Evidence
7 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-7).
-
[1]Naval History and Heritage Command, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, 'Bruce (DD-329)' [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- Specifications block and service narrative, especially first and final paragraphs
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NHHC identifies Bruce as DD-329, a Clemson-class destroyer with a stated complement of 122. Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation launched her at San Francisco on 20 May 1920; she was commissioned on 29 September 1920. She initially operated from San Diego; her home yard changed to Boston in November 1921 and to Norfolk in June 1925. She sailed for European duty on 17 June 1925 and later operated along the Atlantic seaboard and in Cuban and Haitian waters. She entered Philadelphia Navy Yard in September 1929 and was decommissioned there on 1 May 1930. After experimental strength tests at Norfolk Navy Yard, her salvage metal was sold in August 1932.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-27
- Study period
- 1920-1932
- Population
- U.S. Navy crew; listed complement 122
- Limitations
- DANFS establishes vessel identity, chronology, and listed complement; it does not identify asbestos, insulation composition, or any person's exposure.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-bruce-dd329-01
-
[2]National Archives, Special List 44, Named Vessels [other_primary]
- Locator
- B alphabetical table, Bruce (DD-329) row
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA Special List 44 independently lists Bruce (DD-329) with dates 29 September 1920 and 1 May 1930, matching the NHHC commissioning and decommissioning dates.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-27
- Study period
- 1920-1930
- Limitations
- This finding aid corroborates dates and hull identity; it is not a reviewed deck log and contains no asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-bruce-dd329-02
-
[3]Johns-Manville Corp. v. United States, 13 Cl. Ct. 72 (1987), discussion of Navy magnesia and diatomaceous-earth insulation specifications [court_record]
- Locator
- Opinion discussion of specifications 32-L-1e (1918) and 32-P-3 (1927), approximately pages 123-125 of reporter
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- A federal Court of Claims opinion recounts trial evidence that Navy magnesia-insulation specifications retained a minimum asbestos content through revisions including a 1918 specification, and that the Navy's 1927 diatomaceous-earth pipe-covering specification 32-P-3 required asbestos. These are Navy material-specification facts from Bruce's service era, not findings about DD-329.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-27
- Study period
- 1918-1930
- Limitations
- The opinion summarizes evidence concerning Navy material specifications generally; it neither identifies Bruce nor proves a specified material was purchased for, installed on, or disturbed aboard DD-329. The opinion is cited as period context only, with text available through a judicial-opinion mirror.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-bruce-dd329-03
-
[4]National Archives, Ship Plan Index, Bruce DD-329 rows [other_primary]
- Locator
- B alphabetical table, BRUCE DD-329 rows
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The NARA Ship Plan Index lists two RG 19 entries explicitly indexed to Bruce DD-329: Alphabetical Ship Drawings, NAID 53483834, and Microfilm, NAID 175668510.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-27
- Limitations
- The index establishes holdings, not the contents of the drawings. Neither file unit was examined, and asbestos or insulation details cannot be inferred from its title.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-bruce-dd329-04
-
[5]National Archives, 'Researching Asbestos aboard US Naval Vessel up through 1961' [other_primary]
- Locator
- General Information Books; Cartographic Branch; Deck Logs and Muster Rolls sections
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA's asbestos research guide identifies RG 19 destroyer General Information Books and ship-engineering drawing groups S39 (insulation and lagging) and S48 (piping) as research paths; it cautions that deck logs and muster rolls do not themselves provide direct evidence of asbestos aboard a ship.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-27
- Limitations
- The guide is general and primarily addresses 1941-1961 materiel; DD-329 served earlier. It does not assert that a Bruce GIB or S39/S48 drawing exists, and the listed series were not examined.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-bruce-dd329-05
-
[6]NHHC, 'Bruce (DD-329)'; NARA, Ship Plan Index; review documented in the search ledger [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- Full DANFS entry; NARA Ship Plan Index, BRUCE DD-329 rows; search ledger sl-01 through sl-04
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The reviewed NHHC hull history and NARA hull-index entries contain no direct statement that asbestos was aboard DD-329. No ship-specific asbestos survey, installation specification, abatement record, or verified exposure claim was located in this research pass.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-27
- Study period
- 1920-1932
- Limitations
- This is a bounded search result, not proof that the vessel lacked asbestos. Indexed drawings and other archival holdings were not retrieved. The litigation sweep is recorded separately and its status must be read from the ledger.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-bruce-dd329-06
-
[7]Naval History and Heritage Command, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, 'Bridgeport (Id. No. 3009)' [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- Service narrative, paragraph beginning 'Returning to the Southern Drill Grounds on 20 May'
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NHHC's Bridgeport history independently names Bruce (DD-329) among destroyers conducting torpedo practices in May 1924, supported by boats transferred from Bridgeport to Vireo (AM-52).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-27
- Study period
- 1924-05
- Limitations
- This is an operational cross-reference, not evidence of Bruce's construction materials, any asbestos use, or individual exposure.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-bruce-dd329-07