Evidence
8 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-8).
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[1]DANFS, 'Alcor II (AK-259)' (published 2015-06-15) - Wayback Machine capture 20240526183412 of the official NHHC page (live page returned 404 on 2026-09-21); verbatim transcription cross-checked at NavSource [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS Alcor II entry, full narrative text and specification block; canonical NHHC URL https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/alcor-ii.html (404); cross-check https://www.navsource.org/archives/09/13/130259.htm
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS entry for Alcor II (AK-259): laid down under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 101) on 28 February 1944 at Portland, Oreg., by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corp.; launched 29 April as SS Rockland Victory, sponsored by Mrs. Thomas M. Jones; operated for the Maritime Commission by a succession of contractors 1944-1950; acquired by the Navy 10 July 1951; converted for naval service by Ira S. Bushy and Sons, Inc., of Brooklyn, N.Y.; commissioned 1 March 1952, Comdr. Harry A. Long in command. Assigned to Service Force, Atlantic Fleet, homeported Norfolk; 19 Mediterranean deployments replenishing the 6th Fleet 1952-Aug 1960 plus eight Caribbean cruises. Two restricted availabilities at Norfolk Naval Shipyard Aug-Nov 1960 altered her to transport, monitor, and handle Polaris missiles and parts; designated FBM resupply ship. Tests with training missiles alongside Proteus (AS-19) off Charleston Nov 1960 and with actual weapons alongside Proteus and George Washington (SSBN-598) at New London Feb 1961. Fifteen resupply voyages to Holy Loch, Scotland, 1961-1965; homeport changed to Charleston, S.C. 1962; from April 1964 replenished tender Holland (AS-32) at Rota, Spain (six round trips first year); Rota/Holy Loch deployments and fleet supply/training through 1968. Decommissioned at Charleston 30 December 1968; struck from the Navy list 31 December 1968; sold to Lotti S.P.A., Italy, January 1970 and scrapped. Specification block: dp. 11,540; l. 455'3"; b. 62'; dr. 28'6"; s. 17 k.; cpl. 145; a. 8 40mm.; cl. Greenville Victory.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1944-1970
- Population
- Ship's company 1952-1968 (complement 145 per DANFS spec block)
- Limitations
- Authoritative for identity, dates, and service narrative; Wayback capture used because the live NHHC page is unreachable (standing NHHC link-rot noted in BATCH-01-REPORT). Contains no asbestos, materials, or insulation information - this row supports no asbestos claim. Acquisition date '10 July 1951' conflicts with MARAD milestone '7/16/1951' and shipscribe 'to Navy custody 16 Jul 1951' - discrepancy logged in gaps.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-alcor-ak259-01
-
[2]Shipscribe U.S. Navy auxiliary ships data sheets, AK-259 Alcor class page (Stephen S. Roberts compilation from Navy registers, SECNAV correspondence and SCB Project 86 records) [other_primary]
- Locator
- AK-259 class page: characteristics block, construction table, disposition table, class notes, ship note 259
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Ship-design compilation (shipscribe.com, compiled from Navy registers and SCB/BuShips design records): ALCOR (AK 259) class, Design MC VC2-S-AP3 (SCB 86); displacement 4,660 light / 11,540 full tons; 455' oa x 437' pp x 62' e/wl x 27' max nav; geared steam turbines, 2 boilers (465psi/750deg), 1 screw, 8,500 HP, 17 kts; accommodations 9-11 officers, 136-155 enlisted. Class notes: 7 Feb 1951 SECNAV requested transfer of six VC2-S-AP3 Victory ships (ABERDEEN, ELMIRA, NAMPA, ROCKLAND, COLUMBIA, PIERRE VICTORY) for commissioned AK service; Commerce agreed 14 Mar 1951; request reduced to four; Navy names/designations AK 257-260 approved 26 Jul 1951. SCB met 6 Jun 1951 on 'characteristics for re-activation of six Maritime Administration hulls (VC2-S-AP3) to AK, Project no. 86'; approved characteristics promulgated 15 Jun 1951 (one 50-ton boom forward, one 30-ton boom aft; one 5"/38 DP, four twin 40mm; revised electronics 10 Sep 1953 and 25 Sep 1957). AK 259-260 converted 1960 to fleet ballistic missile cargo ships (informal 'AK-FBM'); whether AK 259 received the 1962 second conversion (vertical missile stowage, fitted to BETELGEUSE) is unconfirmed. Ship note: MCV 101 ex-ROCKLAND VICTORY completed 19 May 1944; to Navy custody 16 Jul 1951; title to Navy 31 May 1956; to buyer 2 Feb 1970.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1944-1970
