Evidence
11 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-11).
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[1]research packet 1014-packet.md [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-carolita-pyc38-pkt-1014-packet-md
-
[2]DANFS, Carolita (PYc-38), Naval History and Heritage Command (page verified live 2026-10-04) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- NHHC DANFS entry, full text
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS ship history: Carolita (PYC-38) was built in 1923 as Ripple by Germania Werft, Kiel, Germany; purchased by the Navy 1 April 1942 from Herman G. Buckley, Chicago, Ill.; commissioned 6 November 1942, Lieutenant (junior grade) A. W. Anderson, USNR, in command. Arriving at Boston 16 December 1942, she operated there until 3 August 1943, when she departed for Key West via Norfolk and repairs at Miami. She served with the Sound School from 8 September 1943, training men in antisubmarine warfare techniques. Decommissioned 28 February 1944 and used as a target. Spec line: 236 t displacement; 133'5" length; 23' beam; 10' draft; 14 kts; one 3-inch gun.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1923-1944
- Population
- Crew (commissioned complement; see muster-roll row)
- Limitations
- Authoritative for identity, acquisition, commissioning date, operating areas, decommissioning. Does not state commissioning location (muster rolls supply Trenton, Mich.), stricken date, or manner of target use; contains no asbestos or materials information - supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-carolita-pyc38-01
-
[3]National Archives Catalog, file unit 'Carolita (PYC-38), 11/6/42-2/22/44', NAID 125706330, Record Group 24 (Bureau of Naval Personnel), series Muster Rolls of U.S. Navy Ships, Stations, and Other Naval Activities [other_primary]
- Locator
- NAID 125706330, digitized roll 952, 122 images: forwarding sheet (31 Dec 1942 quarter), Report of Changes Nov 1942 pp.1-2, Report of Changes Feb 1944 pp.1-3, Recapitulation Sheet
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA muster rolls for Carolita (PYC-38), covering 11/6/42-2/22/44 (122 images digitized; RG 24, Roll No. 952). Image review: (a) forwarding sheet for the quarterly roll as of 31 December 1942, mailed from Boston, Mass., 2 January 1943, certified by Ens. J. H. Colquitt, USNR, Executive Officer, approved by Lt. A. W. Anderson, USNR, Commanding Officer; (b) Report of Changes for the month ending 6 November 1942 'date of sailing from Trenton, Michigan (Commissioned)' - the commissioning location, listing 30 enlisted men by name and rating (BM1c, GM1c, Y3o, QM1c, SM2c, CMM(PA), CBM(AA), cooks, seamen and firemen among them); (c) final Report of Changes for the month ending 22 February 1944 '(Decommissioning)' recording the transfer of all 36 enlisted crew on 2-22-44 to the Receiving Station, Key West, Fla., 'for further assignment by ComserforlantSubCom'; (d) Recapitulation Sheet 'for the quarter ending [Decommissioned] 22 February 1944': brought forward 36, gain 0, loss 36, remaining on board 0.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1942-11-06 to 1944-02-22
- Population
- Ship's enlisted complement: 30 (Nov 1942) to 36 (Feb 1944) plus officers
- Limitations
- Primary personnel record: establishes commissioning place (Trenton, Mich.), enlisted counts (30 at commissioning, 36 at close), decommissioning transfer to RecSta Key West, and a 'Decommissioned 22 February 1944' notation that conflicts with DANFS's 28 February - see correction row. Muster rolls record personnel only; they contain no materials, insulation, or asbestos information - supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-carolita-pyc38-02
-
[4]National Archives Catalog, file units NAID 135916770 (7/9-24/43), NAID 78156046 (8/2-12/43), NAID 134325844 (10/17-30/43), NAID 136006186 (11/1-16/43), Record Group 38, series World War II War Diaries, Other Operational Records and Histories [other_primary]
- Locator
- War-diary daily operational-remarks sheets: 9 Jul 1943 (Boston Navy Yard engine trial, USS YT-18); 3 Aug 1943 (Boston departure, Cape Cod Canal); 1 Nov 1943 (Sound School Exercise 2ABC, Key West)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NARA war-diary file units for USS Carolita (RG 38, World War II War Diaries), four digitized segments reviewed: (a) 7/9-24/43 (NAID 135916770): on 9 July 1943, 'underway from alongside Pier 3 West, Boston Navy Yard, Boston, Mass., in accordance with verbal orders of Production Officer, Boston Navy Yard, in tow of USS YT-18 for trial run to test main engines' - engine telegraph entries name separate port and starboard engines, confirming twin-engine plant; (b) 8/2-12/43 (NAID 78156046): on 3 August 1943, underway from Pier 1, East Boston, departed Boston for Key West per ComOne mailgram, standard speed 240 RPM / 9 knots, transited Cape Cod Canal and swept channels, degaussing secured/energized - matches DANFS departure; (c) 10/17-30/43 (NAID 134325844); (d) 11/1-16/43 (NAID 136006186): on 1 November 1943, underway from Pier 'B', NOB Key West, per orders of Commander Florida Sound School Squadron, conducted 'Sound School Exercise 2ABC,' embarked/landed Sound School students by motor launch, then patrolled the Key West harbor entrance - the ASW-training duty DANFS describes.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1943-07 to 1943-11
- Population
- Crew; Fleet Sonar School students trained aboard
- Limitations
