U.S. Naval Base San Diego and its shipyard played key roles in servicing and repairing Navy ships during World War II and throughout the 20th century. However, many veterans who served at Naval Base San Diego are now facing mesothelioma due to service-related asbestos exposure, since many ships used this toxic substance. We can help you or a veteran you love after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
What to Know About Asbestos in San Diego Naval Shipyard
U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California has helped with shipbuilding for over 100 years. However, for roughly 50 years, anyone working on Navy ships or at the base’s shipyard risked exposure to asbestos.
Government mandates required all U.S. Navy ships to use asbestos to help with fireproofing, insulation, and durability. Asbestos is now known to cause mesothelioma, but the risk was hidden for decades by manufacturers.
As a result, Navy veterans and anyone else who worked at the San Diego Naval shipyard are at risk of this cancer today.
Quick Facts About Naval Base San Diego and Asbestos
- Also known as: 32nd Street Naval Station, U.S. Destroyer Base San Diego, U.S. Naval Repair Base San Diego
- Ships serviced: Aircraft carriers, amphibious warships, destroyers, Coast Guard vessels, and many other ships used in the Pacific fleet
- Health risks: Asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer
Time period of asbestos use: 1930s to the early 1980s - Who is at risk: Navy veterans, shipyard workers, and family members
If you or a loved one is suffering from mesothelioma after working at Naval Base San Diego, we may be able to assist you.
Get our Free Mesothelioma Kit to find out about military benefits, treatments, and compensation options that can make life with this cancer easier.
How Was Asbestos Used at Naval Base San Diego?
Thousands of Navy and Coast Guard ships serviced at Naval Base San Diego were built with asbestos-containing materials to help resist heat, fire, and water. Many buildings at Naval Base San Diego also contained asbestos.
Asbestos could be found in:
- Boilers and engines: This equipment reached high temperatures, and asbestos helped protect it from damage. As a result, virtually all Navy ships used asbestos-containing materials in boiler rooms and engine rooms prior to the early 1980s.
- Dry docks: The San Diego Naval shipyard had seven dry docks, allowing multiple ships to be repaired in the San Diego Bay at once. However, working on or around ships at these dry docks put anyone nearby at risk of asbestos exposure.
- Electrical systems: Asbestos was commonly used in both wiring and insulation used for electrical components on base and aboard ships to help prevent fires.
- Gaskets: Asbestos allowed gaskets and valves to withstand pressure and steam.
- Protective gear: As a means of fireproofing and protection, asbestos was often included in protective gloves, aprons, clothing, and more.
Naval Base San Diego was expansive, with nearly 300 buildings, five piers, and the capacity to house over 18,000 service members in its barracks at the end of World War II.
Given how huge the base was and how extensively asbestos was used aboard Navy ships, it’s likely that thousands of Navy veterans were exposed.
List of Ships Built or Repaired at Naval Base San Diego
Due to government mandates, every Navy ship relied on asbestos materials between the 1930s and early 1980s.
Building, repairing, or demolishing these vessels could send asbestos dust flying into the air — and since the risks were hidden from Navy service members, it was easy for exposure to occur.
Ships built or repaired at the San Diego Naval shipyard include:
- Aircraft carriers: The USS Kearsarge (CV-33), USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), USS Antietam (CV-36), and many more aircraft carriers were sent to San Diego for service.
- Amphibious warships: The USS Tripoli (LPH-10) and USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) were just a few amphibious warships that were once stationed at San Diego.
- Destroyers: A wide range of destroyers, including USS The Sullivans (DD-537), USS Abbott (DD-629), and USS Shields (DD-596), were serviced or decommissioned at San Diego.
The vessels above are just a few of many that made their homeport at San Diego or were stationed there. Over 5,100 Navy ships were serviced at the San Diego Naval shipyard during World War II alone.
As a result, it’s likely that thousands of Navy veterans and shipyard workers risked exposure before the dangers were fully understood.
Call (877) 450-8973 if you or a loved one served at Naval Base San Diego and now has mesothelioma. We can help you pursue treatments, benefits, and financial compensation to cover medical bills.
Jobs at Risk of Asbestos Exposure at Naval Base San Diego
Between the 1930s and early 1980s, anyone working or stationed at Naval Base San Diego could have potentially been exposed to asbestos.
However, several jobs came with a higher risk, putting service members in danger of exposure on an everyday basis.
