Blue Water Navy Ship Lookup
Find whether a vessel appears on VA's Vietnam herbicide ships list, what category VA places it in, and what that category actually concedes. Sourced to VA's published list, 38 U.S.C. § 1116A, and the National Archives deck logs.
Search the ship index
Search by ship name or hull number ("Harnett County", "LST-821", "APB 35"). This index carries 23 vessels confirmed against VA's published list. VA's list is longer and is revised periodically — a vessel that is not here is not necessarily absent from VA's list.
23 vessels shown
USS Benewah
APB-35Self-propelled barracks ship
Mobile Riverine Force barracks ship operating on the Mekong Delta waterways.
What VA concedes: VA concedes herbicide exposure for any veteran who served aboard the vessel during the period VA associates with it. These are the brown-water vessels — river patrol, riverine assault support, and the barracks and repair ships that supported them.
Still need to show: Personnel records showing assignment to the vessel during the listed dates. No deck-log research is normally required.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Colleton
APB-36Self-propelled barracks ship
Mobile Riverine Force barracks ship on the inland waterways of the Delta.
What VA concedes: VA concedes herbicide exposure for any veteran who served aboard the vessel during the period VA associates with it. These are the brown-water vessels — river patrol, riverine assault support, and the barracks and repair ships that supported them.
Still need to show: Personnel records showing assignment to the vessel during the listed dates. No deck-log research is normally required.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Mercer
APB-39Self-propelled barracks ship
Riverine barracks ship stationed on inland waterways.
What VA concedes: VA concedes herbicide exposure for any veteran who served aboard the vessel during the period VA associates with it. These are the brown-water vessels — river patrol, riverine assault support, and the barracks and repair ships that supported them.
Still need to show: Personnel records showing assignment to the vessel during the listed dates. No deck-log research is normally required.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Nueces
APB-40Self-propelled barracks ship
Riverine barracks ship stationed on inland waterways.
What VA concedes: VA concedes herbicide exposure for any veteran who served aboard the vessel during the period VA associates with it. These are the brown-water vessels — river patrol, riverine assault support, and the barracks and repair ships that supported them.
Still need to show: Personnel records showing assignment to the vessel during the listed dates. No deck-log research is normally required.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Askari
ARL-30Landing craft repair ship
Riverine repair ship supporting river assault craft.
What VA concedes: VA concedes herbicide exposure for any veteran who served aboard the vessel during the period VA associates with it. These are the brown-water vessels — river patrol, riverine assault support, and the barracks and repair ships that supported them.
Still need to show: Personnel records showing assignment to the vessel during the listed dates. No deck-log research is normally required.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Satyr
ARL-23Landing craft repair ship
Riverine repair ship supporting river assault craft.
What VA concedes: VA concedes herbicide exposure for any veteran who served aboard the vessel during the period VA associates with it. These are the brown-water vessels — river patrol, riverine assault support, and the barracks and repair ships that supported them.
Still need to show: Personnel records showing assignment to the vessel during the listed dates. No deck-log research is normally required.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Sphinx
ARL-24Landing craft repair ship
Riverine repair ship supporting river assault craft.
What VA concedes: VA concedes herbicide exposure for any veteran who served aboard the vessel during the period VA associates with it. These are the brown-water vessels — river patrol, riverine assault support, and the barracks and repair ships that supported them.
Still need to show: Personnel records showing assignment to the vessel during the listed dates. No deck-log research is normally required.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Krishna
ARL-38Landing craft repair ship
Riverine repair ship supporting river assault craft.
What VA concedes: VA concedes herbicide exposure for any veteran who served aboard the vessel during the period VA associates with it. These are the brown-water vessels — river patrol, riverine assault support, and the barracks and repair ships that supported them.
Still need to show: Personnel records showing assignment to the vessel during the listed dates. No deck-log research is normally required.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Tutuila
ARG-4Internal combustion engine repair ship
Repair ship moored on the Saigon River area.
