Evidence
12 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-12).
-
[1]research packet 975-packet.md [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-casper-pf12-pkt-975-packet-md
-
[2]DANFS, 'Casper' (NHHC live entry) - launch, sponsor, commissioning, Western Sea Frontier weather/plane-guard service, decommissioning, disposal [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS service narrative and spec block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS record for this hull: 'Casper (PF-12) was launched 27 December 1943 by Kaiser Cargo Co., Richmond, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. E. J. Spaulding; commissioned 31 March 1944, Lieutenant Commander F. J. Scheiber, USCG, in command; and reported to the Western Sea Frontier.' She sailed from San Francisco 30 September 1944 for a weather patrol out of Seattle, returning 6 November, then operated from that base as plane guard and on weather patrol between the mainland and Pearl Harbor; during the United Nations organizing conference at San Francisco (began 25 April 1945) she made two security patrols off the Farallon Islands. She cleared San Francisco 4 April 1946 for Charleston, S.C., decommissioned there 16 May 1946, and 'was sold 20 May 1947.' Spec block: dp. 1,264; l. 303'11"; b. 37'6"; dr. 13'8"; s. 20 k.; cpl. 190; a. 3 3"; cl. Tacoma.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1943-1947
- Population
- Kaiser Cargo construction trades (1943-44); USCG crew (1944-46)
- Limitations
- Ship-specific history only; no asbestos or material content. DANFS displacement figure (1,264) conflicts with NavSource (1,430) and the USCG Historian (2,230) - variants carried in gaps. The live NHHC page verified 2026-10-04 (unlike prior batches' 404s). DANFS gives no strike date and does not describe the sale as 'for scrap' - NavSource supplies 'sold for scrap.'
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-casper-pf12-01
-
[3]NARA catalog, 'USS CASPER - War History' (NAID 77631227) - digitized one-page ship history letter from the commanding officer to the Secretary of the Navy, 25 October 1945; RG 38 WWII War Diaries, Other Operational Records and Histories; microfilm roll A2039 image 0193; micro serial 156441 [other_primary]
- Locator
- NAID 77631227, roll A2039 image 0193 - letter body paragraphs 1-9
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The ship's own typed war history, signed F. J. Scheiber (her USCG commanding officer), dated 25 October 1945, file A12-1: 'Commissioned 31 March, 1944 at Kaiser Shipbuilding Yard #4, Richmond, California. Attached to COM-12 for duty.' 'Fitted out at Mare Island Navy Yard, Mare Island, Calif. from 3 April, 1944 to 7 May, 1944.' 'Reported to COTCPAC, San Diego, California for shakedown period from 27 May, 1944 to 23 June, 1944.' 'Returned to San Francisco ... for post shakedown alterations and repairs on 25 June, 1944.' 'Reported to Western Sea Frontier for duty 29 July, 1944.' 'Proceeded to Seattle, Washington and conducted thirty (30) day weather patrol on Weather Station "Able", Lat. 49°00'N - Long 148°00'W, on 30 September, 1944.' 'Completed mission and returned to San Francisco ... on 6 November, 1944.' 'Since that time, with exception of two security patrols off the Farallon Islands during the United Nations Conference at San Francisco; the U.S.S. CASPER (PF-12) has been operating from Treasure Island, Calif. on regularly scheduled Plane Guard and weather patrols' - Station Easy (43°00'N, 135°00'W), Station #1 (34°40'N, 129°50'W), Station #2 (31°40'N, 136°20'W), Station #3 (28°40'N, 142°50'W).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1944-1945
- Population
- USCG crew (1944-45); Mare Island Navy Yard trades (Apr-May 1944); San Diego shakedown activity (May-Jun 1944); San Francisco repair activity (Jun-Jul 1944)
- Limitations
- Primary ship-authored document; confirms commissioning site (Yard #4), Mare Island fitting-out window, shakedown dates, and station assignments with coordinates. Single page; no asbestos or material content; narrative ends October 1945 (pre-decommissioning). Image read directly from the NARA catalog download (medialz JPG), 2026-10-04.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-casper-pf12-02
-
[4]NavSource Online: Frigate Photo Archive, Casper (PF 12) - designation timeline, specifications, commanding-officer roster, Mare Island Navy Yard photo captions [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 12/08012.htm header block, specifications block, CO roster, and U.S. Navy photo captions (2756-44, 2757-44, 2759-44; 2416-44, 2417-44 showing Casper alongside Grand Forks)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource timeline and details for this hull: originally designated patrol gunboat PG-120; reclassified patrol frigate PF-12 on 15 April 1943; laid down 17 October 1943 under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1430) at Kaiser Cargo, Inc., Richmond, CA; launched 27 December 1943; commissioned USS Casper (PF-12) 31 March 1944; decommissioned 16 May 1946 at Charleston, SC; sold for scrap 20 