USS Kula Gulf (CVE-108) — Equipment Reference & Asbestos Exposure Record
Equipment reference and asbestos exposure record for USS Kula Gulf (CVE-108). 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 Kula Gulf (CVE-108) underway at sea on 5 September 1945 (NNAM.1996.488.035.010)Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Kula Gulf (CVE-108) was a Commencement Bay-class escort carrier commissioned in May 1945 and operated primarily as a training and transport vessel from 1946 onward. After initial post-war service and a four-year reserve period, she was recommissioned in 1951 to train naval aviators during the Korean War era and continued anti-submarine and helicopter assault training operations through 1955. She was subsequently transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service in 1965 and served as an aircraft transport supporting operations in Vietnam until being struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1970 and broken up the following year.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Todd-Pacific Shipyards (keel laid); Williamette Iron & Steel Corporation (completed)
Laid down
1944-12-16
Launched
1944-08-15
Commissioned
1945-05-12
Decommissioned
1955-12-15
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Pacific Theater 1945
Korean War era Atlantic Fleet operations 1951-1955
Vietnam War logistics support 1965-1970
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Norfolk, Virginia — home port 1946, 1951-1955
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Leyte Gulf, Philippines
Okinawa
San Francisco, California
Boston Naval Shipyard
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard· 1955-08 pre-inactivation overhaul
unspecified East Coast yard· 1953-01 to 1953-07 modernization
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.
Final Disposition
scrapped 1971
USS Kula Gulf (CVE-108) 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 Kula Gulf (CVE-108). 2 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Per Wikipedia infobox Design section; powered the steam turbines
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Kula Gulf (CVE-108). 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 Kula Gulf
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.
Kula Gulf CVE-108 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Kula Gulf CVE-108 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Kula Gulf CVE-108 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 Kula Gulf CVE-108 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Kula Gulf CVE-108'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 Kula Gulf CVE-108?
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 Kula Gulf CVE-108?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Kula Gulf CVE-108 include: Allis-Chalmers, Combustion Engineering. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Kula Gulf CVE-108 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. Kula Gulf CVE-108 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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