What VA concedes: VA concedes herbicide exposure for any veteran who served aboard the vessel during the period VA associates with it. These are the brown-water vessels — river patrol, riverine assault support, and the barracks and repair ships that supported them.
Still need to show: Personnel records showing assignment to the vessel during the listed dates. No deck-log research is normally required.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Harnett County
LST-821Tank landing ship
Served as a river base for patrol and SEAL operations on inland waterways.
What VA concedes: VA concedes herbicide exposure for any veteran who served aboard the vessel during the period VA associates with it. These are the brown-water vessels — river patrol, riverine assault support, and the barracks and repair ships that supported them.
Still need to show: Personnel records showing assignment to the vessel during the listed dates. No deck-log research is normally required.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Garrett County
LST-786Tank landing ship
Operated as a mobile base on inland waterways.
What VA concedes: VA concedes herbicide exposure for any veteran who served aboard the vessel during the period VA associates with it. These are the brown-water vessels — river patrol, riverine assault support, and the barracks and repair ships that supported them.
Still need to show: Personnel records showing assignment to the vessel during the listed dates. No deck-log research is normally required.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Hunterdon County
LST-838Tank landing ship
Operated as a mobile base on inland waterways.
What VA concedes: VA concedes herbicide exposure for any veteran who served aboard the vessel during the period VA associates with it. These are the brown-water vessels — river patrol, riverine assault support, and the barracks and repair ships that supported them.
Still need to show: Personnel records showing assignment to the vessel during the listed dates. No deck-log research is normally required.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Jennings County
LST-846Tank landing ship
Operated as a mobile base on inland waterways.
What VA concedes: VA concedes herbicide exposure for any veteran who served aboard the vessel during the period VA associates with it. These are the brown-water vessels — river patrol, riverine assault support, and the barracks and repair ships that supported them.
Still need to show: Personnel records showing assignment to the vessel during the listed dates. No deck-log research is normally required.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Windham County
LST-1170Tank landing ship
Operated on inland waterways in support of riverine forces.
What VA concedes: VA concedes herbicide exposure for any veteran who served aboard the vessel during the period VA associates with it. These are the brown-water vessels — river patrol, riverine assault support, and the barracks and repair ships that supported them.
Still need to show: Personnel records showing assignment to the vessel during the listed dates. No deck-log research is normally required.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Card
ACV-11 / AKV-40Aircraft ferry (escort carrier)
Docked in Saigon; sunk at the pier by a sapper charge in May 1964 and later salvaged.
What VA concedes: VA concedes exposure only for veterans aboard during the specific dates the vessel operated inland or docked. The vessel's full deployment is not covered — the dated events are.
Still need to show: Personnel records placing you aboard on the listed dates. If your dates are close but not identical, deck logs from the National Archives can establish the vessel's position.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Mahnomen County
LST-912Tank landing ship
Entered inland waterways and beached to offload during listed periods.
What VA concedes: VA concedes exposure only for veterans aboard during the specific dates the vessel operated inland or docked. The vessel's full deployment is not covered — the dated events are.
Still need to show: Personnel records placing you aboard on the listed dates. If your dates are close but not identical, deck logs from the National Archives can establish the vessel's position.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Tortuga
LSD-26Dock landing ship
Listed for periods of inland waterway operation.
What VA concedes: VA concedes exposure only for veterans aboard during the specific dates the vessel operated inland or docked. The vessel's full deployment is not covered — the dated events are.
Still need to show: Personnel records placing you aboard on the listed dates. If your dates are close but not identical, deck logs from the National Archives can establish the vessel's position.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Vernon County
LST-1161Tank landing ship
Listed for inland waterway transits.
What VA concedes: VA concedes exposure only for veterans aboard during the specific dates the vessel operated inland or docked. The vessel's full deployment is not covered — the dated events are.
Still need to show: Personnel records placing you aboard on the listed dates. If your dates are close but not identical, deck logs from the National Archives can establish the vessel's position.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Washtenaw County
LST-1166Tank landing ship
Listed for inland waterway operations and beaching.
