Evidence
10 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-10).
-
[1]NHHC (Naval Historical Center), 'Online Library of Selected Images: USS Aries (AK-51), 1941-1947' ship-history narrative [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- Ship-history paragraph; photo captions NH 92691, NH 92692 (off Boston Navy Yard 26 May 1942), NH 92693 (off Mare Island Navy Yard 29 May 1944), NH 82224
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NHHC Online Library ship history: completed at Duluth, MN in August 1918 as S.S. Lake Geneva; served as USS Lake Geneva (ID-4215-B) September 1918-July 1919 carrying coal from the United Kingdom to France; merchant service on the Great Lakes as S.S. John J. O'Hagan 1925-1941. One of five WWI 'Laker'-type cargo ships acquired September 1941 for intended Coast Guard weather patrol; became USS Manomet (AG-37); Auxiliary Vessels Board (Dec 1941) released AG-37 and AG-38 (Matinicus) for conversion to cargo ships AK-51/AK-52 renamed Aries and Gemini. Conversion completed at East Boston, MA in May 1942 including two pairs of kingposts. Initially civilian-crewed 'U.S. Naval Cargo Ship'; commissioned with Navy crew July 1942. Carried Army cargo between Icelandic ports August 1942-August 1943; departed Boston December 1943 for the Pacific; main engine replaced at Mare Island Navy Yard April-September 1944; operated Manus/Ulithi/Guam/Philippines from October 1944 through war's end; steamed into Tokyo Bay November 1945 with occupation supplies; returned to San Francisco December 1945; decommissioned March 1946, stricken April 1946, transferred to Maritime Commission July 1946, sold May 1947 for operation as bulk carrier Adelanto; scrapped at Hong Kong 1952.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Limitations
- Official NHHC-authored content retrieved through the ibiblio/HyperWar mirror; canonical history.navy.mil page and NHHC photo-catalog URLs returned HTTP 404 on 2026-09-21 (standing NHHC link-rot issue). History narrative only - contains no asbestos, insulation-material or survey statement; 'troublesome main engine ... replaced' does not identify materials disturbed.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-aries-ak51-01
-
[2]Shipscribe U.S. Navy auxiliary ships data sheets, 'USS Aries (AK-51)' page (Stephen S. Roberts compilation from Navy registers, Auxiliary Vessels Board records, and BuShips data) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Class table (construction/disposition rows); Class Notes paragraphs; Ship Notes
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Shipscribe compilation (Stephen S. Roberts, from Navy registers, Auxiliary Vessels Board and BuShips records): EFC Design 1044 'Laker' ordered for a French buyer, requisitioned by the Shipping Board in 1917; keel 14 Nov 1917, launched 22 Jun 1918, completed 31 Aug 1918. WSA took over JOHN J. O'HAGAN at Buffalo, NY 30 Aug 1941; redesignated USS MANOMET (AG-37), conversion began at General Ship and Engine Works, East Boston, 23 Sep 1941. CNO directed 19 Dec 1941 that she be converted to a cargo ship fitted to burn oil fuel instead of coal; AK-51 number assigned and name ARIES approved 7 Jan 1942. Ordered civilian-manned 7 Apr 1942; turned over to Marine Transportation Lines 23 May 1942; conversion completed 25 May 1942. One early-June 1942 voyage (claimed enemy-submarine tracking; bow damaged in collision); bow repairs at Boston June 1942, engine repairs at Brooklyn July 1942 plus rearmament 1-4"/50 to 2-3"/50; VCNO ordered Navy crew 11 Jul 1942; commissioned 18 Jul 1942. Icelandic waters Aug 1942-Aug 1943; Mare Island engine replacement mid-1944; South Pacific from Oct 1944; San Francisco Dec 1945. Decommissioned 28 Mar 1946; struck 17 Apr 1946; disposal to MC 1 Jul 1946; MA sale 5 May 1947; merchant Adelanto 1947; scrapped 1952. Particulars: 1,881 t light / 4,500 t lim.; 261.0' oa (251.0' pp) x 43.5' x 17.8'; 9 kts; 1,250 hp vertical triple expansion, 1 screw; complement 36 (1944).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Limitations
- Specialist secondary transcription of official Navy/USMC records, not the registers themselves; consistent with NHHC narrative and MARAD status cards on all checked particulars. Complement figure (36, 1944) conflicts with a 122 figure in secondary compilations and is not DANFS-verified. Contains no asbestos or materials information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-aries-ak51-02
-
