Evidence
9 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-9).
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[1]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 Maritime Commission emergency shipbuilding program under which this S4-SE2-BE1 attack cargo ship was mass-produced at Walsh-Kaiser, Providence, in 1944 - and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization aboard naval and merchant-type hulls.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- 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-athene-aka22-01
-
[2]Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, 1945, Vol. III (NAVSHIPS 250-012, 15 Apr 1945), p.114 - ATHENE (AKA-22) machinery row; era insulation practice per Corn & Starr 1987 (ev-01) [other_primary]
- Locator
- SDB 1945 Vol. III, p.114 (PDF pp.132), AKA machinery table, ATHENE row; Google Books scan hosted by shipscribe.com
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- The hull's propulsion plant is officially documented (BuShips Ships' Data 1945 per-hull row): two Wickes boilers at 450 psi / 750 F supplying two Westinghouse turbo-electric engines driving twin screws. Steam plants of this era and type commonly carried asbestos-containing boiler and fireroom insulation, steam-line lagging, turbo-generator lagging, gaskets, packing, and accommodation insulation.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1944-1946 (service era)
- Population
- Construction trades (Walsh-Kaiser, Providence, 1944); engine-room and fireroom crew
- Limitations
- The machinery plant is ship-specifically documented (official Navy publication names this hull); the asbestos content of its insulation, lagging, gaskets, and packing is era inference - neither source states asbestos aboard this hull. Does not establish quantity, present-day presence (hull scrapped 1966), individual exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-athene-aka22-02
-
[3]Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, 1945, Vol. III - Auxiliary, District Craft and Unclassified Vessels (NAVSHIPS 250-012, 15 Apr 1945), pp.112-114 [other_primary]
- Locator
- SDB 1945 Vol. III, pp.112-114 (PDF pp.130-132), AUXILIARIES - CARGO ATTACK (AKA) tables, row 15 ATHENE (AKA-22)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Official wartime characteristics for this hull (per-hull row): length overall 426 ft, waterline 400 ft, extreme beam 58 ft, trial speed 16.9 knots, trial displacement 7,000 tons; limiting displacement 7,080 tons, limiting draft 16 ft; authorized accommodations 27 officers + 276 enlisted; largest boom capacity 30 tons; machinery 2 propellers, Westinghouse turbo-electric engines, 6,000 shp, 2 Wickes boilers at 450 psi / 750 F.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1945 (publication date; reflects wartime configuration)
- Limitations
- Official BuShips characteristics table naming this hull; establishes identity and machinery/dimensions only. Contains no asbestos, insulation-material, or hazmat statement; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-athene-aka22-03
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[4]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. IA, p.445 - 'Athene' (NHHC DANFS; live page 404 on 2026-09-21; verified via Wayback capture 2025-12-09 and hazegray transcription mirror) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS Vol. IA p.445; Wayback http://web.archive.org/web/20251209184234/https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/athene.html ; mirror https://losthistory.net/hazegray/danfs/amphib/aka22.htm
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS (Vol. IA, p.445): laid down 1944-01-20 under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1883) at Providence, R.I., by Walsh-Kaiser Co.; launched 1944-06-18, sponsored by Mrs. Emily Thornton; acquired and commissioned 1944-09-29, Comdr. Edward R. Nelson, Jr. Shakedown Chesapeake Bay; Pearl Harbor 1944-11-26; Saipan 1945-02-11; sailed 1945-02-16 with 5th Marine Division for Iwo Jima, anchored off Iwo Jima 1945-02-19, discharged and returned via Saipan; Pearl Harbor 1945-06-28; Leyte 1945-07-30; post-surrender Yokosuka; Tokyo Bay 1945-09-18 typhoon collision with an LST, repairs at Yokosuka through 1945-10-01; San Francisco 1945-11-23; second troop lift; boiler trouble, diverted to Pearl Harbor 1946-01-14 for repairs; San Pedro 1946-01-25; assigned to Joint Task Force 1 (atomic bomb test unit, Bikini) late January 1946; 'following her return from Bikini' decommissioned Pearl Harbor 1946-06-17; struck 1947-08-01; transferred to Maritime Commission 1947-09-23; sold to Union Minerals and Alloy Corp. of New York and scrapped (DANFS gives '1960'); earned two battle stars.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1944-1947
- Population
- Ship's company (~303 authorized) and embarked 5th Marine Division troops, 1944-1946
- Limitations
- Authoritative Navy narrative for identity and service chronology. Notable internal defects: narrative is silent on the 1945-02-28 to 1945-06-28 period (Okinawa Gunto service - confirmed by NARA action report naId 140073434, see ev-07) and the 'sold in 1960' disposal date conflicts with the MARAD custody record (1966-02-21, see ev-05). Contains no asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-athene-aka22-04
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[5]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - ATHENE (AKA-22), Ship History Detail 356 (incl. digitized status card ATHENE.pdf) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- ShipHistory Detail 356, milestones table (Disposition and Withdrawal both 2/21/1966) and status-card scan (documents/f3a44f1a-c9a8-4e78-816b-89b02ad1c1ed.pdf)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD ShipHistory record for ATHENE (AKA-22): built 1944 by Walsh-Kaiser Company; MARAD type S4-SE2-BE1; 426 ft x 58 ft; displacement 6,800 tons summer / 4,025 tons lightweight; fate 'Sold - Scrap'. Digitized custody card shows transfer to the Maritime Commission and lay-up at Suisun Bay, Calif., 1947-09-23, and withdrawal at noon 1966-02-21 to Union Minerals & Alloys (scrap). Confirms the 1966 disposal date against DANFS's '1960' error.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1944-1966
- Population
- NDRF custody/caretaker personnel, Suisun Bay 1947-1966
- Limitations
