Evidence
12 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-12).
-
[1]research packet dm-packet.md (3 sources cited) [museum_official]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-atr-50-atr50-pkt-dm-packet-md
-
[2]U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships, 'Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels,' Vol. III, NAVSHIPS 250-012, 15 April 1945 (declassified; digitized scan hosted at shipscribe.com) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NAVSHIPS 250-012 pp. 414-419: class data sheet pp. 414-416 (ATR 50-89 block); per-vessel machinery table p. 418 row 37 (ATR-50: Prescott Co. engine, F.W. 'D' boilers); per-vessel construction table p. 419 row 37 (Colberg Boat Wks. Stockton; keel 6 May 43; launch 4 Dec 43; first commission 5 May 44)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Official BuShips reference publication 'Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels,' Vol. III (Auxiliaries, District Craft and Service Craft), NAVSHIPS 250-012, 15 April 1945: ATR-50 appears in the List of Naval Vessels among rescue tugs ATR 50-89. Class data sheet (pp. 414-415): wooden hulls; 165 ft 5 in oa / 155 ft wl x 33 ft 4 in beam; trial speed 12.2 kts; trial displacement 1,312 t, limiting displacement 1,315 t, limiting draft 15 ft 10 in; single propeller, vertical triple-expansion engine, 1,600 shp; 2 boilers at 260 psi saturated; two turbo-driven 60 kW 120 V DC ship's-service generators; fuel 1,620 bbls; armament 1-3"/50 DP; largest boom capacity 4 t; accommodations 5 officers + 47 enlisted. Per-vessel table (pp. 418-419): ATR-50 built by Colberg Boat Wks., Stockton, Calif.; keel laid 6 May 1943; launched 4 Dec 1943; date of first commission 5 May 1944; engine manufacturer Prescott Co. (vert. 3-exp.); boiler manufacturer F.W. 'D' (Foster Wheeler 'D'-type).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1943-1945
- Limitations
- Official Navy publication naming this hull; establishes identity, builder, construction dates, machinery, and class characteristics as of April 1945. Contains no materials, insulation-composition, or asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim. Scan hosted on a private reference site (shipscribe.com) but is a complete photographic reproduction of the government document.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-50-01
-
[3]National Archives and Records Administration, Special List 44 - Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships (ship-number ordering), ATR-50 entry [other_primary]
- Locator
- SL-44 ship-number list, ATR section: 'ATR-50 5/5/1944 6/30/1945'
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA Special List 44, 'List of Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships, Stations, and Miscellaneous Units, 1801-1947' (by ship number), records deck logs for ATR-50 covering 5 May 1944 through 30 June 1945 (RG 24, Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Entry 118). The log-series start date corroborates the 5 May 1944 commissioning date in NAVSHIPS 250-012.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1944-1945 logs; list consulted 2026
- Limitations
- The list establishes that deck logs exist and their coverage span; the logs themselves were not pulled or reviewed, so no operational or material detail is taken from them. Coverage shown ends 30 June 1945; later-service logs (through decommissioning June 1946) are not represented in this list excerpt. Contains no asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-50-02
-
[4]Bureau of Ships, War Damage Report No. 54: U.S.S. Canberra (CA70), Torpedo Damage, Formosa, 13 October 1944 (Navy Department, 1 August 1946; HyperWar/ibiblio transcription) [other_primary]
- Locator
- WDR-54 paragraphs 8, 45, 49-50 (narrative section III)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Bureau of Ships War Damage Report No. 54 (U.S.S. Canberra CA70, torpedo damage off Formosa, 13 October 1944; issued 1 August 1946) documents the retirement tow to Ulithi: Wichita (CA-45) took Canberra in tow; tow transferred to Munsee (ATF-107) on 15 October; the War Shipping Administration tug Watch Hill joined Munsee on 20 October and the two tugs towed Canberra in tandem, arriving off Mugai Channel, Ulithi, at 0530 on 27 October 1944. The official report does not name ATR-50 among the towing or escort units. Secondary sources (NavSource; a USS Current veterans'-association photo caption describing Canberra 'tandem towed by ATR-50 and SS Watch Hill'; a 2002 guestbook post by the commissioning CO's son stating ATR-50 towed Canberra 21-27 October) claim ATR-50 participated in the Canberra tow during the final leg - uncorroborated by, and partially inconsistent with, the official war damage report.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 13-27 October 1944
- Limitations
- The source documents the Canberra operation, not ATR-50: it names Wichita, Munsee, and WSA tug Watch Hill and does not mention ATR-50. It neither confirms nor disproves ATR-50's claimed participation (a relief tug substitution after 20 October is possible but undocumented here). The popular claim that ATR-50 towed Canberra rests on non-official sources; the ship's NARA deck logs (sl-03) are the resolving primary record. NavSource's version of the claim also mislabels the cruiser 'USS Houston (CA-30)' - the October 1944 vessel was CL-81; CA-30 was sunk in February 1942.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-50-03
-
[5]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. III, p. 508 - PC-486 (Jasper) entry (hazegray.org transcription mirror) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS III p. 508, PC-486/Jasper entry, postwar Canal Zone paragraph
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS (Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. III p. 508), entry for PC-486/Jasper: after World War II PC-486 operated out of the Canal Zone on ASW patrol and air-sea rescue; 'Three years later' (i.e., about February 1955, following the entry's 5 February 1952 Gloria rescue) 'she rescued 10 people from a sunken U.S. tuna boat Toni B in the Caribbean, 90 miles off the Panama coast.' This documents the loss of the merchant TONI B - the ex-ATR-50 - with all 10 aboard rescued by a U.S. Navy patrol craft.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- February 1955
- Population
- 10 crew rescued
- Limitations
