USS Brewton (FF-1086) Areas With Asbestos Exposure

The USS Brewton (FF-1086) is a Knox-class frigate laid down in 1970, launched in 1971, commissioned in 1972, and assigned to Destroyer Squadron 33 at Pearl Harbor. The frigate sailed out for her first major deployment in 1973, bound for the WestPac. With the war in Vietnam in full force, the ship was assigned special contingency operations with TF76 in 1974. Between 1975 and the early 1980s, she conducted extensive training, inspections, and multinational exercises, including frequent participation in RIMPAC and numerous ASW, AAW, and fleet readiness exercises. During her WestPac deployments, she completed multiple tasks with carrier battle groups: escorted aircraft carriers and submarines, conducted humanitarian missions, assisted distressed vessels, and performed multiple search-and-rescue operations. Throughout her career, the vessel underwent several major overhauls and maintenance availabilities to upgrade propulsion and combat systems. The USS Brewton was decommissioned in 1992 and was stricken from the Register in 1995. Products containing asbestos were a staple in older ships due to the material’s high resistance to heat and fire. Despite its value as an insulator, asbestos was also a considerable health risk and caused many Navy veterans’ severe illnesses decades later.