USNS Tonti (AOG-76 (1948-49); T-AOG-76 (1949-60); styled USNT Tonti (U.S. Naval Tanker) at reactivation 1948; MC hull 2648; ARC Mamonal (BT-62) 1965-1975)

Evidence

10 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-10).

1. [1]DANFS, 'Tonti' (AOG-76) entry, Naval History and Heritage Command (verbatim; live page 404 on 2026-09-19 - retrieved via Wayback capture 20240526182212) [nhhc_danfs]

   Locator

   DANFS entry - spec block, namesake paragraph, and two narrative paragraphs (page published 2015-09-30)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   DANFS records: namesake Chevalier Henry de Tonti (often spelled Tonty), born Gaeta, Italy, about 1650, LaSalle's lieutenant from 1678, explorer of the Mississippi basin, died at Mobile September 1704. 'Tonti (AOG-76), originally slated for use by the British under the terms of the Lend-Lease Program, was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2648) as Tavern on 16 May 1945 at Houston, Tex., by the Todd-Houston Shipbuilding Corp.; launched on 23 August 1945; and sponsored by Mrs. E. Bornkman. Work on completing the ship was suspended on 26 August 1945.' Work resumed; completed December 1945; 'Apparently named Tonti by the Maritime Commission at this time, she was leased on 24 June 1948 at Orange, Tex., to the Marine Transport Lines, Inc. Operating at first under the supervision of the Naval Transportation Service and, after September 1949, under the auspices of the Military Sea Transportation Service, the gasoline tanker carried liquid cargoes for the Navy. She plied the waters of the Atlantic, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico, ranging as far north as the Labrador Sea. Tonti continued operations through the 1950's. In July 1960, she was returned to the custody of the Maritime Administration and placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet. On 13 January 1965, she was transferred, to the Colombian Navy under the "grant aid" program and served as Mamonal (BT-62) until 1975 when she was scrapped.' Spec block: (AOG-76: dp. 2,022 (lt.); l. 325'; b. 48'; dr. 19'; s. 10 k. (tl.); cpl. 38; cl. Tonti; T1-M-BT2).

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-19

   Study period

   1945-1975

   Population

   NTS/MSTS civilian contract crew (1948-1960)

   Limitations

   Official Navy ship history. Contains no asbestos, insulation, or materials information; establishes operating area (Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, north to the Labrador Sea) and the civilian contract-operator arrangement under NTS/MSTS. The NTS/MSTS transition is given as 'after September 1949' - the formal MSTS stand-up date is 1 October 1949 per NavSource/shipscribe. Does not establish any asbestos fact.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-usns-tonti-01

2. [2]NavSource Online, Service Ship Photo Archive - USNS Tonti (T-AOG-76) page (content verified via Wayback capture 20240715061750; direct fetch unreliable) [other_primary]

   Locator

   Page 2076.htm - class history bullet list, 'Specifications' block, ribbon display, and ARC Mamonal photo caption

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   NavSource timeline: laid down as Tavern 16 May 1945, a Maritime Commission type T1-M-BT2 tanker hull under MC contract (MC hull 2648) at Todd-Houston Shipbuilding Corp., Houston, TX; launched 23 August 1945; completed December 1945, renamed Tonti and delivered to the Maritime Commission; laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Orange, TX; leased 24 June 1948 to Marine Transport Lines, Inc. for operation for the Naval Transportation Service (NTS); assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) 1 October 1949 and placed in service as USNS Tonti (T-AOG-76); placed out of service July 1960 for layup in the NDRF; transferred to Colombia 13 January 1965, renamed ARC Mamonal (BT-62); 'Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown'; final disposition scrapped 1975. Spec block: 2,022 t.(lt); 325'; 48'; 19'; 10 kts.(fl); complement 38; armament none; cargo 30,000 bbls; diesel, single propeller, 1,700 shp. Page displays a National Defense Service Medal ribbon and gives international radio call sign NDGE; photo caption documents the ex-hull underway in Colombian service as ARC Mamonal (BT-62).

