USS Coral Sea CV

First commissioned in 1947, the USS Coral Sea CV is an aircraft carrier also known as the "Ageless Warrior" due to her long and decorated service history. In addition to accomplishing some groundbreaking missions, the USS Coral Sea also played a crucial role in the Vietnam War and subsequent rescue missions.

Unfortunately, however, like many other battleships built during the 20th Century, the USS Coral Sea was largely constructed from and repaired with parts and substances containing harmful asbestos fibers. As a result, those who spent time aboard this battleship are at a dramatically high risk of developing serious, irreversible conditions, such as lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Since the effects of asbestos exposure can be deadly, it is crucial that military personnel, shipbuilders and battleship repair workers affiliated with the USS Coral Sea learn more about presence and consequences of asbestos aboard aircraft carriers.

The USS Coral Sea’s First Missions

As the flagship of "Carrier Division 6," the USS Coral Sea was involved in a number of non-combat missions in her early career, including:

• "Beehive I," an operation related to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
• An exclusive voyage for the House of Representative's Judiciary Committee
• An evacuation of the Suez Canal

Subsequently, she underwent a thorough overhaul and then joined the 7th Fleet, with whom she worked until 1961. At this point in her career, the USS Coral Sea took part in one of her first cutting-edge missions, which involved testing of the PLAT system (PLAT – Pilot Landing Aid Television – was a program that videotaped aircraft landings to better train pilots and to investigate accidents).

Following this groundbreaking modernization, the USS Coral Sea:

• Joined "Operation Rolling Thunder" in North Vietnam in 1965
• Endured a fire accident that widely damaged the ship in 1971
• Participated in "Operation Money Pocket" (1972) and "Operation Frequent Wind" (1975) in North Vietnam

After the end of the Vietnam War and a run-in with an Ecuadorian tanker, the USS Coral Sea received necessary repairs and, in 1987, developed the "Coral Sea configuration," an aircraft maintenance plan that significantly streamlined the Navy's protocol at the time.

The USS Coral Sea: Her Final Years
In one of the last missions of her career, the USS Coral Sea aided in the heroic rescue of the USS Iowa, a battleship that had suffered an accidental explosion, killing 47 and extensively damaging the ship. Along with providing medical aid and life-saving support services, the USS Coral Sea also offered the USS Iowa badly needed logistical provisions and manpower.

Three years later, in 1990, the USS Coral Sea would be decommissioned. At the time, she weighed 70,000 tons and was the largest ship to be dismantled and scrapped.

USS Coral Sea and Asbestos Exposure

While the USS Coral Sea was involved in saving lives throughout her career, she is also unfortunately charged with endangering thousands of others both in combat and through asbestos exposure. In fact, because asbestos was used in everything from her engine and boilers to her wallboards and fire-safety equipment, the USS Coral Sea likely exposed her crew members, builders and repair workers to asbestos on nearly every part of the ship.

Exposure to asbestos can lead to the development of incurable diseases including asbestosis, mesothelioma and throat cancer.

If you or someone you love served or worked on board the USS Coral Sea, you should contact us immediately to find out what your legal rights are.