USS Basilan (AG-68)

Evidence

8 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-8).

1. [1]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, 'Basilan' (Naval Historical Center / NHHC; author Robert J. Cressman, dated 2006-02-27) - Wayback capture of official history.navy.mil page [nhhc_danfs]

   Locator

   Full entry text; spec line (AG-68: dp. 14,350 (tl.); l. 441'6"; b. 56'11"; dr. 23'0" (lim.); s. 12.5 k.; cpl. 181; trp. 746; a. 1 5", 4 40mm., 12 20mm; cl. Basilan; T. EC2 S C1)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   DANFS (full text, R. J. Cressman rev. 2006-02-27): Basilan (projected ARG-12, originally the EC-2 'Liberty Ship' Jacques Phillipe Villere) was laid down 1944-02-05 at New Orleans by Delta Shipbuilding Corp. under a Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 2460); redesignated miscellaneous auxiliary AG-68 on 1944-03-14 for conversion to a self-propelled barracks-stores ship; launched 1944-03-21; delivered to the Navy 1944-04-21 in reduced commission; out of commission at Mobile 1944-04-24 for conversion to a combined barracks-stores-distilling ship by Waterman Steamship Co.; recommissioned 1944-10-10 (LCDR Lawrence A. Parks, USNR). After shakedown she drydocked at Norfolk Navy Yard 1944-11-05 to 11-25 for repairs and installation of her evaporators, then transited via Guantanamo to the Panama Canal; crankshaft realignment at Balboa and an engine breakdown delayed her until late January 1945. Redirected 1945-02-01 to San Francisco for reconversion to an 'electronic repair and staff maintenance ship' at Bethlehem Steel's yard (1945-02-12 through end of March). Served with ServRon 10 at Ulithi (from 1945-04-24, working with repair ship Jason ARH-1) and at San Pedro Bay, Leyte (arrived 1945-05-25), her ship repair unit and electronic repair force working on Missouri (BB-63), Bennington (CV-20), Randolph (CV-15), Essex (CV-9) and others, and issuing distilling-plant water to LCIs/LCSs and small craft. Departed Leyte 1945-09-13 for occupation duty at Jinsen, Korea, then Shanghai; sailed from Shanghai 1945-12-02 to Pearl Harbor; Seattle 1946-01-06 for pre-inactivation overhaul; ordered 1946-02-22 to the 14th Naval District for eventual assignment to JTF-1 (Operation Crossroads, Bikini); reached Pearl Harbor 1946-03-08; decommissioned there 1946-04-22, never ultimately employed in Crossroads; remained in Hawaiian waters until towed from Pearl 1947-03-30 by tug VO-69 in company with Abnaki (ATF-96) and five other tugs; reached Drake's Bay 1947-04-15; turned over (stripped) to the Maritime Commission 1947-05-14; stricken from the Naval Register 1947-05-28; NDRF Suisun Bay until sold to Zidell Explorations, Inc. for scrapping 1972-06-12.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-20

   Study period

   1944-02-05 to 1972-06

   Population

   Ship's company (complement 181) plus embarked repair/staff personnel (capacity ~746)

   Limitations

   Authoritative for identity, timeline, conversions, and operations. Contains no asbestos, insulation-material, or hazardous-material statement; supports no asbestos claim. Live NHHC URLs for this entry returned 404 on 2026-09-20 (standing NHHC link-rot per BATCH-01); the 2010 Wayback capture of the official page is cited. DANFS's 'sold 12 June 1972' differs in detail from the MARAD sale record (award 6-9-72, delivery 6-26-72) - MARAD controls; see correction row.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-basilan-ag68-01

2. [2]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - BASILAN (AG-68) Detail 418 and JACQUES PHILLIPE VILLERE Detail 8644, with digitized status cards (vessel status card 3BN_01.png; reserve-fleet data card 418_779AF.jpg; Record of Ship Sales MA-20, 418_AF.jpg) [marad_nrc]

   Locator

   ShipHistory Detail 418 + linked Detail 8644; status-card scans at /cards/418_779AF.jpg, /cards/418_AF.jpg, /cards/3BN_01.png

