Evidence
10 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-10).
-
[1]research packet be-packet.md (1 sources cited) [nhhc_danfs]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-achelous-arl1-pkt-be-packet-md
-
[2]DANFS entry 'Achelous (ARL-1)', NHHC (author Luann Parsons; updated Robert J. Cressman, 2023-12-19) - via Wayback capture 2025-02-02; live NHHC URL returns 404 as of 2026-09-26 [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS full entry text; Wayback https://web.archive.org/web/20250202214538/https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/achelous.html
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS (NHHC): LST-10 laid down 1942-08-15 at Pittsburg[h], PA by Dravo Corp.; launched 1942-11-25, sponsor Mrs. George F. Wolfe; named Achelous and redesignated landing craft repair ship ARL-1 on 1943-01-13; commissioned alongside Pier 9, Port Covington, Baltimore, MD on 1943-04-02, Lt. Walter Ringies, D-M, USNR, in command. WWII service: shakedown Chesapeake Bay; convoy to North Africa (towed disabled SC-497 1943-04-29/05-01); Oran 1943-05-26; Bizerte 06-01/07-14; Licata, Sicily 07-15/08-14 repair work; Bizerte air raids 08-15/17 (guns assisted in downing two German planes); Palermo mid-Sep; Convoy UGS-19 10-16; Port Said 10-23; Suez transit 10-25; Massawa floating dry dock 11-01/04; Calcutta ~1 month (CBI). Early 1944 returned to Mediterranean, Italian coast 7 months; southern France assault Aug 1944 (pontoon dry dock off French coast); reassigned Pacific, Panama Canal transit 1945-03-07; Eniwetok 04-24; Okinawa support - last combat operation. Postwar: out of commission in reserve January 1947, Columbia River Group Pacific Reserve Fleet; stricken from NVR 1973-06-01; sold 1974-01-21 to Overseas Shipyard, Ltd., Hong Kong, for scrapping. Two battle stars (southern France 1944-08-21/09-25; Okinawa Gunto 1945-05-08/06-30). Class data line: displacement 4,100; length 328'0"; beam 50'0"; draft 11'2"; speed 11.6 kts; complement 255; armament 1x3-inch, 8x40mm, 8x20mm.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1942-1974
- Limitations
- Authoritative Navy history establishing identity, construction, conversion designation, service, and disposition. Contains no asbestos or insulation-material statement; supports no asbestos claim. Decommissioning date here (January 1947) conflicts with NavSource (1946-09-06) and shipscribe (1946-09-05) - see correction row.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-achelous-arl1-01
-
[3]NavSource Naval History, Amphibious Photo Archive - USS Achelous (ARL-1) page (archives/10/19/1901.htm, last updated 2017-09-15) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Page header data block, campaign table, specifications block, CO table
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource Amphibious Photo Archive page for USS Achelous (ARL-1): laid down 1942-08-15 as LST-10 at Dravo Corp., Neville Island, PA; reclassified as landing craft repair ship while building; launched 1942-11-25; commissioned 1943-04-02 at Baltimore, MD, LT Walter Ringies in command. Campaigns: Sicilian occupation 1943-07-15/08-19; invasion of southern France Aug 1944; Okinawa Gunto May, June and August 1945. Decommissioned 1946-09-06 at Astoria, OR; Pacific Reserve Fleet Columbia River Group; stricken 1973-06-01; 'earned three battle stars'; sold for scrapping 1974-01-01. Specs: 3,900 t lt / 4,100 t fl; 328' x 50' x 11'2" lim; 11.6 kts; complement 22 officers + 233 enlisted; armament 1x3"/50 DP, 2x quad 40mm w/ Mk 51 directors, 6x twin 20mm; 2x GM 12-567A diesels, Falk reduction gear, 2 props 1,800 shp, twin rudders; diesel fuel 4,715 bbls; largest boom 60 t. CO roster: Ringies (1943-04-02/1944-03), Hays (1944-03/1945-03), Lundell (1945-03/1945-12-12), Jimenez (1945-12-12/1946-06), Huffman (1946-06/1946-09-06). NARA BuShips photos 19-N-78642/19-N-78643 (Charleston, 1945-02-19).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1942-1974
- Limitations
- Secondary transcription archive (Navy-compiled data + contributed photos), not a primary document; consistent with DANFS on construction/commissioning but conflicts on decommissioning date (1946-09-06 vs Jan 1947), battle stars (3 vs 2), sale date (1974-01-01 vs 1974-01-21), and 20mm count (6 twin = 12 barrels vs 8 in DANFS header) - see correction row. No asbestos content; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-achelous-arl1-02
-
[4]shipscribe.com, 'USS Achelous (ARL-1) Class' register page (usnaux.shipscribe.com/ARL/ARL01.html), compiled 2007 from BuShips Ships' Data and OpNav records [other_primary]
- Locator
- Construction table row ARL-1; Disposition table row ARL-1; Class Notes paragraphs 1 and 4; Ship Notes row 'ACHELOUS'
