USS Wyoming (BB-32) — Equipment Reference & Asbestos Exposure Record
Equipment reference and asbestos exposure record for USS Wyoming (BB-32). 2 machinery and manufacturer entries from the public Wikipedia article citing...
By Rights Watch Media Group LLC•June 6, 2026•1 min read
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USS Wyoming BB-32 circa 1912-13Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Wyoming (BB-32) was the lead ship of her Wyoming-class dreadnought battleships, laid down in 1910 and commissioned in 1912. During World War I, she served with the British Grand Fleet's 6th Battle Squadron, conducting North Sea patrols and convoy escort missions. She spent the interwar period in both Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, was converted to a training ship in 1931-1932, and from November 1941 onward served as a gunnery ship in the Chesapeake Bay, training approximately 35,000 gunners for the expanded U.S. Navy during World War II until her decommissioning in August 1947.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia
Laid down
1910-02-09
Launched
1911-05-25
Commissioned
1912-09-25
Decommissioned
1947-08-01
Notable Tours / Service Eras
World War I — North Sea & convoy escort 1917-1918
Interwar period — Atlantic and Pacific Fleets 1919-1941
World War II — Gunnery training ship 1941-1947
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Hampton Roads VA — fleet base 1913
Scapa Flow UK — 6th Battle Squadron base December 1917–1918
Chesapeake Bay VA — homeport and training area 1941-1947
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
New York Navy Yard· 1913 repairs
New York Navy Yard· 1913-1914 periodic repairs
New York Navy Yard· 1914 overhaul
New York Navy Yard· 1914-1915 repairs
New York Navy Yard· 1915-1916 overhaul
New York Navy Yard· 1916 dockyard work
Philadelphia Navy Yard· 1925 modernization
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.
Final Disposition
scrapped in New York starting December 1947
USS Wyoming (BB-32) is a documented U.S. Navy battleship. 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 Wyoming (BB-32). 2 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Original installation, per Wikipedia infobox characteristics section
Oil-fired boilers
White-Forster
4
Replaced coal boilers in 1925 modernization, per Wikipedia infobox 1925-27 refit section
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Wyoming (BB-32). 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 Wyoming
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.
Wyoming BB-32 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Wyoming BB-32 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Wyoming BB-32 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 Wyoming BB-32 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Wyoming BB-32'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 Wyoming BB-32?
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 Wyoming BB-32?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Wyoming BB-32 include: Babcock & Wilcox, White-Forster. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Wyoming BB-32 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. Wyoming BB-32 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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