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   MARAD ShipHistory records and digitized status cards for this hull: Detail 418 'BASILAN (AG-68)' (naval auxiliary, EC2-S-C1, Delta Ship Building Company, 1944, fate 'Sold -NTU', milestones Disposition/Withdrawal 1972-06-26) cross-linked to Detail 8644 'JACQUES PHILLIPE VILLERE' (general cargo EC2-S-C1, MCE hull 2460, gross 7,176 / net 4,380, bale 499,573 cu ft, speed 12.5). Vessel status card (3BN_01.png): completed 4-21-44 by Delta Shipbldg. Co., New Orleans; 'Basis to U.S. M.C. 4-21-44 2pm CWT @ New Orleans, La. by Builders (WSA Custody)'; allocated to Navy Department (renamed BASILAN (AG-68)) at New Orleans 4-21-44 2pm CWT under 'LB' agreement; Navy title 1-14-46; Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, delivered 5-14-47 1:18pm PST 'from Navy'; Zidell Explorations, Inc. (Nontransportation Use), purchase 6-9-72; physical delivery 6-26-72 4:45pm PDT. Reserve-fleet data card (418_779AF.jpg): fleet SUISUN unit 1-8; date entered fleet 5-14-47; hull MCE-2460; type notes 'Mil. Aux. XAG' and 'Evaporator'; 536 bbls Bunker C fuel oil remaining; equipped with one 300 kW DC generator plus AC generators; sea chest filled - aux. machinery space; red stamp 'Sold for Nontransportation use under PD-X-938, 6-9-72 to Union Minerals & Alloys Corp. for $46,747.89'; withdrawn/delivered 1645 PDT 6-26-72. Record of Ship Sales form MA-20 (418_AF.jpg): PD-X-938, awarded to Zidell Explorations, Inc. 6-9-72 for $46,747.89, contract MA-6709, LOA 441'6" beam 56'11", gross 7,250, DWT 5,000, draft 23', located Suisun Bay ResFlt; advertised under PD-X-938 dated 5-4-72, opened 6-1-72, under two conditions (1) NTU (2) Scrap Hull - U.S.; award under condition (1) NTU.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-20

   Study period

   1944-04-21 to 1972-06-26

   Population

   NDRF custody and scrapping workforce (Suisun Bay 1947-1972; purchaser's breakers 1972)

   Limitations

   Authoritative for construction identity, government custody milestones, and disposal. Record-internal discrepancy: the reserve-fleet data card's sale stamp names 'Union Minerals & Alloys Corp.' while the formal MA-20 Record of Ship Sales and the vessel status card name Zidell Explorations, Inc. for the same contract (PD-X-938/MA-6709), date (6-9-72), and price ($46,747.89) - Zidell carried (corroborated by DANFS); the stamp likely reflects a subsequent assignment or clerical error. Handwriting partially legible; 'Basis ... (WSA Custody)' reflects the standard MC delivery form - the hull was allocated to the Navy at delivery and never WSA-operated. Contains no asbestos, materials, or condition-survey information; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-basilan-ag68-02

3. [3]NavSource Online Service Ship Photo Archive, USS Basilan (AG-68) page 09/29/2912 (incl. Tyrrell data-sheet PDF) + HyperWar 'Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945' AG-68 data sheet [other_primary]

   Locator

   NavSource page + https://www.navsource.net/archives/09/29/pdf/2912a.pdf ; https://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/AG/AG-68_Basilan.html

