Evidence
12 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-12).
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[1]research packet di-packet.md (1 sources cited) [museum_official]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED. — real identity: NONE — never named; served as USS ATR-13. [M] https://www.navalcovermuseum.org/wiki/ATR_13
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-atr-13-atr13-pkt-di-packet-md
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[2]Shipscribe.com, USS ATR-1 Class data page (S.S. Roberts compilation of Bureau of Ships, CNO and Navy Register records): ATR-13 construction row, disposition row, and ship note [other_primary]
- Locator
- Construction table row '13'; Disposition table row '13' (Decomm. 27 Jun 46 / Strike 31 Jul 46 / Disposal 26 Aug 47 / MC/D / MA Sale 26 Aug 47); Ship Notes ATR-13
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- ATR-13 (ATR-1 class, Navy design): ordered 22 Jun 1942 under the FY1942 rescue-tug program; laid down 7 Sep 1942 at Delaware Bay Shipbuilding Co., Leesburg, N.J.; launched 15 Aug 1943; commissioned 23 Dec 1943. Decommissioned and in service with minimal crew 26 Feb 1946 while assigned to Com-13 (13th Naval District) for temporary duty in connection with laid-up ships; out of service 27 Jun 1946; struck 31 Jul 1946; Maritime Commission disposal 26 Aug 1947, delivered at Nordland, Wash., to Smallship Sales & Service Co., Seattle.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1942-1947
- Population
- Shipyard construction trades (Delaware Bay SB, Leesburg NJ, 1942-43); wartime crew
- Limitations
- Compiler-grade reference reproducing official Navy/Maritime Commission data; the underlying Navy Register entries and MC vessel card were not individually pulled. Smallship Sales & Service was the MC sale broker - the beneficial owner (Pacific Salvage Co.) is documented separately in the Canadian-registry row. No materials or asbestos information in this source.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-13-01
-
[3]Comdr. Byron S. Huie Jr., USNR, narrative 'Salvage ships Operations in Normandy Invasion' (18 Aug 1944), HyperWar transcription of the official Navy narrative [other_primary]
- Locator
- Narrative paragraph beginning 'So severe was the storm that Admiral Hall recognized soon that our salvage unit would have to be reinforced.'
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Primary-source confirmation of ATR-13 at Normandy: commanding the combat salvage and fire fighting unit off the invasion beaches, Huie recounts that 'about the second day of the storm' (the great gale of 19-22 June 1944) additional salvage and rescue craft reported to him, and 'the ATR 13 reported and also the ATA 125.' The narrative describes the unit's work rescuing and scuttling damaged craft during and after the storm, which left roughly 200 landing craft aground.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1944-06
- Population
- ATR-13 wartime crew; salvage/firefighting personnel
- Limitations
- Eyewitness narrative by the unit commander, recorded 18 Aug 1944. Confirms ATR-13's presence and salvage-unit assignment at Normandy in June 1944; contains no materials, insulation, or asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-13-02
-
[4]Naval Cover Museum, ATR-13 ship page - awards listing (American Campaign Medal; Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1 battle star); Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; WWII Victory Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal, Asia clasp) [museum_official]
- Locator
- navalcovermuseum.org/wiki/ATR_13 'Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons'; corroborating NavSource archive page 09/40/40013 campaign table
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Award/campaign record as published: one battle star (Europe-Africa-Middle East campaign, Invasion of Normandy); Asiatic-Pacific service; Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia clasp (occupation service in the Far East). NavSource's compiled campaign table dates the Normandy credit to 6-25 Jun 1944 and occupation service to 3 Sep-8 Dec 1945.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1944-1945
- Population
- Wartime crew
- Limitations
- Compiler-grade award listing consistent across two independent compilations (Naval Cover Museum, NavSource); the controlling CNO/OpNav battle-star register was not pulled. Award credits document theater service - no materials or asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-13-03
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[5]The Nauticapedia (J.M. MacFarlane) vessel database record: 'Salvage King (II)' - Canadian registry official no. 179065, ex-USS ATR-13 [other_primary]
- Locator
- Nauticapedia ship record id=14388 'Salvage King (II)': registry, owner, and anecdote fields
