USS Hull (DD-945) — Equipment Reference & Asbestos Exposure Record
Equipment reference and asbestos exposure record for USS Hull (DD-945). 3 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 Hull DD-945Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Hull (DD-945) was a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer commissioned in 1958 that served primarily with the Pacific Fleet and Seventh Fleet throughout her 25-year career. She conducted fifteen Western Pacific deployments and six Vietnam War cruises, during which she provided naval gunfire support and plane guard duty. Notably, Hull served as the test ship for an experimental 8-inch gun mount from 1974 to 1980; after decommissioning in 1983, she was sunk in a weapons test in 1998.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Bath Iron Works Corporation, Bath, Maine
Laid down
1956-09-12
Launched
1957-08-10
Commissioned
1958-07-03
Decommissioned
1983-07-11
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Pacific Fleet 1958–1983
Seventh Fleet Western Pacific 1959–1982
Cuban Missile Crisis 1962
Vietnam War 1965–1973
Indian Ocean/Arabian Sea 1982–1983
Combat Actions
Vietnam War — Naval Gunfire Support & Sea Dragon Operations· 1965-1973 gunfire support and carrier plane guard
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Panama Canal Zone — transit and operations 1958–1962
Tonkin Gulf — plane guard station Vietnam War
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Unknown· 1974-1975 major overhaul with gun mount replacement
Unknown· 1979-1980 overhaul with prototype gun removal
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
1974–1975 forward gun mount replaced with experimental 8-inch Mark 71 gun for testing
October 1982 rescued five Vietnamese refugees at sea
7 April 1998 sunk during weapons and tactics test exercise
Final Disposition
sunk in weapons test — 7 April 1998 off California coast
USS Hull (DD-945) 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 Hull (DD-945). 3 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 Hull (DD-945). 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.
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.
Hull DD-945 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Hull DD-945 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Hull DD-945 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 Hull DD-945 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Hull DD-945'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 Hull DD-945?
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 Hull DD-945?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Hull DD-945 include: Babcock & Wilcox, Bailey, General Electric. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Hull DD-945 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. Hull DD-945 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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