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Standard public compilation data: NavSource service-ship archive page gives the role timeline (per contributor Roger Tyrrell's data sheet PDF, submitted 2011-04-18): 'Combined barracks-stores-distilling ship' 1944-10-10 to 1945-02-12, then 'Electronic repair/staff maintenance ship' 1945-03-31 to 1946-04-22; projected as Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship ARG-12; call sign NQQY; specifications - complement 15 officers + 166 enlisted, staff accommodations 13 officers + 733 enlisted, 1 x 5"/38 DP, 4 x 40mm, 12 x 20mm, largest boom 36 t, NSFO 8,435 bbls + diesel 740 bbls, one Albina vertical triple-expansion engine, two Babcock & Wilcox header-type boilers 220 psi/450 deg, three 150 kW 120 V DC turbo-generators, single screw 2,500 shp; commanding-officer table (LCDR Graves ferry crew 4-24-44; LCDR Parks 10-10-44 to 4-22-46; CDR Kiley 1-7 to 1-22-46; ENS Cocubinsky 1-22 to 3-27-46; LCDR Randall 3-27 to 4-22-46); campaign ribbons incl. Philippine Liberation Medal for San Pedro Bay 1945-05-25 to 1945-09-13; NARA BuShips photos 19-N-91477/91476/91481 (San Francisco Bay 1945-03-27/28 after reconversion) and Shanghai Whangpoo River 1945-10-14. HyperWar 'Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945' data sheet: Basilan-class miscellaneous auxiliary (combined barracks-stores-distilling ship), 14,200 t full load, 441'6" x 57' x 30', 11.5 kt max/10 kt econ, complement 181, troops 746, reciprocating engines single screw 1,950 hp, built Delta Shipbuilding, commissioned 1944-10-10.

   Verification

   partial

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-20

   Study period

   1944-1972 (data as published 2008-2024)

   Limitations

   NavSource and HyperWar are the standard public compilations, not government publications - used here for specs, role dates, ribbons, and photo metadata only. Several NavSource narrative dates are contradicted by DANFS and MARAD (acquisition 4-24 vs 4-21-44; decommission 5-14-46 vs 4-22-46; sale 11-2-70 PD-X-886 vs PD-X-938 award 6-9-72) - DANFS+MARAD control; see correction row. 1,950 hp (HyperWar) vs 2,500 shp (NavSource) unresolved. No asbestos content anywhere in these sources.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-basilan-ag68-03

4. [4]U.S. Maritime Commission, Instruction Manual for Operating and Maintaining 2500 H.P. Triple Expansion Marine Steam Engines, EC2-S-C1 Cargo Vessels (mirrored excerpt) [other_primary]

   Locator

   Mirrored excerpt, engine-cylinder insulation section

   Finding type

   asbestos_application

   Finding

   The U.S. Maritime Commission instruction manual for the EC2-S-C1 plant - the documented machinery design of this hull (MCE 2460; Albina triple-expansion engine, two Babcock & Wilcox boilers) - describes cylinder insulation of magnesia under sheet-iron lagging; insulation products of this era were commonly manufactured with asbestos fiber, and period steam-system gaskets, packing, and insulation felts commonly contained asbestos. Liberty-type hulls were built to emergency USMC specifications during the period when the federal government had reserved asbestos supply for shipbuilding. Typical applications for the type: boiler and steam-drum insulation; steam-line lagging between boiler room and engine room; valve and flange gaskets; machinery packing; insulation in accommodation spaces and around the galley; brake linings on winches and windlass.

   Verification

   inferred

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-20

   Study period

   1944-1946

   Population

   Construction trades (Delta Shipbuilding, New Orleans, 1944); conversion-yard trades (Waterman, Mobile 1944; Bethlehem Steel, San Francisco 1945; Norfolk Navy Yard 1944); ship's company and embarked repair staff

   Limitations

   Class/design documentation, not a hull record - the manual names the type, not this vessel, and does not itself state 'asbestos' content (magnesia lagging of the era was typically asbestos-fiber-reinforced, but the manual text is silent on fiber). Basilan's extensive Navy conversions (Waterman 1944; Bethlehem SF 1945) and evaporator outfit add era-consistent insulated-system scope not covered by the cargo-ship manual - undocumented at hull level. Asbestos presence aboard this hull is era inference, not ship-proven. Does not establish quantity, present-day presence, individual exposure, or causation.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-basilan-ag68-04

5. [5]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 emergency program under which this EC2-S-C1 hull was built (Delta Shipbuilding, New Orleans, 1944) and subsequently converted at three further yards (Waterman, Mobile 1944; Norfolk Navy Yard Nov 1944; Bethlehem Steel San Francisco Feb-Mar 1945).