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Merchant-era record: ex-ATR-13 entered Canadian registry as official no. 179065 in 1947 under the name Salvage King (II), owned by Pacific Salvage Company, Vancouver B.C. (1947-1952 per registry record), type 'Tug, salvage', 616 gross tons, 157.7' x 33.5' x 16', built 1943 by Delaware Bay Shipbuilding Co., Leesburg NJ. On 19 Oct 1953 a fire in the forecastle burned at her berth; crews fought five hours while she filled with water and sank in Victoria Harbour; she was later raised. On 4 Apr 1959, under tow by Island Comet to the breakers, she struck the Johnson Street Bridge, nearly severing a main girder. Broken up 1959 at Capital Iron & Metals Ltd., Victoria; in Oct 1959 the hulk was towed to the Comox Logging Co. breakwater at Royston B.C. - where she reportedly refused to sink after her seacocks were opened. Registry closed 1959.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1947-1959
- Population
- Merchant tug crews (1947-1953); firefighting crews (1953); breaking-yard workers (1959)
- Limitations
- Curated registry-based database reproducing Canadian official registry data; ownership window '1947-1952' leaves custody of the sunken hulk (1953-1959) partially untracked - Capital Iron & Metals' 1959 role was breaking/disposal. Contains no materials or asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-13-04
-
[6]J. Pollack, R. James & J.P. Delgado (eds), 'A Reconnaissance Survey of the Ships of the Royston Breakwater' (UASBC/INA, 31 Aug 2011), section 5.14 'Salvage King / ATR-13'; UASBC 'Ghost Ships of Royston' project page [other_primary]
- Locator
- RCND1681.pdf section 5.14 pp. 47-49; http://uasbc.com/communications/regional-shipwreck-surveys (Ghost Ships of Royston 2004)
- Finding type
- environmental_record
- Finding
- Formal archaeological survey of the wreck, filed with the B.C. Archaeology Branch (Borden site DjSf-51): the remains of Salvage King/ATR-13 lie slightly buried by rip-rap in the Royston breakwater; in March 2010/2011 about 5% of the port wooden hull remained, with 'substantial amounts of iron machinery' in situ - twin water-tube boilers with cylindrical steam drums and a large mass of piping (engines not observed), paired fuel tanks below the main deck, rudder post and steering quadrant, and deteriorated wooden stem/deadwood assembly. UASBC identifies ATR-13 as the last of 14 vessels scuttled in the breakwater (1959).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2010-2011 survey
- Population
- Present-day site visitors/divers; Interfor (site owner)
- Limitations
- Site-condition survey only - documents what physically remains of the hull and machinery; contains no asbestos, insulation-content, or materials testing. The in-situ boilers and piping are original-era equipment but whether their lagging contains asbestos is not addressed.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-13-05
-
[7]Shipscribe.com ATR-1 class notes, summarizing the 12 Sep 1941 Bureau of Ships letter to CNO and subsequent procurement history (wood construction decision; John G. Alden design attribution) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Class Notes paragraphs 2-3 ('Presumably to minimize the impact...'); class data line (Machinery: 1 screw, vertical triple expansion, 1,600 HP)
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Class-level material context: the Navy deliberately had the ATR-1 class 'built of wood and equipped with relatively simple triple expansion steam machinery' so small shipbuilders outside the main Navy program could carry construction. For a steam auxiliary built 1943 the era-typical asbestos applications concentrate in machinery-space materials - boiler insulation/lagging on the twin water-tube boilers, steam-line insulation, valve and flange gaskets, machinery packing, and friction linings on towing winch and windlass - rather than the structural fireproofing of a steel combatant.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1942-1945
- Population
- Construction trades (small emergency yards, 1942-45); engine-room crews
- Limitations
- Class/program documentation, not a hull record - establishes the design decision (wood hull, simple steam plant) and names plausible era applications, but does not state asbestos content aboard this hull. No asbestos-specific finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-13-06
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[8]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 documenting that asbestos was used extensively as a fireproofing and insulating material in U.S. shipbuilding during WWII - the era and program under which this 1943 steam-powered auxiliary was built - and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization aboard ship hulls.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- 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-atr-13-07
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[9]CourtListener API v4 searches, 2026-09-26 (authenticated, fleet-paced): 'ATR-13' type=o and type=r; 'USS ATR-13' type=o; 'Salvage King' type=o and type=r [court_record]
- Locator
- CourtListener API v4 search results, query log in search_ledger rows sl-uss-atr-13-08 through sl-uss-atr-13-11
