The USS Intrepid (CV/CVA/CVS-11) was one of the 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers that was built during World War II with the hull number CV-11 which was commissioned in 1943. After the war ended, the ship was reclassified as an attack carrier but before being decommissioned in 1974, it was reclassified again as an antisubmarine carrier. Overall, the ship was in the U.S. Navy service for 31 years, it carried over 2,600 men and held almost 100 aircraft.
Asbestos is a hazardous substance, for which there is no "safe" level of exposure in the work environment. Even though the use of asbestos stopped in the 1970s, the toxic substance continues to impact thousands of Navy veterans today. The asbestos-related disease occurs when the material’s fibers are inhaled into the lungs. The adverse symptoms caused by long-term exposure to asbestos do not appear until 30 – 40 years after exposure and so those most at risk will now be aged between 50 – 70 years old.