USS Alabama (BB-60) — Equipment Reference & Asbestos Exposure Record
Equipment reference and asbestos exposure record for USS Alabama (BB-60). 2 machinery and manufacturer entries from the public Wikipedia article citing...
By Rights Watch Media Group LLC•June 6, 2026•1 min read
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USS Alabama (BB-60) in Casco Bay c1942Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Alabama (BB-60) was the fourth and final South Dakota-class battleship, commissioned in August 1942. After initial Atlantic deployment to support Arctic convoys and British Home Fleet operations in 1943, she transferred to the Pacific where she served primarily as a carrier task force escort and bombardment support vessel through 1945, participating in major campaigns from the Gilbert Islands through Okinawa and the Japanese mainland strikes. Decommissioned in 1947 and preserved as a museum ship beginning in 1962, she remains on display at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile Bay.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Norfolk Navy Yard
Laid down
1940-02-01
Launched
1942-02-16
Commissioned
1942-08-16
Decommissioned
1947
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Atlantic Theater 1943
WWII Pacific Theater 1943-1945
Combat Actions
Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign· 1943-11 Carrier escort and bombardment support
Mariana and Palau Islands campaign· 1944-06 Carrier escort and bombardment support
Philippines campaign· 1944-10 Carrier escort and bombardment support
Battle of Okinawa· 1945-04 Carrier escort and bombardment support
Japanese mainland attacks· 1945-07 Coastal bombardment
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Scapa Flow, British Home Fleet 1943
Mobile Bay, Alabama — Museum port 1962-present
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Norfolk Navy Yard· 1942-1942 fitting-out and shakedown
unspecified· 1945-early refit
Asbestos rip-out, insulation replacement, and gasket-packing work occurred during these yard periods. Sailors aboard during overhauls had peak exposure to airborne asbestos fiber.
Final Disposition
Museum ship at Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile Bay, Alabama
USS Alabama (BB-60) is a documented U.S. Navy battleship. The equipment reference below was extracted from the publicly-available Wikipedia article on this vessel, which cites the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS) — the U.S. Navy’s official ship-history publication maintained by the Naval History and Heritage Command.
Equipment Reference
Equipment Manifest — USS Alabama (BB-60). 2 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Alabama (BB-60). These are secondary-source records — not primary BUSHIPS design documents. For litigation purposes, this data is a starting point; a ship-specific BUSHIPS Material Inspection Report or commissioning book would provide gold-standard verification.
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 Alabama
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:
Fireman (FN) — engineering-plant tending across boiler and engine rooms
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.
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.
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.
Alabama BB-60 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Alabama BB-60 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Alabama BB-60 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 Alabama BB-60 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Alabama BB-60'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 Alabama BB-60?
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 Alabama BB-60?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Alabama BB-60 include: Babcock & Wilcox, General Electric. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Alabama BB-60 veterans qualify for VA disability for mesothelioma?
Yes. Mesothelioma is recognized by the VA as service-connected for veterans with documented Navy service and qualifying asbestos exposure. Alabama BB-60 veterans (or surviving family) typically file at VA.gov, by phone at 1-800-827-1000, or with assistance from a Veterans Service Officer through DAV, VFW, or American Legion. Civil claims against asbestos product manufacturers are separate from VA benefits — many veterans pursue both paths.
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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