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Litigation sweep by exact hull number and both vessel names (Navy and merchant). 'ATR-13' (opinions): 3 hits, all name collisions - Clinkscales ex rel. T.S. v. Colvin (E.D. Pa. 2017, Social Security), Avocent Redmond Corp. v. Raritan Americas (S.D.N.Y. 2013, patent), Lafalier v. Lead-Impacted Communities Relocation Assistance Trust (Okla. 2010, environmental relocation); none names the vessel and none is an asbestos case. 'USS ATR-13' (opinions): 0 results. 'ATR-13' (dockets/RECAP): hits are attachment/exhibit-text collisions only (e.g., D.N.J. 3:13-cv-07871 'Exhibit 13'). 'Salvage King' (opinions): 1 hit - Northwest Baptist Church of Cocoa v. Trustee Corp. of King Street Baptist Church (Fla. 5th DCA 2026), a church property dispute; name collision. 'Salvage King' (dockets): 2 hits - Chemetco Site PRP Group v. A Square Systems (S.D. Ill. 2018, Superfund PRP) and In re Zen JV LLC (Bankr. D. Del. 2025); both name collisions. No qualifying asbestos litigation and no docketed case naming this hull or its merchant identity.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- A name match is not an asbestos finding; all located hits are string collisions in unrelated litigation. Absence of a located docket does not prove no claim was ever filed (settled, unreported, PACER-only, or Canadian-forum cases are outside index coverage).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-13-08
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[10]Batch-2942 search ledger (this record): NHHC DANFS index; NavSource ATR-13 page; shipscribe ATR-1 class page; Huie Normandy narrative (HyperWar); Nauticapedia registry record; UASBC/INA Royston survey; CourtListener name/hull searches; MARAD ShipHistory; NARA catalog [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-atr-13-01 through sl-uss-atr-13-15
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming ATR-13/Salvage King was found in the public sources searched. No DANFS entry exists for this hull (NavSource states 'There is no DANFS history available for USS ATR-13'; NHHC DANFS site search returns no entry - see search_ledger).
- 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 1943 steam plant is era-consistent with asbestos-containing machinery insulation, and the boilers and piping remain in situ in the scuttled hulk. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-13-09
-
[11]NARA record-group mapping: RG 24 (Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships and Stations, 1941-1983 - deck logs for ATR-13 Dec 1943-Jun 1946); RG 19 (Bureau of Ships records - construction contract and plans for Delaware Bay Shipbuilding ATR hulls); RG 178 (U.S. Maritime Commission records - 26 Aug 1947 disposal case file, Nordland, Wash. sale) [other_primary]
- Locator
- https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/024.html ; /groups/019.html ; /groups/178.html
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - no spend authorized): ATR-13 deck logs for her commissioned period (Dec 1943 - Jun 1946) should sit in RG 24 WWII deck-log series (largely digitized on the NARA catalog for named/numbered auxiliaries); BuShips contract files and ship plans for the Delaware Bay Shipbuilding ATR contract sit in RG 19; the Maritime Commission disposal/sale file for the 26 Aug 1947 Nordland, Wash. delivery to Smallship Sales & Service sits in RG 178. These are the correct paths for any hull-specific construction-materials or disposition detail.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1942-1947 records
- Limitations
- Record-group mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for this hull is unknown until surveyed. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-13-10
-
[12]Shipbuilding History / Naval Marine Archive Delaware Bay Shipbuilding yard table (delivery-date column) vs. shipscribe ATR-1 class data and the UASBC/INA survey + Nauticapedia registry record [other_primary]
- Locator
- shipscribe ATR-1 construction/disposition rows + ship note 13; navalmarinearchive.com Delaware Bay yard table; Nauticapedia record id=14388; RCND1681.pdf section 5.14
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Three published discrepancies resolved: (a) Delivery year - Shipbuilding History's yard table lists ATR-13 delivered '23-Dec-44', inconsistent with the vessel's documented presence at Normandy in June 1944 (Huie narrative, primary); shipscribe's compilation records commissioned/delivered 23 Dec 1943 - adopted as controlling. (b) Scrapping date - shipscribe's ship note says 'scrapped 1964', while Nauticapedia (registry closed 1959) and the 2011 UASBC/INA site survey document breaking at Capital Iron & Metals in 1959 and scuttling of the hulk at Royston in Oct 1959 - the surveyed physical site is controlling; '1964' likely reflects a registry/dismantling-completion artifact. (c) 1947 sale chain - NavSource says sold to Pacific Salvage Co.; shipscribe documents MC delivery at Nordland, Wash. to broker Smallship Sales & Service Co., Seattle - reconciled as broker vs. beneficial owner (vessel registered to Pacific Salvage, Canadian official no. 179065).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1943-1959
- Limitations
- Resolves publication-level conflicts in secondary/compiled sources using the primary narrative (Huie) and physical site survey; underlying MC paperwork not pulled. No asbestos content in any of these sources.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-13-11