Battleships are large, armored warships equipped with heavy calibre guns, making them better armed and better armored than cruisers or destroyers. Battleships were the main component of the U.S. naval fleet from the 19th century until World War II, before the aircraft carrier and the introduction of guided missles rendered their large guns obsolete.

Although there are no battleships in active service today, thousands of U.S. Navy veterans served aboard these ships during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and other conflicts. Many of these battleships contained asbestos insulation or parts, placing veterans at risk of mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural diseases or other illnesses.

Here is a list of some U.S. Navy battleships which may have contained asbestos:

• USS Alabama

• USS Arizona

• USS Arkansas

• USS California

• USS Colorado

• USS Idaho

• USS Indiana

• USS Iowa

• USS Maryland

• USS Massachusetts

• USS Mississippi

• USS Missouri

• USS Nevada

• USS New Jersey

• USS New Mexico

• USS New York

• USS North Carolina

• USS Oklahoma

• USS Pennsylvania

• USS South Dakota

• USS Tennessee

• USS Texas

• USS Utah

• USS Washington

• USS West Virginia

• USS Wisconsin