- Primary operational record confirming Boston Navy Yard work, the Aug 3 departure, twin-engine plant, degaussing fit, and Sound School training operations. War diaries record operations, not materials - no asbestos, insulation, or hazmat content; supports no asbestos claim. No war-diary segments located for Dec 1943-Feb 1944 in the catalog.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-carolita-pyc38-03
-
[5]Lloyd's Register Foundation, Heritage & Education Centre - vessel record 45372 (Carolita, ex-Ripple) and archive file LRF-PUN-W314 (contract, build/engine certificates 1923; machinery and repair surveys 1935, 1940; naval-surplus-list correspondence Feb 1947) [museum_official]
- Locator
- Vessel record https://heritage.lrfoundation.org.uk/collections/vessel/13551 ; documents reviewed: LRF-PUN-W314-0319-O (contract), -0275-C (build cert), -0263-C (engine cert), -0234-C (1935 machinery survey, 'Carolita'), -0208-O (Feb 1947 surplus-list letter, dated 5 Feb 1947, quoting 7th Naval District letter of 27 Jan 1947)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Lloyd's Register Foundation Heritage & Education Centre archive for the vessel (LR Vessel ID 45372, archive ref LRF-PUN-W314): (a) contract dated 19 December 1922 between Clifford M. Leonard and Friedrich Krupp Aktiengesellschaft Germaniawerft for construction of the yacht Ripple, with a $125,000 escrow deposit; (b) Certificate of Build (Hamburg, 25 August 1923) and Certificate of Engine Build (20 September 1923) describing 'the Steel Diesel Engine Yacht' Ripple completed and delivered to the purchaser at Kiel - establishing diesel propulsion, not steam; (c) machinery survey certificate dated 5 July 1935 titled for Carolita, establishing the Ripple-to-Carolita rename by mid-1935, plus surveys of repairs and machinery in 1935 and 1940; (d) Lloyd's Register 'Respecting Ownership' form dated 5 February 1947 quoting a 27 January letter from the Seventh Naval District, U.S. Naval Air Station: 'the CAROLITA was removed from Naval surplus list and turned over to the Commander, Boca Chica (Fla.) Training Unit for use as straffing [sic] target... the hulk is located near Boca Grande Key. Her decks are above water; however, [she] is not in salvageable condition.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1922-1947
- Limitations
- Classification-society primary documentation: establishes original owner (Clifford M. Leonard, Chicago), diesel propulsion, pre-1935 rename to Carolita, and the 1947 target-hulk disposition at Boca Grande Key - the most specific fate record located. Says nothing about Navy service, asbestos, or materials; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-carolita-pyc38-04
-
[6]NavSource Online, Patrol Craft/Gunboat/Submarine Chaser Photo Archive - Carolita (PYc-38), page verified live at navsource.net 2026-10-04 [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource PYc index page 12/1438 - chronology, specifications, photo captions
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource patrol-craft archive entry for Carolita (PYc-38): coastal patrol yacht; built 1923 as Ripple by Germania Werft, Kiel; acquired 1 April 1942, converted for naval service; commissioned 6 November 1942; decommissioned 28 February 1944; struck from the Naval Register 18 July 1944; 'sunk as a target in January 1947.' Armament one 3-inch/50 dual-purpose gun mount; call sign Nan-Xray-Victor-William; photographic record includes a 13 November 1942 image.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1923-1947
- Limitations
- Volunteer-compiled archive using Navy data - the stricken date (18 Jul 1944) and 'sunk as a target in January 1947' are consistent with, and independently corroborated by, the 7th Naval District letter in the Lloyd's Register file (target use; hulk near Boca Grande Key, Feb 1947). NavSource supplies no conversion yard, crew, or asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-carolita-pyc38-05
-
[7]NARA NAID 125706330 recapitulation/Report of Changes (22 Feb 1944) vs DANFS (28 Feb 1944); Lloyd's Register file LRF-PUN-W314-0208-O (Feb 1947) vs shipbuildinghistory.com PY/PYc table ('sunk as target 1944') [other_primary]
- Locator
- Muster-roll recapitulation sheet; DANFS entry; LRF-PUN-W314-0208-O; http://shipbuildinghistory.com/smallships/py.htm (secondary, conflict only - not cited for the adopted dates)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Date conflicts resolved across primary and secondary sources: (a) decommissioning - DANFS and NavSource give 28 February 1944; the NARA muster-roll file unit is titled 11/6/42-2/22/44 and its Recapitulation Sheet and Report of Changes both mark 'Decommissioned' at 22 February 1944, when all 36 enlisted men transferred to RecSta Key West. Both dates are carried: 22 Feb is the personnel-accounting decommissioning date in the ship's own records; 28 Feb is the published DANFS figure (plausibly the formal ceremony date). (b) Final disposition - shipbuildinghistory.com's PY/PYc table reads 'sunk as target 1944,' conflating decommissioning-for-target-use with the sinking; NavSource gives 'sunk as a target in January 1947,' and the Lloyd's Register file independently documents the hulk extant near Boca Grande Key in January-February 1947 (decks above water, unsalvageable). The 1947 dating is adopted; the 1944 variant is logged here and not carried.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1944-1947
- Limitations
- Resolves two publication-level conflicts using the stronger sources; the residual 22-vs-28-Feb decommissioning ambiguity is disclosed rather than merged. No asbestos content in any of these sources.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-carolita-pyc38-06
