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Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Princeton (LPH-5) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier commissioned in November 1945 that served extensively in the Korean War, earning eight battle stars, and the Vietnam War as an amphibious assault ship. Originally classified as a fleet carrier (CV), she was reclassified as an attack carrier (CVA) in 1952, an antisubmarine carrier (CVS) in 1954, and finally as an amphibious assault ship (LPH) in 1959, capable of transporting Marine battalions and conducting vertical envelopment operations. Decommissioned in 1970 and sold for scrap in September 1972, Princeton retained the classic Essex-class silhouette throughout her 25-year service despite extensive internal modifications.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Philadelphia Navy Yard
Laid down
1943-09-14
Launched
1945-07-08
Commissioned
1945-11-18
Decommissioned
1970
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Atlantic Fleet 1945-1946
Pacific Fleet 1946-1948
Korean War 1950-1953
Cold War Pacific 1954-1962
Vietnam War 1964-1967
Combat Actions
Korean War — combat operations· 1950-12 Air support and interdiction missions
Korean War — Hungnam evacuation· 1950-12 Air cover for Marine evacuation
Korean War — operations TF 77· 1952-04 Combat air operations for 138 days
Vietnam War — Operation Jackstay· 1966-03 Vertical envelopment operations
Vietnam War — Operation Osage· 1966-04 Amphibious assault support
Vietnam War — Operation Deckhouse I· 1966-06 Amphibious assault support
Vietnam War — Operation Hastings· 1966 Amphibious and air support
Home Ports & Forward Bases
San Diego, California — home port 1946-1970
Long Beach, California — homeport 1965
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Bremerton, Washington· 1954 conversion to CVS-37
Bremerton, Washington· 1959 conversion to LPH-5
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 1961 — rescued 74 survivors from merchantmen Pioneer Muse and Sheik grounded on Kita Daito Shima
April 1962 — delivered Marine Corps advisors and helicopters to Sóc Trăng, Mekong Delta, South Vietnam
November 1964 — interrupted combat operations for flood relief work in Vietnam
Final Disposition
sold for scrap September 1972
USS Princeton (LPH-5) is a documented U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship 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 Princeton (LPH-5). 16 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
1 ½ cast steel angle bottom blow valve with salinometer connection
Manning Maxwell & Moore, Inc. (Hancock Valve Division)
Special right hand and left hand quarter turn inlet - flanged end. Asbestos packing gland.
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 Princeton
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.
Princeton LPH-5 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Princeton LPH-5 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Princeton LPH-5 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 Princeton LPH-5 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Princeton LPH-5'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 Princeton LPH-5?
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 Princeton LPH-5?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Princeton LPH-5 include: Babcock & Wilcox, Bogue Electric Co., C.H. Wheeler Mfg. Co., Cooper Bessemer, Delco, Foster Engineering Co., General Electric Co.. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Princeton LPH-5 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. Princeton LPH-5 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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