[3]MARAD ShipHistory database, vessel detail page ARIES (AK-51), Detail/510, plus attached NDRF vessel status-card scans (6 images) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- Detail 510 characteristics panel; Milestones; Status Cards tab (cards PDX-296, operator/location card, Navy reserve-fleet data card)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD ShipHistory database entry ARIES (AK-51) (Detail 510): year built 1918; U.S. Official Number 216827; shipyard McDougal Duluth Company; Naval Auxiliary AK cargo ship; WWII mission tag; length 216.0 ft, beam 43.5 ft, gross 1,998 / net 1,179 tons; fate 'Sold - U.S. Operation'; milestones Disposition 4/29/1947 and Withdrawal 5/23/1947. Attached NDRF status-card scans document: Navy surplus May 1946; entered Suisun Bay reserve fleet 30 Jun 1946; returned to Maritime Commission 18 Jul 1946, name reverting to John J. O'Hagan; sales file PDX-296 opened 24 Feb 1947; 'sold for operations' 21 Mar 1947 to Capt. A.S. Oko for $106,310, award 25 Mar 1947; withdrawn from fleet and delivered to Oko's agent 5 May 1947; acquired by the government from Bison Steamship Co. for $225,000; noted as a PL 305 vessel whose former owner was not interested in reacquiring her.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Limitations
- Official MARAD database and primary card scans. Data quirks: MARAD name history omits the 1918-1925 Lake Geneva period (starts 'John J. O'Hagan 1918-1941'); MARAD length 216.0 ft conflicts with 261' oa in other sources (registered vs. overall measurement likely; unresolved). Handwritten card dates (3-4-47 sold note; 5-5-47 withdrawal) vary slightly from typed fields. No asbestos or materials content in any card.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-aries-ak51-03
-
[4]MARAD ShipHistory Detail/510 status-card scans - USMC design-characteristics card (8-41) and reserve-fleet machinery/condition summary quoting fleet superintendent letter of 26 Feb 1947 [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- Status-card images (design card; remarks continuation card quoting 2/26/47 fleet supt. letter, Suisun reading file)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD design-characteristics card (dated Aug 1941) for ARIES ex-Manomet ex-John J. O'Hagan ex-Lake Geneva, O.N. 216827: single-screw bulk carrier, steel, 251 ft x 43'6" x 20'3", 1,998 gross / 1,179 net tons; built McDougall-Duluth Co., Duluth MN, 7-1918; machinery 3-cylinder triple-expansion 20"x33"x54"x40", 1,250 ihp, coal fuel. A Feb 1947 fleet superintendent letter summarized on the card set describes '1 main engine (1250 H.P. triple expansion) 2 water tube boilers "A" type which seem to be in fair condition. 2 60 KW Westinghouse turbo-generators & one 40 KW Buda emergency diesel generator. Auxiliary machinery appears to be in fair shape.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Limitations
- Primary-card scans establishing propulsion and 1947 material condition categories only; 'water tube boilers' and 'fair condition' say nothing about insulation composition, and no asbestos or lagging material is described anywhere in the card set. Build notation '7-1918' conflicts slightly with 'completed August 1918' framing in NHHC.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-aries-ak51-04
-
[5]MARAD ShipHistory Detail/510 historical documents - MC file card 'ARIES - USN Cargo Ship' (ONI/DIO 3ND references, Jul 1942) and USCG Port Arrival/boarding form, New York, 6 Jan 1942 [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- Documents tab: Aries_510_001.pdf (file card); Aries_510_002.pdf (USCG PAL.T form)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Maritime Commission vessel-file card (ARIES - USN Cargo Ship) records that the vessel 'had undergone extensive repairs prior to recommissioning on May 30' and that the master 'was of opinion that a very bad job had been done, particularly in engine room where main engine did not seem to be lined up true'; a man signing 'Walter' wrote a letter of grievances against the SS Co. The card cites correspondence from DIO 3ND to ChNavOp 7/9/42 and an ONI memo of 7/16/42, later returned. A second MC document is a Coast Guard boarding/radio-sealing form (Form PAL.T) placing ARIES at 27th Street, Brooklyn, NY on 6 Jan 1942 during the conversion period.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Limitations
- Primary documents confirming a documented engine-room repair episode and crew grievance in mid-1942 - relevant as a research thread (ONI/DIO correspondence), not as materials evidence. Neither document mentions asbestos, insulation or any hazardous material; 'extensive repairs' scope is not itemized.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-aries-ak51-05
-
[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 covering this hull's 1941-1942 Navy conversion, 1942-1946 commissioned service, and 1944 Navy-yard re-engining.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- 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. Hull built 1918 predates the article's WWII focus; applicability of wartime-practice findings to her 1941-46 naval work is contextual only.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-aries-ak51-06
-
[7]National Archives, 'Researching Asbestos aboard US Naval Vessel up through 1961' [other_primary]
- Locator
- Introduction; Beginning Research; Bureau of Ships correspondence section
