Evidence
11 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-11).
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[1]research packet bj-packet.md (9 sources cited) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-achilles-arl41-pkt-bj-packet-md
-
[2]Naval History and Heritage Command, DANFS entry 'Achilles (ARL-41)' (published 2016-07-01; live page 404 on 2026-09-26 - text verified via Internet Archive Wayback capture 2024-12-03) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS 'Achilles (ARL-41)' full entry; Wayback capture https://web.archive.org/web/20241203154339/https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/achilles.html
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NHHC DANFS entry 'Achilles (ARL-41)': LST-455 laid down 1942-08-03 at Vancouver, WA by Kaiser Co., Inc.; launched 1942-10-17; commissioned at builder's yard 1943-01-30 (Lt. Clarence Cisin, USNR). Fitted out via Hunters Point and Mare Island Navy Yard; departed 1943-03-08; reached Sydney 1943-05-02 and was converted in ~one month to the Navy's improvised landing-craft repair ship: machine/motor-repair/shipfitting/metalsmith/electric/radio shops built into the tank deck, complement nearly doubled; ready late May 1943. Self-modified at Milne Bay (deck evaporators, amidships deckhouse, king posts). Bombed at Morobe Bay 1943-09-12 (18 KIA, 11 WIA, 6 MIA; CO Lt. E.A. Peterson USNR earned Navy Cross; towed by Sonoma ATO-12, resumed LCI repairs alongside Rigel AR-11). Named Achilles and reclassified ARL-41 1944-08-21. Leyte landings; kamikaze hit forward into carpenter shop at San Pedro Bay 1944-11-12 (19 KIA, 28 WIA, 14 unaccounted); repaired Hollandia/Manus; Subic Bay, Mindoro, Morotai, Brunei Bay (bombs 50 yards off, 2 wounded, 1945-06-10); relieved by Proserpine ARL-21; Pearl Harbor 1945-10-31 with Remus ARL-40; New Orleans inactivation-prep duty; decommissioned 1946-07-19; stricken 1946-08-28; delivered to Chinese Navy at New Orleans 1947-09-08 under lend-lease; commissioned Hsing An 1947-11-05; ran aground fleeing the Communist advance 1949, crew fired the hulk; salvaged by the Communists, refitted, renamed Taku San; ultimate disposition unknown to DANFS. 3 engagement stars (1 as LST-455, 2 as ARL-41).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1942-1949
- Population
- Ship's company and embarked repair personnel 1943-1946; ROCN crew 1947-1949
- Limitations
- Authoritative service history of this hull; contains no asbestos, insulation, or materials statement - supports identity, conversion events, battle damage/repair events, and disposition only. Live NHHC URL returns 404 (standing link-rot issue); capture date and URL recorded. Does not establish individual exposure.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-achilles-arl41-01
-
[3]Stephen S. Roberts, 'U.S. Navy Auxiliary Ships' (shipscribe.com), USS Remus (ARL-40) class page incl. ARL-41 table/notes, compiled 2007-06-30 [other_primary]
- Locator
- ARL40.html class table, class notes, ship notes
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Stephen S. Roberts shipscribe auxiliary-ships reference (Remus ARL-40 class page covers ARL-41): construction table - ARL-41 Achilles, reclassified 1944-08-21, builder Kaiser Vancouver, keel 1942-08-03, launch 1942-10-17; disposition - decommissioned 1946-07-19, struck 1946-08-28, disposal 1947-09-08 'Trf.' Class notes: LST-455 'was also converted in May 1943 in Australia shortly after arriving there and was further converted by her own crew in New Guinea in June-August 1943'; on 1944-08-01 CNO designated the two improvised field conversions ARL-40/41; ARL-41 'was also described as beyond economical repair in her initial pre-disposal inspection, but she was later considered worth retaining in the reserve fleet and was soon accepted by China under Lend Lease.' Ship note: 'Sunk by Chinese Communist gunfire in the Yangtse River 24 Apr 49, to PRC as TAKU SHAN.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1942-1949
- Limitations
- Expert reference-work registry data (Roberts) consistent with DANFS on dates; conflicts with DANFS on the 1949 loss mechanism (Communist gunfire vs grounding/crew-fired/salvage) - carried in correction row and gaps. No asbestos or materials content. Does not establish exposure.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-achilles-arl41-02
-
[4]Consolidated era inference - BuShips Ships' Data 1945 Vol. 2 LST design table (2x GM 12-567A diesels, 1,700 shp; shipscribe.com scan) + era amphibious-ship construction practice (lst-1-class class profile) [other_primary]
- Locator
- SDB1945v2 LST design table; class profile ev-lst-1-class-03
