USS Reasoner (FF-1063) — Equipment Reference & Asbestos Exposure Record

Equipment reference and asbestos exposure record for USS Reasoner (FF-1063). 2 machinery and manufacturer entries from the public Wikipedia article...

By Rights Watch Media Group LLC •June 6, 2026 • 2 min read

Questions about your exposure? (314) 237-6461 • Free & confidential case review

Hull

FF-1063

Class

FF hull series

⚙ View Equipment Manifest Documented BUSHIPS machinery & manufacturers aboard Reasoner FF-1063 ↓ All Ship Manifests ›

MusterLog™ 0

Service History

From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›

USS Reasoner (FF-1063) was a Knox-class frigate commissioned in 1971 and named in honor of Medal of Honor recipient 1st Lt. Frank S. Reasoner. The ship deployed to Southeast Asia in 1973 for Operation End Sweep, conducting mine-removal operations in Haiphong Harbor. Decommissioned in 1993, Reasoner was subsequently transferred to the Turkish Navy as TCG Kocatepe in 2002 and was sunk as a target vessel in 2005.

Construction & Service Dates

Builder: Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, Seattle, WA
Laid down: 1969-01-06
Launched: 1970-08-01
Commissioned: 1971-07-31
Decommissioned: 1993-08-28

Notable Tours / Service Eras

Southeast Asia 1973 — Operation End Sweep

Final Disposition

Sunk as target in Mediterranean Sea 4 May 2005 (after transfer to Turkey as TCG Kocatepe)

USS Reasoner (FF-1063) is a documented U.S. Navy frigate. The equipment reference below was extracted from the publicly-available Wikipedia article on this vessel, which cites the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS) — the U.S. Navy’s official ship-history publication maintained by the Naval History and Heritage Command.

Equipment Reference

Equipment Manifest — USS Reasoner (FF-1063). 13 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.

Equipment	Manufacturer	Qty	Notes
Boilers (1,200 psi)	Combustion Engineering (C-E)	2	1,200 psi superheated boilers; primary steam source for propulsion turbine
Geared steam turbine	Westinghouse	1	35,000 SHP; drives single propeller shaft; speed 27+ knots
5"/54 caliber gun (Mk-42)	United States Navy / Naval Ordnance	1	Forward gun mount; standard Knox-class main battery
ASROC/Harpoon launcher (Mk-16, 8-cell)	Naval Ordnance	1	Capable of launching RUR-5 ASROC and UUM-44 SUBROC anti-submarine rockets and RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles
Phalanx CIWS (20mm close-in weapon system)	General Dynamics	1	Replaced BPDMS Sea Sparrow launcher in later service; radar-guided rotary cannon
Mk-46 torpedo launch tubes (single)	Naval Ordnance	4	Lightweight torpedo launchers for Mark 46 anti-submarine torpedoes
AN/SPS-40 air search radar	Hazeltine Corporation	1	Long-range 2D air search radar
AN/SPS-67 surface search radar	Sperry Marine	1	Surface search and navigation radar
AN/SQS-26 hull-mounted sonar	Sangamo Electric / Raytheon	1	Low-frequency active/passive bow-mounted sonar; primary ASW detection system
AN/SQR-18 towed array sonar	Raytheon	1	TACTAS passive towed array sonar for long-range submarine detection
Mk68 gun fire control system	Naval Ordnance Systems	1	Fire control radar and director for 5-inch gun
AN/SLQ-32 electronic warfare system	Raytheon	1	Electronic support measures and active jamming suite
SH-2F Seasprite helicopter (LAMPS I)	Kaman Aerospace	1	Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS I) helicopter for ASW and surface search; replaced DASH drone

Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Reasoner (FF-1063). These are secondary-source records — not primary BUSHIPS design documents. For litigation purposes, this data is a starting point; a ship-specific BUSHIPS Material Inspection Report or commissioning book would provide gold-standard verification.

Source on Wikipedia ›

The asbestos-containing products documented on U.S. Navy vessels and at shipyards are catalogued by manufacturer on AsbestosIndex. These records cross-reference which companies supplied which materials and to which facilities.

