Navy Dock Landing Ships

Navy Dock Landing Mesothelioma

U.S. Navy dock landing ships were used to support amphibious maneuvers and were also used as a means of transporting and launching amphibious vessels and their crewmembers. They were designed at the beginning of World War II and were extremely instrumental to the success of the Navy, as they were also useful when used as offshore docks for repairs and landing of damaged ships.

A number of dock landing ships served proudly during WWII, including the USS Ashland, who operated in the Pacific theatre, and the USS Cabildo, who patrolled waters off of Japan. The dock landing ship no doubt was most useful during the U.S. storm on Normandy Beach on “D-Day,” June 6, 1944.

The many men who bravely served aboard dock landing ships during World War II, most especially those who were present on D-Day in 1944 certainly were presented with a number of occupational dangers. One such danger was the threat of asbestos exposure on board dock landing ships, which contained high levels of this toxin in the form of piping insulation. Veterans who were on board any WWII-era vessel should closely monitor their health and visit their physician if they begin to suffer from respiratory difficulties, which could be a symptom of mesothelioma, an asbestos-caused cancer that has no cure and affects hundreds of veterans every year.

Dock Landing Listing

Last modified: December 09 2009.