May 1947. Call sign Nan-Yoke-Xray-Victor (NYXV). Specifications: 1,430 t.; 303'11" oa; beam 37'6"; draft 13'8"; speed 20.3 kts.; complement 194; armament three 3"/50 dual-purpose mounts, two twin 40mm mounts, nine 20mm guns, one Hedgehog, eight Y-gun depth-charge projectors, two depth-charge tracks; propulsion two three-drum boilers, two 5,500 ihp J. Hendy Iron Works vertical triple-expansion engines, no reduction gear, two shafts. U.S. Navy photo captions place her at Mare Island Navy Yard 5-6 May 1944 having 'completed outfitting/repairs at the shipyard from 3 April to 7 May 1944' including dry dock No. 2, 4-8 April 1944; and alongside sister Grand Forks (PF-11) at Mare Island 20 April 1944. Commanding-officer roster lists LCDR Fred Jacob Scheiber, USCG (31 March 1944) as sole documented CO.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1943-1947
- Population
- USCG crew (1944-46); Mare Island Navy Yard trades during outfitting/repair window 3 Apr-7 May 1944
- Limitations
- NavSource is a volunteer secondary compilation, not a primary registry; its dates track DANFS/NVR but conflicts exist (complement 194 vs DANFS/USCG 190; displacement 1,430 vs DANFS 1,264) - carried in gaps. The PG-120 origin, 15 April 1943 reclassification, and 17 October 1943 keel date rest on NavSource/secondary literature; DANFS does not state them. Navy photo captions are Navy-supplied primary-adjacent records for the Mare Island window and agree with the war history letter. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-casper-pf12-03
-
[5]U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office, 'USS Casper, PF-12' (18 March 2021) - builder, USCG manning, Western Sea Frontier service summary, spec line [other_primary]
- Locator
- USCG Historian's Office Water Assets article 2542401 (history narrative + characteristics block + sources list)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- USCG Historian's Office confirms for this hull: builder Kaiser Cargo, Inc., Richmond, CA; launched 27 December 1943, sponsored by Mrs. E. J. Spaulding; commissioned 31 March 1944 with LCDR F. J. Scheiber, USCG, commanding; reported to the Western Sea Frontier; weather patrol out of Seattle 30 September-6 November 1944, then plane guard and weather patrol between the mainland and Pearl Harbor, and two security patrols off the Farallon Islands during the UN conference; cleared San Francisco 4 April 1946 for Charleston, decommissioned 16 May 1946, sold 20 May 1947. USCG spec line: displacement 2,230 tons; length 303'11"; beam 37'6"; draft 12'8" fl; propulsion '2-shaft VTE, 3 boilers'; range 9,500 nm at 12 knots; top speed 20 knots; complement 190; armament 3 x 3"/50, 4 x 40mm (2x2), 9 x 20mm, 1 x Hedgehog, 8 x depth charge projectors, 2 x depth charge racks. Cited sources include 'The Coast Guard At War, Transports and Escorts' Vol. V No. 1 p. 142 and DANFS Vol. II p. 47.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1943-1947
- Population
- USCG crew (1944-46)
- Limitations
- Official USCG service page; no asbestos content. USCG figures (2,230-ton displacement, '3 boilers,' 12'8" draft) conflict with NavSource/DANFS (1,430 t or 1,264, two three-drum boilers, 13'8") - variants carried in gaps. Armament line here (4 x 40mm as 2 twin mounts, 9 x 20mm) is consistent with NavSource. Page is .mil official; verified live 2026-10-04.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-casper-pf12-04
-
[6]ShipbuildingHistory.com, 'Kaiser Richmond No. 4, Richmond CA' production table - yard operating company and hull-by-hull build record [other_primary]
- Locator
- Kaiser Richmond No. 4 production table, hull #55 row
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The Kaiser Richmond No. 4 yard production table records this hull: 'Richmond #4 was an emergency yard developed by Kaiser Cargo, Inc., with 3 ways in the fifth wave of shipbuilding expansion... originally intended to be an expansion of Richmond #3 and was designated Richmond #3A, but was assigned separate management and renamed Richmond #4.' Entry for yard hull 55: Casper, type S2-S2-AQ1, MC hull 1430, launched 27-Dec-43, delivered 31-Mar-44, 95 days in the water, 'PF 12, scrapped 1947.' The table shows Yard No. 4's frigate run of twelve S2-S2-AQ1 hulls (MC 1421-1432), PF-3 through PF-14, bracketed by LSTs (hulls 31-45) and C1-M-AV1 cargo ships (hulls 58+).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1942-1945 (yard operation); 1943-1944 (this hull)
- Population
- Kaiser Cargo / Richmond Yard No. 4 construction trades (1943-44)
- Limitations
- ShipbuildingHistory.com (Colton) is a reputable secondary compilation, not a government registry; used to corroborate yard identity (Kaiser Cargo, Inc. = Richmond Yard No. 4, independently confirmed by the ship's own war history letter) and the MC 1430 / yard-hull-55 numbering - consistent with NavSource. No keel-laid or days-on-ways entries for this hull in the table; NavSource's 17 October 1943 keel date is uncorroborated at a second source here but consistent. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-casper-pf12-05