- Population
- Ship's company; conversion-yard workforce (1951-52)
- Limitations
- Compiled secondary transcription of official Navy register and SCB records, not the primary documents themselves; figures used where consistent with DANFS/MARAD. Machinery figures conflict with NavSource (465psi/8,500HP/17kts vs Foster Wheeler 525psi/6,000shp/15.5kts) - discrepancy logged in gaps. Contains no asbestos information; conversion characteristics describe function, not materials.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-alcor-ak259-02
-
[3]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - ALCOR (AK-259), Ship History Detail 5653, including digitized vessel status card (5653_AF.jpg) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- ShipHistory Detail 5653 milestone table, vessel name history, particulars; status card /cards/5653_AF.jpg (awarded-to line, contract MA-4918, remarks)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- MARAD ShipHistory record for ALCOR (AK-259), Detail 5653: Official No. 245683; built 1944 at Oregon Shipbuilding Company; type VC2-S-AP3; gross 7,608 / net 4,551 tons; length 455 ft, beam 62 ft; name history Rockland Victory (1944-1951) then Alcor AK-259 (1951-1970); milestones - Reserve Fleet entry 4/2/1948, 'Renamed to Alcor' 7/1/1951, Acquisition Navy Department 7/16/1951, Sold 1/7/1970 as scrap to Lotti S.P.A., La Spezia, Italy for $95,323, Delivered 2/20/1970. The digitized MARAD 'Record of Ship Sales' status card (Form MA-20, read directly) records: contract MA-4918; dimensions OA 455' x 62'; DWT 5630; draft 27'; location Naval Station, Charleston, South Carolina; acquisition line 'Built by Oregn [sic] Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oregon'; remarks 'Advertised 8-25-69 under PD-X-842, bid rejected. Advertised 12-5-69 under PD-X-853, opened 1-6-70, scrap hull foreign - 24 months.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1944-1970
- Limitations
- Primary government custody record; handwritten card read directly. The 'Renamed to Alcor 7/1/1951' milestone precedes the recorded Navy acquisition (7/16/1951) - administrative-sequence anomaly logged in gaps. 'Sold' milestone is the award date; card shows first advertisement PD-X-842 drew a rejected bid before PD-X-853 succeeded. No asbestos, materials, or condition-survey information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-alcor-ak259-03
-
[4]NavSource Online Service Ship Photo Archive, USS Alcor (AK-259) page - timeline, awards compilation, specification block, photo captions (Wayback capture 20250417050816; live host DNS unresolved on 2026-09-21) [museum_official]
- Locator
- Specifications block; timeline; awards block; photo caption table (images 0913025908-0913025920); canonical URL https://www.navsource.org/archives/09/13/130259.htm
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NavSource archive page (volunteer-compiled, quoting official records and photos): merchant operators - Waterman SS. Co. for WSA 19 May 1944-15 Aug 1946; Marine Operating Co. charter 15 Aug 1946-31 Jan 1947; States Marine Corp. charter 31 Jan-26 Feb 1947; NDRF Wilmington, N.C. 2 Apr 1948; SC Atlantic SS. Co. contract 20 Sep-22 Nov 1950; NDRF James River Group, Lee Hall, Va. 22 Nov 1950; acquired by Navy 16 Jul 1951; converted at Ira S. Bushy and Sons, Inc., Brooklyn; commissioned 1 Mar 1952; title to Navy 31 May 1956; decommissioned Charleston 30 Dec 1968; struck 31 Dec 1968; title to MARAD 7 Jan 1970; sold for scrapping (PD-X-853) to Lotti S.p.A., La Spezia, for $95,323; removed from Naval Station Charleston 2 Feb 1970. Awards: National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2-Lebanon). Machinery spec block: one Westinghouse steam turbine; two Foster Wheeler header-type boilers, 525psi 750 deg.; double Westinghouse main reduction gears; two 300kW turbo-drive ship's service generators; single propeller, 6,000shp; NSFO 18,575 bbls; 15.5 kts; cpl. 145; eight 40mm AA; 50-ton boom; 7,800 DWT / 453,210 cu ft non-refrigerated cargo. Photo captions: BuShips photo 19-NN-AK-259-139558 (NAID 6931571) underway New York Harbor c. Mar 1952; HMS Sprat loaded aboard at Portsmouth, England, 24 Jun 1958 for Norfolk (AP WirePhoto); ex-Alcor at Gibraltar 1970 bound for breakers; in Lotti S.p.A. breakers yard, La Spezia, 28 May 1970 being dismantled.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1944-1970
- Population
