The USS Richard E. Kraus (DD-849/AG-151) was a Gearing-class destroyer laid down in 1945, launched and commissioned in 1946. Following shakedown, the ship reported to the Operational Test and Evaluation Force, engaging in ordnance development during her first six years, evaluating electronic equipment, including radar and communication gear, testing anchors, tow cables, and underwater explosives. She was reclassified AG-151 in 1949 and designated DD-849 again in 1954. The destroyer deployed in 1964 for operations with the 6th Fleet and the Middle East Force after being equipped with ASROC and DASH. The vessel fullfilled duty primarily in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, assisting merchant ships and doing goodwill visits. Between 1966 and 1976, the ship operated off Vietnam, providing gunfire support until deployment to the Mediterranean. She underwent an overhaul in 1971 and was officially transferred to COMIDEASTFOR, remaining in service until decommissioning in 1976. With asbestos present on most ships, anyone exposed to significant quantities of asbestos dust is at risk of developing incapacitating diseases. If you have been diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer, you have the right to claim financial compensation through asbestos claims.
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