USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2), the lead ship of the Iwo Jima class amphibious assault ships, was commissioned in August 1961 and served in the Atlantic Fleet throughout her Cold War career, conducting amphibious assault training, fleet exercises, and fleet support operations. Iwo Jima became historically notable when she served as the primary recovery ship for the Apollo 13 astronauts in April 1970, recovering the crew after their successful return from the near-disastrous lunar mission. Iwo Jima also supported operations in Vietnam and conducted Mediterranean deployments with the Sixth Fleet. Iwo Jima’s steam propulsion plant — two Combustion Engineering boilers driving geared steam turbines — provided propulsion through her service. Commissioned in 1961, Iwo Jima incorporated asbestos-containing boiler insulation, steam pipe insulation, turbine insulation, and hull construction materials consistent with the extensive asbestos use of the early 1960s construction period. Her large aviation hangar deck and troop berthing areas also incorporated asbestos-containing construction and insulation materials consistent with early 1960s naval practice.

Archival Ship Imagery

Period U.S. Navy photograph from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (public domain).

USS Iwo Jima Steam Plant and Construction Asbestos

Iwo Jima’s steam propulsion plant and hull construction incorporated asbestos throughout:

  • Combustion Engineering boiler insulation — Iwo Jima’s boilers were insulated with asbestos-containing boiler casing insulation consistent with early 1960s construction specifications. Boilermen and damage control personnel accumulated asbestos exposure from the boiler insulation through her long service
  • High-pressure steam pipe insulation — the steam mains and auxiliary steam piping throughout Iwo Jima’s engineering spaces and throughout the ship incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation consistent with early 1960s naval construction specifications
  • Propulsion turbine insulation — Iwo Jima’s main propulsion turbines incorporated asbestos-containing turbine casing insulation
  • Troop berthing and hangar deck materials — Iwo Jima’s large troop berthing areas, aviation hangar deck, and working spaces were constructed using the hull construction and insulation materials of the early 1960s building period incorporating asbestos-containing materials

VA Claims for USS Iwo Jima Veterans

VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims on a case-by-case basis. Veterans generally need evidence of in-service asbestos exposure, a current asbestos-related diagnosis, and a medical link between them. Machinist’s Mates, Boilermen, Aviation ratings, Marine Corps personnel, and crew members who served aboard USS Iwo Jima and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.

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 Iwo Jima

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 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.