-
[7]National Park Service, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front NHP, 'Historic Richmond Shipyards' - Kaiser Richmond complex scale and production [nps]
- Locator
- NPS Rosie the Riveter NHP, Historic Richmond Shipyards page (last updated 5 August 2024)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NPS documents the builder complex: Henry J. Kaiser's complex of four shipyards in Richmond became the most significant shipbuilding operation on the West Coast - Shipyard No. 1 started 14 January 1941 under Todd-California then Kaiser Permanente Metals Corp.; No. 2 built April 1941 by Kaiser Richmond Shipbuilding Corp.; Nos. 3 and 4 in 1942. During World War II, 747 ships were constructed in the Richmond shipyards including 15 tank landing ships, 12 frigates, 35 troop transports, and 24 pint-size Liberty ships - the twelve frigates being Yard No. 4's Tacoma-class (S2-S2-AQ1) run, this hull among them. Prefabrication of boilers, double bottoms, forepeaks, after-peaks, and deck-houses was done at a plant between Yards 3 and 4.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1940-1945
- Population
- Kaiser Richmond yard workforce (1940-45; NPS records ~200,000 peak employment across the complex)
- Limitations
- Yard-complex context, not a hull record and not an asbestos document - it establishes where and how this hull was built (including off-ship boiler/module preassembly), not what materials went into her. No asbestos content on this page.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-casper-pf12-06
-
[8]EPA CERCLA record CAD980637557, 'Kaiser Alum & Chem Co Shipyard #2,' Cutting and Wright to the Bay, Richmond, CA (NFRAP); Atlas shipyards.json kaiser-shipyards record (yard-complex asbestos product documentation; DTSC Richmond Harbor Restoration Project reference) [other_primary]
- Locator
- EPA CERCLA site page id=0901909 (verified live); shipyards.json kaiser-shipyards evidence rows
- Finding type
- environmental_record
- Finding
- The Kaiser Richmond shipyard complex that built this hull has documented contaminated-yard records: EPA's CERCLA file for the 'Kaiser Alum & Chem Co Shipyard #2' parcel (EPA ID CAD980637557, Richmond CA 94804, NFRAP - site does not qualify for the NPL on existing information), and the Atlas shipyards record for kaiser-shipyards documents era asbestos product categories in use across the complex (insulation, fireproofing, hull insulation, boiler components, pipe coverings, turbine insulation, electrical wiring, deck materials, adhesives, brake systems) with a DTSC Richmond Harbor Restoration Project reference for asbestos-containing material in soils and structures.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1940-1945 (operations); remediation era records
- Population
- Kaiser Richmond yard workforce (1940-45)
- Limitations
- Strictly yard-level context: the EPA record covers the Shipyard #2 parcel (Kaiser Alum & Chem), not Yard No. 4 where this hull was built; asbestos is not listed as the CERCLA site's primary contaminant; the Atlas yard record's product list documents what the complex used, not what was installed in this hull. Establishes era/yard exposure environment only - not materials aboard PF-12, individual exposure, or quantity. The shipyards.json DTSC URL (dtsc.ca.gov SiteCleanup page) was reported 404 in batch-8410 this same day - link rot noted; EPA CERCLA page verified live 2026-10-04.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-casper-pf12-07
-
[9]GAO, 'Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure,' HRD-80-2 (published 18 October 1979) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO product page HRD-80-2 highlights
- Finding type
- gov_survey
- Finding
- GAO reviewed the Navy's efforts to protect workers from asbestos exposure at the Long Beach and Norfolk Naval Shipyards, covering 'the use of asbestos in Navy ships, the cost of removing asbestos from Navy ships, and compensation programs for asbestos-related disabilities'; the Navy's 1975 policy was to remove and replace asbestos insulation only when damaged or when removal was needed for repairs, modified in 1979 to selectively replace asbestos insulation in high-maintenance areas - establishing that asbestos insulation remained standard aboard Navy ships through and beyond this hull's 1944-46 service life (and into her 1947 scrapping).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1979 (report); program covers 1940s-1970s Navy asbestos era
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers; asbestos program review
- Limitations
- Program-level documentation; the GAO fieldwork yards were Long Beach and Norfolk Naval Shipyards, not Kaiser Richmond or Mare Island. Supports era context only - not any fact specific to this hull. Product page verified live 2026-10-04; full 26-page PDF not extracted this session.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-casper-pf12-08
-
