USS Hector (AR-7) — Equipment Manifest & Asbestos Exposure Record
Documented equipment manifest and asbestos exposure record for USS Hector (AR-7). 7 machinery and manufacturer entries derived from the public asbestos...
By Rights Watch Media Group LLC•June 6, 2026•1 min read
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USS Hector (AR-7) underway at sea on 17 April 1985 (6403814)Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Hector (AR-7) served as a fleet repair ship in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1987, with major operational deployments throughout the Pacific Theater in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The ship provided critical repair and support services to combat vessels across multiple theaters and earned numerous commendations for fleet support and humanitarian operations. Following decommissioning in 1987, Hector was transferred to the Pakistan Navy, serving as PNS Moawin from 1989 to 1994.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, San Pedro, California
Launched
1942-11-11
Commissioned
1944-02-07
Decommissioned
1987
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Pacific Theater 1944-1945
Korean War 1950-1955
Cold War Pacific Fleet 1947-1987
Vietnam War 1963-1972
Combat Actions
Inchon Invasion· 1950-09 repair support operations
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii — forward base 1944-1945
Long Beach, California — home port 1946-1975
Mare Island, Vallejo, California — home port 1975-1981
Oakland, California — home port 1981-1987
Yokosuka, Japan — frequent WestPac port
Subic Bay, Philippines — frequent WestPac port
Sasebo, Japan — forward base 1972-1974
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Long Beach, California· 1965-1966 modernization overhaul
Richmond, California· 1974 overhaul
unspecified· 1980 major 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
27 October 1944 — repaired cruiser USS Houston, torpedoed twice by Japanese submarines, at Ulithi
1977 — constructed 'Hector Missile' from soup and tomato cans as deception measure against Soviet observation
July 1977 — evaded Typhoon Vera near Taiwan
1981 — rescue team recovered 12 passengers from aircraft crash near ship in Pearl Harbor
1984 — rescued 28 Vietnamese refugees from wooden craft
Final Disposition
transferred to Pakistan Navy as PNS Moawin 1989-1994
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). 7 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
With quick closing valve and detachable components
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 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:
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.
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: Babcock & Wilcox, Crosby Steam Gage & Valve Co., Diamond Power Specialty Corporation, Unibestos. 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?
Yes. Mesothelioma is recognized by the VA as service-connected for veterans with documented Navy service and qualifying asbestos exposure. Hector AR-7 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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