USS Hector (AR-7) — Equipment Manifest & Asbestos Exposure Record

Documented Service History

Shipyard, deployment, and service events for this vessel documented in the public record — court filings, the ship’s deck logs, or the crew’s own cruise book (each entry cites its source). Dry-dockings, overhauls, and yard periods were when asbestos insulation was torn out and replaced, the peak-exposure work for the crew and yard workers aboard.

1956

Mooring / movement · San Diego — Moored/underway near San Diego, per the ship's deck log.

1956

Mooring / movement — Moored/underway, per the ship's deck log.

1957

Mooring / movement — Moored/underway, per the ship's deck log.

1957

Mooring / movement · San Diego — Moored/underway near San Diego, per the ship's deck log.

Derived from publicly filed asbestos-litigation records, ship’s deck logs, and the crew’s own cruise books. Historical service events; this does not constitute legal or medical advice.

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Did you serve aboard the USS Hector? This tender carried asbestos in nearly every compartment. Here is where it was, and who is responsible. The USS Hector, hull number AR-7, was a tender, built by Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company and commissioned in 1944. She served through WWII Pacific Theater, Korean War, and Cold War Pacific Fleet. Public naval references list this equipment aboard the USS Hector, AR-7 — insulated and sealed with asbestos. Each shipyard overhaul and major repair meant asbestos insulation was torn out and replaced — peak-exposure work for the yard workers and the crew aboard. Exposure was worst in the engineering spaces, where the snipes worked — but asbestos lined the whole ship, so all hands were exposed. The companies that made the asbestos equipment aboard — not the Navy — are who asbestos claims are brought against. According to asbestos litigation records, the equipment aboard the USS Hector from makers such as Babcock and Wilcox, Crosby Steam Gage and Valve Co., Diamond Power Specialty Corporation, and Unibestos allegedly contained asbestos. If you served aboard the USS Hector and were later diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or another asbestos-related disease, you may have a legal claim against the companies that made the asbestos products used aboard your ship. This is educational information from an independent publisher — not a law firm — and is not legal advice.

USS Hector (AR-7) is a documented U.S. Navy repair ship 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 Hector (AR-7). 42 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
Main Propulsion Turbines	Allis-Chalmers	2	Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Main Reduction Gears (double-reduction helical)	Falk		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Anchor Windlass #2	American Engineering		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Anchor Windlass #1 / Steering Gear Pumps	Waterbury		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Boilers (Express A type)	Babcock & Wilcox	4	Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Forced Draft Blowers & Turbines	B.F. Sturtevant		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Main Circulating / Feed Booster / Condensate / Fire & Flushing Pump Turbines	B.F. Sturtevant		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Turbine Gland Exhausters	B.F. Sturtevant		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Gate / Globe / Angle Stop Check / Cross Check / Main Steam / Fuel Oil Valves	Chapman		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Feed Regulators for Evaporators	Cochrane		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Emergency Generator Diesel Engine	Cooper-Bessemer		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Gate / Throttle By-Pass / Main Steam Cutout / Toggle Valves	Crane		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Boiler Safety Valves	Crosby		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Lube Oil / Fuel Oil Service & Booster Pumps (Turbine Driven) & Turbines	DeLaval		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Soot Blowers	Diamond		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Pressure Regulators	Foster		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Economizers	Foster Wheeler		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Ship's Service Generator Turbines	General Electric		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Port & Starboard Coolant Pumps	General Electric		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Tank Fill & Drain Pump	George D. Roper		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Fuel Oil Heaters	Griscom-Russell		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Reducing Valves	Grove		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Angle Stop Check Valves	Jenkins		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Boiler Water Gages with Valves	Jerguson		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Whistle / Strainers	Leslie		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Main & Auxiliary Condensers, Distilling Plants (manufactured)	Los Angeles Shipbuilding		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Main & Auxiliary Condensers, Distilling Plants (designed)	New York Shipbuilding		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Fuel Oil Pressure Regulating Valves	Manning, Maxwell & Moore		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Fresh Water / Fire-Flushing-Bilge Priming Pumps	Nash		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Lube Oil Transfer / Diesel FO Service / Port & Cruising FO Service / FO Tank Drain Pumps	Northern Pump (Northern Ordnance)		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Main / Auxiliary / Distiller Condenser Air Ejectors	Schutte & Koerting		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Diesel Oil & Lube Oil Purifiers	Sharples		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Separators for Whistle & Steam Siren	Swartwout		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
HP & LP Air Compressors	Worthington		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Fresh Water / Distributing FW / Fire-Flushing-Bilge Pumps	Worthington		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Auxiliary Condenser Circulating & Condensate Pumps	Worthington		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Main Condensate / Auxiliary Feed Booster Pumps	Worthington		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Distiller Condenser Circulating & Condensate Pumps	Worthington		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Evaporator Feed / Brine Overboard / Tube Nest Drain Pumps	Worthington		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Emergency Diesel Generator Cooling Water Pump	Worthington		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Heating System Drain Return / Refrigerator / AC Compressor Circulating / Machine Gun Cooling Pumps	Worthington		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)
Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Plants	York		Hull-specific record: 'Supplemental Pump & Valve Equipment & Manufacturers' list + Report of Material Inspection (1955/1961), USS Hector (AR-7)

