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Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Mansfield (DD-728) was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer that saw extensive combat service in World War II with the Pacific Fleet, participating in carrier strike operations from the Philippines to the Japanese home islands and earning five battle stars. She subsequently served during the Korean War, including the Inchon operation, and conducted multiple deployments to the Western Pacific during the Cold War, including extended operations off Vietnam from 1965 to 1970 where she was damaged by enemy fire. Decommissioned in February 1971, Mansfield was stricken from the Navy Vessel Register in 1974 and sold to Argentina for cannibalization.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine
Laid down
1943-08-28
Launched
1944-01-29
Commissioned
1944-04-14
Decommissioned
1971-02-04
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Pacific Theater 1944-1945
Korean War 1950-1951
Cold War Pacific Fleet 1951-1964
Vietnam War 1965-1970
Combat Actions
Central Luzon carrier strikes· 1944-12 Screened and served as picket
Formosa and Luzon airstrikes· 1944-12-30 Screened task group
South China Sea operations· 1945-01 Fleet screen during China coast foray
Tokyo area strikes· 1945-02 Screened carriers; assisted downing enemy fighter
Iwo Jima assault· 1945-02 Provided fighter support screen
Southern Kyushu and Okinawa strikes· 1945-03-04 Screened carrier operations
Inchon gunfire support· 1950-09 Flagship for DesDiv 91; shore bombardment
Vietnam gunfire support and interdiction· 1965-1970 Gunfire support; blockade and traffic interdiction
Tiger Island shore battery engagement· 1967-09 Engaged by North Vietnam batteries; sustained casualties
Home Ports & Forward Bases
San Diego, California — arrived September 1944
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii — training and operations
Ulithi Atoll — forward base 1944-1945
Tokyo Bay — witnessed Japanese surrender September 1945
Sasebo, Japan — deployed June 1950
Subic Bay, Philippines — emergency repairs 1950
Bremerton, Washington — repairs 1950-1951
Long Beach, California — home port 1960-1964
Yokosuka, Japan — home port 1961-1964 and 1966-1970
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington· 1950-1951 Bow repair and overhaul
Naval Shipyard, Long Beach, California· 1955 Overhaul
Naval Shipyard, Long Beach, California· 1960 FRAM Mark II overhaul and conversion
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
October 1950 — struck mine off South Korea; bow severed below main deck; 27 crewmembers seriously injured
25 September 1967 — struck by North Vietnam shore battery off Tiger Island; 1 KIA (MM2 Richard Archer), 19 wounded
Final Disposition
Sold to Argentina 4 June 1974 and cannibalized for spare parts
USS Mansfield (DD-728) is a documented U.S. Navy destroyer 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 Mansfield (DD-728). 5 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Equipment
Manufacturer
Qty
Notes
Vertical Single Emergency Feed Pump (9 by 6-1/2 by 16)
Warren Steam Pump Company
USS Mansfield DD-728 specific; manufacturer plan number BS5-1705 and BS5-1706
Drawing BS-1195, identical to USS MANSFIELD DD-728 installation
Fire and Bilge Pump Lagging
Warren Steam Pump Company
Drawing BS-1196, insulation/lagging for fire and bilge pump, identical to USS MANSFIELD DD-728
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 Mansfield
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.
Mansfield DD-728 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Mansfield DD-728 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Mansfield DD-728 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 Mansfield DD-728 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Mansfield DD-728'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 Mansfield DD-728?
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 Mansfield DD-728?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Mansfield DD-728 include: Warren, Warren Pumps, Warren Steam Pump Company. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Mansfield DD-728 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. Mansfield DD-728 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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