Asbestos Exposure on Ships:

USS BUNKER HILL CV 17 AIRCRAFT

The American carrier named USS Bunker Hill was part of a 24 ship group of the Essex class aircraft carrier class. She was the first United States ship to bear the name, after the Battle of Bunker Hill. Construction on the USS Bunker Hill started on the 15thof September 1941, and was completed on the 7th of December 1942. The vessel was commissioned to active service on the 24th of May 1943. During her service, the Bunker Hill became known as the most damaged American ship to survive the war after being attacked by Japanese kamikaze fighters. After the attack the USS Bunker Hill returned to the mainland for repairs to be decommissioned soon after that, on the 9th of January 1947, after several reclassifications. During her service, the USS Bunker Hill received 11 battle stars and one presidential unit citation.

Here are some of the ships main characteristics:

  • Essex class aircraft carrier
  • 36380 tons fully loaded
  • 872 feet in length
  • Propulsion was done via 8 boilers and 4 steam turbines, producing over 110MW
  • Maximum speed was 33 knots, with a maximum range 20000 nautical miles at cruising speed of 15 knots
  • 2600 crew including officers
  • Could carry a maximum of 100 fighter planes (the ship did not carry any jet engine aircraft or helicopter, because she was decommissioned before such equipment came into active service)

Asbestos on the USS Bunker Hill has serious consequences

Apart from the couple hundred crew members that lost their lives during the Japanese kamikaze attack, the USS Bunker Hill could have other casualties from asbestos exposure, because the ship contained lots of asbestos materials. The danger was of asbestos exposure for a longer period, but the ship spends so little time in active service as the asbestos materials on board couldn’t get damaged so as to release asbestos fibers.

Have you been exposed to asbestos on the USS Bunker Hill? Contact an attorney!

There is a possibility that you received a high enough asbestos dosage on board the USS Bunker Hill and that the disease will only now start to show symptoms. If that is the case, visit a doctor immediately and after the complete diagnosis, contact a specialized asbestos attorney. We recommend to first evaluating your case, prior to deciding on any kind of legal action. Gather all the necessary papers before filing the claim, and follow your lawyer’s instructions exactly.

Feel free to contact an asbestos expert. We provide with useful information on any asbestos issue, completely free.