Asbestos Exposure on the USS Basilone

Hull Number: DD-824
Type: Destroyer
Class: Gearing
Built: Orange, TX

This Gearing-class Destroyer was constructed in 1945 by the shipbuilding arm of the Consolidated Steel Corporation of Orange, TX. It measured just over 390 feet fore-to-aft, and held a complement of 345 officers and men.

Left inactive for several years after completion, the ship was not commissioned by the U.S. Navy until July of 1949, after it had undergone a conversion to a Destroyer Escort by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Quincy, MA.

For nearly two decades, the Basilone remained mainly in Atlantic waters, but it went on to serve in Vietnam in 1966. The vessel earned three battle stars for its service in the conflict, and remained in service until November 1977.

Many Navy veterans who served aboard the USS Basilone were likely exposed to asbestos over their course of their regular duty. Prior to the mid-1970’s, asbestos was used in much of the on-board equipment on Navy vessels, including turbines, boilers, valves, pumps, and electrical components.

A number of materials were also often made entirely from asbestos, including gaskets and packing. The boiler and engine spaces generally held the highest concentration of asbestos products, exposing Boiler Tenders, Firemen, and others who worked in these areas to breathable asbestos dust on a daily basis.

While the companies that provided the Navy with these asbestos products were often aware of the devastating effect asbestos has on the human body, they did not inform Navy veterans or instruct them on the proper precautions needed. As a result, instances of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases occur in Navy veterans at a much higher rate than in the general population.

Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma who have served in the Navy have the right to seek compensation for their conditions. Settlements can offset or cover the staggering price of medical care, and may be able to provide additional sums for pain and suffering.

The law limits the time in which a lawsuit may be filed however, so it is important that victims seek legal counsel soon after a mesothelioma diagnosis.

The law firm of Belluck & Fox, LLP specializes in representing victims of asbestos, including patients diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer caused by asbestos. Our attorneys are experienced in dealing with the companies who produced asbestos products, and will fight to get the maximum settlement for our clients. We have won our clients over $500 million, including a recent verdict of $32 million for a Navy Boiler Tender. Contact us at 1-877-637-6843 (1-877-637-6843) or through the web by using our contact form. We also offer Live Chat for your convenience.