USS Fulton (AS-11) — Equipment Manifest & Asbestos Exposure Record
Documented equipment manifest and asbestos exposure record for USS Fulton (AS-11), a Fulton-class submarine tender in service 1941–1991. 32 documented...
By Rights Watch Media Group LLC•June 6, 2026•3 min read
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USS Fulton (AS-11) at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii (USA), on 8 June 1942 (80-G-10120)Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Fulton (AS-11), a submarine tender launched in 1940, served throughout World War II supporting Pacific Fleet submarines at Pearl Harbor, Brisbane, Milne Bay, Midway, Saipan, and Guam, including participation in the Battle of Midway and recovery of Yorktown survivors. After recommissioning in 1951, she served as flagship and tender to Submarine Squadron 10 at New London, Connecticut for four decades, becoming the world's first nuclear support tender in 1960 and continuing to support Atlantic Fleet submarines including pioneering nuclear vessels such as Nautilus and Seawolf through her decommissioning on 30 September 1991.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Mare Island Navy Yard
Launched
1940-12-27
Commissioned
1941-09-12
Decommissioned
1991-09-30
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Pacific Theater 1941-1945
Cold War Atlantic Fleet 1951-1991
Combat Actions
Battle of Midway· 1942-06 Tender to submarines; transported Yorktown survivors
Home Ports & Forward Bases
San Diego CA — shakedown and preparation 1941
Pearl Harbor HI — submarine tender 1942, 1944-1945
Brisbane Australia — submarine base and tender 1942-1943
Milne Bay New Guinea — submarine tender 1943-1944
Midway Atoll — submarine tender 1942, 1944-1945
Saipan — submarine tender 1944-1945
Guam — submarine refitting 1945
New London CT — home port 1951-1991
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
West Coast Yard· 1944 overhaul
Mare Island Navy Yard· 1946-1946 overhaul
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard· 1959-1960 modernization overhaul
Shipyard· 1976 overhaul
Electric Boat / General Dynamics· 1983-1984 extensive 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
8 June 1942 — Transported survivors of sunken aircraft carrier Yorktown from Battle of Midway
Summer 1946 — Participated in Operation Crossroads atomic weapons tests at Bikini Atoll
Final Disposition
Decommissioned 1991; fate not specified in text
USS Fulton (AS-11) was the lead ship of her class — a submarine tender commissioned 12 September 1941 and serving the U.S. Navy through 30 September 1991 — supporting Pacific Theater WWII submarine operations from Midway and the Marianas, then Cold War Atlantic Fleet submarine support across 50 years of service.
The 32-entry equipment manifest below is sourced from ship-specific BUSHIPS (Bureau of Ships) documentation identifying machinery and equipment installed aboard. Each entry is documented equipment with verified manufacturer attribution — primary-source material for asbestos-exposure case development by Navy veterans and surviving families.
Equipment Manifest
Equipment Manifest — USS Fulton (AS-11). 32 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Document dated 7/10/44 indicates problems, recommending replacement with General Motors engines
Asbestos-Containing Materials Aboard Fulton
The standard asbestos-containing materials installed throughout U.S. Navy submarine tenders of this era are documented to have included:
Pipe lagging and thermal insulation on main steam, feed-water, fuel-oil, condensate, and saltwater piping throughout machinery spaces
Boiler block insulation, refractory brick, and gun-blocks around the main boilers
Asbestos gaskets and braided packing in valves, flanges, pumps, condensers, heat exchangers, and turbine glands
Insulation jackets and removable lagging on main propulsion turbines, reduction gears, ship-service turbine generators, and forced-draft blowers
Sheet asbestos and Marinite panels as fire-stops, bulkhead insulation, and overhead insulation
Vinyl asbestos floor tile (VAT) in passageways, berthing, mess decks, and habitable compartments
Asbestos rope, wick, and tape in gland-seal applications throughout the engineering plant
Sailors in Boilerman, Machinist’s Mate, Engineman, Electrician’s Mate, Hull Maintenance Technician, Damage Controlman, and other engineering ratings worked routinely in spaces where these materials were installed, maintained, ripped out, and replaced.
VA Benefits for Fulton Veterans
The 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. The Fulton equipment manifest is direct documentary evidence of the asbestos-containing materials her crew worked around throughout her service life.
Parallel claims against the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by the manufacturers of these products are also available, and do not reduce VA compensation.
Equipment manifest derived from public-record BUSHIPS documentation specific to USS Fulton (AS-11). Manufacturer attribution links to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Editorial review applied per site standards.
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.
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.
Fulton AS-11 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Fulton AS-11 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Fulton AS-11 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 Fulton AS-11 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Fulton AS-11'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 Fulton AS-11?
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 Fulton AS-11?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Fulton AS-11 include: Aldrich Pump Co., Allis-Chalmers, American Locomotive, Buffalo, Combustion Engineering, DeLaval, Foster Wheeler. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Fulton AS-11 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. Fulton AS-11 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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