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Did you serve aboard the USS Intrepid? This aircraft carrier carried asbestos in nearly every compartment. Here is where it was, and who is responsible. The USS Intrepid, hull number CV-11, was an aircraft carrier, built by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. and commissioned in 1943. She served through WWII Pacific Theater, Cold War Atlantic Fleets-s, and Vietnam War. Public naval references list this equipment aboard the USS Intrepid, CV-11 — 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 Intrepid from makers such as Crane, Allis-Chalmers, Babcock and Wilcox, and DeLaval allegedly contained asbestos. If you served aboard the USS Intrepid 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 Intrepid (CV-11) — “The Fighting I” — was an Essex-class aircraft carrier commissioned 16 August 1943 and serving through 15 March 1974. She survived four kamikaze strikes during WWII Pacific Theater operations (Leyte Gulf, Okinawa) and went on to serve as a Vietnam War combat carrier and three-time Apollo/Mercury space-capsule recovery ship. Today preserved as the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York.
The 37-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 | Manufacturer | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| air conditioning plant | Airtemp (div. Chrysler Corp.) | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| electrical transformers | Allis-Chalmers | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| distiller circulating pumps, distiller condensate pumps | Aldrich Pump Co. (Flowserve) | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| turbine drivers for pumps, pump governors, turbine drivers for forced draft blowers, main forced draft blowers | B.F. Sturtevant Co. (Howden-Sirocco) | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| aircraft defueling pumps, gasoline pumps | Blackmer | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| diesel engine drivers for fire pumps | Buda (AGCO) | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| refrigerating plant, air conditioning plants, freon compressors | Carrier Corp. | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| diesel engines for generators | Cooper-Bessemer (Cameron International) | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| boiler feed water regulators | Copes-Vulcan | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| boiler feed valves, boiler blow valves, stop valves, feed/stop/check valves for main feed system | Crane Co. | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| diesel engine-driven fire pumps | Dayton-Dowd (Peerless Pump) | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| lubricating oil purifiers | DeLaval Separator (Alfa-Laval) | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| aviation lubricating oil pumps, aviation fuel oil service pumps, fuel oil transfer pumps, lubricating oil service pumps, turbine drivers for pumps | DeLaval Steam Turbine Co. | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| lubricating oil hand pumps | Deming Co. (Crane) | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| motor generator for phone system, motors | Diehl Mfg. Co. (Singer Co.) | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| motor drivers for pumps | Electro-Dynamic Works (div. General Dynamics) | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| deaerating feed pumps, feed water heaters | Elliott Co. | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| pressure-regulating valves, air pressure-reducing valves | Foster Engineering (ITT) | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| economizers (boiler component), distilling plant, air ejectors for distilling plant | Foster Wheeler | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| fresh water booster pumps, diesel engine-driven fire pumps | Gardner-Denver | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| ship's service turbo generators, generator turbines, throttle valves for turbo generators, emergency generators, motor generators, motor drivers for compressors, circuit breakers | General Electric | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| main circulating pumps | Goulds | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| distilling plants, air ejectors for distilling plants | Griscom-Russell, Inc. | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| hydraulic valves | Jenkins Bros. | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| emergency fire & drainage pumps | Johnson Motors (Outboard Marine) | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| main turbine thrust bearings | Kingsbury | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| evaporator brine overboard discharge pumps | M.T. Davidson | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| boiler drum safety valves, boiler drum pilot actuator valves, superheater safety valves | Manning, Maxwell & Moore | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| auxiliary condensers | Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| diesel fuel oil service pumps, aviation fuel oil service pumps, aviation lubricating oil service pumps, fuel oil tank drain pumps | Northern Pump Co. | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| turbine-driven fuel oil service pumps | Quimby | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| motors | Reliance Electric & Engineering | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| hydraulic pumps for elevators | Vickers, Inc. | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| motors for refrigerators | Wagner Electric | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| swing check valves for fire pumps | Walworth Co. | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| emergency feed pumps, fire & flushing pumps, fire & sanitary pumps, bilge pumps, fire pumps, distiller condenser circulating pumps, evaporator brine overboard discharge