Brooklyn Navy Yard History From Asbestos Lawyers

Our Mesothelioma Attorneys Provide Background and History of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Site

If you are seeking information about the Brooklyn Navy Yard because you or a loved one worked at the Yard and has been diagnosed with an asbestos disease such as mesothelioma cancer, asbestos-related lung cancer or asbestosis, our lawyers can help.  Complete the form on this page for a free case review. 

You can also obtain a copy of our free asbestos sourcebook by clicking here.

The history of the Brooklyn Navy Yard dates back to 1781, when a parcel of land was purchased from the estate of an early-settler Dutch family.

The site was subsequently used to build the Yard. In 1798, the first U.S. warship, the USS Adams, was commissioned.   During the 19th century, the first ship constructed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the USS Ohio, was launched. Several other ships were built and commissioned for use during the 19th century, including the USS Maine, which was launched in 1895. Three years later, the Maine was sunk, leading to the beginning of the Spanish-American War. 

In 1904, the USS Connecticut was built, and served as the flagship of the Great White Fleet.  Several other ships were built and/or commissioned during the days of World War I, when the Yard workforce increased from 6,000 to 18,000. 

One of the most legendary ships from that era, the USS Arizona, was launched in 1915.  The Arizona was sunk on December 7, 1941 during the attack on Pearl Harbor. 

During the World War II era, the Yard’s workforce grew to over 70,000 employees.  For the first time in the Yard’s history, women were hired to work as mechanics and technicians.

In 1944, the USS Missouri was launched. On September 2, 1945, the Missouri served as the location of the signing of Japan’s unconditional surrender and the end of World War II. 

History: Final Years
The final years of the Navy Yard saw the building and launching of the aircraft super carriers USS Saratoga, Constellation and Independence. In 1961, the large fire involving the USS Constellation killed 50 workers and injured hundreds more.

The last ship built at the Yard, the USS Duluth, was in action until it was damaged in March 2003 while deployed in the Arabian Gulf.  When former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara closed the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1966, the Yard employed more than 9,000 workers. 

Unfortunately, those who worked at the Yard risked exposure to asbestos. Asbestos was used as the primary insulation around the lagging pipes and boilers on ships built from the 1930s until the 1970s.

The tens of thousands of men and women worked to build these ships, as well as the crew members who served on these ships, were exposed to this dangerous cancer-causing mineral.  Those former workers, as well as those who constructed the buildings, were exposed to asbestos dust in the air, leaving them at risk to eventually contract asbestos-related illnesses.

Your time is limited to file a lawsuit for an asbestos-related disease.  Please contact us today for a free legal review of your possible claim.

 

First Name
Last Name
Home Phone
Work Phone
City and State
Email
Were you diagnosed with Asbestosis? Yes
No
Were you diagnosed with lung cancer? Yes
No
Were you diagnosed with Mesothelioma? yes
no
What is your date of diagnosis?
Additional Comments
Best time to call?

Joomla Professional Work