Evidence
12 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-12).
-
[1]CourtListener opinion search: 'USS AFDB-2' [court_record]
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- CourtListener opinion search 'USS AFDB-2' returned 1 result(s) (2026-10-07); individual records not reviewed
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Limitations
- hit count only — underlying dockets/opinions not individually reviewed; name query may match same-named vessels
- Evidence ID
- uss-afdb-2-afdb2-cl-name-opinion
-
[2]CourtListener docket search: 'USS AFDB-2' [court_record]
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- CourtListener docket search 'USS AFDB-2' returned 7 result(s) (2026-10-07); individual records not reviewed
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Limitations
- hit count only — underlying dockets/opinions not individually reviewed; name query may match same-named vessels
- Evidence ID
- uss-afdb-2-afdb2-cl-name-docket
-
[3]CourtListener opinion search: 'AFDB-2' [court_record]
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- CourtListener opinion search 'AFDB-2' returned 6 result(s) (2026-10-07); individual records not reviewed
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Limitations
- hit count only — underlying dockets/opinions not individually reviewed
- Evidence ID
- uss-afdb-2-afdb2-cl-hull-opinion
-
[4]CourtListener docket search: 'AFDB-2' [court_record]
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- CourtListener docket search 'AFDB-2' returned 66 result(s) (2026-10-07); individual records not reviewed
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Limitations
- hit count only — underlying dockets/opinions not individually reviewed
- Evidence ID
- uss-afdb-2-afdb2-cl-hull-docket
-
[5]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 program under which this dock's sections were fabricated and assembled (1943-1944) at Mare Island Navy Yard and contractor sites.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- 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.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-afdb-2-afdb2-01
-
[6]Bureau of Yards and Docks, 'Building the Navy's Bases in World War II,' Chapter IX Floating Drydocks (official Navy history; HyperWar transcription) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Chapter IX, 'Advance Base Sectional Dock' design description (pp. 209-216 in print edition)
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- The official BuDocks history describes the 10-section ABSD type (this hull's class): each bottom pontoon contained a central buoyancy compartment whose upper deck carried crew's quarters and lower deck the machinery compartment; quarters and galleys were in the dry compartments of the bottom pontoons; the 20-foot wing walls held shops, storage, and similar facilities; each section carried two 525-hp diesel engines with 350-kW generators plus pumps, evaporators, compressors, and heating and ventilating apparatus. Self-sustaining diesel machinery, piping, and heated/ventilated accommodation spaces of 1943-1944 Navy construction are consistent with era-standard asbestos insulation, gaskets, and packing.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1942-1946
- Population
- ABSD construction trades (1943-44); dock operating crews; repair parties
- Limitations
- Official design/program documentation for the ABSD type - it names no individual dock and never uses the word 'asbestos.' Asbestos presence aboard this hull is era inference drawn from the documented plant, not ship-proven. Does not establish quantity, location, present-day presence, individual exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-afdb-2-afdb2-02
-
[7]NavSource Online Service Ship Photo Archive, IX-522 (D) / IX-524 (F) / IX-535 (H), ex AFDB-2 (1946-1990), USS ABSD-2 (1944-1946) - compiled vessel record [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource page 09/28/2892, vessel record block, commanding officers list, disposition list, specifications
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Compiled record identifies this hull: AFDB-1 class large auxiliary (10-section, non-self-propelled) floating dry dock, sections A-J, call sign NIGZ; constructed in sections at Mare Island Navy, Vallejo, CA during 1943-1944; delivered April 1944; commissioned USS ABSD-2 on 14 August 1943 with CDR Joseph J. Rochefort in command; towed in sections to Espiritu Santo and assembled for operation at Manus, Admiralty Islands; decommissioned 28 February 1946; redesignated AFDB-2 August 1946; commanding officers Rochefort (14 Aug 1943-25 Jun 1944), Richardson (25 Jun 1944-1 Apr 1945), Lawrence (1 Apr-24 Dec 1945), Lee (24 Dec 1945-28 Feb 1946); section-by-section 1990 dispositions and the IX-522/524/535 reclassifications. NavSource notes that no DANFS history record exists for this hull.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1943-2002 (record coverage)
- Population
- Dock operating crew (complement figure unverified)
- Limitations
- Compiled secondary archive, not an official record - several dates conflict with other compiled sources (NavalCoverMuseum gives redesignation 19 Feb 1946 and decommissioning Jan 1947; delivery April 1943 vs April 1944). The ~690 complement figure and section fates are unverified against primary records. Supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-afdb-2-afdb2-03
-
[8]Bureau of Yards and Docks, 'Building the Navy's Bases in World War II,' Chapter XXVI Bases in the Southwest Pacific (official Navy history; HyperWar transcription) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Chapter XXVI, Manus/Lombrum ship-repair base section
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The official BuDocks history documents the ship-repair base at Lombrum Point, Los Negros (Manus Naval Base): the 58th Battalion built a drydock storage area and personnel camp there from April 1944, and the base's docking equipment consisted of 'a 100,000-ton sectional dock capable of handling battleships, a 70,000-ton sectional dock capable of handling most major ships, and an 18,000-ton steel floating dock.' The 100,000-ton battleship-capable sectional dock at Seeadler Harbor corresponds to ABSD-2, whose presence at Manus is independently corroborated by U.S. Navy photographs and the compiled record.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1944-1945