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Class/era inference for this diesel-powered LST-1-class hull converted to an Achelous-class ARL: no boilers - asbestos-relevant applications are GM diesel exhaust lagging and gaskets, engine-room thermal/acoustic insulation, deck coverings/tile, bulkhead and accommodation insulation, and winch/crane brake linings; ARL conversions added interior-outfitting scope (shops, deckhouses, doubled complement spaces) of the type where era insulation products were applied. The ship's documented 1943 Sydney conversion plus 1943-44 battle-damage repairs are the plausible disturbance pathways; nothing ship-specific documents asbestos.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1942-1949
- Population
- Kaiser Vancouver construction trades (1942); Sydney conversion workforce (1943); ship's force self-modification crews; repair personnel
- Limitations
- Class/era inference only - no ship-specific asbestos record exists for this hull. Does not establish that asbestos was or remains aboard, nor quantity, location, condition, individual exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-achilles-arl41-03
-
[5]Historic American Engineering Record, SPHINX (ARL-24)/(LST-963), HAER No. VA-130 (historian Brian Clayton, 2008; NPS Heritage Documentation Programs; hosted by MARAD) [haer]
- Locator
- Sphinx HAER VA-130, Description/Design sections (39 pp.; full-text search for asbestos/insulat/lagging/magnesia = 0 hits)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- HAER documentation of sister Achelous-class hull USS Sphinx (ARL-24, ex LST-963) records the class conversion pattern: the LST tank deck divided into shops and storerooms (metals machine shop, electrical repair, metals shaping, welding area, wood shop, stores, offices), superstructure additions - the same conversion scope DANFS describes for LST-455. Full-text search of the 39-page HAER report found zero mentions of asbestos, insulation, or lagging - the class conversion record contains no asbestos statement.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1944-2008 (document scope)
- Population
- ARL conversion-yard and ship's-force workers (class context)
- Limitations
- Documents a SISTER hull's conversion, not this ship; contains no asbestos statement at all - establishes conversion scope for the class only. Absence of asbestos text in the HAER record is a documentation gap, not evidence of absence aboard any hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-achilles-arl41-04
-
[6]United States Navy Memorial, Navy Log / Lost Ship's Tribute entry 'Achilles' (ARL-41) [other_primary]
- Locator
- navylog.navymemorial.org/achilles - Lost At Sea Log, 32 names
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- U.S. Navy Memorial Lost at Sea log for Achilles (ARL-41): 'Date Lost: Sunday, November 12, 1944 - Air Attack near the Philippines... intense antiaircraft fire downed two enemy planes almost instantly, two more crashed into repair ships - Egeria (ARL-8) and Achilles (ARL-41)'; the log lists 32 sailors associated with the ship for the 12 Nov 1944 event.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1944-11-12
- Population
- Achilles crew lost/wounded 1944-11-12
- Limitations
- Corroborates the 1944-11-12 kamikaze casualty event; the 32-name log count does not reconcile cleanly with DANFS (19 KIA/28 WIA/14 unaccounted) or NavSource (19 KIA/28 WIA/18 MIA) figures - discrepancy noted, sources reported separately not merged. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-achilles-arl41-05
-
[7]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
- AJIM 11(3):359-373
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Peer-reviewed historical scholarship documents that asbestos was used extensively as a fireproofing and insulating material in U.S. shipbuilding during WWII - the era and emergency shipbuilding program (MARCOM contract, Kaiser Vancouver yard) under which this hull was built.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1940s era documented; article 1987
- Population
- WWII shipyard workers and ship crews (era context)
- Limitations
- Program/era-level scholarship on WWII shipbuilding generally; does not name this vessel or class and does not establish that asbestos was or remains aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-achilles-arl41-06
-
[8]DANFS 'Achilles (ARL-41)' entry incl. Modoc (1869) note; NavSource ARL-41 page (CO table, personnel awards, disposition line); shipscribe ARL-40 class page (ship note); U.S. Navy Memorial log [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS entry text; NavSource archive page CO table + awards + disposition; shipscribe ARL40.html ship note; navylog.navymemorial.org/achilles