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA identifies asbestos use in U.S. Navy materiel during 1941-1961 as a research topic requiring vessel-specific investigation. Its guide directs researchers from ship history to Bureau of Ships correspondence, specifications and engineering drawings.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Limitations
- Era-level documentation of a research problem, not a materials inventory for Aries. Supports only class/era background and research prioritization; does not establish that any asbestos was installed, disturbed or inhaled aboard AK-51. No product list is inferred.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-aries-ak51-07
-
[8]NARA Ship Plan Index (direct HTTPS retrieval, searched ARIES/AK-51/AG-37/LAKE GENEVA/MANOMET/O'HAGAN/ADELANTO); NavSource Online file 09/49/49037 caption attribution to NARA San Francisco Mare Island Navy Yard ship file [other_primary]
- Locator
- Ship Plan Index name search; NavSource file 09/49/49037 photo captions
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (unretrieved): NavSource captions credit its Aries photographs to the 'San Francisco NARA, Mare Island Navy Yard Ship File' - a plausible primary file for the April-August 1944 engine-replacement period. The NARA Ship Plan Index contains NO entry under ARIES, AK-51, MANOMET, AG-37, LAKE GENEVA or O'HAGAN; the same index does list sister hull GEMINI AP-75 (ex-AK-52) at RG 19 Hull series of Ship Engineering Drawings, NAID 153713915, showing the series covers this conversion cohort.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Limitations
- Index verified by direct retrieval: no drawing series is indexed under any of this hull's names/designations (absence of an index row does not prove absence of records). The Mare Island ship-file lead comes via a NavSource caption; NavSource direct page retrieval failed from this machine (connection error) and the caption text was read through indexed search results only. No drawings or ship-file documents were retrieved; asbestos content unknown.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-aries-ak51-08
-
[9]MARAD ShipHistory Detail/510 document set (misfiled/collision letter, 1943) and Detail/9187; NavSource/secondary identification of PHM-3 hydrofoil namesake [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- Aries_510_003.pdf full text; MARAD Detail/9187 characteristics panel
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Name-collision corrections: (a) A document inside the MARAD ARIES (AK-51) file itself (Aries_510_003.pdf) is a Coast Guard Port Security letter, Norfolk VA, 29 Jun 1943, reporting boarding of a 35-foot boat 'ARIES' (official number 14-L-268), owner William O. Greenan Jr. of Newport News - a different vessel, not AK-51. (b) MARAD Detail/9187 'LNG ARIES' (built 1977, General Dynamics Quincy, 83,102 gt LNG tanker) is a different hull. (c) USS Aries (PHM-3), the Pegasus-class hydrofoil missile ship in service 1982-1993, is a different hull. None of these may be attributed to AK-51.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Limitations
- Collision control only - establishes what is NOT this hull. The 1943 letter's presence inside the AK-51 document set shows even agency files can contain misattributed namesakes; the PHM-3 hydrofoil namesake is identified from secondary listings (NHHC hydrofoil page not retrieved).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-aries-ak51-09
-
[10]Batch-934 search ledger (this record): NHHC Online Library + canonical URL probes; Shipscribe AK-51; MARAD ShipHistory Detail/510 + status cards + documents; NARA Ship Plan Index + asbestos guide; NavSource (blocked); CourtListener API v4 (blocked - quota); govinfo.gov/uscourts.gov supplemental searches; public web alias searches [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-aries-ak51-01 through sl-uss-aries-ak51-13
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No ship-specific asbestos survey, abatement record, material specification or qualifying exposure/litigation document was located in the bounded public-source searches recorded in this batch. Ship-specific asbestos documentation remains unknown. Litigation sweep deferred: CourtListener daily quota exhausted (authenticated API probe returned HTTP 429 'Rate limit exceeded: 2800/day' at ~15:50 CT 2026-09-21); fleet backfill pending.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1918 steam hull with documented 1941-42 conversion, repeated engine-room repairs and a 1944 Navy-yard re-engining is era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials having been present or disturbed. Does not establish presence or absence, individual exposure, or legal eligibility. The CourtListener negative is unverified because the sweep itself was quota-blocked, not because searches returned empty.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-aries-ak51-10