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-19

   Study period

   1945-1975

   Population

   MSTS civilian contract crew (1949-1960)

   Limitations

   Private archival compilation, not an official record - used for the MSTS assignment date (1 Oct 1949), propulsion figure (1,700 shp vs shipscribe's 1,400 HP - discrepancy carried), and the Colombian-service photo documentation. NDSM ribbon display is unverified against a service record (plausible for Korea-era MSTS service; not asserted - in gaps). 'Orange, TX' layup refers to the Beaumont reserve fleet site on the Neches River - the MARAD cards print 'Beaumont / NECHES'. Contains no asbestos information.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-usns-tonti-02

3. [3]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - TONTI (AOG-76), Ship History Detail 4896, including four digitized vessel status cards (scans 4896_9027AF.jpg, 4896_9027BF.jpg, 4896_9027BB.jpg, and 70P_01.png) [marad_nrc]

   Locator

   ShipHistory Detail 4896 - vessel header, milestone table, and four status-card scans at /cards/4896_9027AF.jpg, /cards/4896_9027BF.jpg, /cards/4896_9027BB.jpg, /cards/70P_01.png

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   MARAD ShipHistory header for this hull: Year Built 1945; Shipyard 'Todd Shipbuilding and Drydock'; General Type Tanker; MARAD Type T1-M-BT2; length 325.30 ft, beam 48.10 ft, net 2,063, gross 3,262; fate 'Sold - No Further Info'; milestones table lists Entry 4/17/1946 and Acquisition 7/1/1961. The digitized STATUS CARDS - primary fleet custody documents - carry the full chain. Master card (70P_01): 'TONTI AOG-76 ... Type T1-M-BT2 Former EX-TAVERN ... D.W.T. 4205 Gross 3262 Net 2063 Sp. 10 ... MC Hull No. 2648 Built by Todd-Houston SB-Corp. At Houston, Texas Completed 12-5-45 Basis to U.S.M.C.'; allocation rows: Reserve Fleet Beaumont Fleet; 'Transferred to the Navy Dept - Title' at Beaumont 5-18-48 8:45 AM; Reserve Fleet custody James River 7-20-60 12:35pm EST; 'Maritime Administration (Permanent Transfer)' James River 7-1-61 12:01am EST; 'Department of Navy (Permanent Transfer)' James River 1-4-65 3:00pm EST; 'Sold to Fonda Rotatoria de la Armada Nacional, Bogota, Colombia 3-65' - renamed 'ARC MAMONAL'. James River entry card (4896_9027AF): 'Service prior to lay-up: MSTS Nucleus Fleet'; arrival 7-20-60 draft fwd 1'9" aft 14'6"; stamped 'Temp. Custody Navy - Reimbursable' title with 'July 1, 1961 Marad Title'; damages box annotates 'Liquid Cargo 31,282 bbls.'; withdrawal 1-4-65 1500 hrs EST, reason 'Transferred to Navy Dept (P.T.) for Colombian Navy'; handwritten note 'Argentine Naval Officers to inspect Nov 1963'; layup-authorization correspondence 'See Marad letter April 15, 1960 / MSTS reply May 5, 1960 / Navy letter June 29, 1960 / Commerce (Marad) reply July 15, 1960'; red-print note that the ship would also transport '2 - 26' motor whale boats to be used as lifeboats - & are equipped with diesel engines.' Beaumont card (4896_9027BF): present name TONTI, former TAVERN, type T1-M-BT2, fleet 'Beaumont / NECHES', built Todd Houston 1945, entered fleet 4-17-46, hull 2648; 'Prelim alloc 605-A 2-26-48 Rescinded 7-6-48'; handwritten entries record a canceled disposition to 'Fordom Trading Corp.' (4-28-48) and ships-papers routing ('Admiral Smith ltr to Navy 4-19-48'); 'DATE WITHDRAWN FROM FLEET 5-18-48 8:45AM CST DELIVERED TO Navy.' Card back (4896_9027BB): 'Emerg. gen. field rheostat removed per allen's wire 2/3/47' and 'Let Mr. Himmler know if & when vessel allocated for sale.'