[10]Era inference built on: NavSource specifications (two three-drum boilers, two J. Hendy Iron Works vertical triple-expansion engines, 5,500 ihp, two shafts); Maritime Commission S2-S2-AQ1 design; Atlas shipyards.json kaiser-shipyards documented product list; NPS Richmond yard documentation; GAO HRD-80-2 (ev-08) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource spec block; Kaiser Richmond yard documentation (ev-06, ev-07); GAO HRD-80-2 (ev-08)
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- A Maritime Commission steam patrol frigate built 1943-44 at Kaiser Richmond Yard No. 4 sits squarely inside the wartime asbestos-shipbuilding era at a yard complex whose documented product categories included insulation, boiler components, pipe coverings, fireproofing and deck materials. As a steam vessel she carried two three-drum boilers feeding two vertical triple-expansion engines - the boiler/steam-line lagging pathway applies. Era-standard applications aboard a frigate of this design and period were boiler and steam-line insulation and lagging, flange and valve gaskets, machinery packing, fireproofing, and accommodation insulation; insulation products of this era were commonly manufactured with asbestos fiber.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1943-1948
- Population
- Kaiser Cargo construction trades (1943-44); USCG crew (1944-46); Mare Island yard trades (Apr-May 1944); San Francisco post-shakedown repair trades (Jun-Jul 1944); scrapping-yard workforce (1947-48)
- Limitations
- Class/era inference only - no hull-specific insulation survey, material list, or work package located for PF-12. Names era-standard applications, not confirmed installed materials. No quantity, no manufacturer attribution for this hull. The asbestos content of materials actually installed aboard is not proven by any located source.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-casper-pf12-09
-
[11]NARA catalog holdings bearing on this hull: 'USS CASPER - War History' (NAID 77631227, retrieved); RG 38 Commander Western Sea Frontier monthly war diaries covering her assignment window (e.g., COMWESTSEAFRON Dec-1944 NAID 139914266, Feb-1945 NAID 140015183, and the COMWESTSEAFRON war history NAID 77653552); RG 24 'Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships and Stations' (NAID 594258) and muster-roll series (sister-ship Bangor PF-16 muster rolls digitized, e.g., NAID 125583393) [other_primary]
- Locator
- catalog.archives.gov search 'USS Casper' (34 results, 2026-10-04); COMWESTSEAFRON war diaries NAID 139914266, 140015183, war history NAID 77653552; RG 24 series NAID 594258; Bangor PF-16 muster roll NAID 125583393
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA holds digitized records bearing on this hull's service beyond the retrieved war-history letter: the Commander, Western Sea Frontier monthly war diaries (RG 38) - her parent command during her entire Navy career - are digitized in the catalog (34 results surfaced under 'USS Casper' query, dominated by COMWESTSEAFRON diaries, related operational records, and unrelated vessels). Navy deck logs (RG 24 series 594258) and muster rolls for WWII vessels are being digitized ship-by-ship; sister-ship Bangor (PF-16) muster rolls appear as digitized file units, so Casper (PF-12) rolls likely exist in the same series.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1944-1946
- Population
- USCG crew (1944-46); Western Sea Frontier command
- Limitations
- Archival lead only: the war diaries are command-level documents that may or may not name this hull per month; no Casper (PF-12) deck-log or muster-roll file unit was surfaced in this session's catalog search (the NARA catalog is JS-rendered and fuzzy-matched - non-surfacing is not proof of absence). No asbestos content; a deck-log pull is the natural next step for day-level yard/availability corroboration.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-casper-pf12-10
-
[12]Batch-8415 search ledger (this record): NHHC DANFS (live page verified); NARA catalog and digitized war-history letter; NavSource PF-12 page; USCG Historian's Office; ShipbuildingHistory Kaiser Richmond No. 4 table; NPS Rosie the Riveter Richmond shipyards; EPA CERCLA; GAO HRD-80-2; MARAD Vessel History Database; Naval Vessel Register; CourtListener via cl-auth-search.py (see ledger); secondary web litigation sweep [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-casper-pf12-01 through -12
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or verified litigation naming USS Casper (PF-12 / PG-120) was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). Secondary web sweeps surfaced only law-firm marketing content asserting asbestos aboard this hull or Tacoma-class frigates generically - excluded by source policy. COURTLISTENER STATUS: one base query ran ('USS Casper' opinions - 0 hits); three remain blocked by fleet pacing - see search_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 - era-consistent inference supports the likelihood, but this record asserts no ship-specific finding. If CourtListener rows show 'blocked' or 'pending,' litigation status is an open gap rather than a negative result. Does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-casper-pf12-11