The USS Comte de Grasse (DD-974) was a destroyer that served the U.S. Navy for two decades. Known as one of the Navy’s most capable destroyers of the late 20th century, the ship was built in the mid-1970s and was among the last naval vessels built using asbestos-containing materials. Veterans who served aboard this destroyer, along with shipyard personnel who worked on her construction and maintenance, now face potential health risks, including mesothelioma, lung cancer linked to asbestos exposure, and other severe medical conditions.
About the USS Comte de Grasse
The Ship’s Namesake
The USS Comte de Grasse was named to honor François-Joseph-Paul de Grasse, the Comte de Grasse. Born in 1722 in Paris, France, he entered the French Navy in 1740 at the age of 17 and distinguished himself during the Seven Years’ War in battles against the British Royal Navy near India. When France began supporting the United States during the Revolutionary War, Admiral de Grasse defeated the British fleet at the Battle of the Chesapeake in 1781, enabling the naval blockade and subsequent British surrender at Yorktown, Virginia. This victory was instrumental in securing the American victory and subsequent independence.[1]
Construction of the USS Comte de Grasse
The USS Comte de Grasse was laid down in April 1975, at Pascagoula, Mississippi, by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries. As one of the 31 Spruance-class destroyers built in the 1970s, she was specifically designed to protect nuclear aircraft carrier task forces from submarine threats. More than double the size of World War II-era destroyers, the vessels were powered by four General Electric gas turbines capable of reaching speeds of 30+ knots. The Spruance-class ships measured 563 feet in length, had a displacement of 7,800 tons, and maintained a crew complement of 322 personnel.[2]
Though technologically advanced, Navy documentation reveals that Spruance-class destroyers, including the USS Comte de Grasse, still contained asbestos-containing materials, including clutches and electrical cables contaminated with the hazardous material. According to a report from the Comptroller General of the United States to the House of Representatives, “Although product specifications for thermal insulation had been changed in 1973 to specify the use of asbestos-free materials, asbestos materials had already been purchased and in some cases installed under construction. Therefore, some ships were delivered with asbestos insulation as late as May 1978.”[3]
By the time the USS Comte de Grasse was under construction, military leadership fully acknowledged the dangers associated with asbestos exposure, but determined that a comprehensive $2 billion asbestos removal program was not worthwhile. They opted instead for protocols for removing damaged asbestos insulation and replacing it with non-asbestos materials in high-maintenance areas.
While the Navy projected this approach would eliminate most thermal asbestos insulation within five years, they also acknowledged that 30-50% of the toxic substance would remain undisturbed throughout the vessel’s operational lifetime. It is now fifty years after that decision was made, and asbestos experts are concerned that many of those who served on ships carrying legacy asbestos will begin to manifest symptoms.
Early Service and Notable Operations
Launched in 1976 and sponsored by Madame Anne-Aymone Sauvage de Brantes, wife of French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, the Comte de Grasse was commissioned in 1978 under Commander Frank J. Lugo. Assigned to Norfolk Naval Base as her home port, the ship’s early years were spent on intensive training and undergoing additional improvements. After sea trials and refresher training at Guantánamo Bay, she suffered a major fire in her number one Engine Room that required extensive repairs, but she quickly returned to operations and participated in Operation Ocean Safari. She also conducted her first European deployment, visiting ports in France, Germany, and England.[1]
Mediterranean and Middle East Operations
Throughout the 1980s, the USS Comte de Grasse conducted multiple Mediterranean deployments, participating in numerous NATO exercises and multinational training operations. Her 1980 deployment included operations in the Red and fuel stops in Djibouti, Africa, as well as participation in major exercises including Lightning Bolt, National Week XXIX, and various NATO training sessions.
In 1985, the ship deployed to the Middle East Force, entering the Persian Gulf on July 4th and conducting surveillance operations until September. This deployment occurred during the height of tensions in the region.[1]
STANAVFORLANT Service and NATO Operations
One of the USS Comte de Grasse’s most significant assignments came in 1983 when she deployed with a multinational NATO force called Standing Naval Forces Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), conducting training with Canadian and Royal Navy vessels and participating in anti-submarine warfare, gunnery, communications, and maneuvering exercises. The ship made history as part of the first NATO squadron to visit Spain.
