USS Edson (DD-946) — Equipment Reference & Asbestos Exposure Record
Equipment reference and asbestos exposure record for USS Edson (DD-946). 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 Edson (DD-946) underway off Long Beach, California (USA), circa in the mid-1960sSource: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Edson (DD-946), a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer built by Bath Iron Works and commissioned in 1958, served primarily in the Western Pacific during the Cold War and Vietnam War era from her home port of Long Beach, California. She earned three Navy Unit Commendations for meritorious service, including operations in the Gulf of Tonkin in 1964 and evacuations of Phnom Penh and Saigon in 1975. Decommissioned in 1988 as the last all-gun destroyer in the U.S. Navy, she served as a museum ship at the Intrepid Museum in New York (1989–2004) before being relocated to the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum in Michigan in 2013.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Bath Iron Works Corporation
Laid down
1956-12-03
Launched
1958-01-04
Commissioned
1958-11-07
Decommissioned
1988-12-15
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Cold War Western Pacific/Far East 1960-1975
Vietnam War 1964-1968
Combat Actions
Gulf of Tonkin Operations· 1964-08 special operations support
Naval Gunfire Support Vietnam· 1964-1968 gunfire support missions
Operation Eagle Pull· 1975-04 evacuation support Phnom Penh
Operation Frequent Wind· 1975-04 evacuation support Saigon
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Long Beach, California — home port 1959-1988
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Long Beach Naval Shipyard· 1960 overhaul
Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard· 1975 repairs
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
12 December 1974 — afterroom fire caused by lube oil rupture, extinguished with no casualties
17 June 1968 — apparent friendly fire from US Air Force during Vietnam operations
Final Disposition
Museum ship — Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum, Bay City, Michigan (as of 2013)
USS Edson (DD-946) is a documented U.S. Navy destroyer. 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 Edson (DD-946). 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 Edson (DD-946). 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 Edson
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.
Edson DD-946 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Edson DD-946 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Edson DD-946 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 Edson DD-946 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Edson DD-946'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 Edson DD-946?
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 Edson DD-946?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Edson DD-946 include: Babcock & Wilcox, Worthington. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Edson DD-946 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. Edson DD-946 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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