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USS Brooklyn (CL-40) in the Hudson River, in 1939 (80-G-1023215)Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Brooklyn (CL-40) served as the lead ship of her light cruiser class, commissioned in 1937. During World War II, she conducted convoy escort duties across the Atlantic and provided fire support for major amphibious operations in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and southern France. After decommissioning in 1947, she was transferred to the Chilean Navy in 1951 as O'Higgins and served for four decades until sinking while under tow to scrappers in 1992.
Naval Battle of Casablanca· 1942-11 naval gunfire and bombardment
Invasion of Sicily· 1943-07 screening and fire support
Operation Shingle — Anzio-Nettuno landings· 1944-01 naval gunfire support
Invasion of southern France· 1944-08 naval gunfire support
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Bermuda — 1941
Norfolk, Virginia — 1942
Casablanca — 1942-1943
Mediterranean ports — 1943-1944
New York — 1944-1945
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
New York Navy Yard· 1944-1945 extensive overhaul and alteration
Philadelphia Navy Yard· 1945 pre-inactivation 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
3 September 1942 — rescued 1,173 troops from burning troopship Wakefield
8 November 1942 — friendly fire incident during Operation Torch, struck by French shore battery
12 August 1974 (Chilean Navy, as O'Higgins) — collision with submerged rock in Smyth Channel causing 64-meter hull rupture
Final Disposition
sank under tow to scrapyard in 1992
USS Brooklyn (CL-40) is a documented U.S. Navy light cruiser with asbestos-exposure evidence in the public litigation record. The equipment manifest below was assembled from depositions, expert reports, and manufacturer interrogatory responses filed in U.S. asbestos litigation that reference equipment installed aboard this vessel.
Equipment Manifest
Equipment Manifest — USS Brooklyn (CL-40). 8 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Equipment
Manufacturer
Qty
Notes
P/B Pipe
Certain-Teed Products Corporation
CL40-0-P/B-PIPE referenced on invoice
C2400 P/B Pipe
Certain-Teed Products Corporation
18
Ship-specific piping component
C2400 1/2 Med
Certain-Teed Products Corporation
18
Pipe fitting component
C2400 1/4 Med
Certain-Teed Products Corporation
18
Pipe fitting component
C150 P/S Pipe
Certain-Teed Products Corporation
6
Ship-specific piping
Insulation/Gasket Material
Certain-Teed Products Corporation
Multiple shipments to USS Brooklyn (CL-40) documented on invoices
USS Brooklyn specific, lagging details dated 01/10/1936
Pipe
Certain-Teed Products Corporation
CL40 pipe referenced on invoice for USS Brooklyn (CL-40)
Note: this manifest is derived from public asbestos litigation records (depositions, expert reports, manufacturer interrogatories) rather than primary BUSHIPS construction documents. Entries reflect what has been documented or alleged in publicly filed legal records.
AsbestosIndex™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.
Navy Ratings Most Exposed to Asbestos Aboard Brooklyn
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.
Brooklyn CL-40 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Brooklyn CL-40 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Brooklyn CL-40 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 Brooklyn CL-40 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Brooklyn CL-40'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 Brooklyn CL-40?
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 Brooklyn CL-40?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Brooklyn CL-40 include: Buffalo Pumps, Certain-Teed Products Corporation. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Brooklyn CL-40 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. Brooklyn CL-40 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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