Counter-Narcotics and Law Enforcement
Throughout her career, the USS Comte de Grasse played an important role in counter-narcotics operations. In 1988, she participated in Coast Guard Enforcement Operation Checkmate 7, working alongside guided missile cruiser Ticonderoga and other vessels. The ship’s activities included stopping and boarding four ships suspected of carrying illegal narcotics, earning her crew the Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon.[1]
International Partnerships, UNITAS, and Special Operations
The USS Comte de Grasse participated in multiple UNITAS exercises, the annual multinational training cruise involving South American navies and the U.S. Navy, and in 1997, the ship participated in Spontex 97, a multinational anti-submarine warfare exercise sponsored by the French Navy. Following the exercise, she conducted joint operations with a French frigate that was also named for Admiral de Grasse on the 216th anniversary of his departure for America with the fleet that won the Battle of the Virginia Capes in 1781.
Decommissioning and Final Days
The USS Comte de Grasse was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in 1998, and in 2006, she was towed approximately 275 miles off the coast of North Carolina and sunk alongside her sister ship, the USS Stump (DD-978) as a target during naval training exercises.[1]
Why Did the Military Order Asbestos Use in Navy Vessels?
From the 1930s through the mid-1970s, the United States Navy mandated that all its ships’ structures and equipment contain significant quantities of asbestos-based materials. Although the USS Comte de Grasse was completed and commissioned after the military had modified its specifications to require that asbestos-free materials be used, many components had already been procured and, in numerous cases, installed. This meant that despite acknowledging the potential dangers of exposure to the material, certain Navy shipswere delivered with asbestos insulation as late as May 1978; the Comte de Grasse was one of those vessels.
Where Was Asbestos Located on the USS Comte de Grasse?
While asbestos-containing products were integrated in virtually every section of the destroyer, the greatest concentrations of asbestos insulation existed in areas containing high-temperature equipment and the vessel’s gas-powered turbines. The ship’s mechanical spaces—including power plants, equipment compartments, and machinery areas—featured extensive asbestos insulation surrounding pipes, fittings, generators, and turbines, with the material also employed in seals, gaskets, packing materials, and fire-resistant applications.
Beyond the mechanical areas, asbestos was also incorporated into floor tiles, partition walls, ceiling materials, and numerous adhesive compounds used throughout the ship’s living areas. Even protective clothing and fire suppression equipment contained asbestos fibers.
How Were USS Comte de Grasse Personnel Exposed to Asbestos?
Although the USS Comte de Grasse and other Spruance-class destroyers were considerably larger than vessels constructed during and immediately following World War II, living conditions aboard the ship remained extremely confined, and the cramped environment made it nearly impossible for crew members to avoid contact with the cancer-causing material.
While asbestos typically poses minimal risk when undisturbed and properly contained, once it becomes damaged or begins to deteriorate, the fibrous material breaks apart, creating hazardous conditions. Routine maintenance and repair operations, along with the constant vibration of the ship’s systems, all contributed to asbestos-containing materials degrading and becoming what specialists refer to as “friable.”
When friable asbestos releases its microscopic particles into the air, they can remain airborne for extended periods. Floating invisibly in the air and carried on sailors’ clothing or circulated through the ship’s ventilation system, they were easily inhaled by anyone onboard the ship. The damage begins the moment these sharp, needle-like structures enter the body and become embedded in the body’s tissues. Both lung tissue and the mesothelial lining that prevents internal organs from sticking together are especially vulnerable to this type of foreign material, and once the carcinogenic fibers are present, it becomes nearly impossible for the body to remove them. Over decades, the damage and inflammation they produce in cells can lead to serious health conditions, including the scarring of asbestosis and the tumors of lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma.
Who Faced the Greatest Risk of Asbestos Exposure Aboard the USS Comte de Grasse?
Many Navy veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases never directly handled asbestos-containing materials, but those who did faced significantly higher risks. These included:
- Engineering personnel who worked in the poorly ventilated machinery and turbine compartments, where asbestos insulation was most extensively used. These spaces were notoriously confined and had inadequate air circulation.
- Maintenance and repair specialists who directly handled asbestos-containing materials during routine upkeep, emergency repairs, and overhaul periods.