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-19

   Study period

   1945-1965

   Limitations

   Authoritative custody record - the digitized status cards are primary MARAD fleet documents (handwriting OCR-assisted, confirmed visually). Header 'Specific Type: LNG Liquefied Natural Gas' is a data-quality artifact - a 1945 T1-M-BT2 gasoline tanker, never LNG. The 'Sold ... 3-65' card entry records the Colombian Navy revolving-fund sale after the 13 Jan 1965 grant-aid loan; shipscribe's 'Sold to Colombia Jul 1974' conflicts (in gaps). Card's 'Argentine Naval Officers to inspect Nov 1963' note suggests a prospective Argentine transfer evaluated before the Colombian one - no further record. Contains no asbestos, materials, or condition-survey information; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-usns-tonti-03

4. [4]Shipscribe USN auxiliaries compilation, TONTI (T-AOG 76, T1-M-BT2) class page - class data block, construction/disposal tables, class narrative, and per-ship notes for MC 2648 (built from Naval Vessel Register and MARAD data) [other_primary]

   Locator

   AOG76.html - class data block, Construction/Disposition table rows 76, Class Notes (JCS request, T1-M-BT1/BT2 comparison, design refinements, 1948 acquisition correspondence), and Ship Notes entry for MC 2648

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Register-based compilation. Class data: design MC T1-M-BT2; 2,059 lt / 5,960 full; 325' oa, 309' wl x 48' x 19' max nav; armament none; accommodations 11 officers, 23-25 unlicensed; 10 kts; 1,400 HP geared diesel (Nordberg), 1 screw. Construction row: TONTI acquired 18 May 1948, keel 16 May 1945, launch 23 Aug 1945, in service 24 Jun 1948. Ship note (MC 2648): '(ex-TAVERN, British Lend Lease name, completed 5 Dec 1945). Accepted by MC for later disposal and to Beaumont reserve fleet on completion. Title to Navy there 18 May 1948 as a U.S. Naval Tanker operated by a civilian crew. Leased 24 Jun 1948 to Marine Transport Lines for operation, first for the Naval Transportation Service and from its establishment on 1 Oct 1949 for MSTS. Contract-manned tanker until to MA custody 20 Jul 1960. Stricken and to MA (title) 1 Jul 1961. Requested by the Navy from the Commerce Dept. 11 Dec 1964 for the Navy's Latin American Program. Title from MA 4 Jan 1965 and loaned to Colombia 13 Jan 1965 under the "Grant Aid" program as MAMONAL (BT 62). Sold to Colombia Jul 1974, BU 1975.' Class narrative: the JCS asked the MC 6 June 1944 to build 12 'special type tankers' for Pacific inter-island shuttle of light petroleum products (AOG 64-75, design T1-M-BT1); the MC developed the similar T1-M-BT2 for the British merchant fleet (20 ships) - 'main engines are by Nordberg Mfg. Co. and accommodations were intended for Lascar crews' (T1-M-BT1 had Enterprise diesels); largest of the MC coastal tankers, six main cargo tanks divided port/starboard (aviation gas / commercial gas / diesel oil), ~30,000 bbl total; the five T1-M-BT2s remaining under U.S. control after 1948 all reached the MSTS fleet by end of 1950. Design refinements: main-diesel exhaust pipes enclosed within an elliptical deckhouse also housing the emergency generator room and repair lockers (the four reactivated T1-M-BT2s received a small added funnel); semicircular front end of the after superstructure containing the main cargo pump room with accommodations above. Acquisition correspondence: SecNav to MC Chairman 25 Mar 1948 requesting a 30,000-bbl T1-M-BT tanker for Atlantic split-cargo delivery; MC authorized TONTI transfer 19 Apr 1948 (laid up at Beaumont since April 1946); CNO directed Commander 8th Naval District 20 Apr 1948 to take over and reactivate, Marine Transport Lines assigned as operating contractor; styled 'U.S. Naval Tanker (USNT) TONTI (AOG 76)'; Naval Station Orange, Tex., reported contractor receipt 24 Jun 1948.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-19

   Study period

   1944-1975; class context 1944-2006

   Population

   NTS/MSTS civilian contract crews (1948-1960); class context for the five T1-M-BT2s (AOG 76-80)

   Limitations

   Scholarly secondary compilation from register data (Stephen S. Roberts) - used for the reactivation-correspondence detail, USNT styling, stricken date (1 Jul 1961), and 'Sold to Colombia Jul 1974' (conflicts with MARAD card's 3-65 revolving-fund sale - in gaps). Disposal-table strike '1974?' likewise unresolved. Propulsion 1,400 HP conflicts with NavSource's 1,700 shp - both carried. No asbestos information.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-usns-tonti-04

5. [5]Stone v. Marine Transport Lines, Inc., 23 F.R.D. 222, 1 Fed. R. Serv. 2d 512 (D. Md. Mar. 5, 1959), Civ. No. 10290 [court_record]