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- shipscribe.com U.S. Navy auxiliary register (S.S. Roberts, compiled from BuShips/OpNav records), ARL-1 class page: construction table lists ARL-1 ACHELOUS reclassified 1943-01-13, builder 'Dravo, Wilmington', keel 1942-08-15, launch 1942-11-25, commission 1943-04-02. Ship note: 'Ex LST-10 13 Jan 43. Converted by Bethlehem Steel, Key Highway, Baltimore, Md. (delivered as LST 22 Feb 43, arrived from Wilmington, Del., 24 Feb 43, no ferry commission being needed for this inland waterways transit). In USN reserve 1946-73.' Disposition table: decommissioned 1946-09-05, struck 1973-06-01, disposal 1974-01-29 sold. Class notes: COMINCH directed 1942-12-03 conversion of three LSTs to landing-craft repair ships; ARL/ARB/AGP designations approved by SecNav 1943-01-13; LST-25 designated 1943-01-25 for the ARL-1 conversion but replaced 1943-02-05 by LST-10 to expedite delivery; seven of nine ARL-1-class ships converted at Bethlehem-Key Highway, Baltimore (two at San Francisco); Gibbs & Cox design agent; bow doors welded shut on U.S. units; 50-ton A-frame hoist fitted.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1942-1974
- Limitations
- Independent authoritative register reconciling BuShips/OpNav records; adds the conversion yard (Bethlehem Steel, Key Highway, Baltimore) and the Wilmington DE delivery/transit detail not in DANFS - which places keel-laying at 'Pittsburg, Pa.' (contract yard vs completion/delivery yard; see gaps). Disposal date 1974-01-29 vs DANFS 1974-01-21. No asbestos content; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-achelous-arl1-03
-
[5]Consolidated era inference - BuShips Ships' Data U.S. Naval Vessels Vol. 2 (Jan 1945) LST/ARL machinery and class data (shipscribe scan); NavSource spec block for this hull [other_primary]
- Locator
- SDB-1945 v2 LST/ARL design tables; NavSource archives/10/19/1901.htm specifications block
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Era/design inference for a diesel-powered LST-hull auxiliary: the ship had no boilers (2x GM 12-567A diesels, 1,800 shp). Asbestos-relevant applications typical of the type and era: diesel exhaust lagging and manifold gaskets, engine-room thermal/acoustic insulation, deck coverings/tile, bulkhead and accommodation-space insulation, machinery packing - plus ARL-specific repair-shop outfit (machine, welding, fitting shops) contemporaneously stocked with asbestos-containing consumables such as welding blankets, insulation cement, and gasket sheet stock. The conversion period (Bethlehem-Key Highway, Feb-Apr 1943) fell inside the window when the federal government had reserved asbestos supply for shipbuilding.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1942-1946
- Population
- Construction and conversion yard workers (Dravo; Bethlehem-Key Highway, 1942-43); embarked repair-ship crew and serviced landing-craft crews
- Limitations
- Class/era inference only - no document names this hull's materials. Diesel plant means no boiler insulation (the largest asbestos mass on steam ships); listed applications are era-typical, not ship-proven. Does not establish quantity, location, present-day presence (hull scrapped 1974), individual exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-achelous-arl1-04
-
[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 fireproofing and insulating material in U.S. shipbuilding during WWII - the era and program under which this LST-hull conversion was built and fitted - and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization aboard naval and merchant-type hulls.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1940s era documented; article 1987
- Population
- WWII shipyard workers and ship crews (class context)
- Limitations
- Program/era-level scholarship; does not name this vessel and does not establish that asbestos was aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-achelous-arl1-05
-
[7]CourtListener API v4 opinion search q='Achelous' (type=o), 30 results screened 2026-09-26 [court_record]
- Locator
- All 30 results screened at case-name and snippet level (2 pages)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- CourtListener opinion-index sweep on the exact ship name 'Achelous' (2026-09-26, authenticated API v4): 30 results returned; every hit reviewed is a name collision or fuzzy match - Louisiana criminal surname 'Achelles' (State v. Achelles, 208 So. 3d 1068 and related appeals), 'Aichele' surname matters, and unrelated opinions containing no vessel reference. No opinion names USS Achelous, ARL-1, or an LST-10 exposure claim.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- Sweep covers indexed opinions only - complaints/dockets not surfaced by case-name matching, state-court unindexed decisions, and CAVC/BVA veterans' claims are outside this index. Absence of an indexed opinion does not prove no claim was ever filed; it establishes that no qualifying ship-naming opinion is in the index.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-achelous-arl1-06