- Ship's company; Portsmouth, England embarkation (1958); Lotti breakers workforce (1970)
- Limitations
- Volunteer-compiled archive quoting official NARA/BuShips photos and records; used only where consistent with DANFS/MARAD/shipscribe. Machinery figures conflict with shipscribe class table (525psi/6,000shp/15.5kts vs 465psi/8,500HP/17kts) - logged in gaps. Contains no asbestos or insulation-material information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-alcor-ak259-04
-
[5]Franke, K., and Paustenbach, D., 'Government and Navy knowledge regarding health hazards of asbestos: A state of the science evaluation (1900 to 1970),' Inhalation Toxicology 23(sup3):1-20 (2011), PMID 22200078; Corn, J.K., and Starr, J., 'Historical perspective on asbestos: Policies and protective measures in World War II shipbuilding,' American Journal of Industrial Medicine 11(3):359-373 (1987) + NavSource/shipscribe machinery data (ev-02, ev-04) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Inhalation Toxicology 23(sup3):1-20, 1930-1959 and 1960-1970 analysis blocks; AJIM 11(3):359-373 abstract
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- As built (1944, Maritime Commission emergency program) and as converted (1951-52, SCB-86 Navy cargo ship), Alcor's propulsion was a geared steam turbine plant with two header-type boilers (documented at 465-525 psi depending on source) and associated steam piping - machinery of a type and era for which asbestos-containing thermal insulation, gaskets, and packing were standard shipbuilding and Navy practice. Peer-reviewed scholarship documents that the U.S. Navy required and used asbestos-containing materials aboard ships throughout the period spanning this hull's construction, conversion, and entire service life, and that naval ships carried amosite and chrysotile insulating materials extensively from the late nineteenth century well into the 1950s; a second peer-reviewed study documents extensive asbestos use in WWII shipbuilding generally, the program under which this VC2-S-AP3 hull was mass-produced.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1944-1968
- Population
- Oregon Shipbuilding construction workforce (1944); Ira S. Bushey conversion workforce (1951-52); Norfolk NSY availability workforce (1960); ship's company (1952-1968)
- Limitations
- Era/program-level scholarship combined with this hull's documented steam plant - establishes that asbestos-containing insulation was Navy-standard and marine-standard practice in Rockland Victory's 1944 construction, the 1951-52 SCB-86 conversion, and Alcor's service era, NOT that a survey or record confirms asbestos aboard this specific hull. No hull-specific insulation specification, survey, or removal record was located. Does not establish quantity, location, condition, individual exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-alcor-ak259-05
-
[6]SAIF Corp./Oregon Ship v. Johnson, 908 F.2d 1434 (9th Cir. 1990); Ingram v. ACandS, Inc. / Becker v. Owens-Illinois, 977 F.2d 1332 (9th Cir. 1992) [court_record]
- Locator
- 908 F.2d 1434 opinion text (exposure finding, para. 1); 977 F.2d 1332 opinion text (Becker employment/exposure; Kaylo product-ID testimony) - mirror https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F2/977/977.F2d.1332.91-35497.91-35331.91-35330.91-35216.91-35117.html
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Published appellate opinions document asbestos exposure at the builder yard during this hull's construction era. In SAIF Corp./Oregon Ship v. Johnson, 908 F.2d 1434 (9th Cir. 1990), the court recorded that the claimant was 'unquestionably exposed to asbestos in 1942 while constructing ships for petitioner Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation,' the exposure occurring while he worked on a ship building way - the same yard where MCV-101 was built two years later; the opinion resolved LHWCA coverage questions (1976 amendment applies; asbestosis benefits award sustained). In Ingram v. ACandS, Inc., 977 F.2d 1332 (9th Cir. 1992), the record established that Alfred Becker worked as a marine machinist at Oregon Shipbuilding in Portland during WWII until 1946 and was exposed to numerous asbestos products (asbestosis and lung cancer); insulation-contractor testimony identified Kaylo as used at the Oregon shipyards; the jury found for plaintiffs with fault apportioned among manufacturers, and the Ninth Circuit addressed substantial-evidence/product-identification and punitive-damages questions on appeal.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1942-1946 (exposure era); 1990, 1992 (opinions)
