Evidence
6 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-6).
-
[1]research packet r4-packet.md (2 sources cited) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED — real identity: USNS Pvt. Joseph F. Merrell
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- usns-pvt-joseph-f-merrell-pkt-r4-packet-md
-
[2]Naval History and Heritage Command, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Private Joseph F. Merrell [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS opening identity and service paragraphs
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS identifies Pvt. Joseph F. Merrell as laid down as Grange Victory (MCV hull 33) by California Shipbuilding Corporation at Los Angeles; launched 17 July 1944; delivered to Isthmian Steamship Company on 25 August 1944; transferred to the Army after World War II; and transferred by the Maritime Administration to the Navy on 1 March 1950 as T-AKV-4 for MSTS, Pacific.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1944-1950
- Limitations
- The current NHHC URL returned 404 during live verification; the cited URL is an archived 2024-12-07 Wayback copy of the official page. This row supports identity, construction, and the 1 March 1950 transfer; it does not document asbestos, redesignation timing to T-AK-275, present condition, or individual exposure.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-pvt-joseph-f-merrell-01
-
[3]NavSource Online, Service Ship Photo Archive, USNS PVT. Joseph F. Merrell (T-AK-275) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Service chronology and specifications, page lines 4-44
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The official NavSource service-ship archive identifies the vessel as USNS Pvt. Joseph F. Merrell (T-AK-275), ex-USNS Pvt. Joseph F. Merrell (T-AKV-4), and ex-USAT Pvt. Joseph F. Merrell; records the 1 March 1950 MSTS placement, later T-AK-275 redesignation, 26 August 1974 transfer from the Naval Register and Navy custody to MARAD, sale for scrapping, and removal to Kaohsiung, Taiwan. It lists 455 feet length, 62 feet beam, 29 feet 2 inches draft, complement 99, and single-screw steam-turbine propulsion at 8,500 shaft horsepower.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1944-1974
- Limitations
- The page is an official-style maritime photo archive and directly identifies the hull, but it is not a Navy registry page. Its date for the later redesignation is unspecified; this row does not establish asbestos, insulation content, or exposure.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-pvt-joseph-f-merrell-02
-
[4]Naval History and Heritage Command, photograph catalog NH 103608, USNS Pvt. Joseph F. Merrell [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- NH 103608 catalog title and description
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The Naval History and Heritage Command image catalog identifies official photograph NH 103608 as USNS Pvt. Joseph F. Merrell (T-AKV-4), in port circa the early or mid-1950s, from the Military Sealift Command collection.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- MSTS Vietnam-era context
- Limitations
- The current NHHC catalog URL returned 404 during live verification; the cited URL is an archived 2025-12-17 Wayback copy of the official catalog entry. The catalog supports the ship name and T-AKV-4 designation in the 1950s, but does not establish a complete voyage history, the later T-AK-275 redesignation, or asbestos exposure.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-pvt-joseph-f-merrell-03
-
[5]Batch-9571 source review: NHHC DANFS, NHHC sealift publication, and NavSource service archive [other_primary]
- Locator
- Search ledger rows sl-usns-pvt-joseph-f-merrell-01 through sl-usns-pvt-joseph-f-merrell-07
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record was located in the reviewed DANFS/NHHC, NavSource, and indexed official-history materials: no survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or authoritative asbestos finding naming this hull was found. The available records identify a 1944-built steam cargo vessel but do not identify asbestos products aboard it.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- Public sources reviewed through 2026-10-05
- Limitations
- A failure to locate a public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard. This is a search-result limitation, not a finding that the vessel was asbestos-free; presence, location, condition, quantity, exposure, and causation remain unknown.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-pvt-joseph-f-merrell-04
-
[6]VC2-S-AP2 Victory class profile, repository background file [other_primary]
- Locator
- vc2-s-ap2-victory.class.json, class and builder context
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Class-profile background identifies the VC2-S-AP2 Victory-ship design family and California Shipbuilding construction context. This background is retained only as design context and is not treated as proof of asbestos aboard Pvt. Joseph F. Merrell.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- World War II era
- Population
- Victory-ship construction and operation context
- Limitations
- Class background is not an independent ship-specific asbestos source and does not establish material composition, retained fabric, worker exposure, or causation for this hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-pvt-joseph-f-merrell-05