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.

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.

Pipe Covering & Block Insulation Thermal insulation applied to steam lines, valves, and equipment in engine rooms and fire rooms Marine Products Insulation, gaskets, and packing products specified for naval and commercial marine applications Boilers & Steam Equipment Boiler manufacturers and insulation products — central to the fire room exposure pathway Gaskets & Packing Sheet and ring gaskets used throughout piping flanges, valve bonnets, and pump housings Electrical Products Wire insulation, switchgear arc chutes, and panel liners used throughout electrical spaces Full Product Index Search all 200+ manufacturers and 1,500+ documented asbestos products on AsbestosIndex™

Navy Ratings Most Exposed to Asbestos Aboard Hector

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:

Boilerman (BT) — boiler-room operations, refractory work, burner maintenance
Machinist’s Mate (MM) — main propulsion turbines, reduction gears, condensers, pumps
Engineman (EN) — auxiliary diesel and gasoline engines, gland packing
Electrician’s Mate (EM) — cable runs through asbestos-insulated chases, motor-generator sets
Hull Maintenance Technician (HT) / Pipefitter — piping system maintenance, gasket replacement, valve repacking
Damage Controlman (DC) — firefighting equipment, fire-stops, bulkhead penetrations
Fireman (FN) — engineering-plant tending across boiler and engine rooms

VA Disability Claims for Asbestos-Related Disease

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs evaluates asbestos claims individually. A veteran generally needs medical evidence of a current asbestos-related disease, service evidence supporting in-service asbestos exposure, and a medical opinion connecting the two. Ship assignments, Navy ratings, and equipment records can help document the exposure history but do not create automatic service connection.

Approved claims may provide monthly disability compensation and related benefits. Survivors may separately qualify for Dependency & Indemnity Compensation when the applicable requirements are met. Civil lawsuits and asbestos-trust claims use different standards; claimants should obtain individualized advice about how the processes interact.

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.

VA Claims Guide on This Site › Compare: VA vs. Civil Lawsuit

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.

Hector AR-7 — Frequently Asked Questions

Are Hector AR-7 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?

Yes. Hector AR-7 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 Hector AR-7 contained asbestos?

Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Hector AR-7'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 Hector AR-7?

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 Hector AR-7?

Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Hector AR-7 include: Allis-Chalmers, American Engineering, B.F. Sturtevant, Babcock & Wilcox, Chapman, Cochrane, Cooper-Bessemer. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.

Do Hector AR-7 veterans qualify for VA disability for mesothelioma?

Potentially. VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims individually. Hector AR-7 veterans generally need medical records showing the current disease, service records supporting in-service asbestos exposure, and a doctor's statement connecting the two. Veterans may file at VA.gov, call 1-800-827-1000, or seek free help from an accredited Veterans Service Organization such as DAV, VFW, or the American Legion.

USS Hector (AR-7) — Equipment Manifest & Asbestos Exposure Record

Documented Service History

My MusterLog™

Service History

Construction & Service Dates

Notable Tours / Service Eras

Combat Actions

Home Ports & Forward Bases

Drydock & Overhaul Periods High Asbestos-Exposure Window

Notable Incidents

Final Disposition

Equipment Manifest

Navy Ratings Most Exposed to Asbestos Aboard Hector

VA Disability Claims for Asbestos-Related Disease

Documented Asbestos-Exposure Environments — U.S. Navy Service

Hector AR-7 — Frequently Asked Questions

Connect With a Navy Asbestos & Mesothelioma Attorney