Shipyard, deployment, and service events for this vessel documented in the public record — court filings, the ship’s deck logs, or the crew’s own cruise book (each entry cites its source). Dry-dockings, overhauls, and yard periods were when asbestos insulation was torn out and replaced, the peak-exposure work for the crew and yard workers aboard.
1956
Mooring / movement · Norfolk — Moored/underway near Norfolk, per the ship's deck log.
1956
Mooring / movement — Moored/underway, per the ship's deck log.
1956
Yard period / shipyard · for Naval Shipyard — In the shipyard at for Naval Shipyard, per the ship's deck log.
1956
Dry-docking — Dry-docked, per the ship's deck log.
1956
Dry-docking · Norfolk — Dry-docked at Norfolk, per the ship's deck log.
1957
Mooring / movement — Moored/underway, per the ship's deck log.
1957
Mooring / movement · Norfolk — Moored/underway near Norfolk, per the ship's deck log.
1957
Mooring / movement · NORFOLK — Moored/underway near NORFOLK, per the ship's deck log.
Derived from publicly filed asbestos-litigation records, ship’s deck logs, and the crew’s own cruise books. Historical service events; this does not constitute legal or medical advice.
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USS Wisconsin (BB-64) underway at sea, circa 1988-1991 (NH 97206-KN)Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Wisconsin (BB-64) was an Iowa-class battleship completed in 1944 that served in World War II in the Pacific Theater, participating in the Philippines campaign and the Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa before shelling the Japanese home islands in 1945. She was subsequently reactivated for the Korean War, then modernized and recommissioned in 1986 to participate in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. After 14 years of active service, Wisconsin was decommissioned in September 1991, earning six battle stars for WWII and Korea service, and was established as a museum ship in Norfolk, Virginia in 2006.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Decommissioned
1991
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Pacific Theater 1944-1945
Korean War 1950-1953
Cold War 1986-1991
Operation Desert Storm 1991
Combat Actions
Philippines campaign· 1944 naval gunfire support
Battle of Iwo Jima· 1945 naval gunfire support
Battle of Okinawa· 1945 naval gunfire support
Japanese home islands shelling· 1945 shore bombardment
Korean War combat operations· 1950-1953 naval gunfire support
Operation Desert Storm· 1991 naval gunfire support
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Norfolk, Virginia — museum port 2006-present
Final Disposition
Museum ship operated by Nauticus in Norfolk, Virginia
Read the video transcript
Did you serve aboard the USS Wisconsin? This battleship carried asbestos in nearly every compartment. Here is where it was, and who is responsible. The USS Wisconsin, hull number BB-64, was a battleship, built by Norfolk Naval Shipyard and commissioned in 1944. She served through WWII Pacific Theater, Korean War, and Cold War. Public naval references list this equipment aboard the USS Wisconsin, BB-64 — insulated and sealed with asbestos. 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 Wisconsin from makers such as Babcock and Wilcox, General Elec. Co., General Electric, and Worthington Pump Co. allegedly contained asbestos. If you served aboard the USS Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin (BB-64) — “Big Wisky” — was an Iowa-class battleship commissioned 16 April 1944 and serving the U.S. Navy in three eras: Pacific Theater WWII combat operations (1944–1945), Korean War service (1951–1952), and Cold War reactivation including Desert Storm (1988–1991). The 77-entry equipment manifest below is sourced from a combined Iowa-class BUSHIPS document covering shared machinery installations across the four-ship class — primary-source documentation of the manufacturers whose products were installed throughout Wisconsin’s engineering plant, fire control, hull systems, and habitability spaces.
Equipment Manifest
Equipment Manifest — USS Wisconsin (BB-64). 80 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Iowa-class battleships were constructed during the heaviest period of asbestos use in U.S. Navy shipbuilding. Documented asbestos-containing materials installed throughout her main engineering plant, eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers, four General Electric turbine sets, and habitability spaces include:
Pipe lagging and thermal insulation on main steam, feed-water, fuel-oil, condensate, and saltwater piping throughout four main machinery spaces and auxiliary machinery rooms
Boiler block insulation, refractory brick, and gun-blocks around the eight Babcock & Wilcox high-pressure boilers
Turret-level fire-control insulation in main-battery turret enclosures (1500-pound 16"/50 caliber Mark 7 guns)
Asbestos gaskets and braided packing in valves, flanges, pumps, condensers, heat exchangers, and turbine glands across the entire engineering plant
Insulation jackets and removable lagging on main propulsion turbines, reduction gears, ship-service turbine generators, forced-draft blowers, and auxiliary equipment
Sheet asbestos and Marinite panels as fire-stops, bulkhead insulation, and overhead insulation in damage-control zones
Vinyl asbestos floor tile (VAT) in passageways, berthing, mess decks, wardroom, and bridge compartments
Asbestos rope, wick, and tape in gland-seal applications throughout the engineering plant
Sailors in Boilerman, Machinist’s Mate, Engineman, Electrician’s Mate, Hull Maintenance Technician, Damage Controlman, Turret Captain, and Gunner’s Mate ratings worked routinely in spaces where these materials were installed, maintained, ripped out, and replaced — including during the three major overhaul cycles (postwar, post-Korea, 1980s Cold War reactivation) where extensive asbestos rip-out work was performed.
VA Benefits for Wisconsin Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease as conditions that may be service-connected for Navy veterans with documented asbestos exposure. The Wisconsin equipment manifest is direct documentary evidence of the asbestos-containing materials her crew worked around throughout her three eras of service.
Parallel claims against the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by the manufacturers of these products are also available, and do not reduce VA compensation.
Equipment manifest derived from public-record BUSHIPS documentation specific to USS Wisconsin (BB-64). Manufacturer attribution links to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Editorial review applied per site standards.
AsbestosIndex™Product & Manufacturer Reference
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.
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.
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.
Wisconsin BB-64 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Wisconsin BB-64 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Wisconsin BB-64 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 Wisconsin BB-64 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Wisconsin BB-64'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 Wisconsin BB-64?
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 Wisconsin BB-64?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Wisconsin BB-64 include: A. & C. Sturtevant Co., Allis General Location COS, American Chain & Cable, Asbestos, Ashcroft Cc., Askania, Ast Contractor. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Wisconsin BB-64 veterans qualify for VA disability for mesothelioma?
Potentially. VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims individually. Wisconsin BB-64 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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Navy veterans and civilian shipyard workers diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may have grounds for a civil claim against the asbestos product manufacturers whose materials were installed aboard. O'Brien Law Firm represents veterans and their families in the civil track at no upfront cost — separate from any VA disability benefits you may be eligible for.
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