The USS Bunting (AMc-7) was a Bird-class 1 coastal minesweeper launched in 1935. It was commissioned on June 6, 1941, under Ens. Paul H. McBride’s command and served in the US Navy for 1 year until it sank on June 3, 1942. During its activity, the ship carried a complement of 16 men on board and had its main missions within the detachment of the 12th Naval District. After decommissioning, the USS Bunting was struck from the Naval Register on June 24, 1942. Asbestos’s unique properties made it advantageous for use in many industries, including the shipbuilding industry. Known as the "miracle mineral" because of its wide range of useful properties, asbestos was used for heat insulation, fire-proofing, and sound absorption. Its fibers were woven together or incorporated within other materials to create products that were resistant to abrasion, inert to acid and alkaline solutions, and stable at high temperatures.