USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) — Equipment Reference & Asbestos Exposure Record
Equipment reference and asbestos exposure record for USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71). 2 machinery and manufacturer entries from the public Wikipedia article...
By Rights Watch Media Group LLC•June 6, 2026•1 min read
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USS Kitkun Bay cve71Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) was a Casablanca-class escort carrier commissioned in December 1943 that served throughout the Pacific War. She participated in major campaigns including the Mariana and Palau Islands operations, the Battle off Samar where she faced early organized kamikaze attacks, and the Invasion of Lingayen Gulf, where she sustained kamikaze damage. After the war, she participated in Operation Magic Carpet repatriating servicemen before being decommissioned in April 1946 and broken up in 1947.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, Vancouver, Washington
Laid down
1943-05-03
Launched
1943-11-08
Commissioned
1943-12-15
Decommissioned
1946-04
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Pacific Theater 1943-1946
Combat Actions
Battle of the Philippine Sea· 1944-06 air screen and interception
Battle off Samar· 1944-10 close air support, defended against kamikaze
Invasion of Lingayen Gulf· 1945-01 close air support, damaged by kamikaze
Home Ports & Forward Bases
San Diego, California — January 1944
Pearl Harbor — February 1944
Ford Island — May 1944
Eniwetok, Marshall Islands — July–August 1944
Ulithi, Caroline Islands — September 1944
Seeadler Harbor, Manus Island — October 1944
Notable Incidents
18 June 1944 — Japanese aircraft torpedo attack near Saipan, torpedo missed by 25 ft
Invasion of Lingayen Gulf — damaged by kamikaze attack, forced to withdraw
Final Disposition
scrapped in early 1947
USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) is a documented U.S. Navy escort carrier. 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 Kitkun Bay (CVE-71). 2 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Per Wikipedia DANFS infobox; raised 285 psi steam at 577°F
Skinner Unaflow Reciprocating Steam Engine
Skinner
2
Per Wikipedia DANFS infobox; delivered 9000 hp to two propeller shafts
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71). 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.
Navy Ratings Most Exposed to Asbestos Aboard Kitkun Bay
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.
Kitkun Bay CVE-71 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Kitkun Bay CVE-71 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Kitkun Bay CVE-71 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 Kitkun Bay CVE-71 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Kitkun Bay CVE-71'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 Kitkun Bay CVE-71?
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 Kitkun Bay CVE-71?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Kitkun Bay CVE-71 include: Babcock & Wilcox, Skinner. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Kitkun Bay CVE-71 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. Kitkun Bay CVE-71 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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