pumps, distiller condenser condensate pumps, distiller condenser fresh water pumps, evaporator feed pumps, evaporator tube nest drain pumps, auxiliary condenser circulating pumps, low-pressure drain pumps | Warren Steam Pump Co. | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| port & cruising fuel oil service pumps | Waterbury Tool Co. (Vickers, Inc.) | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| salt water pumps for gasoline system, gasoline pumps | Weil Pump Co. | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| main propulsion turbines, astern valves for main turbines, main turbine reduction gears, main condensers, gland exhauster condensers, air ejectors for main condensers, air ejectors for generator condensers, main circulating pumps, turbine drivers for pumps, motor drivers for pumps, motor drivers for compressors, controls for pumps, lubricating oil coolers, electrical transformers, portable motor generator for arc welding, deck edge elevators | Westinghouse | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| air conditioning plants, freon compressors | York | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant viable] | |
| main boilers, fire bricks, bottom blow valves, superheaters | Babcock & Wilcox | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant bankrupt/trust] | |
| motors | Delco (General Motors) | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant bankrupt/trust] | |
| diesel engines for emergency generators | Fairbanks-Morse | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant bankrupt/trust] | |
| main condensate pumps, auxiliary condensate pumps, air compressors, nitrogen compressors | Ingersoll-Rand | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant bankrupt/trust] | |
| packing | Johns-Manville | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant bankrupt/trust] | |
| pump governors, steam pressure-regulating valves, relief valves | Leslie | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant bankrupt/trust] | |
| priming pumps for fresh water system | Nash Engineering | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant bankrupt/trust] | |
| turbine drivers for pumps | Terry Steam Turbine Co. (Ingersoll-Rand) | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant bankrupt/trust] | |
| main feed pumps, main feed booster pumps, auxiliary feed booster pumps, secondary drainage pumps, gasoline pumps, gasoline booster pumps, aviation fuel oil transfer pumps, fresh water pumps, evaporator tube nest drain pump, catapult water brake pumps, salt water booster pumps for emergency generator, forward drain pumps, air compressors | Worthington Pump & Machinery Corp. | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant bankrupt/trust] | |
| steam traps, superheater flow indicators, boiler water level indicators | Yarway (Yarnall-Waring) | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant bankrupt/trust] | |
| motor generator | Continental Electric | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant status unknown] | |
| motor drivers for compressors, interior communication motor generators, motor operated sea valve for main circulating system | Electric Specialty Co. | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant status unknown] | |
| emergency fire & drainage pumps | Pacific Marine Supply Co. | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant status unknown] | |
| motor drivers for compressors | Star Kimble Corp. | Hull-specific record: manufacturer/equipment list, USS Intrepid (CV-11) [defendant status unknown] |
Documented Asbestos Products — Litigation Record
The following manufacturers and products are documented in publicly filed asbestos litigation involving USS Intrepid (CV-11):
Insulation — specification basis:
- Piping system and machinery insulation described as “almost exclusively asbestos containing materials” (ship’s plans)
- Amosite asbestos — specified per ship’s plans for insulation products aboard naval/maritime ships
- Chrysotile asbestos — specified for naval wire, cable, and non-ferrous insulation materials
- Expert (Captain Burger) questioned about tonnage of asbestos-containing insulation aboard Intrepid during 1959–1970 service, citing “Mr. Mangold” analysis; specific figure not reproduced in excerpts
- National Archives data for USS Intrepid covering 1940–1945 and 1958–1961 period used as evidentiary basis
Insulation products — partial identification:
- Johns Manville asbestos tape (1-inch to 3-inch) — referenced for Essex-class carriers including Intrepid
- Johns Manville asbestos millboard — referenced for Essex-class
- Vermiculite (Commercial / Mil Standard) — referenced
Valves and fittings:
- Walworth — fire main valves
- Lebanon Steel Co. — equipment documented from ship’s construction records
- Turbine insulation noted as exterior only (insulation was on the turbines, not inside)
Essex-class sister-ship evidence: Captain Burger (deposition, April 2, 2010) confirmed Hornet and Wasp are Essex class, with fire room insulation throughout “contain[ing] asbestos” — the same insulation applies to Intrepid as a sister Essex-class vessel.
Documented crew — ratings and service periods:
- Machinist’s Mate — documented service on USS Intrepid (CVS-11) following USS Essex duty (1959–1967)
Asbestos-Containing Materials Aboard Intrepid
The standard asbestos-containing materials installed throughout U.S. Navy aircraft carriers 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 Intrepid Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease as conditions that may be service-connected for Navy veterans with documented asbestos exposure. The Intrepid 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.
Speak with an asbestos attorney with Navy veterans experience →
Equipment manifest derived from public-record BUSHIPS documentation specific to USS Intrepid (CV-11). Manufacturer attribution links to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Editorial review applied per site standards.
