-699
Fire & Bilge Pump	Warren Pump Corp.		Installed aboard USS Waldron DD-699

Note: this manifest is derived from public asbestos litigation records (depositions, expert reports, manufacturer interrogatories) rather than primary BUSHIPS construction documents. Entries reflect what has been documented or alleged in publicly filed legal records.

The asbestos-containing products documented on U.S. Navy vessels and at shipyards are catalogued by manufacturer on AsbestosIndex. These records cross-reference which companies supplied which materials and to which facilities.

Pipe Covering & Block Insulation Thermal insulation applied to steam lines, valves, and equipment in engine rooms and fire rooms Marine Products Insulation, gaskets, and packing products specified for naval and commercial marine applications Boilers & Steam Equipment Boiler manufacturers and insulation products — central to the fire room exposure pathway Gaskets & Packing Sheet and ring gaskets used throughout piping flanges, valve bonnets, and pump housings Electrical Products Wire insulation, switchgear arc chutes, and panel liners used throughout electrical spaces Full Product Index Search all 200+ manufacturers and 1,500+ documented asbestos products on AsbestosIndex™

Navy Ratings Most Exposed to Asbestos Aboard Waldron

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the public asbestos litigation record document that the following Navy ratings worked routinely in spaces where ACM was installed, maintained, ripped out, and replaced:

Boilerman (BT) — boiler-room operations, refractory work, burner maintenance
Machinist’s Mate (MM) — main propulsion turbines, reduction gears, condensers, pumps
Engineman (EN) — auxiliary diesel and gasoline engines, gland packing
Electrician’s Mate (EM) — cable runs through asbestos-insulated chases, motor-generator sets
Hull Maintenance Technician (HT) / Pipefitter — piping system maintenance, gasket replacement, valve repacking
Damage Controlman (DC) — firefighting equipment, fire-stops, bulkhead penetrations
Fireman (FN) — engineering-plant tending across boiler and engine rooms

VA Disability Claims for Asbestos-Related Disease

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs evaluates asbestos claims individually. A veteran generally needs medical evidence of a current asbestos-related disease, service evidence supporting in-service asbestos exposure, and a medical opinion connecting the two. Ship assignments, Navy ratings, and equipment records can help document the exposure history but do not create automatic service connection.

Approved claims may provide monthly disability compensation and related benefits. Survivors may separately qualify for Dependency & Indemnity Compensation when the applicable requirements are met. Civil lawsuits and asbestos-trust claims use different standards; claimants should obtain individualized advice about how the processes interact.

How to file a VA disability claim: VA claims are filed directly with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — not with a law firm. Start at VA.gov › Hazardous Materials Exposure, call 1‑800‑827‑1000, or get free help filing from a Veterans Service Organization: DAV, VFW, or American Legion.

VA Claims Guide on This Site › Compare: VA vs. Civil Lawsuit

Source notes: equipment-manifest entries (where shown) are sourced from public-record BUSHIPS (Bureau of Ships) documentation, NARA archives, and the public asbestos litigation record. Manufacturer attributions link to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Nothing on this page constitutes medical or legal advice.

Documented Asbestos-Exposure Environments — U.S. Navy Service

Public-domain U.S. Navy photographs illustrating the engineering spaces, ratings, and yard environments where asbestos materials were routinely encountered during normal duty.

Boiler Room Sailor stands watch in the aft machinery room of USS Iwo Jima. (35298984822) Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Drydock Overhaul USS Newport News (CA-148) in drydock at the Norfolk Navy Yard 1965 Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Engine Room Flickr - Official U.S. Navy Imagery - USS Sterett Sailor takes equipment readings in ship's engine room. Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Engineering Watch USS Bataan Stands Full Female Engineering Watch Team (8442031) Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

US Navy 061108-N-6652A-037 U.S. Navy Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Roy Hernandez, left, and Aviation Machinist's Mate Airman Jerry … — Machinist Mate US Navy 061108-N-6652A-037 U.S. Navy Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Roy Hernandez, left, and Aviation Machinist's Mate Airman Jerry Rivera work on a rotor … Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Navy Fireroom Fireroom aboard USS Rochester (CA-124), in 1955 Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

US Navy 080208-N-6538W-019 Civilian yard workers from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard perform maintenance on the bow catapults of the … — Shipyard Worker US Navy 080208-N-6538W-019 Civilian yard workers from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard perform maintenance on the bow catapults of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier … Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

All images are public domain (U.S. Government works). Specific photographs depict generic Navy engineering and yard environments — not the named vessel above. Asbestos materials shown or implied include pipe lagging, boiler insulation, steam-line covering, and gasket / packing materials standard on U.S. Navy vessels through the early 1980s.

Waldron — Frequently Asked Questions

Are Waldron veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?

Yes. Waldron is documented in the public U.S. Navy asbestos litigation record. U.S. Navy vessels of her service era were built to BUSHIPS specifications that required asbestos insulation throughout engineering spaces, on steam lines, around boilers and turbines, and in gasket and packing materials.

Which shipboard components on Waldron contained asbestos?

Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Waldron's era include: boiler insulation and lagging, steam-line pipe insulation, turbine and reduction-gear casings, valve packing, gaskets, brake and clutch friction materials, electrical wire insulation, overhead pipe coverings in berthing and mess spaces, and Navy-issue boiler cement and refractory in fireboxes.

What ratings were exposed to asbestos serving on Waldron?

Navy ratings with the highest documented asbestos exposure include Machinist's Mate (MM), Boiler Technician (BT), Hull Maintenance Technician (HT), Engineman (EN), Electrician's Mate (EM), Interior Communications Electrician (IC), Damage Controlman (DC), and Pipefitter / Shipfitter. Officers in engineering departments also encountered asbestos in normal duty. Shipyard workers performing overhaul, repair, or refit work had concentrated exposure during yard periods.

What equipment manufacturers are documented on Waldron?

Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Waldron include: Babcock & Wilcox, Buffalo, Buffalo Pump Co., Carrier Corp., De Laval, DeLaval, Elliott Corp.. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.

Do Waldron veterans qualify for VA disability for mesothelioma?

Potentially. VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims individually. Waldron veterans generally need medical records showing the current disease, service records supporting in-service asbestos exposure, and a doctor's statement connecting the two. Veterans may file at VA.gov, call 1-800-827-1000, or seek free help from an accredited Veterans Service Organization such as DAV, VFW, or the American Legion.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this site. References to ships, shipyards, companies, products, and asbestos-containing materials are drawn from public VA records, NARA archives, EPA/OSHA databases, and public litigation records. All references reflect what has been documented or alleged in publicly filed records. Consult a licensed physician for medical guidance and a qualified attorney for legal advice regarding your specific situation.

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Civil mesothelioma & asbestos litigation — veterans and their families.

VA disability benefits are a separate government process. To file a VA disability claim for asbestos exposure, visit VA.gov › Hazardous Materials Exposure, call 1‑800‑827‑1000, or contact a Veterans Service Organization (DAV, VFW, American Legion) for free claim assistance.

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