Pipe Covering & Block Insulation Thermal insulation applied to steam lines, valves, and equipment in engine rooms and fire rooms Marine Products Insulation, gaskets, and packing products specified for naval and commercial marine applications Boilers & Steam Equipment Boiler manufacturers and insulation products — central to the fire room exposure pathway Gaskets & Packing Sheet and ring gaskets used throughout piping flanges, valve bonnets, and pump housings Electrical Products Wire insulation, switchgear arc chutes, and panel liners used throughout electrical spaces Full Product Index Search all 200+ manufacturers and 1,500+ documented asbestos products on AsbestosIndex™

Navy Ratings Most Exposed to Asbestos Aboard Reasoner

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the public asbestos litigation record document that the following Navy ratings worked routinely in spaces where ACM was installed, maintained, ripped out, and replaced:

Boilerman (BT) — boiler-room operations, refractory work, burner maintenance
Machinist’s Mate (MM) — main propulsion turbines, reduction gears, condensers, pumps
Engineman (EN) — auxiliary diesel and gasoline engines, gland packing
Electrician’s Mate (EM) — cable runs through asbestos-insulated chases, motor-generator sets
Hull Maintenance Technician (HT) / Pipefitter — piping system maintenance, gasket replacement, valve repacking
Damage Controlman (DC) — firefighting equipment, fire-stops, bulkhead penetrations
Fireman (FN) — engineering-plant tending across boiler and engine rooms

VA Presumptive Benefits — No Filing Deadline

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease as conditions presumed to be service-connected for Navy veterans with documented asbestos exposure under 38 CFR § 3.309(d). No statute of limitations applies to VA disability compensation claims.

Available benefits may include monthly disability compensation, Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses, priority VA healthcare enrollment, and Special Monthly Compensation for severe cases. Parallel claims against the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by the manufacturers of these products do not reduce VA compensation.

How to file a VA disability claim: VA claims are filed directly with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — not with a law firm. Start at VA.gov › Hazardous Materials Exposure, call 1‑800‑827‑1000, or get free help filing from a Veterans Service Organization: DAV, VFW, or American Legion.

VA Claims Guide on This Site › Compare: VA vs. Civil Lawsuit

Source notes: equipment-manifest entries (where shown) are sourced from public-record BUSHIPS (Bureau of Ships) documentation, NARA archives, and the public asbestos litigation record. Manufacturer attributions link to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Nothing on this page constitutes medical or legal advice.

Documented Asbestos-Exposure Environments — U.S. Navy Service

Public-domain U.S. Navy photographs illustrating the engineering spaces, ratings, and yard environments where asbestos materials were routinely encountered during normal duty.

Boiler Room Sailor stands watch in the aft machinery room of USS Iwo Jima. (35298984822) Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Drydock Overhaul USS Newport News (CA-148) in drydock at the Norfolk Navy Yard 1965 Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Engine Room Flickr - Official U.S. Navy Imagery - USS Sterett Sailor takes equipment readings in ship's engine room. Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Engineering Watch USS Bataan Stands Full Female Engineering Watch Team (8442031) Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

US Navy 061108-N-6652A-037 U.S. Navy Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Roy Hernandez, left, and Aviation Machinist's Mate Airman Jerry … — Machinist Mate US Navy 061108-N-6652A-037 U.S. Navy Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Roy Hernandez, left, and Aviation Machinist's Mate Airman Jerry Rivera work on a rotor … Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Navy Fireroom Fireroom aboard USS Rochester (CA-124), in 1955 Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

US Navy 080208-N-6538W-019 Civilian yard workers from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard perform maintenance on the bow catapults of the … — Shipyard Worker US Navy 080208-N-6538W-019 Civilian yard workers from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard perform maintenance on the bow catapults of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier … Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

All images are public domain (U.S. Government works). Specific photographs depict generic Navy engineering and yard environments — not the named vessel above. Asbestos materials shown or implied include pipe lagging, boiler insulation, steam-line covering, and gasket / packing materials standard on U.S. Navy vessels through the early 1980s.

Reasoner FF-1063 — Frequently Asked Questions

Are Reasoner FF-1063 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?