- Population
- Oregon Shipbuilding construction workforce (1942-1946 era)
- Limitations
- Yard-level litigation documentation, not hull evidence: neither case names this vessel. The rows document that asbestos products were present and workers were exposed at Oregon Shipbuilding during the WWII construction era in which this hull was built - consistent environment, not proof of what was installed aboard MCV-101. SAIF is a benefits-coverage ruling, not an exposure finding for any other person; Ingram's product-ID holdings are plaintiff-specific. Does not establish individual exposure aboard this hull or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-alcor-ak259-06
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[7]Batch-911 search ledger (this record): NHHC DANFS (live 404; Wayback capture used); MARAD ShipHistory + status card read directly; shipscribe class data; NavSource archive page (Wayback); CourtListener API (rate-limited); general web index litigation search; VA BVA decisions search; asbestos trust ship-list check; Oregon Shipbuilding and Ira S. Bushey yard litigation; NARA record groups [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-alcor-ak259-01 through sl-uss-alcor-ak259-13
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, conversion materials specification, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming USS Alcor (AK-259), SS Rockland Victory, or MCV-101 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). The hull was scrapped in 1970, before documentation-era practices, so no documentation-era artifact was expected to exist. Direct CourtListener API searching on 2026-09-21 was rate-limit blocked (HTTP 429 - the shared authenticated 2,800/day quota was exhausted before this batch ran; ~4.7h reset); web-index litigation searches returned only name collisions (Alcor Scientific patent matters; ALCOR S.A. bankruptcy proof-of-claim; 2238 Victory Corp. antitrust; USS Alcor AD-34, a different hull) and law-firm marketing ship lists (asbestos-ships.com, freeasbestostesting.com - excluded source class) - no qualifying case naming this hull.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 2026-09-21
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1944 Victory ship converted for Navy service in 1951-52 is era-consistent with asbestos-containing insulation. The litigation check is partial: CourtListener's index could not be queried directly (shared-key throttle) and the negative litigation result rests on secondary web indexes only; re-running the CourtListener name and hull-number queries remains an open step. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-alcor-ak259-07
-
[8]NARA Guide to Federal Records: RG 19, RG 24, RG 178, RG 181 record-group descriptions; NAID 6931571 (BuShips photo 19-NN-AK-259-139558) cited in NavSource photo caption [other_primary]
- Locator
- RG 19 / RG 24 / RG 178 / RG 181 record-group guides; SCB Project 86 identification per shipscribe class notes (ev-02); NAID 6931571 per NavSource caption (ev-04)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - research-room or reproduction order required; no spend authorized): NARA RG 19 (Bureau of Ships) holds Ship Characteristics Board records including Project No. 86 files - the 15 June 1951 approved characteristics for 're-activation of six Maritime Administration hulls (VC2-S-AP3) to AK' are the likeliest surviving hull-class conversion specification and may include insulation/materials requirements; RG 19 also holds BuShips plans for AK-259 including the BuShips photo series 19-NN-AK-259 (NAID 6931571). NARA RG 178 (U.S. Maritime Commission) Construction Division records may hold the MCV-101 contract and Oregon Shipbuilding outfitting specifications. RG 24 (Bureau of Naval Personnel) holds deck logs for the 1952-68 service. RG 181 (Naval Districts and Shore Establishments) covers Norfolk Naval Shipyard records including the documented Aug-Nov 1960 restricted availabilities and Charleston facilities at the 1968 decommissioning. The SCB-86 files and 1960 availability work packages are the plausible repositories for any hull-level materials specification.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1944-1970 records
- Limitations
- Record-group mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for this hull or the SCB-86 conversion is unknown until surveyed in person. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-alcor-ak259-08