Evidence
11 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-11).
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[1]research packet au-packet.md (9 sources cited) [nhhc_danfs]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-briareus-ar12-pkt-au-packet-md
-
[2]DANFS, 'Briareus' (AR-12), Naval Historical Center - verbatim official entry, retrieved via Wayback Machine capture of the live NHHC page (live page now 404) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- NHHC DANFS entry (authored Raymond A. Mann, 2005-12-07), archived 2006-07-24; live NHHC URLs returned 404 on 2026-09-26
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS (Naval Historical Center) entry for Briareus: Hawaiian Planter, a cargo ship built in 1941 at Newport News, Va., by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. for the Matson Line, was purchased by the Navy 1943-02-16, renamed Briareus, designated repair ship AR-12, converted to naval service by Bethlehem Steel Co. at Brooklyn, N.Y., and commissioned 1943-11-15. WWII service: shakedown Dec 1943; Pearl Harbor Jan-Feb 1944 (repairs on 18 ships); Espiritu Santo senior repair ship 1944-03-11 to 1944-09-22 (repairs ranging from landing craft to USS California BB-44); Manus (ServRon 10) from 1944-09-26 preparing damaged ships for the Leyte invasion - three Briareus crewmen on ammunition detail disappeared when USS Mount Hood (AE-11) exploded 1944-11; Port Purvis, Florida Island 1945-02-21 to mid-March (LST repair); Espiritu Santo briefly; Ulithi April-July 1945 repairing Okinawa-campaign and storm damage; Leyte 1945-07-05 to 1945-09-14; Buckner Bay, Okinawa from 1945-09-18 to December; Norfolk early 1946; reported for inactivation 1946-05-20; decommissioned 1946-10-15, berthed Norfolk. Recommissioned Norfolk 1951-09-22; Boston Naval Shipyard repairs 1951-11-15 to 1952-01-24; Service Force Atlantic Fleet at Norfolk ~3 years with exercises in the Virginia Capes and brief service at Charleston, Port Everglades, Mayport; entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard 1955-05-26 for overhaul; decommissioned 1955-09-09 and berthed with Norfolk Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet as accommodation and depot ship until transferred to MARAD 1972-06-07 for layup in the James River Group, NDRF; surveyed late 1976; struck from the Navy list 1977-01-01; sold early December 1980 to Jacobson Metal Co., Chesapeake, Va., for scrapping.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1941-1980
- Population
- Crew (complement 903, class figure); yard workers at Newport News (1941 build), Bethlehem Steel Brooklyn (1943 conversion), Boston NSY (1951-52), Norfolk NSY (1955 overhaul, 1978-80 stripping)
- Limitations
- Authoritative service/custody history for this hull. The sale is dated 'early December 1980' here; the MARAD record-of-sale card gives award 11-19-80 and delivery 12-14-80 - see correction row ev-uss-briareus-ar12-10. Contains no asbestos or materials information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-briareus-ar12-01
-
[3]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - HAWAIIAN PLANTER detail 8437 and digitized vessel status card (Form image 30B_01.png) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- ShipHistory Detail 8437 status-card scan: /cards/30B_01.png
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD Vessel Status Card for HAWAIIAN PLANTER (Official No. 240562): Type S. Cargo C3, D.W.T. 13,186, gross 7,798, net 4,602, hull no. 387, built by Newport News S.B. & D.D. Co., completed 1941. Basis to W.S.A. 4-13-42 10:00 AM PWT at San Francisco from Matson Navigation Co. (TCA agreement); purchase by Navy Dept. 2-16-43 12:01 AM at New York, N.Y. from Matson Nav. Co.; renamed 'BRIAREUS' (AR-12).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1941-1943
- Population
- Merchant crew under Matson operation for WSA; Navy crew post-1943 purchase
- Limitations
- Merchant-phase custody and identity record. Establishes the C3 hull's WSA allocation (1942-04-13) and Navy purchase (1943-02-16). Contains no asbestos or materials information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-briareus-ar12-02
-
[4]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - BRIAREUS (AR-12) detail 600; Reserve Fleet - Ship Particulars card (Form MA-383, image 600_1114AF.jpg); Record of Ship Sales card (Form MA-20, image 600_AF.jpg) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- ShipHistory Detail 600 milestone table + card scans /cards/600_1114AF.jpg and /cards/600_AF.jpg