- Shipyard workers, both during the vessel’s construction and during upgrades and repairs, when asbestos materials were disturbed during removal and replacement.
Damage control personnel who worked with asbestos-contaminated firefighting equipment and emergency repair supplies containing asbestos.
Understanding the Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure has been connected to serious long-term health risks that frequently don’t show symptoms for twenty to fifty years. This characteristic, known as a long latency period, means that veteranswho served on the USS Comte de Grasse at any time during her service may only now be developing symptoms of exposure-related conditions, while others may not see symptoms or be diagnosed for decades to come.
The primary diseases associated with asbestos exposure include asbestosis, a chronic lung condition that causes scarring and breathing problems; lung cancer, which can develop in both smokers and non-smokers exposed to asbestos; and malignant mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer affecting the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. The likelihood of developing any of these diseases typically depends on the duration and intensity of exposure, but even relatively brief contact with asbestos has resulted in serious health complications, and the risk is amplified for those who smoked, as the combination of asbestos exposure and tobacco use dramatically increases the chance of developing lung cancer.
Why You Should Inform Your Healthcare Provider About Your Asbestos Exposure History
If you’re a veteran who served aboard the USS Comte de Grasse, you should discuss your history of asbestos exposure with your physician, even if you currently feel healthy. This information is crucial for several reasons:
Early detection can make a significant difference. Doctors who are aware of their patient’s asbestos exposure background can monitor for early signs of related diseases and ensure that appropriate screening procedures are performed. Early-stage identification of asbestos-related diseases often leads to better treatment outcomes and improved survival rates.
Symptom awareness is critical. Your healthcare provider can educate you about specific warning signs and symptoms to watch for. These include persistent cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing, unexplained weight loss, and abdominal swelling. Veterans who know the diseases’ red flags can seek medical attention sooner than those who dismiss what they’re experiencing as minor ailments.
Specialized care may be necessary. Physicians who have been informed about the risk of asbestos-related diseases are more likely to refer you to a specialist promptly.
Medical documentation supports VA benefits applications. Medical records that document your asbestos exposure history, even before diagnosis, can be extremely valuable when filing disability claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs or pursuing legal action against responsible manufacturers.
Benefits and Compensation Available to Navy Veterans with Mesothelioma
Veterans who served aboard the USS Comte de Grasse and who have developed asbestos-related conditions are entitled to and deserve support and compensation for the health issues they face. The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes malignant mesothelioma as a 100% disabling condition, which means that veterans who demonstrate service-connected asbestos exposure may qualify for full disability benefits. These benefits include monthly compensation payments, comprehensive healthcare coverage through VA medical centers, and access to specialized treatment facilities nationwide that have experience treating asbestos-related diseases.
How an Asbestos Attorney Can Help
Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma can benefit significantly from working with a skilled, experienced attorney who specializes in asbestos-related cases. These professionals are knowledgeable, compassionate, and have a thorough understanding of the unique issues involved with asbestos exposure during military service. They can provide you with a comprehensive range of services, assisting you in preparing and submitting a VA disability claim, helping ensure that all the documentation you need is complete and accurate. Their guidance is often essential to obtaining the medical care and financial support you and your loved ones are entitled to receive.
An asbestos lawyer can also help determine if you qualify to seek compensation from asbestos trust fundsthat bankrupt companies were required to establish to pay victims who develop illnesses caused by exposure to their products in the future. While applying to these trusts is typically less adversarial than filing a lawsuit, the process still involves complex requirements and documentation that a legal expert can help you understand and complete.
Finally, a mesothelioma attorney can take legal action on your behalf against the manufacturers and suppliers responsible for providing the military with asbestos-based products. Law firms with experience in asbestos litigation maintain detailed records of which companies provided materials to specific naval vessels and bases, as well as the compensation amounts that juries have ordered these companies to pay victims. This knowledge and their familiarity with legal precedent in asbestos cases help them identify every possible company that may be liable and pursue the maximum possible compensation on your behalf.
Legal deadlines, known as statutes of limitations, apply to asbestos-related claims, and they vary in each state across the country. An asbestos attorney can help clarify the limits that apply to your case and ensure that your rights are protected.
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