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Source discrepancies reconciled: (a) Commissioning CO - DANFS says Lt. Clarence Cisin, USNR, in command at commissioning; NavSource's CO table lists Lt. Benjamin F. Stephenson, USNR (1943-01-30 to April 1943), then Cisin; DANFS's own narrative says Peterson 'relieved Lt. Cisin in August' - the record adopts DANFS (Cisin) and logs the NavSource table conflict. (b) Loss mechanism April 1949 - DANFS: ran aground fleeing the Communist advance, crew set fire to the hulk, Communists salvaged/refitted her as Taku San; shipscribe: 'Sunk by Chinese Communist gunfire in the Yangtse River 24 Apr 49, to PRC as TAKU SHAN'; NavSource: 'sunk, 24 April 1949, by gunfire by Nationalist forces' - all agree on date (24 Apr 1949 reported) and endpoint (PRC service as Taku Shan); the firing/sinking agent is unresolved across three sources. (c) Casualty figures 1944-11-12 - DANFS 19 KIA/28 WIA/14 unaccounted; NavSource personnel-awards block 19 KIA/28 WIA/18 MIA; Navy Memorial log lists 32 names - reported per-source, not merged. (d) 'Only US Naval vessel to bear the name' (secondary sources) is contradicted by DANFS itself, which documents monitor Modoc briefly renamed Achilles 15 June-10 August 1869 - ARL-41 is the second, not the only, USS Achilles.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1943-1949 (events); 2007-2024 (source publications)
- Limitations
- Resolves publication-level discrepancies among authoritative and reference sources; does not affect identity or service timeline materially. No asbestos content in any source.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-achilles-arl41-07
-
[9]CourtListener API v4 search, authenticated via cl-auth-search.py (fleet-paced): 'USS Achilles' type=o; 'LST-455' type=o and type=r; 'ARL-41' type=o ('USS Achilles' type=r blocked by fleet pacing - logged) [court_record]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-achilles-arl41-05, -06, -07, -08, -12
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- CourtListener sweeps 2026-09-26: 'USS Achilles' (type=o) returned 6 opinions, all non-ship collisions - Martins v. Royal Caribbean (S.D. Fla. 2016, cruise-ship death); Weir v. United States (D.D.C. 2021, Suits-in-Admiralty maritime-tort matter re Coast Guard detention - 'Achilles' is an incidental text term); Norwood v. Raytheon (W.D. Tex. 2006, employment); United States v. Nichlos (N-M. Ct. Crim. App. 2014); Tarros S.p.A. v. United States (S.D.N.Y. 2013, shipping); McMahon v. Presidential Airways (M.D. Fla. 2006, aviation) - none is asbestos litigation naming this hull. 'LST-455' (type=o) 0 hits; 'LST-455' (type=r) 0 hits. 'ARL-41' (type=o) returned non-ship code collisions (e.g., In re Point Blank Solutions, S.D. Fla. bankruptcy). No qualifying asbestos litigation naming this hull or its hull numbers was located.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- Sweep of indexed opinions/RECAP dockets only - a name match is not automatically a case; all hits classified as collisions, not qualifying litigation. RECAP docket coverage is incomplete for pre-2000s state/federal filings; absence of a located docket does not prove no suit was ever filed.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-achilles-arl41-08
-
[10]Batch-2634 search ledger (this record): NHHC DANFS via Wayback; NavSource via Wayback; shipscribe ARL-40 class page; MARAD ShipHistory; Sphinx HAER VA-130; CourtListener name/hull sweeps; NARA deck-log series mapping [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-achilles-arl41-01 through -11
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, material schedule, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming LST-455 / Achilles ARL-41 / Hsing An was found in the public sources searched (DANFS, NavSource archive, shipscribe class record, MARAD ShipHistory, CourtListener, MARAD-hosted HAER - see search_ledger).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1942 Kaiser-built LST converted to a repair ship is era-consistent with asbestos-containing outfitting. The hull left U.S. custody in 1947 and its post-1949 PRC history is opaque; no survey opportunity exists. Does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-achilles-arl41-09
-
[11]NARA published guidance - RG 24 deck-log series NAID 594258 (NARAtions/The Record project descriptions); NARA still-picture holdings (RG 19 photo numbering per NavSource caption); NARA RG 38 operational records [other_primary]
- Locator
- NARA military-records overview (deck logs, Special List 44); NARA deck-log project descriptions (NAID 594258)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - no spend authorized): (1) NARA RG 24 'Logbooks of the U.S. Navy Ships and Stations, 1941-1978' (NAID 594258, Archives II College Park) - deck logs for LST-455/Achilles 1943-46 would document conversion work, repair party activities, and yard availabilities; (2) NARA RG 19 (BuShips) still imagery incl. photo 19-N-42328 (LST-455 departing Mare Island 1943-03-07) and any conversion plan files; (3) NARA RG 38 WWII action/damage reports (Morobe Bay 1943-09-12; San Pedro Bay 1944-11-12) - may document damaged/repaired structure; (4) NHHC Operational Archives ship history file for ARL-41.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1943-1949 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-uss-achilles-arl41-10