What VA concedes: VA concedes exposure only for veterans aboard during the specific dates the vessel operated inland or docked. The vessel's full deployment is not covered — the dated events are.
Still need to show: Personnel records placing you aboard on the listed dates. If your dates are close but not identical, deck logs from the National Archives can establish the vessel's position.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Sanctuary
AH-17Hospital ship
Operated close inshore; VA lists periods with crew ashore.
What VA concedes: VA concedes exposure for a veteran who personally went ashore. Presence aboard alone is not the concession under this category — though the 2019 offshore presumption may cover the same service independently.
Still need to show: Evidence you personally went ashore: temporary duty orders, liberty records, unit records, or a competent lay statement describing the landing.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Repose
AH-16Hospital ship
Operated close inshore; VA lists periods with crew ashore.
What VA concedes: VA concedes exposure for a veteran who personally went ashore. Presence aboard alone is not the concession under this category — though the 2019 offshore presumption may cover the same service independently.
Still need to show: Evidence you personally went ashore: temporary duty orders, liberty records, unit records, or a competent lay statement describing the landing.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Mount Katmai
AE-16Ammunition ship
Small boats carried personnel and supplies ashore during listed periods.
What VA concedes: VA concedes exposure for a veteran who was part of a boat crew that went ashore, or who otherwise landed. Again, the 2019 offshore presumption may cover the same service independently.
Still need to show: Evidence of boat-crew duty or a documented landing, plus assignment records for the period.
Confirm on VA's official ships listUSS Vega
AF-59Stores ship
Small boats carried supplies ashore during listed periods.
What VA concedes: VA concedes exposure for a veteran who was part of a boat crew that went ashore, or who otherwise landed. Again, the 2019 offshore presumption may cover the same service independently.
Still need to show: Evidence of boat-crew duty or a documented landing, plus assignment records for the period.
Confirm on VA's official ships listWhat VA's five categories actually mean
VA does not simply list ships — it sorts them by the kind of service it is willing to concede. The category decides whether presence aboard is enough or whether you must also document that you personally went ashore.
Operated on Vietnam's inland waterways
VA concedes herbicide exposure for any veteran who served aboard the vessel during the period VA associates with it. These are the brown-water vessels — river patrol, riverine assault support, and the barracks and repair ships that supported them.
Proof required: Personnel records showing assignment to the vessel during the listed dates. No deck-log research is normally required.
Operated temporarily on inland waterways or docked to shore
VA concedes exposure only for veterans aboard during the specific dates the vessel operated inland or docked. The vessel's full deployment is not covered — the dated events are.
Proof required: Personnel records placing you aboard on the listed dates. If your dates are close but not identical, deck logs from the National Archives can establish the vessel's position.
Close coastal waters, with evidence crew went ashore
VA concedes exposure for a veteran who personally went ashore. Presence aboard alone is not the concession under this category — though the 2019 offshore presumption may cover the same service independently.
Proof required: Evidence you personally went ashore: temporary duty orders, liberty records, unit records, or a competent lay statement describing the landing.
Close coastal waters, smaller craft ferried supplies ashore
VA concedes exposure for a veteran who was part of a boat crew that went ashore, or who otherwise landed. Again, the 2019 offshore presumption may cover the same service independently.
Proof required: Evidence of boat-crew duty or a documented landing, plus assignment records for the period.
Docking reported on specific dates
VA concedes exposure for veterans aboard on the reported docking dates, on the reasoning that the vessel was moored to a pier in Vietnam.
Proof required: Personnel records placing you aboard on the docking date shown on VA's list.
Ordering deck logs when the list does not settle it
- Fix your exact dates aboard from your DD-214, service personnel record, or transfer orders. Deck-log requests are searched by ship and date, not by name.