-
[8]GAO, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure, HRD-80-2 (Oct 18, 1979) - program-level asbestos-use window; propulsion type per Lloyd's Register engine-build certificate (ev-04) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO product page HRD-80-2 (full text blocked to automated fetch, HTTP 403 - content via product-page description); LRF-PUN-W314-0263-C
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Era inference for a 1942 Navy conversion of a 1923 diesel yacht: absent a steam plant, the boiler/steam-line lagging pathway does not apply; era-typical asbestos-containing applications aboard a small naval patrol conversion of this period would be machinery and diesel-exhaust insulation, flange and valve gaskets, machinery packing, and electrical insulation materials. The Navy used asbestos insulation materials aboard ships generally until the early 1970s (GAO HRD-80-2), spanning this hull's entire 1942-44 service.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1942-1947
- Population
- Conversion-yard workers (1942); naval crew (1942-44); target-handling personnel (1944-47)
- Limitations
- Inference only - no hull-specific insulation survey, material list, or conversion work package was located for PYC-38. Names era-standard applications, not confirmed installed materials; no quantity, no manufacturer attribution. A diesel yacht carries materially less asbestos-bearing insulation than a steam vessel of the era. Does not establish presence, exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-carolita-pyc38-07
-
[9]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, confirmed 2026-10-04 - content via product-page description)
- Finding type
- gov_survey
- Finding
- GAO documented that the Navy used asbestos insulation extensively aboard ships and did not begin substituting alternative materials until the early 1970s - covering this hull's conversion (1942), service (1942-44), and target-disposal era (1944-47).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1979 (review covering earlier decades)
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers; Navy asbestos program review
- Limitations
- Program-level documentation; supports era context only, not any fact specific to this hull. The report postdates this vessel's disposal by over 30 years and does not name PYC-38.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-carolita-pyc38-08
-
[10]Batch-8683 search ledger (this record): NHHC DANFS; NARA catalog (muster rolls + 4 war-diary file units, image-level review); Lloyd's Register Foundation archive; NavSource; NVR; shipyard dataset; CourtListener (opinion query run; docket/hull queries blocked by fleet pacing) [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-carolita-pyc38-01 through -10
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or litigation naming USS Carolita (PYC-38), the yacht Carolita, or the yacht Ripple was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). The hull was expended as a strafing target circa early 1947, so no abatement-era record (museum, survey, disposal-contract) is expected to exist. CourtListener exact-name opinion search returned 3 hits, all name collisions - a different M/V Carolita (ex-name of M/V Margoth, Canal Zone 1975), a nun's name, and a cigar-brand reference; none asbestos, none this hull. The remaining three base queries (Carolita docket; PYC-38 opinion and docket) were blocked by the fleet pacing limiter and remain open (see ledger).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 2026-10-04
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1923 hull taken through a 1942 naval conversion is era-consistent with some asbestos-containing materials. Three of four CourtListener base queries remain an open gap (blocked by the fleet pacing limiter, not run). Does not establish presence or absence, exposure, causation, or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-carolita-pyc38-09
-
[11]NARA record-group mapping: RG 24 deck logs (entry 118) and digitized RG 38/RG 24 series already reviewed; RG 19 BuShips as probable conversion-record repository; 7th ND records [other_primary]
- Locator
- NARA deck-log guidance page; catalog searches 'Carolita' and 'PYC-38' (62 and 1,926 results) showing only muster rolls + 4 war-diary segments ship-specific
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - some digitized, some not; no paid reproduction authorized): (a) NARA RG 24 deck logs (entry 118, NAID 581208): WWII-era deck logs are not in the digitized catalog for this hull - the logbooks exist in College Park holdings but require research-room or reproduction order; (b) the two remaining war-diary gaps (Dec 1943-Feb 1944) are not in the digitized RG 38 series for this hull; (c) Bureau of Ships conversion records for the April-November 1942 yacht-to-patrol-craft conversion (likely RG 19) - conversion yard undocumented; the muster roll places commissioning at Trenton, Michigan, on the Detroit River; (d) Seventh Naval District records for the 1944-47 target-use assignment and the 1947 surplus-list correspondence quoted in the Lloyd's Register file.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1942-1947 records
- Limitations
- Record-path mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed for deck logs or BuShips conversion files; existence of asbestos-specific documents in them is unknown. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-carolita-pyc38-10