Yes. Reasoner FF-1063 is documented in the public U.S. Navy asbestos litigation record. U.S. Navy vessels of her service era were built to BUSHIPS specifications that required asbestos insulation throughout engineering spaces, on steam lines, around boilers and turbines, and in gasket and packing materials.

Which shipboard components on Reasoner FF-1063 contained asbestos?

Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Reasoner FF-1063's era include: boiler insulation and lagging, steam-line pipe insulation, turbine and reduction-gear casings, valve packing, gaskets, brake and clutch friction materials, electrical wire insulation, overhead pipe coverings in berthing and mess spaces, and Navy-issue boiler cement and refractory in fireboxes.

What ratings were exposed to asbestos serving on Reasoner FF-1063?

Navy ratings with the highest documented asbestos exposure include Machinist's Mate (MM), Boiler Technician (BT), Hull Maintenance Technician (HT), Engineman (EN), Electrician's Mate (EM), Interior Communications Electrician (IC), Damage Controlman (DC), and Pipefitter / Shipfitter. Officers in engineering departments also encountered asbestos in normal duty. Shipyard workers performing overhaul, repair, or refit work had concentrated exposure during yard periods.

What equipment manufacturers are documented on Reasoner FF-1063?

Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Reasoner FF-1063 include: Combustion Engineering (C-E), General Dynamics, Hazeltine Corporation, Kaman Aerospace, Naval Ordnance, Naval Ordnance Systems, Raytheon. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.

Do Reasoner FF-1063 veterans qualify for VA disability for mesothelioma?

Yes. Mesothelioma is recognized by the VA as service-connected for veterans with documented Navy service and qualifying asbestos exposure. Reasoner FF-1063 veterans (or surviving family) typically file at VA.gov, by phone at 1-800-827-1000, or with assistance from a Veterans Service Officer through DAV, VFW, or American Legion. Civil claims against asbestos product manufacturers are separate from VA benefits — many veterans pursue both paths.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this site. References to ships, shipyards, companies, products, and asbestos-containing materials are drawn from public VA records, NARA archives, EPA/OSHA databases, and public litigation records. All references reflect what has been documented or alleged in publicly filed records. Consult a licensed physician for medical guidance and a qualified attorney for legal advice regarding your specific situation.

Sponsored Legal Resource — Attorney Advertising

Connect With a Navy Asbestos & Mesothelioma Attorney

Navy veterans and civilian shipyard workers diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may have grounds for a civil claim against the asbestos product manufacturers whose materials were installed aboard. O'Brien Law Firm represents veterans and their families in the civil track at no upfront cost — separate from any VA disability benefits you may be eligible for.

Free case evaluation — no obligation to hire
No attorney fee unless we make a financial recovery
Civil claims against asbestos manufacturers & bankruptcy trust funds
Maritime statute of limitations: 3 years from diagnosis (46 U.S.C. § 30106)
Runs in parallel with VA benefits — civil recovery does not reduce VA disability compensation

Call: (314) 237-6461 Free consultation — Calls answered 24 hours, 7 days

O'Brien Law Firm

Civil mesothelioma & asbestos litigation — veterans and their families.

VA disability benefits are a separate government process. To file a VA disability claim for asbestos exposure, visit VA.gov › Hazardous Materials Exposure, call 1‑800‑827‑1000, or contact a Veterans Service Organization (DAV, VFW, American Legion) for free claim assistance.

Get a Free Case Evaluation

Attorney Advertising. This website is published by Rights Watch Media Group LLC, an independent media organization, and is not a law firm. Visiting this site or submitting this form does not create an attorney-client relationship. O'Brien Law Firm is a licensed MO law firm. Free consultations are offered at no obligation. Legal representation is provided on a contingency basis — there is no charge unless a financial recovery is made on your behalf. Individual results vary; past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Inquiries submitted to navyshipexposure.com are routed directly and exclusively to O'Brien Law Firm. Rights Watch Media Group LLC is an independent publisher and is not a lawyer referral service. We do not sell or share inquiries with other firms.

O'Brien Law Firm Free & Confidential Case Review

(314) 237-6461