The USS Gyatt (DD-712/DDG-1/DDG-712) was a Gearing class destroyer launched and commissioned in 1945. Though the ship did not engage in the World War II combat she was built for, she played an integral role in the U.S. Navy’s military history as the world’s first guided missile destroyer. Despite this contribution, the Gyatt has also been linked to many veterans’ asbestos-related illnesses, as their service on the ship exposed them to asbestos-containing materials that were found throughout the ship.
About the USS Gyatt
The USS Gyatt was built in Kearny, New Jersey, by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, a shipyard noted for both its high level of productivity and for having exposed many shipyard workers to asbestos. The yard is noted for having built more destroyers from 1930 through the end of the Gearing class than any other shipbuilder than the Bath Iron Works, and for doing it faster than any other yard.
The Gyatt was the 3rd Gearing-class destroyer built at Federal’s facility. She was laid down in September 1944 and christened in April 1945. The ship’s name honored Private Edward Earl Gyatt of the U.S. Marine Corps, who was killed in a Japanese counterattack in the British Solomon Islands as part of the Guadalcanal campaign in August 1942.[1]
As a Gearing-class destroyer, the Gyatt reflected the many improvements that were made to the Fletcher-class destroyers that saw most of the action in World War II. The Gearing class and Allan M. Sumner class destroyers added a gun barrel with half the turrets, freeing up space on and below deck, and the Gearing class saw further improvements by extending the length of the vessel by 14 feet to increase range and cruising speed. Gearing-class ships like the Gyatt carried a crew of 336 and had an operational range of 4,500 nautical miles at 20 knots.
The ship displaced 3,460 tons when fully loaded and her engine and boiler rooms were equipped with General Electric geared steam turbines and boilers, all of which contained insulation, gaskets, and other parts made with asbestos. The ship’s interior was notoriously tight, and engine and boiler rooms were poorly ventilated, spaces sailors assigned to work in these areas at significant risk of malignant mesothelioma and other illnesses.
USS Gyatt Active Service and Tours of Duty
Too late to participate in World War II, after her shakedown in the Caribbean, the Gyatt sailed to Norfolk for various duties along the East Coast, including local operations and training exercises in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, then left Norfolk in 1947 to represent the U.S. at the inauguration of the new Uruguayan president in Montevideo. Before returning, she made goodwill visits to Rio de Janeiro and Port of Spain, Trinidad.[1]
Late in 1947, the Gyatt deployed with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean, returning to Norfolk on 2 March 1948. Over the next several years, she completed six more deployments to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, establishing a strong U.S. naval presence as Cold War fears grew. She also conducted operations from Norfolk to Nova Scotia, Iceland, and the Caribbean.[1]
In the mid-1950s, as air threats and missiles evolved, the U.S. Navy launched a program to improve the defense of its fast task forces. The Terrier missile system, the Navy’s first guided missile design, required advanced detection and tracking systems that were too large for standard destroyer hulls, so the existing Mitscher-class destroyer leaders were approved for construction. Because testing of this new system was essential, the USS Gyatt was selected for this and entered the Boston Naval Shipyard for conversion into the Navy’s first guided missile destroyer. Her aft 5-inch gun mount was replaced with a launcher for Terrier missiles, supported by reinforced hull structures and storage for fourteen reloads. She also received a Denny-Brown stabilization system, enhancing sea-keeping ability, and an upgraded fire control system to manage both missiles and forward-mounted 5-inch guns.[2]
Reclassified as DDG-712 in December 1956, the USS Gyatt was recommissioned and underwent nearly three years of evaluation along the Atlantic coast. Her hull number changed again in 1957 to DDG-1 in recognition of her pioneering role and she joined the 6th Fleet in 1960, marking the very first overseas deployment of a guided missile destroyer. Upon returning to her new homeport in Charleston, she continued fleet readiness and training exercises in the Mediterranean and supported America’s space program by serving as a recovery station for Project Mercury. As tensions rose over Berlin, she deployed to the Mediterranean again before resuming training along the East Coast.[1]
In 1962, Gyatt returned to the Charleston Naval Shipyard for an overhaul, during which her missile system was removed. She was reclassified back to DD-712 in 1962 and repurposed for specialized service with the Operational Test and Evaluation Force, where she conducted experimental work from Norfolk into the Caribbean. She continued these operations, including patrol and anti-submarine warfare duties, until 1967.[1]
Despite her valuable role, the stresses created by missile launches and hull stabilization took a physical toll on the ship, and cracks developed in her hull that made further maintenance impractical. She was decommissioned in 1969, stricken from the Navy list, and used as a target in 1970.[2]
Where Was Asbestos Used on the USS Gyatt?
