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USS Bradley (FF-1041) underwaySource: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Bradley (FF-1041) was a Garcia-class destroyer escort commissioned in 1965 and served primarily in the Western Pacific during the Vietnam War era, conducting multiple deployments involving gunfire support and carrier escort operations between 1966 and 1975. She received a prototype Sea Sparrow missile system installation in 1967 and underwent several major overhauls throughout her service, including significant upgrades to her sonar and boiler systems. Decommissioned in September 1988, she was transferred to the Brazilian Navy as Pernambuco in 1989 and remained active until 2004.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
San Francisco, California
Laid down
1963-01-17
Launched
1964-03-26
Commissioned
1965-05-15
Decommissioned
1988-09-30
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Vietnam War 1966-1968
Vietnam War 1967-1968
Vietnam War 1970
Vietnam War 1970-1975
Western Pacific 1975-1979
Western Pacific 1979-1983
Western Pacific 1986-1987
Northern Pacific 1988
Combat Actions
Gunfire support operations South Vietnam· 1966 coastal gunfire support
Gulf of Tonkin carrier escort· 1966 carrier escort duty
Operation Formation Star response· 1968 Sea of Japan patrol
Gunfire support operations South Vietnam· 1968 gun line support 3,247 rounds fired
Home Ports & Forward Bases
San Diego, California — home port
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
San Francisco· 1968-1969 overhaul with sonar upgrade and boiler work
unspecified· 1971-1972 overhaul
unspecified· 1975-1976 overhaul with helicopter hangar enlargement
unspecified· 1979 one-year overhaul
unspecified· 1983 one-year overhaul for boiler remediation
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
February 1967 — prototype Sea Sparrow BPDMS installation and removal after trials
Final Disposition
transferred to Brazilian Navy as Pernambuco (D 30) — sold January 2001, decommissioned March 2004
USS Bradley (DE-1041) is a documented U.S. Navy destroyer escort. 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 Bradley (DE-1041). 2 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
per Wikipedia infobox propulsion specs for USS Bradley (FF-1041)
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Bradley (DE-1041). 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 Bradley
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.
Bradley DE-1041 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Bradley DE-1041 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Bradley DE-1041 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 Bradley DE-1041 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Bradley DE-1041'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 Bradley DE-1041?
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 Bradley DE-1041?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Bradley DE-1041 include: Foster Wheeler Corporation, Westinghouse. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Bradley DE-1041 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. Bradley DE-1041 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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