Asbestos Exposure on Ships:

USS LEXINGTON CV 2 CRUISER

USS Lexington, nicknamed the "Gray Lady" or "Lady Lex", was an early aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. The carrier was the lead ship of the Lexington class, though her sister ship Saratoga, was commissioned a month earlier. She was also the fourth ship to carry the name "Lexington". The ship is named after the Battle of Lexington that took place in Lexington, Massachusetts in 1775, the first battle and bloodshed of the Revolutionary War. She and her sister ship, Saratoga, were originally authorized in 1916 as battle cruisers, but were redesigned as aircraft carriers in 1922. Lexington was launched on 3rd October 1925, sponsored by Mrs. Theodore Douglas Robinson (wife of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy), and commissioned 14th December 1927, Captain Albert W. Marshall in command. The carrier participated in the Second World War, with significance in the Battle of the Coral Sea. In this battle the carrier took on an Japanese carrier, which it manage to damage heavily, however, enemy planes penetrated the American defenses, and 20 minutes later Lexington was struck by a torpedo. Having sustained heavy damage during the battle, and to prevent enemy capture, a U.S. heavy cruiser fired two torpedoes into her hull, and Lexington sunk there, in 1956. The carrier received two battle stars for World War II service.

Some of the ships characteristics were:

  • Weight 36 000 tons
  • Length 888 feet
  • Speed 33 knots
  • Propulsion that reached 209 710 horse power in service

Asbestos on board the USS Lexington has serious consequences

The carrier was built in a period that large amounts of asbestos materials were used on board for fireproofing and insulating purposes. The asbestos materials on this so called “asbestos carriers” were easily damageable, and fiber of asbestos released into the air. Swallowing or inhaling these tiny fibers could result in serious health problems. It is important to take a full exam, especially if you were a crew member on these types of ships.

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

Make sure that you know all your legal rights because it might prove useful. If you are an asbestos victim and have served on board the Lexington, contact a specialized asbestos attorney and let him know that you need legal advice. He or she will have an evaluation done on your situation and decide whether or not to file a claim. If so, it will allow you to pay for medical bills and receive the best treatment available.

Do not hesitate to contact an asbestos specialist. We will help you with information and advice completely free.