USS Aw Brewster is documented in the public U.S. Navy asbestos litigation record. A verified equipment manifest with 8 machinery and manufacturer entries is published on her ship-specific page: A.W. Brewster APD-148 Equipment Manifest ›.
The standard asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of this era, the Navy ratings most exposed during normal duty, and the VA presumptive-benefits framework are listed below.
Crosley-Class high-speed transport — Class Background
Ship-specific service history is not available for this vessel in public records. The class-level information below applies to all ships in her class. Source: Wikipedia — Crosley-Class high-speed transport
Crosley-class high-speed transports were amphibious transport ships that served in the United States Navy during World War II, with some vessels remaining in commission through the Korean War and Vietnam War. Most ships in the class were converted from Rudderow-class destroyer escorts during construction, with the exception of USS Bray (APD-139). Following World War II, several ships were transferred to foreign navies including Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, and Colombia, with ARC Cordoba (formerly USS Ruchamkin) surviving as a museum ship in Colombia.
Class Overview
- Service Era
- World War II through Vietnam War
Class Mission & Role
High-speed transport ships that served as amphibious transports for the United States Navy during World War II and beyond.
Class Combat Operations
- World War II
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
Asbestos Materials in this Class
The article does not document specific asbestos use in Crosley-class ships. However, standard pre-1980 U.S. Navy construction included asbestos in pipe lagging, boiler insulation, gaskets, and habitability spaces.
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.
Navy Ratings Most Exposed to Asbestos Aboard A.W. Brewster
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:
VA Presumptive Benefits — No Filing Deadline
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease as conditions presumed to be service-connected for Navy veterans with documented asbestos exposure under 38 CFR § 3.309(d). No statute of limitations applies to VA disability compensation claims.
Available benefits may include monthly disability compensation, Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses, priority VA healthcare enrollment, and Special Monthly Compensation for severe cases. Parallel claims against the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by the manufacturers of these products do not reduce VA compensation.
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.
