USS Wren (DD-568) — Equipment Manifest & Asbestos Exposure Record
Documented equipment manifest and asbestos exposure record for USS Wren (DD-568). 5 machinery and manufacturer entries derived from the public asbestos...
By Rights Watch Media Group LLC•June 6, 2026•1 min read
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USS Wren (DD-568) underway, circa in the mid-1950s (NH 107257)Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Wren (DD-568) was a Fletcher-class destroyer commissioned in May 1944 that saw extensive service in the Pacific Theater during World War II, including shore bombardment missions against the Kuril Islands and operations during the Okinawa campaign, earning three battle stars. After decommissioning in 1946, she was recommissioned in 1951 and served with the Atlantic Fleet and Mediterranean deployments through the 1950s, including Far East operations during the Korean War era. Transferred to the Naval Reserve Force in the early 1960s, she was decommissioned in 1963 and scrapped in 1975.
Okinawa Campaign· 1945-05 Antisubmarine patrols and antiaircraft radar picket
Final Aerial Attacks on Japan· 1945-07 Carrier task force support
Home Ports & Forward Bases
San Diego CA — home port 1944
Pearl Harbor HI — transit and operations
Norfolk VA — home port 1951-1963
Yokosuka Japan — Far East deployment 1953-1954
Sasebo Japan — carrier task force operations
Galveston TX — Naval Reserve base early 1960s
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard· 1945-1946 inactivation 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
Came under air attack several times during Okinawa campaign (21 May – 18 June 1945) with no major hits sustained
Final Disposition
Scrapped — sold to North American Smelting Co., Wilmington DE on 22 October 1975
USS Wren (DD-568) 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 Wren (DD-568). 5 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 Governors
Leslie
For USS Wren (DD-568)
Pump Governor
Leslie
4
3/4" PTDMS, Serial Numbers 120863-121236, Type B plan
Steam Pump
Warren Steam Pump Company, Inc.
USS Wren (DD-568) listed under Warren Steam Pump Company documentation
Turbine
Warren Steam Pump Company, Inc.
Model 1-A-4484-6 installed aboard USS Wren (DD-568)
Leslie Pump Governors
Leslie
4
DD-568 USS Wren listed among DD-550 through DD-580 class destroyers equipped with Leslie pump governors, serial numbers 120863 to 121236
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.
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.
Wren DD-568 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Wren DD-568 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Wren DD-568 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 Wren DD-568 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Wren DD-568'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 Wren DD-568?
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 Wren DD-568?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Wren DD-568 include: Leslie, Warren Steam Pump Company, Inc.. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Wren DD-568 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. Wren DD-568 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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