- Authoritative for government custody milestones; status-card handwriting partially legible (OCR-aided; an 'American President Lines' line in the custody chain is consistent with WSA delivery agency but not fully resolved). Contains no asbestos, materials, or condition-survey information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-athene-aka22-05
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[6]USS Athene (AKA-22), Action Report for the Iwo Jima Operation (ship-generated report, NARA naId 139947558; NARA-filmed scan hosted by NavSource, file 02022a.pdf) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource scan 02022a.pdf (9 pp.); NARA catalog https://catalog.archives.gov/id/139947558 ; Fold3 image 295410965
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Ship-generated action report for the Iwo Jima operation (NARA-cataloged 'USS ATHENE - Rep of ops in the invasion of Iwo Jima, Bonin Is, 2/19-28/45', naId 139947558; scan retrieved via NavSource): the ship arrived off Iwo Jima 19 February 1945, completed discharging cargo at 1711 on 27 February, and got underway that evening for Saipan, arriving 3 March; casualties were received aboard from LCVPs/LCMs; the ship carried 12 LCVP, 2 LCM, and 1 LCP(L); naval ammunition had been loaded 1944-12-23 at the Naval Ammunition Depot, West Loch, Pearl Harbor.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1945-02-19 to 1945-03-03 (report period)
- Population
- Ship's company and embarked 5th Marine Division personnel during Iwo Jima operation
- Limitations
- Primary ship-generated record naming this hull; hosted scan via NavSource (volunteer archive) of a NARA-filmed original - underlying record is authoritative, host is access path. Scan OCR is rough; quoted figures reflect best-effort reading of the scan. Contains no asbestos or insulation-material information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-athene-aka22-06
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[7]NARA Catalog records naId 140073434, 77618305, 83572991, 77587644, 125383274 (record titles verified in catalog.archives.gov search) [other_primary]
- Locator
- catalog.archives.gov search 'Athene AKA-22'; Fold3 images 296125853 (Okinawa report), 302015461 (war history), 300367248 and 301619367 (war diaries); Ancestry deck-log scan
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA catalog holdings naming this hull: 'USS ATHENE - Report of operations in the occupation of the Okinawa Gunto, Ryukyu Islands, 4/9-16/45' (naId 140073434) - ship-generated confirmation of Okinawa service that the DANFS narrative omits; 'USS ATHENE - War History' (naId 77618305); War Diaries 1944-09-29 to 1945-08-31 (naId 83572991) and 1945-11-01-30 (naId 77587644); deck logs 1944-09-24 to 1946-06-01 (naId 125383274, Ancestry collaboration scan). All Fold3/Ancestry-scanned; full text not retrieved (paywall).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1944-1946 records
- Limitations
- Catalog metadata verified (record titles and date ranges name this hull); full text not retrieved - Fold3/Ancestry paywall, no spend authorized. Record existence is established; content is not asserted beyond titles. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-athene-aka22-07
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[8]NPS, The Archeology of the Atomic Bomb (Submerged Cultural Resources Assessment, Operation Crossroads sunken fleet), Appendix I target-vessel dispositions; Defense Nuclear Agency DNA-TR-82-05-V3, Analysis of Radiation Exposure for Naval Units of Operation Crossroads, Vol. III Appendix B Support Ships (SAI-8411567 V3, 3 Mar 1982) - full text searched, 'Athene' absent [nps]
- Locator
- NPS Appendix I target-vessel tables (no AKA/no Athene); DNA-TR-82-05-V3 via OSTI https://doi.org/10.2172/6354991 (121-ship roster, full-text grep negative)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Operation Crossroads scope check (correction against overreading the JTF-1 assignment): DANFS records assignment to Joint Task Force 1 (the atomic bomb test unit at Bikini Atoll) in late January 1946 and decommissioning at Pearl Harbor 1946-06-17 'following her return from Bikini.' The Crossroads detonations were 1946-07-01 (ABLE) and 1946-07-25 (BAKER). Athene is absent from the NPS-compiled list of Crossroads target vessels and absent from the Defense Nuclear Agency dose-reconstruction roster of 121 non-target support ships (DNA-TR-82-05-V3, whose reconstruction window begins 1 July 1946). She was a JTF-1 support assignment during the buildup phase only and was not present for the shots.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1946-01 to 1946-06
- Population
- JTF-1 support-ship crews at Bikini, pre-July 1946
- Limitations
- Rules out presence at the detonations only; does not quantify or rule out any pre-departure radiological or material exposure during the buildup phase, and is unrelated to asbestos. The ship's exact Bikini departure date is not in the located record.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-athene-aka22-08
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[9]Batch-999 search ledger (this record): NHHC DANFS + Wayback + hazegray mirror; BuShips SDB 1945 Vol. III; MARAD ShipHistory Detail 356 + status card; NARA catalog (6 naIds); NavSource 02022 + action-report scan; NPS Crossroads appendix; DNA-TR-82-05-V3; CourtListener UI + API; NVR [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-athene-aka22-01 through sl-uss-athene-aka22-14
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming USS Athene, AKA-22, or MC hull 1883 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). CourtListener public search UI returned zero opinions for exact phrase 'USS Athene' (2026-09-21); the authenticated API was quota-throttled (2800/day already exhausted by concurrent work) and further hull-number and asbestos-variant queries were blocked (API throttle; HTML search CloudFront 403) - litigation sweep incomplete, logged as blocked rather than claimed negative.
- 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 Maritime Commission steam-driven hull is era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials, and the hull was scrapped in 1966, foreclosing present-day survey. The litigation sweep is incomplete (quota-blocked); 'no result' covers only the completed exact-name opinion query. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-athene-aka22-09