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USS Gridley (DLG-21) underway at sea, in the 1960sSource: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Gridley (DLG-21/CG-21), a Leahy-class guided missile cruiser commissioned in May 1963, served extensively in the Western Pacific during the Vietnam War, conducting screening, antiaircraft warfare coordination, and aircraft carrier support operations from 1964 to 1968. Following major modernizations in the 1970s and 1980s, including the first installation of NTDS and digital missile fire control systems in her class, Gridley deployed globally in support of multiple combat operations including Operation Nimble Archer (1987), Operation Earnest Will (1988–1989), and Operation Southern Watch (1992). The ship's crew earned recognition for humanitarian efforts, including rescue operations and disaster relief during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Puget Sound Bridge and Drydock Company, Seattle, Washington
Launched
1961-07-31
Commissioned
1963-05-25
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Vietnam War Western Pacific 1964-1968
Vietnam War Gulf of Tonkin 1965-1966
Cold War Western Pacific 1970-1976
Operation Frequent Wind 1975
Mayagüez Incident 1975
Operation Eagle Claw 1980
Operation Nimble Archer 1987
Operation Earnest Will 1988-1989
Operation Southern Watch 1992
Combat Actions
Gulf of Tonkin — Vietnam War screening and picket duty· 1964-08 screening, antiaircraft warfare coordination, communications relay
South China Sea — Vietnam War air operations support· 1965-1966 aircraft carrier support, pilot rescue, plane check-in ('Tomcat')
Operation Frequent Wind — South Vietnam evacuation· 1975 air traffic control and on-station support
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington· 1963-11-08 to 1963-12-09 post-commissioning work
Long Beach Naval Shipyard, California· 1982-10 to 1983-10 extensive overhaul and upgrade — engineering machinery, fire control radars, air search radars, sonar upgrade, Phalanx CIWS installation
Southwest Marine Shipyard, San Diego, California· 1990-02 to 1991-03 New Threat Upgrade — engineering, berthing, food service, combat systems enhancement
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
4 August 1964 — escorted USS Constellation to strengthen naval forces off Vietnam after Gulf of Tonkin attacks
21 August 1976 — in-port Yokosuka when Axe Murder Incident occurred; USS Midway battle group underway next morning, stood off Korean coast nearly one month
17 October 1989 — ship visit to Naval Station Treasure Island, San Francisco interrupted by 6.9 Mw Loma Prieta earthquake; crew provided disaster assistance to Marina district
June 1992 — rescued disabled merchant vessel Adel 11 in North Arabian Sea
USS Gridley (CG-21) is a documented U.S. Navy guided-missile 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 Gridley (CG-21). 7 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
Valve, reducing air dome
Foster Eng. Co.
Type 36H4, underway 70%
Gauge, boiler water level
L.J. Bordo Co., Inc.
Material not received
Traps, steam bucket
Kieley & Mueller, Inc.
Type approval test
Traps, steam redesigned
Armstrong Machine Works
Type approval test, underway
Packing, asbestos high pressure rod
General Asb. & Rubr. Div. Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc.
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 Gridley
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.
Gridley CG-21 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Gridley CG-21 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Gridley CG-21 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 Gridley CG-21 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Gridley CG-21'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 Gridley CG-21?
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 Gridley CG-21?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Gridley CG-21 include: Armstrong Machine Works, Crane Co., Foster Eng. Co., General Asb. & Rubr. Div. Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc., Kieley & Mueller, Inc., L.J. Bordo Co., Inc., Potomac Chem. Co.. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Gridley CG-21 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. Gridley CG-21 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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