USS Northampton (CA-26) — Equipment Reference & Asbestos Exposure Record
Equipment reference and asbestos exposure record for USS Northampton (CA-26). 3 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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Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Northampton (CA-26) was the lead ship of the Northampton-class cruiser and served in the U.S. Navy from 1930 through World War II. She participated in major Pacific operations including the Doolittle Raid, Battle of Midway, and Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, providing carrier screen and gunfire support. She was sunk by Japanese torpedoes at the Battle of Tassafaronga on 30 November 1942, with most survivors rescued by destroyers and the torpedo boat PT-109.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Bethlehem Steel Corp., Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts
Laid down
1928-04-12
Launched
1929-09-05
Commissioned
1930-05-17
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Atlantic Fleet 1930
Pacific Fleet 1932-1942
WWII Pacific Theater 1941-1942
Combat Actions
Wotje Bombardment· 1942-02 Shore bombardment; sank two Japanese ships
Wake Island Bombardment· 1942-02 Shore bombardment; started fires and sank dredge
Doolittle Raid on Tokyo· 1942-04 Task force escort
Battle of Midway· 1942-06 Carrier screen for Enterprise
Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands· 1942-10 Carrier escort; provided antiaircraft cover
Battle of Tassafaronga· 1942-11 Cruiser-destroyer action; sunk by Japanese torpedoes
Home Ports & Forward Bases
San Pedro, California — home port 1932
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii — home port (later)
Notable Incidents
11 December 1941 collision with USS Craven during underway refueling
30 November 1942 Battle of Tassafaronga — struck by two Japanese torpedoes and sunk
Final Disposition
Sunk in action 30 November 1942
USS Northampton (CA-26) is a documented U.S. Navy heavy cruiser. 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 Northampton (CA-26). 3 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
White-Forster boiler
White-Forster
8
per Wikipedia infobox characteristics (as built)
Parsons reduction steam turbine
Parsons
4
per Wikipedia infobox characteristics (as built)
CXAM radar
RCA Corporation
1
installed 1940, per Wikipedia article text
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Northampton (CA-26). 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 Northampton
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.
Northampton CA-26 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Northampton CA-26 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Northampton CA-26 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 Northampton CA-26 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Northampton CA-26'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 Northampton CA-26?
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 Northampton CA-26?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Northampton CA-26 include: Parsons, RCA Corporation, White-Forster. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Northampton CA-26 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. Northampton CA-26 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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