   Locator

   Opinion, 23 F.R.D. 222 (D. Md.), interrogatories reproduced at numbered items 6, 7, 18, 24; CourtListener opinion 8757742

   Finding type

   litigation_documented

   Finding

   Published opinion naming this hull - classified OTHER LITIGATION (not asbestos). Interrogatories ruling in a personal-injury action by crew member Alfred S. Stone against Marine Transport Lines, Inc., and fellow crew member Huey H. (P.) Plyler: the complaint alleged plaintiff was physically assaulted and injured by Plyler aboard, and that his injuries were caused by the corporate defendant's negligent hiring/retention of a crewman of known vicious tendencies, failure to warn, failure to prevent injury, and the unseaworthiness of the vessel. The reproduced interrogatories name the vessel repeatedly: 'the members of the crew of the USNS Tonti for the voyage involved in this action,' 'When and where did the USNS Tonti sign on and pay off for the voyage in which she was engaged when Plaintiff was injured,' and persons reported to have fought with or been struck by Plyler 'while he was a member of the crew of the USNS Tonti or while in the employ of the Marine Transport Lines, Inc.' The court declined costs on either side. The case documents the contract-operator arrangement (Marine Transport Lines running this Navy tanker with a merchant crew) and a late-1950s voyage of this hull.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-19

   Study period

   1959 opinion; voyage era late 1950s

   Population

   Marine Transport Lines crew aboard this hull (voyage in suit, ~1957-1959)

   Limitations

   Discovery-stage opinion in a negligence/unseaworthiness assault action - it contains no asbestos allegation, product identification, or exposure finding; classified 'other litigation' under the batch litigation rubric, not a qualifying asbestos case. It establishes only that this hull was crewed by Marine Transport Lines personnel and litigated over in 1959. Merits outcome (beyond the discovery ruling) not located.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-usns-tonti-05

6. [6]Corn, Jacqueline Karnell, and Jennifer Starr, 'Historical perspective on asbestos: Policies and protective measures in World War II shipbuilding,' American Journal of Industrial Medicine 11(3):359-373 (1987) [other_primary]

   Locator

   Abstract and article, AJIM 11(3):359-373

   Finding type

   asbestos_application

   Finding

   Peer-reviewed historical study documents that asbestos was used extensively as a fireproofing and insulating material in U.S. shipbuilding during WWII - the era and Maritime Commission program under which this 1945 T1-M-BT2 tanker was built - and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization aboard merchant-type hulls.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-19

   Study period

   1940s era documented; article 1987

   Population

   WWII shipyard workers and ship crews (class context)

   Limitations

   Program/era-level scholarly documentation of asbestos use in WWII shipbuilding generally; does not name this vessel and does not establish that asbestos was or remains aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation. This hull is a diesel motorship - inference weight differs from steam-plant hulls.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-usns-tonti-06

7. [7]Fleischer, W.E., Drinker, P., et al., 'A Health Survey of Pipe Covering Operations in Constructing Naval Vessels,' Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology 28(1):9-16 (1946) - U.S. Maritime Commission-commissioned industrial hygiene survey [other_primary]

   Locator

   J. Ind. Hyg. Toxicol. 28(1):9-16 (1946), PMID 21016030

   Finding type

   gov_survey

   Finding

   A U.S. Maritime Commission-commissioned industrial hygiene survey of WWII shipyard pipe-covering operations documented amosite asbestos pipe covering and boiler-block insulation being cut and fitted at contract shipyards - the documented product environment at yards of the type and era at which this hull was built (Todd-Houston, Houston, 1945). The builder's parent corporation is documented in the companion shipyard dataset as an asbestos-exposure site (todd-shipyards: Todd Shipyards Corporation).