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD ShipHistory record and digitized cards for BRIAREUS (AR-12): type 'Repair Ship (Private Design)', fleet James River, category 'Mil. Aux.'; entered NDRF custody 6-7-72 1330 EDT; withdrawn 5-3-78 1000 EDT - card reason 'Withdrawn by Navy for stripping'; Record of Ship Sales card (Form MA-20) shows the vessel located at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Va., advertised under PD-X-1034 dated 10-6-80, bids opened 11-13-80 under two conditions ((1) NTU (2) SCRAP HULL), awarded under condition (2) SCRAP HULL to The Union Corporation, Jacobson Metal Company Division on 11-19-80 for $411,601.00; delivered to buyer 12-14-80.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1972-1980
- Population
- Norfolk Naval Shipyard stripping workforce (1978-80); Jacobson Metal scrap workers
- Limitations
- Authoritative disposal record: documents Navy stripping withdrawal (1978-05-03), sale for scrap (1980-11-19), and delivery (1980-12-14). The companion Hawaiian Planter status card shows an additional '7/1/73' notation in the Navy withdrawal row whose meaning is unclear; the milestones table and particulars card consistently record 1978-05-03. The cards contain no asbestos, materials, or environmental statements - stripping scope and any hazmat disposition aboard are undocumented in this record.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-briareus-ar12-03
-
[5]HyperWar (ibiblio), 'Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 - AR Repair Ships, Delta Class' (compilation of official Navy characteristics) [other_primary]
- Locator
- ships-ar.html, 'Delta Class' section
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Delta-class repair ship design record ('Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945', HyperWar compilation of official data): Delta class = AR-9 Delta, AR-12 Briareus; modified Maritime Commission C3 types, former Matson liners; displacement 16,300 tons full load; 490'6" x 69'6" x 27'; 17 knots; geared turbine engines, single screw, 8,500 hp; complement 903; armament 1x5"/38 DP, 4x3"/50 DP, 2x2 40mm, 2x4 1.1", 10x2 20mm.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1943-1945 design era
- Population
- Repair-ship crew, 903 (class figure)
- Limitations
- Class-level design data, not a hull record. Propulsion/complement figures carried as class data; DANFS's own spec line gives 18.0 knots and the same complement. No asbestos or materials information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-briareus-ar12-04
-
[6]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 under which this C3 hull was built (1941) and converted to a steam-driven repair ship (1943) - and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization in ship construction and repair work.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1940s era documented; article 1987
- Population
- WWII shipyard workers, ship crews, and repair-ship ratings (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 remained aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation. Repair work aboard this hull would era-consistently have included insulation disturbance, but no ship-specific shop-material record was located.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-briareus-ar12-05
-
[7]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, HTTP 403)
- Finding type
- gov_survey
- Finding
- GAO documented the Navy's asbestos-protection program and its 1975/1979 insulation-removal policies, with fieldwork at Long Beach and Norfolk Naval Shipyards - Norfolk NSY performed this hull's 1955 overhaul and the 1978-1980 pre-sale Navy stripping documented on the MARAD cards.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1979
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers; asbestos program review
- Limitations
- Yard/program-level documentation, not hull-specific; supports era context for the 1978-80 stripping at Norfolk NSY, not quantities or locations aboard Briareus. Full text not retrieved (gao.gov blocks automated fetch, HTTP 403) - content via product-page description. Whether stripping work on this hull encountered asbestos is undocumented.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-briareus-ar12-06
-
[8]CourtListener API v4 opinion search: q="Briareus" (6 hits), q="USS Briareus" (0), q="AR-12" (360, high-collision), q="Hawaiian Planter" (4) - all classified [court_record]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-briareus-ar12-04 through -07; Babbidge opinion cluster 8736429