Like most naval vessels built during the war years and through the 1970s, the construction of the USS Gyatt relied heavily on asbestos. At the time, the health risks associated with the mineral were not known to the public. Although many of the manufacturers behind the asbestos-containing materials had access to research linking it to cancer, they withheld the information to continue earning profits. The military, meanwhile, favored asbestos for its affordability, availability, and exceptional fire resistance and heat insulation. Its lightweight properties, combined with these advantages, made it particularly well-suited for naval applications.
As a result, asbestos was present throughout the ship, especially in areas housing high-temperature machinery and steam systems such as the engine rooms, boiler rooms, turbine rooms, and machine rooms. Asbestos was also extensively used for pipe insulation. While these locations required the most heat protection, asbestos was also embedded in various other materials, including adhesives, flooring, deck coatings, and even firefighting and safety gear worn by the crew.
How Were USS Gyatt Sailors Exposed to Asbestos?
There are roughly 3,500 Americans diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma each year, and U.S. Navy veterans make up a substantial portion of them. This unfortunate reality stems from the widespread use of asbestos on all Navy ships before 1980, including the USS Gyatt. Many asbestos-related illnesses and fatalities resulted from exposure experienced by sailors working in the ship’s confined spaces.
As asbestos-containing materials degrade—whether through regular wear and tear, damage, or routine maintenance, they become friable. This means the material crumbles, releasing microscopic fibers that are invisible to the naked eye but easily inhaled. Once inside the body, these needle-like fibers embed themselves in tissue, where they are nearly impossible to expel through coughing or other typical responses to a foreign body. Over time, they can lead to asbestosis, and other lung diseases, or, in severe cases, develop into asbestos-related cancers like malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Though airborne asbestos could impact anybody onboard the ship, those who were at greatest risk onboard the Gyatt included:
- Sailors working in the ship’s poorly ventilated engine and boiler rooms.
- Maintenance and repair personnel who handled asbestos-containing materials, such as pipe insulation.
One victim of asbestos exposure onboard the USS Gyatt was Charles Tallman, a Navy veteran who was exposed to asbestos while serving as a boiler tender on the ship during his service from 1946 to 1967. Mr. Tallman developed malignant pleural mesothelioma and died from the disease. His survivors filed a product liability claim against Foster Wheeler and other defendants that provided asbestos-containing materials used on the ship.[3]
In addition to sailors who served on the Gyatt, the significant overhaul that the ship underwent when during the conversion to guide missile destroyer involved ripping out and installing new materials and equipment, an effort that exposed shipyard workers at the Boston Naval Shipyard to asbestos hazards.
Benefits and Compensation Available to Navy Veterans with Mesothelioma
Though they never saw combat, the sailors aboard the USS Gyatt served the country in many ways while completely unaware they were at risk from the ship’s materials. While some crew members faced greater exposure due to their specific duties, everyone on board was at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases, and that concern persists among surviving veterans to this day.
If you are a Navy veteran who served on the USS Gyatt and you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, there’s a strong likelihood that your service played a role in your condition. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs classifies malignant mesothelioma as 100% disabling, meaning that veterans diagnosed with the disease who can demonstrate service-related asbestos exposure may qualify for the highest level of disability benefits, along with access to specialized healthcare from treatment centers nationwide. If you’re in good health but served on the ship, informing your doctor about your history of asbestos exposure will help them act swiftly if any symptoms develop monitor and diagnose you more quickly.
How an Asbestos Attorney Can Help
An experienced mesothelioma attorney can help in many ways. They can start by guiding you through the process of filing a VA claim, helping ensure you receive the benefits and support you deserve. They can also assist in pursuing compensation from the manufacturers that supplied asbestos to the military. By working with a law firm specializing in asbestos cases, you put yourself in the capable hands of an organization that has immediate access to voluminous asbestos claims history. Your attorney will be able to cross-match your personal history to previous claims and identify the exact companies that supplied your ship.
Additionally, if the companies responsible for your exposure have declared bankruptcy due to their asbestos liabilities, you may be eligible for compensation through one of the asbestos trust funds they were required to set up to benefit future victims.
Receiving a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma is a life-altering event, and many veterans need time to process the impact. However, it is crucial to consult with an attorney as soon as possible, as legal deadlines restrict the timeframe for filing claims after diagnosis. A mesothelioma lawyer can explain these deadlines and other aspects of the claim process, ensuring you can make informed decisions and protect your legal rights.
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