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-19

   Study period

   1942-1945 (survey era); published 1946

   Population

   Construction trades at WWII contract yards, including Todd-Houston workers on this hull's build (May-Dec 1945)

   Limitations

   Yard/era-level documentation - the survey covered contract yards as a group and names neither Todd-Houston nor this hull; it establishes the documented product environment for construction-period workers, not asbestos presence on this vessel. The shipyard-dataset link is to the parent Todd Shipyards Corporation - no Houston-specific yard entry exists. Not a hull record.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-usns-tonti-07

8. [8]Auke Visser T-tanker reference, per-hull page 'Tavern / Tonti' (MC 2648) [other_primary]

   Locator

   id497.htm - per-hull history block and photo captions

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Specialist per-hull reference repeats and corroborates the NavSource timeline (laid down as Tavern 16 May 1945, T1-M-BT2, MC 2648, Todd-Houston; launched 23 Aug 1945; completed December 1945, renamed Tonti; NDRF layup; leased 24 Jun 1948 to Marine Transport Lines for NTS; MSTS 1 Oct 1949 as USNS Tonti (T-AOG-76); out of service July 1960; to Colombia 13 Jan 1965 as Mamonal (BT-62); scrapped 1975) and its photo caption documents 'US Navy Oiler, Gasoline USS Tonti (AOG-76), August 1957' - the hull in service in 1957 under a USS styling variant.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-19

   Study period

   1945-1975

   Limitations

   Specialist secondary compilation; adds the August-1957 in-service photo documentation and a 'USS Tonti' caption styling (she was USNS - caption styling carried as a variant, not adopted). 1,700 shp propulsion figure repeats NavSource. No asbestos information.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-usns-tonti-08

9. [9]Batch-422 search ledger (this record): NHHC/DANFS via Wayback; NavSource via Wayback; MARAD ShipHistory Detail 4896 + four digitized status cards; shipscribe class compilation; aukevisser T1 reference; CourtListener opinion 8757742 (Stone v. Marine Transport Lines); NVR; indexed-web litigation sweeps; CourtListener API/HTML search (blocked) [other_primary]

   Locator

   search_ledger rows sl-usns-tonti-01 through sl-usns-tonti-10

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, court finding, or docketed asbestos case naming this hull under any of its designations (Tavern, Tonti, USNT Tonti, USNS Tonti, AOG-76, T-AOG-76, ARC Mamonal, MC 2648) was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). The single hull-naming published opinion located - Stone v. Marine Transport Lines, 23 F.R.D. 222 (D. Md. 1959) - is a crew-assault negligence/unseaworthiness action classified OTHER LITIGATION; no asbestos allegation appears in it. Indexed-web sweeps returned no asbestos litigation, product identification, or exposure claim for this hull.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   negative_finding

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-19

   Study period

   2026-09-19

   Limitations

   Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1945 MC diesel tanker is era-consistent with asbestos-containing exhaust lagging, gaskets, packing, and accommodation fireproofing, and no abatement record was located either. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility. CourtListener systematic docket sweep could not be run at research time (API HTTP 429, ~8.4-hour throttle window; HTML endpoint 403 on 2026-09-19) - the Stone opinion was located via its F.R.D. volume index and indexed-web citation, not via the throttled name search; a full name/hull-number docket sweep remains an open item.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-usns-tonti-09

10. [10]NARA Guide to Federal Records: RG 178 (U.S. Maritime Commission); MARAD/NDRF vessel files; ship deck logs (merchant/auxiliary, 1948-1960); Colombian grant-aid/MAP transfer files [other_primary]

    Locator

    archives.gov record-group guides (RG 178 et al.); D. Md. Civ. No. 10290

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    Archival leads (not retrieved - requires research-room or reproduction order; no spend authorized): NARA RG 178 Construction Division records may hold the Todd-Houston contract/outfitting specifications for MC hull 2648 including insulation schedules; the cited layup-correspondence chain (Marad letter 15 Apr 1960, MSTS reply 5 May 1960, Navy letter 29 Jun 1960, Commerce/Marad reply 15 Jul 1960) exists as paper records in MARAD files; deck logs for the NTS/MSTS contract-operation era (1948-1960) may survive in merchant/auxiliary log collections; the 1964-65 Latin American Program grant-aid transfer file (Navy request to Commerce 11 Dec 1964; Navy title 4 Jan 1965; Colombia loan 13 Jan 1965; Fonda Rotatoria sale 3-65) would be in Navy foreign-assistance and MARAD records; the Stone v. Marine Transport Lines litigation file (D. Md. Civ. No. 10290) is at NARA Philadelphia.

    Verification

    unverified

    Role

    archival_lead

    Documentation level

    context_only

    Accessed

    2026-09-19

    Study period

    1945-1975 records

    Limitations

    Record-group mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for this hull is unknown until surveyed in person. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-usns-tonti-10