USS Mars (AFS-1) — Equipment Reference & Asbestos Exposure Record
Equipment reference and asbestos exposure record for USS Mars (AFS-1). 2 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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Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Mars (AFS-1), commissioned in December 1963, was the first of a new class of combat support ships designed to replace multiple supply-ship types. She served extensively with the 7th Fleet during the Vietnam War and subsequent Cold War operations in the Pacific and Indian Ocean, earning eleven campaign stars for Vietnam service. After decommissioning in February 1993, she was transferred to the Military Sealift Command, laid up in 1998, and finally sunk as a target ship during RIMPAC 2006 exercises on 15 July 2006.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego, California
Laid down
1962-05-05
Launched
1963-06-15
Commissioned
1963-12-21
Decommissioned
1993-02-01
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Vietnam War Pacific Theater 1964-1969
Cold War Western Pacific 1970-1988
Persian Gulf / Indian Ocean Operations 1980-1988
Combat Actions
Vietnam War — replenishment operations off Vietnam· 1964-1969 Combat supply vessel
Operation Formation Star — USS Pueblo crisis response· 1968-01 Fleet logistics support
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Yokosuka, Japan — homeport 1964-1972
Sasebo, Japan — homeport 1973-1976, 1987-1993
Alameda, California — homeport 1972-1973, 1976-1987
Oakland, California — homeport 1987-1993
San Diego, California
Subic Bay, Philippines
Hong Kong
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Willamette Iron and Steel Company, Richmond, California· 1971-1972 extensive overhaul
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
14 May 1979 — collision with USS Cook off Point Loma near San Diego, California; seven injured
Final Disposition
sunk as torpedo target — RIMPAC 2006 exercises, 15 July 2006
USS Mars (AFS-1) is a documented U.S. Navy vessel. 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 Mars (AFS-1). 2 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
UNIVAC 1104 computer system
UNIVAC
1
First ship in Pacific Fleet equipped with this system per article text
Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters
Boeing Vertol
2
Per Wikipedia infobox aircraft
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Mars (AFS-1). 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.
Mars AFS-1 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Mars AFS-1 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Mars AFS-1 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 Mars AFS-1 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Mars AFS-1'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 Mars AFS-1?
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 Mars AFS-1?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Mars AFS-1 include: Boeing Vertol, UNIVAC. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Mars AFS-1 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. Mars AFS-1 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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