High-risk occupations for asbestos exposure included:
- Boiler tenders
- Carpenters
- Dry dock workers
- Electricians
- Engine room workers
- Insulators
- Machine operators
- Mechanics
- Pipefitters
- Repairmen
- Welders
Those working in these roles could have easily breathed in or swallowed asbestos fibers without noticing, putting themselves in danger of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases later in life.
Benefits and Compensation for San Diego Naval Shipyard Asbestos Victims
If you or someone you love served at Naval Base San Diego and later developed mesothelioma, you may qualify for benefits and compensation to ease some of the stress related to a diagnosis.
Explore military benefits and other financial compensation options below and learn how we can help you access them.
VA Benefits for Mesothelioma
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a wide range of benefits to veterans with mesothelioma. Veterans with this cancer are typically granted a 100% disability rating, giving them access to the highest monthly payouts and lowest health care premiums.
Key mesothelioma VA benefits include:
- Disability compensation valued at over $4,044.91 monthly as of 2025
- Free or inexpensive medical treatment for mesothelioma through VA health care
- Other resources and benefits for surviving family members
Our team can help you or a U.S. veteran you love file for or maximize your VA benefits after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
San Diego Naval Shipyard Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Veterans and civilians may be able to file mesothelioma lawsuits seeking compensation from manufacturers of asbestos-containing products.
The average mesothelioma lawsuit awards $1 million or more without involving the military or government, or impacting VA benefits.
Our legal partners have secured millions of dollars for other San Diego shipyard workers and military veterans.
Notable San Diego mesothelioma payouts include:
- $3.87 million to a U.S. Navy veteran
- $1.6 million to a U.S. Army veteran and shipbuilder
- $3.34 million to a shipyard worker
Get a free case review now to find out if you qualify for a mesothelioma lawsuit. Our legal partners can file on your behalf, making the process as stress-free as possible for you and your family.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Many companies that made and sold asbestos-containing products filed for bankruptcy protection to avoid lawsuits and were forced to set up trusts to pay victims.
There’s over $30 billion available across all asbestos trusts today. We may be able to help you or a veteran you love file claims with trusts, which doesn’t involve going to court. You can still receive VA benefits, too.
Help for Naval Base San Diego Asbestos Exposure
Thousands of proud U.S. veterans and shipyard workers unknowingly risked developing asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma while serving at Naval Base San Diego.
If you or someone you love has been affected, the Mesothelioma Veterans Center may be able to help.
Our team can assist with:
- Accessing mesothelioma VA benefits
- Connecting with top doctors and treatments
- Pursuing financial compensation
- Seeking other resources to make living with cancer easier
Get a Free Mesothelioma Kit now or call (877) 450-8973 to explore the benefits and resources available to veterans and families dealing with a diagnosis.
San Diego Naval Shipyard & Asbestos Exposure FAQs
When did San Diego Naval Base close?
Naval Base San Diego has never permanently closed since its opening in 1922. However, the facility’s name has changed several times. It was known as U.S. Repair Base, San Diego during World War II and Naval Station San Diego from 1946 until the 1990s.
It’s possible that you or a loved one was exposed to a cancer-causing substance called asbestos at Naval Base San Diego while it was using a different name.
All Navy ships relied on asbestos until the early 1980s, and it’s likely that thousands of service members and shipyard workers suffered exposure in San Diego.
Naval Training Center San Diego, which was opened in 1923 and used to prepare sailors during World War II, the Korean War, and beyond, closed in 1997.
What does the Navy do in San Diego?
The U.S. Navy has maintained and repaired ships at its San Diego shipyard for over 100 years. San Diego Naval Base has been a major hub for Navy shipbuilding activities, with over 5,100 vessels serviced during World War II alone.
However, any Navy veterans or former shipyard workers who served at San Diego Naval Base prior to the early 1980s risked exposure to asbestos. This put them in danger of developing mesothelioma today.
Contact us now to get help if you or someone you love was diagnosed with mesothelioma. We can connect you with VA benefits, treatments, and compensation if eligible.
Can you sue Naval Base San Diego for asbestos exposure?
It’s not possible to sue Naval Base San Diego or any branch of the military if you developed an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma.
However, you may qualify to file a lawsuit against the companies that made and sold asbestos-containing products, since many of them hid the health risks for decades.
The average mesothelioma lawsuit settlement awards $1 million or more, allowing families like yours to afford medical treatment and any other expenses. You can still get VA benefits even if you file a lawsuit.
Get a free case review now to find out your eligibility for a mesothelioma lawsuit.
