Evidence
8 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-8).
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[1]research packet bh-packet.md (5 sources cited) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-askari-arl30-pkt-bh-packet-md
-
[2]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. A (1991), 'Askari (ARL-30)' entry - transcription mirror at ussaskari.com/history.html (ship association site) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS Vol. A entry, full text; canonical NHHC DANFS page for Askari not located - history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/askari.html returns 404 (standing NHHC DANFS link rot / non-digitization; sister-ship pages e.g. Sphinx ARL-24 do resolve)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS (Vol. A, 1991) identity and service narrative: laid down as LST-1131 on 1944-12-08 at Seneca, IL by Chicago Bridge & Iron Co.; launched 1945-03-02 (sponsor Mrs. Patricia Ann Jacobsen); commissioned at New Orleans 1945-03-15 (LT Charles L. Haslup); decommissioned at Jacksonville 1945-04-09 for conversion by Merrill-Stevens Drydock & Repair Co.; recommissioned as Askari 1945-07-23. San Diego and Puget Sound 1945-46; Eniwetok repair support for Operation Sandstone nuclear tests Jan-May 1948. Korea: Inchon landing support (Sep 1950), Wonsan, Hungnam evacuation (Dec 1950), Pusan tending (to Apr 1951); Yokosuka repair duty Aug 1952-Apr 1953; Mare Island overhauls mid-1951 and summer 1953. Operation Passage to Freedom (Haiphong, Oct-Nov 1954) and Tachen Islands evacuation support (Feb 1955). Decommissioned Astoria 1956-03-21; reactivation work at Willamette Iron & Steel, Richmond CA, from late Nov 1965; recommissioned Mare Island 1966-08-13. Vietnam 1967-1971: RivFlot 1 mobile repair base at Nha Be, Vam Co rivers (Operation Giant Slingshot), Chau Doc, Long Xuyen, Dong Tam, Binh Thuy; led salvage/repair of mined USS Westchester County (LST-1167) from Nov 1968. Decommissioned Guam 1971-09-01 and transferred same day to Indonesia (MAP loan) as RI Djaja Widjaja; stricken and sold Feb 1979. Four battle stars Korea; 12 battle stars and 2 Presidential Unit Citations Vietnam.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1944-1979
- Limitations
- Authoritative for identity, build/conversion, service chronology, awards, and transfer. Contains no asbestos, insulation-material, or hazmat statement; supports no asbestos claim. Text accessed via ship-association transcription mirror because the canonical NHHC page is not live; wording verified against the Wikipedia/HistoryCentral DANFS renderings for consistency.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-askari-arl30-01
-
[3]NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive - USS Askari (ARL-30) ex USS LST-1131 (archives/10/19/1930.htm) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Ship data sheet: milestone list, Korean/Vietnam campaign tables, awards, specifications, commanding officer roster, NARA photo identifier
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource per-hull record: placed in reduced commission as USS LST-1131 1945-03-15 specifically for transit to conversion yard Merrill-Stevens, Jacksonville; decommissioned Jacksonville 1945-04-09; recommissioned USS Askari (ARL-30) 1945-07-23. Korean-war-zone assignment windows 1950-09-15 to April 1951 and 1952-09-15 to 1953-04-06 with four named campaigns (Inchon Landing; North Korean Aggression; Communist China Aggression; First UN Counter Offensive). Decommissioned 1956-03-21 Astoria OR; Pacific Reserve Fleet Columbia River Group; towed to Stockton group 1964; moved to Mare Island; recommissioned 1966-08-13 Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Twelve Vietnam campaign stars (Counteroffensive Phases II-VII, Tet Counteroffensive, Tet/69, Summer-Fall 69, Winter-Spring 70, Sanctuary, Consolidation I). Decommissioned 1971-09-01 Guam; stricken 1979-02-01; MAP loan as Ri Djaja Widjaja; sold to Indonesia 1979-02-22; 'Final Disposition, fate unknown.' Specs: complement 21 officers + 232 enlisted; 2x GM 12-567A diesels 1,800 hp combined, Falk reduction gear, twin screws. Two Purple Hearts aboard (MR1 John R. Ruoho KIA 1967-12-03; DCFN Scott F. Wemette KIA 1970-07-21). BuShips photo 19-NN-ARL-30 Askari-173574 carries NARA identifier 7576085.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1944-1979
- Limitations
- Volunteer-compiled reference consistent with DANFS on all overlapping dates; Korean-zone first window prints '31 April 1951' (April has 30 days - treated as April 1951 per DANFS narrative showing mid-April departure). Contains no asbestos or materials information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-askari-arl30-02
-
[4]Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data U.S. Naval Vessels Vol. II, NAVSHIPS 250-011 (April 15, 1945), landing ships/craft section (shipscribe.com scan); Corn & Starr, 'Historical perspective on asbestos: Policies and protective measures in World War II shipbuilding,' AJIM 11(3):359-373 (1987) for the era asbestos-in-shipbuilding context; ARL conversion layout description per USS Askari ARL-30 Association 'What is an ARL?' page (ship-association secondary source) [other_primary]
- Locator
- SDB 1945 v2 LST machinery data (NAVSHIPS 250-011); ussaskari.com/arl.html conversion description
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Era/design inference for a diesel-hulled LST-542-design hull converted to an ARL: propulsion is twin GM 12-567A diesels (1,800 hp combined) with no boilers, removing the boiler/main-steam-pipe lagging pathway; era-typical asbestos-relevant applications for the type are diesel engine and exhaust lagging, engine-room thermal/acoustic insulation, gaskets and packing, deck coverings, bulkhead and accommodation insulation, and winch/crane brake linings. The ARL conversion rebuilt the enclosed tank deck into machinery/engine repair, carpenter, electronics repair, and hull repair shops plus storerooms and added superstructure - an interior outfitting scope beyond a base LST - and WWII-era federal policy had reserved asbestos supply for shipbuilding. Discrete outfitting periods on this hull: Merrill-Stevens conversion (1945) and Willamette Iron & Steel / Mare Island reactivation (1965-66).
