USS Princeton (CV-37 / CVA-37 / LPH-5) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier commissioned 18 November 1945 — serving through Korean War operations, conversion to an amphibious assault ship (LPH-5), and Vietnam War service before decommissioning 30 January 1970. Deposition testimony from crew members who served as Machinist’s Mates aboard Princeton documents asbestos-containing equipment in the engineering spaces.
The equipment manifest below is drawn from ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation and publicly filed asbestos litigation records.
Equipment Manifest
| Equipment | Manufacturer | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drinking Water Coolers | General Electric Company | New type procured under contract SS8-100; USS Princeton listed as recipient | |
| Refrigerators | General Electric Company | New type procured under contract SS8-100; USS Princeton listed as recipient | |
| Frozen Food Cabinets | General Electric Company | New type procured under contract SS8-100; USS Princeton listed as recipient | |
| Refrigerators | Frigidaire | Coldwall Models CPD-13 and CPD-19 presently installed in CV class ships | |
| Distiller circulating pump | Warren Steam Pump Company | USS Princeton CV-37, headsheet dated July 23, 1943, Warren order A-17529 | |
| Controller | Cutler-Hammer | Referenced in technical manual context for USS Princeton CV-37 | |
| Cast Steel Angle Bottom Blow Valve (1½ with salinometer connection) | Manning Maxwell & Moore, Inc. - Hancock Valve Division | Replacement packing gland; asbestos packing material specified | |
| Main Feed Booster Pump | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Slot insulation and fishpaper/varnish cabric/MICARTA insulation materials | |
| Weighted Control Valve (2½ inch for Gland Steam Supply) | Foster Engineering Co. | Asbestos gasket specified in materials list |
Documented Asbestos Products — Litigation Record
The following manufacturers and products are specifically documented in publicly filed asbestos litigation involving USS Princeton (CV-37):
Pumps — Warren Steam Pump Company (Warren Pumps): Deposition testimony from a Machinist’s Mate who served aboard USS Princeton (CV-37) directly identifies Warren Pumps among the equipment aboard the vessel. Litigation documents list Warren Pumps in the context of USS Princeton CV-37 equipment — including the distiller circulating pump documented in the BUSHIPS manifest. Warren Pumps products contained asbestos gaskets at pump flanges and John Crane asbestos packing in pump glands, which required periodic replacement during normal maintenance.
Boiler plant: Princeton’s boiler plant is referenced in the litigation corpus. As an Essex-class carrier, Princeton was equipped with eight Babcock & Wilcox main boilers with asbestos-containing external insulation and refractory materials — the class-standard configuration documented across Essex-class asbestos litigation.
Machinist’s Mate deposition testimony: Publicly filed deposition testimony from a Machinist’s Mate who served aboard USS Princeton CV-37 addresses equipment maintenance in the engineering spaces, including pump and valve work that involved removing and replacing asbestos-containing gaskets and packing. The deponent also served aboard USS Yorktown — providing cross-ship documentation of the same equipment types and work methods.
Essex-class shared documentation: As an Essex-class vessel, Princeton shares class-wide documentation of 250+ tons of amosite and chrysotile thermal insulation, Babcock & Wilcox boilers, Griscom-Russell distilling plants, De Laval oil purifiers, and Crane Co. steam valves — all with documented asbestos insulation, gaskets, and packing.
Documented crew:
- Machinist’s Mate — served aboard USS Princeton (CV-37) and USS Yorktown; publicly filed deposition testimony covers valve and pump maintenance in engineering spaces
Asbestos-Containing Materials Aboard Princeton
The standard asbestos-containing materials installed throughout U.S. Navy carriers of this era included:
- Pipe lagging and thermal insulation on main steam, feed-water, fuel-oil, condensate, and saltwater piping throughout machinery spaces
- Boiler block insulation, refractory brick, and gun-blocks around the eight main boilers
- Asbestos gaskets and braided packing in valves, flanges, pumps, condensers, heat exchangers, and turbine glands
- Insulation jackets and removable lagging on main propulsion turbines, reduction gears, and auxiliary machinery
- Sheet asbestos and Marinite panels as fire-stops, bulkhead insulation, and overhead insulation
- Vinyl asbestos floor tile (VAT) in passageways, berthing, mess decks, and habitable compartments
Sailors in Boilerman, Machinist’s Mate, Engineman, Electrician’s Mate, and other engineering ratings worked routinely in spaces where these materials were installed, maintained, and replaced.
VA Benefits for Princeton Veterans
The 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.
Parallel claims against the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by manufacturers including Warren Pumps and Babcock & Wilcox are also available, and do not reduce VA compensation.
Speak with an asbestos attorney with Navy veterans experience →
Equipment manifest derived from public-record BUSHIPS documentation and publicly filed asbestos litigation specific to USS Princeton (CV-37 / LPH-5). Editorial review applied per site standards.