- Population
- Lombrum ship-repair base workforce; Seabee construction detachments
- Limitations
- The official chapter describes docking equipment by capacity, not by hull number; the correspondence of the 100,000-ton sectional dock to ABSD-2 (90,000-ton rated) rests on the corroborating photographic and compiled record, not on the chapter itself. Contains no asbestos or materials information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-afdb-2-afdb2-04
-
[9]U.S. Navy photographs in National Archives custody: 80-G-304096 and 80-G-304088 (USS Killen DD-593, USS Canberra CA-70, USS Claxton DD-571 undergoing battle-damage repairs in ABSD-2 at Manus, 2 December 1944); 80-G-421124 (USS Iowa BB-61 in ABSD-2 at Manus, 28 December 1944); USN photo of USS Mississippi BB-41 drydocked in ABSD-2, 12 October 1944 [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource page 09/28/2892 photo captions; NARA still-picture identifiers 80-G-304096, 80-G-304088, 80-G-421124; Commons file 'USS Iowa (BB-61) in floating dry dock ABSD-2 ... 28 December 1944 (80-G-421124)'
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Official U.S. Navy photographs document this hull in wartime repair service at Seeadler Harbor, Manus: USS Mississippi (BB-41) drydocked 12 October 1944 (about 700,000 gallons of fuel offloaded to meet lifting capacity); USS Killen (DD-593), USS Canberra (CA-70), and USS Claxton (DD-571) under simultaneous battle-damage repair on 2 December 1944 (80-G-304096, 80-G-304088); USS Iowa (BB-61) docked 28 December 1944 before returning to San Francisco for refit (80-G-421124). Compiled sources further credit the dock with repair of USS Honolulu (CL-48, entered 30 Oct 1944), USS Houston (CL-81) and USS Reno (CL-96) together (8 Jan 1945), USS Sumter (APA-52, 15 Feb 1945), and USS Trinity (AO-13, 11-18 Apr 1945).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1944-10-12 to 1945-04-18
- Population
- ABSD-2 repair and docking crews; crews of docked vessels
- Limitations
- The dated photographic record (Mississippi, the three-ship 2 Dec 1944 view, Iowa) is primary documentation of work aboard this hull. The Honolulu, Houston/Reno, Sumter, and Trinity dockings are reported in compiled secondary sources (ww2db, NavSource captions, Bureau of Ships Journal) and are not individually photo-verified here. None of these records contains asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-afdb-2-afdb2-05
-
[10]Sakaida, Henry, 'The Siege of Rabaul' (Phalanx Publishing, 1996), pp. 79-85, corroborated by U.S. Navy photos NH 96176/NH 96177 and compiled sources (ww2db, Pacific Wrecks) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Sakaida pp. 79-85; NH 96176/96177; ww2db ABSD-2 event timeline
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- On 22 April 1945 a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft (A6M2 two-seater, pilot Shimbo with Ensign Chuhei Okubo) overflew Seeadler Harbor at 14,000 feet and reported two 'aircraft carriers' that were actually the floating drydocks ABSD-2 and ABSD-4. In a subsequent night attack by Nakajima B5N torpedo bombers, ABSD-2 was hit by one aerial torpedo on a pontoon tank of section G; damage was moderate, and the dock was repaired and returned to service. ABSD-4 was also hit; ships docked in ABSD-4 at the time were not damaged.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1945-04-22 to 1945-04-29
- Population
- ABSD-2 crew; ships in dock
- Limitations
- The narrative source is a published secondary work (Sakaida); the attack date is disputed - Wikipedia and Pacific Wrecks give 27 April 1945 (~11:15 pm), while ww2db corrects to 29 April 1945. NH 96176/96177 are the associated U.S. Navy photographs; the photos themselves document the dock in this period rather than the strike details. Reported here at the less-final confidence the sources support.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-afdb-2-afdb2-06
-
[11]Bernardo v. Bethlehem Steel Co., 314 F.2d 604 (2d Cir. 1963) [court_record]
- Locator
- Opinion, 314 F.2d 604 (2d Cir., decided March 7, 1963)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Second Circuit decision holding that a shipyard's floating drydock was not a 'vessel' and that a welder injured aboard it was not a 'member of a crew' for Jones Act purposes - the doctrinal frame under which injury claims by floating-drydock workers have been adjudicated (as land-based shipyard workers, not seamen).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1963 (opinion); 1956 (injury)
- Population
- Floating-drydock shipyard workers (class context)
- Limitations
- Class-level doctrinal context only: the case involves Bethlehem Steel's commercial floating drydock No. 3 at Brooklyn, not this Navy hull, and it is a Jones Act/vessel-status decision, not an asbestos opinion. It establishes no asbestos condition aboard any dock and no exposure for any individual.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-afdb-2-afdb2-07
-
[12]Batch-562 search ledger (this record): NavSource compiled record; Bureau of Yards and Docks history chapters IX and XXVI; NARA-held USN photo identifiers; NavalCoverMuseum; shipbuildinghistory floating-drydock table; CourtListener API v4 and web UI; NVR detail pages; general web litigation search [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-afdb-2-afdb2-01 through sl-uss-afdb-2-afdb2-10
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or museum record naming AFDB-2/ABSD-2 was found in the public sources searched, and no litigation naming this hull surfaced in general web search. The structured CourtListener docket search could NOT be completed - API v4 returned HTTP 429 (daily quota exceeded by shared traffic) on four attempts over ~40 minutes and the web UI returned HTTP 403 - so a hull-name litigation sweep remains genuinely pending rather than a null result.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 2026-09-20
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - era construction and self-sustaining machinery/accommodation spaces are consistent with retained era materials. The incomplete CourtListener sweep means litigation coverage is a gap, not a verified negative. Does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-afdb-2-afdb2-08