- The DANFS entry documents 'a sunken U.S. tuna boat Toni B' without tying it to ATR-50; the identity link (ATR-50 sold via Maritime Commission to Canal Industries Inc., Seattle, in 1948 and documented in merchant service as TONI B) rests on the shipscribe transcription of MC disposal records plus secondary sources. Exact date (26 February 1955) and position 'off Colon' come from secondary compilations (NavalCoverMuseum/NavSource), not the DANFS text. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-50-04
-
[6]Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955-1957, Volume VII (American Republics: Central and South America), Document 509, U.S. Department of State Office of the Historian [other_primary]
- Locator
- FRUS 1955-57 VII doc. 509, item IV 'Interception and Detention of Fishing Vessels by Peru' and editorial footnotes 2-4
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- FRUS 1955-1957, Vol. VII (American Republics), Document 509 - Memorandum of a Department of State-Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting, 25 February 1955: Ambassador Dreier reviewed Peru's interception and detention of fishing vessels, noting 'the two vessels Tony B and Western Star' (editorial note: Western Star is the Western Clipper) were 'the first involving American flag vessels' seized by Peru - the case the U.S. considered proposing to the International Court of Justice. 'Tony B' is the merchant tuna vessel TONI B (ex-ATR-50), then operating in Nick Bez's Seattle fishing fleet, seized/fined in Peruvian-claimed waters in February 1955, days before her loss.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- February 1955
- Limitations
- Official diplomatic record naming 'Tony B' as a U.S.-flag fishing vessel in the February 1955 Peru seizure. It does not state the vessel's former naval identity; the Tony B = ex-ATR-50 link rests on MC disposal records (shipscribe transcription) and fisheries-history reporting (Nick Bez fleet; the Bez account has John Bez skippering Toni B when she sank). Spelling variant 'Tony B' noted. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-50-05
-
[7]U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships, 'Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels,' Vol. III, NAVSHIPS 250-012, pp. 414-419 (ATR class machinery data); asbestos-application characterization is editorial inference flagged as such [other_primary]
- Locator
- NAVSHIPS 250-012 p. 414 machinery table (ATR 50-89) and p. 418 per-vessel boiler/engine table
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Class-level machinery context (not a hull record): NAVSHIPS 250-012 documents the ATR 50-89 design as wooden-hulled rescue tugs with two oil-fired 'D'-type boilers supplying steam at 260 psi saturated to a vertical triple-expansion engine, plus steam-driven 60 kW generators and towing/machinery auxiliaries. For a 1943-44 steam plant of this size, period-typical asbestos applications were boiler insulation, steam-line lagging, flange and valve gaskets, and machinery packing; wooden-hull construction did not eliminate steam-plant insulation. Whether and where such material was installed on this specific hull is not documented.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1943-1944
- Population
- Construction workforce (Colberg Boat Works, Stockton, 1943-44); ship's crew 1944-46 (class inference only)
- Limitations
- Class-design data applied to this hull by inference; the document lists machinery type, not insulation composition. 'Era-typical asbestos application' wording is editorial inference from the WWII-era steam plant, not a documented finding for ATR-50. Does not establish presence, quantity, exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-50-06
-
[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
- AJIM 11(3):359-373, abstract and article
- 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 World War II - the era and program under which this wooden-hulled ATR-1-class rescue tug was built - and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization aboard naval and merchant 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 (era context)
- Limitations
- Program/era-level scholarship; does not name this vessel or class and does not establish asbestos aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-50-07
-
[9]CourtListener API v4 search results, 2026-09-26: name, hull-number, and merchant-name queries as stated [court_record]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-atr-50-05 through sl-uss-atr-50-10
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- CourtListener sweep (API v4, authenticated, fleet-paced helper, 2026-09-26): opinions "ATR-50" -> 1 hit (Tasty Baking Co. v. Ralston Purina, Inc., 653 F. Supp. 1250, E.D. Pa. 1987 - a commercial baking-industry dispute; 'ATR-50' there is an unrelated code/exhibit reference, classified name collision, non-qualifying); opinions "USS ATR-50" -> 0 results; opinions "ATR 50" -> same Tasty Baking collision; dockets "ATR-50" -> 8 hits (Bennett Marine v. Lenco Marine patent case; Emerson v. Mutual Fund Series Trust; Chinese Drywall MDL; Live Nation and Deere antitrust; Stolt-Nielsen FOIA - all product/docket-code collisions, non-qualifying); opinions "Toni B" tug/vessel -> 24 hits, all person-name collisions (e.g., Toni B. Hampton bankruptcy). No qualifying asbestos litigation naming the hull was located.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- Negative finding bounded to CourtListener coverage and query terms; non-indexed state dockets, unreported claims, and operator-level litigation not found under these queries are not excluded by this result. A merchant-owner operator check ('Canal Industries' asbestos) was queued but deferred by fleet pacing - see ledger sl-10 pending.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-50-08
-
[10]Batch-2977 search ledger (this record): NAVSHIPS 250-012; NARA SL-44; WDR-54; DANFS index; NVR; MARAD ShipHistory; CourtListener name/hull/docket sweeps; NavSource and shipscribe as leads [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-atr-50-01 through sl-uss-atr-50-18
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, materials list, or qualifying asbestos case naming ATR-50 was found in the sources searched - no DANFS entry exists for this hull; the Naval Vessel Register excludes vessels disposed of before 1987; the official construction publication (NAVSHIPS 250-012) lists machinery but no materials; MARAD ShipHistory search errored and TONI B merchant records were not located; and the vessel sank in February 1955, so no present-day hull exists to survey.
