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Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Sylvania (AFS-2), a Mars-class combat stores ship commissioned in 1964, served primarily with the Atlantic and Sixth Fleets through the Cold War, conducting extensive Mediterranean deployments and logistic support operations from her home port of Norfolk, Virginia. The ship participated in peacekeeping operations off Lebanon in 1983–1984 and provided supply support during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990–1991. Decommissioned in 1994 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1995, Sylvania was eventually scrapped in 2012 after nearly 30 years of service.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego, California
Laid down
1962-08-18
Launched
1963-08-10
Commissioned
1964-07-11
Decommissioned
1994-05-26
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Mediterranean 6th Fleet 1965-1969
Mediterranean 6th Fleet 1970-1973
Mediterranean 6th Fleet 1974-1976
Mediterranean 6th Fleet 1980s deployments
Lebanon peacekeeping 1983-1984
Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm 1990-1991
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Norfolk VA — home port 1964-1994
Naples Italy — home port Mediterranean 1965-1969
Rota Spain
Palma de Mallorca Spain
Toulon France
Naples Italy
Gibraltar
Haifa Israel
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Malta· 1968-11-29 to 1968-12-10 routine maintenance
Norfolk Naval Shipyard· 1970-04-11 to 1970-05-13 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
8 January 1968 — 38-degree roll in heavy seas, water over flight deck, 52 pallets of provisions lost
8 June 1967 — assisted USS Liberty during Israeli attack in Six-Day War
16 June 1969 — UH-46D helicopter crashed during vertical replenishment in Palma de Mallorca, crew rescued
Final Disposition
Sold for scrapping 2012
USS Sylvania (AFS-2) 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 Sylvania (AFS-2). 2 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Sylvania (AFS-2). 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 Sylvania
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.
Sylvania AFS-2 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Sylvania AFS-2 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Sylvania AFS-2 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 Sylvania AFS-2 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Sylvania AFS-2'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 Sylvania AFS-2?
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 Sylvania AFS-2?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Sylvania AFS-2 include: Babcock & Wilcox, De Laval. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Sylvania AFS-2 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. Sylvania AFS-2 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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Maritime statute of limitations: 3 years from diagnosis (46 U.S.C. § 30106)
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