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USS Arkansas (BB-33) 1918Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Arkansas (BB-33) was a Wyoming-class dreadnought battleship laid down in 1910 and commissioned in 1912. She served in both World Wars, participating in combat operations during World War II including the Normandy and southern France invasions in 1944, and the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns in 1945. Following the war, Arkansas was expended as a target ship during Operation Crossroads nuclear weapon tests at Bikini Atoll in July 1946.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
New York Shipbuilding Corporation
Laid down
1910-01-25
Launched
1911-01-14
Commissioned
1912-09-17
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWI Atlantic Fleet 1917-1918
Interwar Atlantic Fleet 1919-1941
WWII Atlantic Theater 1941-1944
WWII Pacific Theater 1945
Combat Actions
Normandy Invasion· 1944-06 gunfire support
Southern France Invasion· 1944-08 gunfire support
Iwo Jima Invasion· 1945-02 bombardment
Okinawa Invasion· 1945-04 bombardment
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Hampton Roads, Virginia — home port
New York Navy Yard — frequent maintenance base
Rosyth, Scotland — Grand Fleet 1918
Guantánamo Bay, Cuba — training base
Philadelphia Navy Yard — commissioning port
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
New York Navy Yard· 1915 extensive maintenance
Philadelphia Navy Yard· 1925 modernization
New York Navy Yard· 1916 overhaul
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.
Notable Incidents
1914 Veracruz occupation — two crewmen killed, two Medal of Honor recipients (Grady, Ingram)
July 1918 depth charge incident — mistaken periscope contact near Rosyth
Final Disposition
expended as target — Operation Crossroads nuclear tests July 1946
USS Arkansas (BB-33) 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 Arkansas (BB-33). 2 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Original propulsion, per Wikipedia infobox characteristics section
Oil-fired boilers
White-Forster
4
Installed during 1925-1927 refit, replaced coal-fired boilers, per Wikipedia infobox 1925-1927 refit section
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Arkansas (BB-33). 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 Arkansas
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.
Arkansas BB-33 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Arkansas BB-33 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Arkansas BB-33 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 Arkansas BB-33 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Arkansas BB-33'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 Arkansas BB-33?
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 Arkansas BB-33?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Arkansas BB-33 include: Babcock & Wilcox, White-Forster. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Arkansas BB-33 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. Arkansas BB-33 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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Navy veterans and civilian shipyard workers diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may have grounds for a civil claim against the asbestos product manufacturers whose materials were installed aboard. O'Brien Law Firm represents veterans and their families in the civil track at no upfront cost — separate from any VA disability benefits you may be eligible for.
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