USS Donald B. Beary (FF-1085) is documented in the public U.S. Navy asbestos litigation record. A ship-specific BUSHIPS equipment manifest has not yet been published for this vessel in our records.

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 and apply to any sailor who served in an engineering, hull, or damage-control rate aboard a Navy ship of this period.

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Knox-Class frigate — 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 — Knox-Class frigate

The Knox class comprised 46 frigates that served as the U.S. Navy's largest and most numerous second-generation anti-submarine warfare escorts, featuring advanced bow-mounted sonar and steam turbine propulsion. Originally commissioned as destroyer escorts between 1969 and 1974, they were redesignated as frigates in 1975 and retired from active U.S. Navy service by 1994 due to high operating costs and the need for more advanced capabilities. Several Knox-class ships were transferred to foreign navies including Spain, Taiwan, Egypt, Thailand, and Mexico, where some remained in service beyond their U.S. retirement.

Class Overview

Total Ships in Class
46
Construction Era
1965-1974
Service Era
1969-1994 (U.S. Navy); some remain in service with foreign nations

Class Mission & Role

Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) escorts designed to detect and engage submarines using advanced sonar and ASROC missiles.

Primary Builders

  • Todd Shipyards (Seattle, Washington)
  • Avondale Shipyards

Asbestos Materials in this Class

Standard pre-1980 U.S. Navy construction included asbestos in pipe lagging, boiler insulation, gaskets, and habitability spaces. Knox-class ships, powered by steam turbines with high-pressure boilers, would have contained asbestos insulation in their propulsion systems and throughout the vessel.

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.

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 Donald B. Beary FF

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.