USS Dale (CG-19) — Equipment Reference & Asbestos Exposure Record
Equipment reference and asbestos exposure record for USS Dale (CG-19). 3 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 Dale (CG-19) underway, circa the 1980s (NH 98149-KN)Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Dale (CG-19) was a Leahy-class guided-missile cruiser commissioned in November 1963 and assigned initially to the Pacific Fleet, where she conducted five Western Pacific deployments between 1963 and 1970 including participation in Vietnam War operations in the Gulf of Tonkin. Following modernization and reassignment to the Atlantic Fleet in 1971, she served extensively with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and participated in counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean and enforcement actions in the Persian Gulf during the 1990s. Decommissioned in September 1994, USS Dale was subsequently sunk as a weapons effects test target on 6 April 2000 off the Maryland coast.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey
Commissioned
1963-11-23
Decommissioned
1994-09
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Vietnam War 1965-1970
Cold War Atlantic Fleet 1971-1994
Cold War Mediterranean/Sixth Fleet 1973-1989
Operation Desert Storm 1991
Bosnia/Yugoslavia 1993
Combat Actions
Vietnam War operations — Gulf of Tonkin· 1965-1970 Rescuing American aviators
Action in the Gulf of Sidra· 1986-03 Libya confrontation operations
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Newport, Rhode Island — homeport 1971-1974
Mayport, Florida — homeport 1974-1994
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Bath, Maine· 1970-1971 modernization — NTDS and combat systems
Charleston Naval Shipyard· 1976 overhaul — NTDS and missile fire control upgrade
Charleston Naval Shipyard· 1981-1982 Baseline Overhaul — combat weapons systems and engineering equipment
Jacksonville, Florida· 1983 damage repair — HMS Ambuscade collision
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard· 1987-1988 extensive overhaul — New Threat Upgrade combat systems
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
27 April 1983 — collision with British frigate HMS Ambuscade in Indian Ocean during tactical exercise
17 December 1999 — 500lb SLAM-ER missile detonated during weapons effect test at Roosevelt Roads
13 January 2000 — F/A-18 Hornet direct hit with SLAM-ER missile during WET evaluation
Final Disposition
sunk as target 6 April 2000 off East Coast near Maryland
USS Dale (CG-19) is a documented U.S. Navy guided-missile cruiser. 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 Dale (CG-19). 3 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
installed port and starboard sides during 1981-1982 overhaul
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Dale (CG-19). 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.
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.
Dale CG-19 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Dale CG-19 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Dale CG-19 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 Dale CG-19 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Dale CG-19'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 Dale CG-19?
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 Dale CG-19?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Dale CG-19 include: De Laval, Foster Wheeler, General Dynamics. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Dale CG-19 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. Dale CG-19 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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