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- CourtListener sweep (2026-09-26, authenticated API v4): (a) exact-name 'Briareus' opinions - 6 hits, ALL name collisions: 19th-20th c. opinions using 'Briareus' as a mythological allusion (Singer v. Singer 1958 probate; In re Juanita Sugar & Coffee bankruptcy; Bonner & Eddy v. Whitcomb 1889; Todaro v. Somerville Realty 1910; Merrill v. State 1902; Black v. Delaware & Raritan Canal 1871). (b) 'USS Briareus' - 0 hits. (c) hull-number 'AR-12' - 360 hits, a high-collision generic designator (form/rule/vehicle references); top-ranked sample contained no ship or asbestos reference. (d) merchant name 'Hawaiian Planter' - 4 hits: Babbidge & Holt, Inc. v. The Hawaiian Planter (D. Ore. 1954) is a genuine in rem admiralty case but names a DIFFERENT Matson-owned vessel - in Sept 1953 this hull was USS Briareus in Navy commission; Bohle v. Matson Navigation Co. (Ore. 1966); National Iranian Tanker Co. v. Tug Dalzell 2 (S.D.N.Y. 1968); Matson Navigation Co. v. Commissioner (Tax Ct. 1977) - incidental/contextual mentions, none asbestos. No qualifying asbestos or ship-specific litigation naming USS Briareus (AR-12) or this hull located.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- The 'AR-12' hull-number sweep is intrinsically noisy (360 hits; sampled hits all unrelated designators) - absence of a qualifying hit rests primarily on the precise name searches, not exhaustive review of all AR-12 mentions. A RECAP docket-type search for 'Briareus' was attempted but not completed this pass (fleet pacing budget spent); logged as pending in the ledger. No litigation finding establishes or defeats any exposure claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-briareus-ar12-07
-
[9]Batch-2522 search ledger (this record): DANFS (Wayback capture of NHHC page); MARAD ShipHistory details 600/8437 + card scans; CourtListener name/hull searches; NARA catalog; NVR disposed-ships list [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-briareus-ar12-01 through -12
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming USS Briareus (AR-12) or SS Hawaiian Planter (hull 387 / O.N. 240562) was found in the public sources searched - the DANFS entry, MARAD status/sales cards, and digitized images contain no asbestos or insulation-material statement (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 1941 C3 hull converted to a steam repair ship is era-consistent with asbestos-containing construction, and the repair-ship role is consistent with asbestos handling aboard. 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-briareus-ar12-08
-
[10]NARA Catalog (war diary naId 139767295 via DPLA item fe6926007a5aec73f552e047c35e44c8); Showakan Digital Archive book record 000010515; NARA RG 24 deck-log guidance [other_primary]
- Locator
- DPLA metadata for naId 139767295; https://search.showakan.go.jp/search/book/detail.php?material_cord=000010515
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - no spend/box-level survey authorized): (1) NARA WWII War Diary 'USS BRIAREUS, 11/1-30/44' - catalog.archives.gov id 139767295, in Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations WWII War Diaries series (micro serial 98740), covering the Manus period incl. the Mount Hood explosion month; (2) 'Repair facilities, U.S.S. Briareus AR-12' (Service Force, Atlantic Fleet pamphlet YK No. 266, S-33, Jan 1952, ii+29 leaves) - held by Showakan (National Showa Memorial Museum) library, Tokyo, material no. 000010515 - a shipboard publication that may describe repair-shop arrangement; (3) Navy deck logs for USS Briareus are expected in NARA RG 24 at College Park; digitization status unverified this pass; (4) NARA still photos of this hull include Bureau of Ships 19-N-55822/19-N-55823 and 80-G-369704 (identified via NavSource photo cataloging, unverified against the NARA catalog this pass).
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1943-1952 records
- Limitations
- Record/holding mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents in these holdings is unknown until surveyed. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-briareus-ar12-09
-
[11]MARAD Record of Ship Sales card PD-X-1034 (Form MA-20); DANFS 'Briareus'; NVR disposed-ships list (Wayback 2000-12-02 capture of nvr.navy.mil S_B_10.htm) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- Sales card /cards/600_AF.jpg; NVR archive https://web.archive.org/web/20001202033700/http:/www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/S_B_10.htm
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Source reconciliation: DANFS states the ship was 'sold' 'early in December 1980' to Jacobson Metal Co.; the MARAD Record of Ship Sales card (Form MA-20, sale PD-X-1034) documents the award on 11-19-80 and delivery to the buyer 12-14-80. The card dates are adopted: sale award November 19, 1980; delivery December 14, 1980 - DANFS's 'early December' describes the delivery month. Corroborated by the NVR 'Ships, Both Coasts, Disposed' list (2000 capture) showing AR 12 BRIAREUS among disposed hulls; the live NVR omits pre-1987 disposals by policy.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1980
- Limitations
- Resolves a publication-level date conflation (award vs delivery); immaterial to custody outcome. No asbestos content in either source.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-briareus-ar12-10
