USS Wasp (LHD-1), the lead ship of the Wasp class amphibious assault ships, was commissioned at Ingalls Shipbuilding in July 1989 and served in the Atlantic Fleet as a flagship of amphibious ready groups. Wasp combined the capabilities of the helicopter carrier, amphibious transport dock, and dock landing ship into a single hull displacing over 40,000 tons, providing the Navy with the most capable amphibious platform of her generation. Wasp deployed to the Mediterranean, Persian Gulf, and Adriatic, supporting Marine Expeditionary Unit operations and humanitarian missions. Wasp’s conventional steam propulsion plant — two boilers driving geared steam turbines — provided propulsion for the 40,532-ton ship through her service. Commissioned in 1989, Wasp incorporated asbestos-containing boiler insulation, steam pipe insulation, and hull construction materials consistent with the late 1980s construction period.

USS Wasp Steam Plant and Construction Asbestos

Wasp’s large steam propulsion plant and extensive hull construction incorporated asbestos:

  • Boiler insulation — Wasp’s boilers were insulated with asbestos-containing boiler casing insulation consistent with late 1980s construction specifications. Engineering ratings accumulated asbestos exposure through her Atlantic Fleet service
  • High-pressure steam pipe insulation — the steam mains and extensive auxiliary steam piping throughout Wasp’s engineering spaces incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation consistent with late 1980s naval construction specifications
  • Troop berthing, well deck, hangar deck, and auxiliary spaces — Wasp’s troop berthing areas housing up to 1,875 Marines, aviation hangar deck, vehicle well deck, and the extensive auxiliary spaces of the LHD design were constructed using hull construction materials of the late 1980s building period, with any asbestos-containing materials present consistent with residual use from prior naval construction specifications

VA Claims for USS Wasp 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 Wasp 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 Wasp

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.