Asbestos Exposure on Ships:

USS BELLEAU WOOD CVL 24 AIRCRAFT

The USS Belleau Wood was an aircraft carrier that served in the Second World War and Indochina War, under French authority, when she was known as Bois Belleau. In the United States navy the USS Belleau Wood was originally named USS New Haven, as a light cruiser. That is how the carrier started construction, on the 11th of August 1941. Sponsored by Mrs. Thomas Holcomb, wife of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the USS Belleau Wood was commissioned into active service on the 31st of March 1943, under the command of Captain A. M. Pride. During her entire service, the USS Belleau Wood received 12 battle stars, and was decommissioned from active service on the 12th of December 1960 from the French Navy and sold for scrap by the United States on the 21st of December 1960.

The main characteristics of the light aircraft carrier are as follows:

  • Independence class aircraft carrier
  • 11000 tons in displacement
  • 622 feet in length
  • Maximum speed was almost 32 knots, and while cruising the USS Belleau Wood could have maximum range of around 14000 nautical miles
  • Total crew was composed of 1569 officers and men
  • The ship could carry 24 fighters and 9 torpedo planes, no helicopters or jet engine planes were ever carried

Asbestos on the USS Belleau Wood has serious consequences

It was well known that all war ships built during the period that the Belleau Wood was built in contained numerous asbestos materials as fireproofing, insulating and sealing materials. Crew members were not aware of the dangers and as a result did not pay attention on the fact the asbestos materials were constantly being damaged and allowed asbestos fibers to be released. The USS Belleau Wood had an asbestos rich environment in which all her crew and repairmen worked and could have developed asbestos related diseases.

Have you been exposed to asbestos on board the USS Belleau Wood? Contact an attorney!

We advise that you visit a doctor and have him perform a complete medical exam before determining that you need a lawyer. If that is the case, you may contact an attorney and he or she will first evaluate your case, and decide together what legal actions to undertake. The asbestos or mesothelioma lawyer you hired will handle all legal procedures so that you can receive the rightful compensation amount.

Feel free to contact an asbestos expert whenever you require asbestos related information. We provide it free and fast.