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-20

   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 or its yards 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-basilan-ag68-05

6. [6]DANFS Basilan entry (Wayback capture of history.navy.mil) and MARAD status cards vs. NavSource narrative - reconciliation [nhhc_danfs]

   Locator

   DANFS full entry; MARAD cards /cards/418_779AF.jpg, /cards/418_AF.jpg, /cards/3BN_01.png; NavSource page narrative and CO table

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Source conflicts resolved in favor of DANFS + MARAD status cards over the NavSource narrative: (a) Navy acquisition - NavSource says 'acquired 24 April 1944'; DANFS and the MARAD status card agree on delivery/allocation 21 April 1944 (24 April was placement out of commission at Mobile for conversion). (b) Decommissioning - NavSource narrative says '14 May 1946 at Pearl Harbor'; DANFS and NavSource's own commanding-officer table (last CO tour ends 22 April 1946) give 22 April 1946 - the '14 May' figure appears to conflate the 1947 Maritime Commission turnover. (c) MC turnover - NavSource says 'towed to Drake's Bay and turned over 14 May 1946' plus 'transferred 15 August 1947 for lay up NDRF Suisun'; DANFS and the status card give turnover/reserve-fleet delivery 14 May 1947 (Suisun Bay, 1:18 pm PST) - NavSource's 1946 is a year early; its 15 Aug 1947 entry may reflect formal title-transfer paperwork and is unverified against the card. (d) Sale - NavSource says 'sold 2 November 1970 to Zidell Explorations (PD-X-886), removed 17 February 1971'; MARAD documents sale PD-X-938 (advertised 5-4-72, opened 6-1-72) awarded to Zidell Explorations 6-9-72 for $46,747.89 with physical delivery 6-26-72 - NavSource's date and contract number are contradicted; DANFS's '12 June 1972' is consistent with the June 1972 award window.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   correction

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-20

   Study period

   1944-1972

   Limitations

   Resolves publication-level date conflicts among the standard compilations; does not affect identity or materially change the timeline. No asbestos content in any of these sources.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-basilan-ag68-06

7. [7]Batch-678 search ledger (this record): DANFS (Wayback NHHC), hazegray DANFS mirror, NavSource page + PDF, MARAD ShipHistory 418/8644 + status cards, HyperWar, NVR, NARA catalog, CourtListener (blocked/indirect) [other_primary]

   Locator

   search_ledger rows sl-uss-basilan-ag68-01 through sl-uss-basilan-ag68-08

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming Basilan, AG-68, or Jacques Phillipe Villere was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). Direct CourtListener API queries were blocked by the documented daily rate cap (HTTP 429, 125/day) at research time; an indirect site-restricted web search surfaced only unrelated W.R. Grace bankruptcy material - a name-collision check found no qualifying asbestos case, but a complete docket-level negative could not be verified this session.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   negative_finding

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-20

   Study period

   2026-09-20

   Limitations

   Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1944 EC2-S-C1 hull built and repeatedly reworked at WWII-era yards is era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials. The scrapping record (1972, nontransportation use) documents no hazmat handling, unsurprising for the era. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility. CourtListener coverage gap noted - repeat sweep recommended after rate-limit reset.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-basilan-ag68-07

8. [8]NARA Guide to Federal Records: RG 24 (Bureau of Naval Personnel deck logs), RG 38 (Office of the Chief of Naval Operations records - war diaries), RG 178 (U.S. Maritime Commission) [other_primary]

   Locator

   archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/178.html and related record-group guides; NARA WWII deck-log/war-diary series descriptions

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   Archival leads (not retrieved - require research-room or reproduction orders; no spend authorized): NARA RG 24 holds WWII-era deck logs (Basilan's 1944-46 logs are the primary operations record); RG 38 holds ship war diaries - the evidentiary base of Cressman's detailed DANFS narrative; RG 178 (U.S. Maritime Commission) holds MCE hull 2460 construction and contract files including the Waterman Steamship conversion arrangements; MARAD/Suisun NDRF inactivation and preservation work files would document any material handling at lay-up.

   Verification

   unverified

   Role

   archival_lead

   Documentation level

   context_only

   Accessed

   2026-09-20

   Study period

   1944-1972 records

   Limitations

   Record-group mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for MCE 2460/AG-68 is unknown until surveyed in person. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-basilan-ag68-08