-
[8]CourtListener API v4 - pacing-limited sweep attempt (helper cl-auth-search.py); supplementary web litigation search [court_record]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-achelous-arl1-05 through -07
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- CourtListener hull-number and docket-level sweeps for this vessel were attempted but blocked by the fleet-wide pacing budget during the 2026-09-26 session (see search_ledger sl-uss-achelous-arl1-05/06/07: 'ARL-1', 'LST-10', and RECAP docket queries returned exit-2 pacing responses, not results). A supplementary web search for asbestos/mesothelioma litigation naming the ship ('USS Achelous' OR 'ARL-1' asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit) returned only litigation naming other hulls (USS McGinty, USS Rowan, USS Dynamic, etc.) - no Achelous-specific claim surfaced in any consulted source.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- Incomplete sweep - fleet pacing budget was exhausted; 'ARL-1' and 'LST-10' opinion queries and the RECAP docket query did not execute. The completed 'Achelous' name sweep (ev-06) and web litigation search found nothing ship-specific, but the hull-number coverage is a logged gap, not a completed negative finding. Re-running these three queries is the documented next pass.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-achelous-arl1-07
-
[9]Cross-source reconciliation: NHHC DANFS entry; NavSource archives/10/19/1901.htm; shipscribe usnaux ARL-1 class register (construction/disposition tables + ship notes) [other_primary]
- Locator
- As cited in ev-01/-02/-03 locators
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Source discrepancies resolved/logged: (a) Out-of-commission date - DANFS 'placed out of commission in reserve in January 1947' vs NavSource 'Decommissioned, 6 September 1946, at Astoria, OR' vs shipscribe register '5 Sep 46'; NavSource's CO roster ends LTjg Huffman's command on 1946-09-06, consistent with the September dates; DANFS January 1947 may reflect the formal reserve-fleet entry. (b) Battle stars - DANFS credits two (southern France; Okinawa) while NavSource credits three (adding the Sicilian occupation from its campaign table). (c) Sale date - DANFS 1974-01-21 vs shipscribe disposal 1974-01-29 vs NavSource 1974-01-01. (d) Builder location - DANFS/NavSource place keel-laying and launch at Pittsburgh/Neville Island; shipscribe's table reads 'Dravo, Wilmington' and its ship note records the hull arriving at the Baltimore conversion yard from Wilmington, DE via inland waterways - consistent with a Dravo contract transfer (LST-6 is documented the same way) between Pittsburgh laying/launch and Wilmington completion/delivery.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1942-1974
- Limitations
- Resolves publication-level discrepancies by recording each source's exact statement rather than merging. September 1946 is adopted as the decommissioning month in the record header framing (two sources plus CO roster) with DANFS January 1947 carried as the formal reserve-entry alternative. Does not affect identity or the asbestos posture. No asbestos content in any source.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-achelous-arl1-08
-
[10]NARA logbook guidance (archives.gov/research/military/logbooks/navy; Special List 44 ship-number listing); NavSource photo credits (19-N series = Bureau of Ships/NARA) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NARA deck-log guidance page; Special List 44 (sl-44-ship-number.pdf, ARL entries); NavSource photo captions
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - no spend authorized): NARA RG 24 (Bureau of Naval Personnel) Entry 118 deck logs - WWII-era logs for ARL hulls appear in Special List 44; this ship's logs are held at NARA College Park and were not located in the digitized catalog. RG 19 (Bureau of Ships) holds conversion plans/specifications for the LST-to-ARL program - Gibbs & Cox was design agent and Bethlehem-Key Highway performed this hull's conversion, so design-agent files and yard work orders are the likeliest documents for any ship-specific materials schedule. NARA still-photo holdings include BuShips photos 19-N-78642 and 19-N-78643 (Charleston SC, 1945-02-19) documenting the conversion configuration.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1942-1974 records
- Limitations
- Record-group mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed. Whether any asbestos-specific document exists for this hull is unknown until surveyed in person. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-achelous-arl1-09