USS Oriskany (CV-34) is a documented U.S. Navy aircraft carrier 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 | Manufacturer | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relief Valves | Crane Co. | NAVSHIPS 331-0406 Master Parts Book for USS Oriskany (CV-34) | |
| Back Pressure Valves | Crane Co. | NAVSHIPS 331-0406 Master Parts Book for USS Oriskany (CV-34) | |
| Spring Loaded Valves | Crane Co. | NAVSHIPS 331-0406 Master Parts Book for USS Oriskany (CV-34) | |
| Combination Feed Stop & Stop Check Valves | Crane Co. | NAVSHIPS 331-0406 Master Parts Book for USS Oriskany (CV-34) | |
| Strainers | Crane Co. | NAVSHIPS 331-0406 Master Parts Book for USS Oriskany (CV-34) | |
| Circulating and Chilled Freshwater Pump, Type 1-SED-6 | Warren | CV-34 Class Project 27 Alpha Improvement Program Number 1; Warren, Mass. manufacturer per instruction book | |
| Deaeration feed tank guide vanes | Elliott | Replacement of Elliott Deaeration feed tank guide vanes (ShipAlt CVS56) | |
| evaporator brine overboard pump | Warren | Order N-35608, headsheet dated May 22, 1962 | |
| distiller freshwater pumps | Warren | Order A-17540, headsheet dated July 26, 1943 | |
| refrigerating circulating pumps | Warren | Order A-17546, headsheet dated July 27, 1943 | |
| freshwater circulating pumps | Warren | Order A-17722, headsheet dated April 29, 1943 | |
| evaporator tube nest first effect drain pump | Warren | Order A-17543, headsheet dated July 27, 1943 | |
| impeller pullers | Warren | Order A-17668, headsheet dated July 27, 1943 | |
| chilled freshwater pumps | Warren | Order A-25311, headsheet dated December 26, 1951 | |
| Circulating Chilled Freshwater Pump, Type 1-SED-6 | Warren | CV-34 Class, Project 27A, drawing R-182 | |
| Saltwater Circulating Pump, Type 1-SED-6 | Warren | Drawing R-153 | |
| distiller circulating pumps | Warren | Order A-17529, headsheet dated July 23, 1943 | |
| evaporator feed pump | Warren | Order A-17535, headsheet dated July 26, 1943 | |
| auxiliary machinery cooling water service pump | Warren | Order A-17517, headsheet dated July 22, 1943 |
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.
Documented Asbestos Exposure Record
Propulsion plant and insulation
USS Oriskany (CV-34) was an Essex-class carrier built 1944/1945–1950. Her steam propulsion plant included eight boilers in four rooms — “massive steam-generating boilers” described in deposition testimony. Her original thermal insulation was a magnesium-asbestos composite described in expert testimony as composed of “18 percent magnesium and 15 percent asbestos.” Deposition testimony describes “miles of asbestos-containing insulation” covering piping, valves, flanges, and fittings throughout the engineering spaces — installed because of the high operating temperatures of the steam plant.
Valves
Deposition testimony identifies Crane Co. and Leslie Controls as principal valve manufacturers aboard Oriskany:
- Crane Co. — steam valves supplied to the Navy during World War II and incorporated into Oriskany’s steam-propulsion system; deponents describe valve maintenance (removing flanges and valve internals) as a routine source of gasket and insulation exposure
- Leslie Controls — steam reducing valve for the firemain, boiler controls, and steam reducers; a 644 psi–350 psi reducer documented as a specific Leslie product aboard the ship
Work activities generating asbestos exposure
Deposition testimony by a crew member who worked in Oriskany’s boiler and engine rooms describes the following asbestos-releasing work activities:
- Scraping insulation off equipment with a chisel, knife, or wire brush
- Re-packing valves and pumps
- Removing insulation during repair/maintenance — producing “a lot of dust”
Documented crew (ratings and officers)
- Lieutenant (Main Engine Junior Officer, then Boiler Division Officer) — supervised equipment repairs in the engine and boiler rooms; developed mesothelioma and died in 2005 at age 62; the case reached the appellate level against a valve manufacturer, with the appellate court reversing a trial court judgment
- Engineering crew member — worked in Oriskany’s boiler and engine rooms; co-worker testimony describes valve repacking and insulation removal
Service periods documented in litigation
- June 1965 – August 1966 — service period connected to the mesothelioma diagnosis documented in publicly filed litigation
- 1966–1968 — dry dock repair work following the October 26, 1966 flight-deck fire that killed 44 crew members; Oriskany repaired at Hunter’s Point, CA naval shipyard; workers involved in the post-fire repair were exposed to asbestos during insulation removal and replacement
Litigation outcome
An appellate decision arising from USS Oriskany asbestos litigation (referencing John Crane, Inc. v. Scribner, 369 Md. 369, 800 A.2d 727 (2002)) is a significant precedent in Navy valve asbestos litigation; the appellate court reversed a trial judgment, with further proceedings on officer-status and gasket-work issues.
Veterans who served aboard USS Oriskany (CV-34): Service in the engineering spaces, boiler rooms, or engine rooms — or work during the 1966–1968 post-fire repairs at Hunter’s Point — may support a VA presumptive claim, a civil lawsuit, or trust fund recovery.
Free, confidential case evaluation: Speak with O’Brien Law Firm — (314) 936-2956
All consultations are free. No fee unless a financial recovery is made on your behalf.
References to equipment, asbestos products, and litigation history reflect what has been alleged or documented in publicly filed asbestos litigation. This does not constitute a finding of fact or liability. This site does not provide legal or medical advice.
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 Oriskany
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:
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.
VA Claims Guide on This Site › Compare: VA vs. Civil Lawsuit
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.