- 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 during construction or service - a 1943-44 steam plant is era-consistent with asbestos-containing insulation. The hull was lost at sea in 1955; nothing remains to survey and no abatement record is expected. Does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-50-09
-
[11]shipscribe.com, 'USS ATR-1 Class' data tables - transcription of BuShips construction/disposition records (Tim Colton compilation; underlying records are NVR/MC entries) [other_primary]
- Locator
- shipscribe ATR-01 class page: construction table row 50 (Ord. 17 Nov 42, Colberg Boat, keel 6 May 43, launch 4 Dec 43, commiss. 5 May 44); disposition table row 50 (Decomm. 21 Jun 46, Strike 3 Jul 46, Disposal 23 Jun 48, MC/D, MA sale 18 May 48); ship note ATR-50 ('Sold (awarded) by MC to Canal Industries Inc., Seattle, Wash. Merc. TONI B 1951, off list 1955')
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Disposition record (compiled from official sources, transcription): per the shipscribe.com transcription of Naval Vessel Register/Maritime Commission data for the ATR-1 class - ATR-50 decommissioned 21 June 1946, stricken from the Naval Vessel Register 3 July 1946, disposed 23 June 1948 via Maritime Commission disposal, Maritime Administration sale awarded 18 May 1948 to Canal Industries Inc., Seattle, Wash.; merchant service as TONI B from 1951, off registry list 1955. Colberg Boat Works order date 17 November 1942 (VCNO had directed construction of ATR 50-89 on 5 August 1942 under the Maximum War Effort program).
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1942-1955
- Limitations
- Secondary compilation of official records - the underlying NVR strike entry and MC sale documents were not directly viewed; treat decommission/strike/sale dates as well-sourced but unverified transcription. Construction dates corroborated independently by NAVSHIPS 250-012 and NARA SL-44. NavSource's 'sold for merchant service in 1947' conflicts with the documented MC award/delivery of May-June 1948; the MC dates are carried. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-50-10
-
[12]NARA guide to vessel logbooks (RG 24, Entry 118, NAID 581208) + Special List 44; NARA RG 19 BuShips records; NavSource ATR-50 photo/artifact page (lead); usscurrent.com association history (lead) [other_primary]
- Locator
- SL-44 ATR-50 entry; NavSource archives/09/40/40050.htm (094005003 invitation, 094005002 ceremony scans); usscurrent.com/history.htm Eniwetok passage
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - research-room or reproduction required; no spend authorized): (a) ATR-50 deck logs, NARA RG 24 Entry 118, covering 5 May 1944-30 June 1945 per Special List 44 - would resolve the Canberra-tow discrepancy and document day-to-day towing/salvage assignments incl. the reported 28 September 1944 tow handover from USS Current at Eniwetok (veterans'-association history, unverified). (b) NARA RG 19 (Bureau of Ships) contract/plans files for the Colberg Boat Works ATR-50-53 contract - may hold hull material and insulation specifications. (c) NavSource hosts a commissioning invitation and ceremony photographs dated 5 May 1944 contributed by the first CO's family (LT August Billig) - primary artifacts on a non-official repository, used as a lead only per house source rules. (d) MC sale/delivery file for Canal Industries Inc. (1948) and USCG Merchant Vessels documentation for TONI B would firm the merchant identity chain.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1943-1955 records
- Limitations
- Record-group mapping and lead documentation only - no box-level retrieval performed; whether asbestos-specific documents exist in ATR-50's file is unknown until surveyed. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-atr-50-11