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Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Wadsworth (DD-516), a Fletcher-class destroyer commissioned in March 1943, saw extensive combat in the Pacific Theater during World War II, including fire support at Bougainville and the Green Islands, plus anti-shipping operations. Placed in reserve after the war, she was loaned to the West German Navy in 1959 as Zerstörer 3, then transferred to the Hellenic Navy in 1980 as Nearchos, serving until scrapping in 1991.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Bath Iron Works
Laid down
1942-08-18
Launched
1943-01-10
Commissioned
1943-03-16
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Pacific Theater 1943-1945
Cold War Atlantic Fleet 1945-1959
West German Navy 1959-1980
Hellenic Navy 1980-1991
Combat Actions
Bougainville Campaign — Empress Augusta Bay landings· 1943-11 fire support and transport escort
Green Islands occupation· 1944-02 transport escort and air defense
Rabaul anti-shipping sweep· 1944-02 bombardment
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Boston Navy Yard — commissioning and post-shakedown
Guantanamo Bay — shakedown training
Norfolk, Virginia — transit
Pearl Harbor — August 1943
Espiritu Santo — South Pacific operations base
Purvis Bay, Florida Island — logistics hub
Notable Incidents
1 November 1943 air attack off Empress Augusta Bay — near-miss killed 2, wounded 9
Final Disposition
scrapped — 1991
USS Wadsworth (DD-516) is a documented U.S. Navy destroyer 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 Wadsworth (DD-516). 6 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
Pump Governor
Leslie Co.
Leslie pump governors installed on USS Wadsworth (DD-516); diaphragms and gaskets specified as Leslie Co. standard parts
Pump Governors
Leslie
USS Wadsworth (DD-516) listed in Leslie Pump Governors instructions for United States Destroyers
Steam Pump
Warren Steam Pump Company, Inc.
Warren Steam Pump Company, Inc., Warren, Massachusetts listed as supplier for DD-516
Charleston Navy Yard made contract with Westinghouse for delivery by 13 July 1943 for USS Murray (DD-516)
Pump Governors
Leslie Co.
Leslie pump governors installed aboard USS Wadsworth (DD-516)
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 Wadsworth
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.
Wadsworth DD-516 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Wadsworth DD-516 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Wadsworth DD-516 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 Wadsworth DD-516 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Wadsworth DD-516'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 Wadsworth DD-516?
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 Wadsworth DD-516?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Wadsworth DD-516 include: Leslie, Leslie Co., Warren Steam Pump Company, Inc., Westinghouse Manufacturing Company. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Wadsworth DD-516 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. Wadsworth DD-516 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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