- Request the deck logs for those dates from the National Archives (Record Group 24). Logs record noon position, anchorage, and movements — the facts that answer the 12-nautical-mile question.
- Read for position and anchorage entries, not narrative. A single dated entry showing the ship anchored inside the territorial sea is worth more than pages of general history.
- Submit the log pages with the claim, flagged by date, alongside the diagnosis of a condition listed at 38 CFR § 3.309(e).
Frequently asked questions
- Does my ship have to be on VA's list for me to qualify?
- No. Since the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116-23, codified at 38 U.S.C. § 1116A), service aboard any vessel operating in the offshore territorial sea of Vietnam — within 12 nautical miles of the demarcation line in the statute — between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975 carries the herbicide presumption on its own. VA's ships list still matters for vessels that operated farther out but entered inland waterways or docked, and for reopening claims denied under the pre-2019 rule.
- What if my ship is not in this index?
- This index reproduces vessels we could confirm against VA's published list; VA's list is longer and is revised periodically. A vessel missing here is not a vessel missing from VA's list. Always check the official VA list before drawing any conclusion, and use deck logs where the list is silent.
- How do I prove my ship was within 12 nautical miles?
- Navy deck logs (Record Group 24 at the National Archives) record a vessel's daily position, course, and anchorage. Requesting the deck logs for the dates you were aboard is the standard way to document offshore position when VA's list does not already concede it.
- I was denied before 2019 under the old Blue Water rule. Can that be revisited?
- A change in law is treated as a basis to file a Supplemental Claim under 38 CFR § 3.156, and the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act contains its own provisions for previously denied claims. The effective-date rules in 38 CFR § 3.400 and § 3.114 govern how far back any resulting award can reach. No outcome can be predicted in an individual case.
- Which diseases are presumptive for Agent Orange exposure?
- The list is at 38 CFR § 3.309(e) and was expanded by the PACT Act of 2022 (Pub. L. 117-168) to add hypertension and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, among others. Conditions include ischemic heart disease, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, several cancers, and peripheral neuropathy meeting the regulation's terms.
- Does time in Da Nang Harbor or Vung Tau count as inland waterway service?
- VA treats certain harbors and bays differently from open ocean, and its ships list identifies vessels by the category of service VA concedes. Where a harbor entry is disputed, the deck log for the specific date is the record that resolves it.
Sources
- Navy and Coast Guard Ships Associated with Service in Vietnam and Exposure to Herbicide Agents
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Public Health
The authoritative ships list. Revised periodically; check it before relying on any secondary index, including this one.
- 38 U.S.C. § 1116A — Presumptions of service connection for veterans who served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam
United States Code
Added by the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116-23). Covers service in the offshore territorial sea within 12 nautical miles.
- Procopio v. Wilkie, 913 F.3d 1371 (Fed. Cir. 2019) (en banc)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Held that the territorial sea of Vietnam is within 'the Republic of Vietnam' for herbicide-presumption purposes.
- 38 CFR § 3.307(a)(6) — Herbicide exposure presumptions
Code of Federal Regulations
Sets the exposure presumption and the qualifying service period.
- 38 CFR § 3.309(e) — Diseases associated with herbicide exposure
Code of Federal Regulations
The list of presumptive diseases, as expanded by the PACT Act of 2022 (Pub. L. 117-168).
- Navy deck logs, Record Group 24
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
Where a ship's daily position is documented. This is the record that resolves a disputed 12-nautical-mile question.
Where this page and VA's published list disagree, VA's list controls. Report a discrepancy and we will correct it.
Denied on Blue Water Navy service?
If a decision turned on where your ship was, that is an evidence question with a documented answer. Send the ship and your dates aboard and we'll tell you which record settles it.
Requesting a consultation does not create representation and is not a guarantee of any outcome. Representation begins only after a written fee agreement and VA Form 21-22a are signed.
Disclaimer: Oakridge Claims is a private business and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. No specific outcome, rating, or approval can be guaranteed — results depend on the individual facts of each case and applicable law.