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1944-1971
- Population
- Construction and conversion trades (Chicago Bridge & Iron 1944-45; Merrill-Stevens 1945; Willamette/Mare Island 1965-66); repair department ship's company (machinery, hull, electronics, carpenter shops)
- Limitations
- Class/design inference only - neither source names this hull nor states 'asbestos' content; the BuShips data table establishes machinery type (diesel, no boilers), and the association page is a secondary description of the class conversion. Does not establish presence, quantity, location, condition, individual exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-askari-arl30-03
-
[5]GAO, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure, HRD-80-2 (Oct 18, 1979) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO product page HRD-80-2 (full text blocked to automated fetch, HTTP 403; content via product-page description)
- Finding type
- gov_survey
- Finding
- GAO documented the Navy's asbestos-protection program: standing policy adopted 1975 removed asbestos insulation only when damaged or required for repairs, modified 1979 to selective replacement in high-maintenance areas. Askari's U.S. Navy service ended 1971-09-01 - predating the documented program - so no Navy asbestos-management action under this program would have applied to this hull; any era materials aboard during her 1966-71 Vietnam service were managed under pre-program practices.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1975-1979 (program); hull USN service 1945-1971
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers (program context)
- Limitations
- Program-level documentation postdating this hull's U.S. service (program era 1975+; hull departed USN service 1971); establishes the policy environment, not anything aboard this ship. Does not establish presence, quantity, exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-askari-arl30-04
-
[6]CourtListener API v4 authenticated search (opinions + docket index), queries "Askari", "ARL-30", "LST-1131", "USS Askari"; VA BVA vetapp archive name search [court_record]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-askari-arl30-05 through sl-uss-askari-arl30-09
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- CourtListener sweep (2026-09-26): 'Askari' opinion search returned 166 hits - all reviewed first-page hits are surname collisions (Muhammad Askari, Askari Jewelers, Askari Abdullah Muhammad, et al.), none referencing a vessel; 'ARL-30' returned a single hit, Belizaire v. RAV Investigative & Security Services Ltd. (S.D.N.Y. No. 12-CV-8268, pro se default-judgment inquest) - an incidental match with no vessel or asbestos context in the opinion; 'LST-1131' returned zero hits; 'USS Askari' returned zero hits. No qualifying asbestos litigation naming this hull located; name collisions classified as such. A VA Board of Veterans' Appeals name search returned no decision naming Askari (va.gov hits are physician-surname collisions).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- Absence of a located docket does not prove no claim was ever filed - asbestos filings may exist in dockets not indexed by CourtListener, under plaintiff-v-name captions without vessel names, in RECAP filings not text-searchable, or in settled/non-opinion matters. A search result is not evidence that exposure did or did not occur.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-askari-arl30-05
-
[7]Batch-2622 search ledger (this record): DANFS via mirror; NavSource ARL-30 page; NVR detail page; CourtListener name/hull sweeps; VA BVA name search; Wikipedia lead check [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-askari-arl30-01 through sl-uss-askari-arl30-11
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed asbestos case naming ARL-30 / LST-1131 / Askari was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). The Naval Vessel Register carries no detail page (its coverage excludes vessels disposed before 1987); no VA Board of Veterans' Appeals decision naming the ship was located; DANFS and NavSource contain no asbestos statement.
- 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 1945 hull converted at a commercial yard and reactivated in 1965-66 is era-consistent with period materials, and her repair-ship mission involved machining and hot work on craft alongside. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-askari-arl30-06
-
[8]NARA Guide to Federal Records, RG 24 (Bureau of Naval Personnel - deck log series); NARA identifier 7576085 (per NavSource photo credit); ussaskari.com muster-rolls page [other_primary]
- Locator
- RG 24 deck logs; NARA ID 7576085; http://ussaskari.com/muster_rolls.html
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - require research-room or reproduction order; no spend authorized): NARA deck logs for ARL-30/LST-1131 covering 1945-1971 service (RG 24, Bureau of Naval Personnel - ship log series 1945-61 plus post-1961 continuation; muster-roll microfilm 1939-71 covers the full USN career); BuShips photo 19-NN-ARL-30 Askari-173574, September 1966 yard period (NARA identifier 7576085); Merrill-Stevens Drydock & Repair conversion records (Jacksonville, 1945); Willamette Iron & Steel (Richmond) and Mare Island Naval Shipyard 1965-66 reactivation work packages; USS Askari ARL-30 Association hosts partial transcribed muster-roll PDFs (1970 officer + enlisted Q1 confirmed on the page).
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1944-1979 records
- Limitations
- Record-group mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for this hull (conversion specs, reactivation work packages, material lists) is unknown until surveyed. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-askari-arl30-07