Evidence
7 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-7).
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[1]DANFS, Cavalla (SS-244) - Electric Boat construction; six war patrols incl. Shokaku sinking (PUC); SSK-244 conversion 1953 (verbatim transcription; live NHHC page returned 404) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS service narrative and spec block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Documented for this hull: laid down 4 March 1943 at Electric Boat Co., Groton, Conn.; launched 14 November 1943 (sponsor Mrs. M. Comstock); commissioned 29 February 1944, Lt. Comdr. H. J. Kossler in command. Six war patrols. Maiden-patrol Presidential Unit Citation: tracked a large Japanese task force 17 June 1944 and relayed contact reports contributing to the Battle of the Philippine Sea ('Marianas Turkey Shoot'), then sank the carrier Shokaku with three torpedo hits 19 June 1944. Wolfpack support of the Peleliu invasion; sank destroyer Shimotsuki in a surface attack 25 November 1944 and two converted net tenders 5 January 1945; escorted damaged HM Submarine Terrapin to Fremantle May 1945; present in Tokyo Bay for the surrender. Decommissioned 16 March 1946 New London; recommissioned 10 April 1951 (SubRon 8); SSK conversion at the Electric Boat yard (SSK-244, 18 February 1953; recommissioned 15 July 1953); Submarine Development Group 2 from 1 January 1954; reverted SS-244 15 August 1959; AGSS-244 1 July 1963; decommissioned 3 June 1968; pierside training ship at Houston, TX 1968-69; struck 30 December 1969; donated 21 January 1971 for display as a permanent museum at Seawolf Park, Galveston, TX. 34,180 tons sunk; PUC and four battle stars.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- Ship-specific history only; no asbestos or material content. Yard-period asbestos disturbance is era inference, not a per-hull record.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cavalla-ss244-01
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[2]NavSource Online Submarine Photo Archive, header 'as built' spec block and disposition line for this hull; corroborated by DANFS spec block (diesel-electric) and BuShips Ships' Data 1945 submarine machinery tables (via shipscribe.com, per Gato class profile) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource page header spec block for this hull (https://www.navsource.net/archives/08/08244.htm)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Machinery fit for this hull per NavSource 'as built' spec block: diesel electric reduction gear with four General Motors main generator engines (5,400 hp), four General Electric main motors (2,740 hp), two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin screws. NO BOILERS and no steam plant - the asbestos-relevant machinery profile differs materially from steam classes (no boiler/furnace insulation, no steam-line lagging run-outs; exposure-relevant systems are diesel exhaust lagging, engine gaskets/packing, hull thermal/acoustic insulation, and auxiliary equipment).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- The NavSource spec block is a class-standard spec sheet, not a per-hull machinery survey - actual installed equipment is presumed class-typical and unverified for this specific hull. No hull-specific machinery or material list was located. Establishes propulsion type only, not fiber content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cavalla-ss244-02
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[3]Gato class profile ev-gato-class-07 (era/design inference for diesel-electric fleet boats) built on navypedia member table and BuShips Ships' Data 1945; GAO HRD-80-2 for the Navy's era asbestos-use regime [other_primary]
- Locator
- class profile gato-class.class.json ev-07; GAO HRD-80-2 product page
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Class/era inference for diesel-electric fleet boats of this build period: era-standard applications likely included asbestos-containing diesel exhaust lagging, engine gaskets and packing, hull thermal and acoustic insulation, insulation around galley/refrigeration equipment, and electrical/battery materials.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- CLASS/ERA INFERENCE ONLY - no ship-specific material schedule, insulation survey, or asbestos product list was located for this hull. Names era-standard applications, not confirmed installed materials; no quantity. Does not establish exposure or eligibility for any individual.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cavalla-ss244-03
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[4]CourtListener API v4 (opinions type=o, RECAP dockets type=r) exact-name and hull-number searches; site:courtlistener.com index sweep as throttling fallback [court_record]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows for this vessel
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Litigation sweep for this hull: CourtListener API queries were throttled at the daily cap (HTTP 429, 'expected available in 62981 seconds'), so the sweep ran on the site:courtlistener.com index fallback for "USS Cavalla" and "SS-244". One qualifying hit located (see ev-uss-cavalla-ss244-07): claimant exposure sheets filed in Lyautey v. Alfa Laval, Inc., S.D. Fla. 1:10-cv-22891, listing this hull among Navy jobsites 1954-1974 - a pleading-stage allegation on a multi-ship list, not an adjudicated exposure finding. No further litigation naming this hull was located.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- A negative result is bounded by the search mechanism: CourtListener coverage is not exhaustive for state-court pleadings, and the API throttle meant docket-text and opinion queries could not complete - the site:-index fallback is corroboration, not a substitute for docket search. Does not prove no litigation exists.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cavalla-ss244-04
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[5]Negative finding: no qualifying non-litigation ship-specific asbestos record located across DANFS/NHHC (via hazegray/losthistory transcription and Wayback captures), NavSource, and ACM-survey/abatement/disposal sweeps [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows for this vessel
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Beyond the 2020 press-documented abatement record (ev-06) and the pleading-stage exposure sheets (ev-07), no further ship-specific asbestos record was located: the asbestos survey document itself, its quantities and compartment inventory, any earlier hazmat disclosure, and any adjudicated exposure finding were not located anywhere in the research sweep.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- Absence of a located record is not proof no record exists. Does not establish that asbestos is or is not present aboard/within the hull, and does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cavalla-ss244-05
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[6]Keri Heath, 'World War II-era vessels in Galveston to undergo asbestos abatement', Galveston Daily News, 27 July 2020 [reputable_press]
- Locator
- galvnews.com article_c2c77857, 27 Jul 2020
- Finding type
- abatement_record
- Finding
- The Galveston Daily News reported that asbestos had been found in the public areas of USS Cavalla (SS-244) and USS Stewart (DE-238) at Seawolf Park, and that remediation contractor Separation Systems Consultants received approval to proceed with abatement; both vessels remained closed during the work (expected to take about two weeks). The vessels had been closed to the public since November 2019, when results from an asbestos survey reported a potential hazard; mechanics preparing to work on a boiler room aboard USS Stewart had recommended the survey, and a U.S. Navy inspection had earlier recommended an asbestos survey be conducted.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 2019-2020
- Population
- Museum staff/volunteers and Seawolf Park visitors; abatement crews
- Limitations
- News account documents the presence of asbestos in public areas of this museum hull and the approval of abatement; it gives no quantities, no compartment inventory beyond 'public areas', and the survey report itself was not located. The 'boiler room' in the article belongs to USS Stewart (DE-238) - diesel-electric Cavalla has no boiler room. The article does not establish any individual exposure.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cavalla-ss244-06
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[7]Lyautey v. Alfa Laval, Inc., Notice of Removal exhibits, ECF 1-2, S.D. Fla. No. 1:10-cv-22891 [court_record]
- Locator
- ECF 1-2 exposure sheets pp. 37-39
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Notice of Removal in Lyautey v. Alfa Laval attaches plaintiff Gale Lyautey's 'Exposure Sheets' listing USS Cavalla (SS-244, Gato class) among Navy jobsites (1954-1974 window) against asbestos-containing pumps, gaskets, valves, exchangers, packing and insulation from Alfa Laval/DeLaval, ASCO Valve, A.W. Chesterton and others.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- Exposure window 1954-1974; filing 2010
- Population
- Sailor with SS-244 jobsite listing 1954-1974
- Limitations
- PLEADING-STAGE ALLEGATION ONLY: claimant exposure-sheet exhibit attached to a removal notice; Cavalla appears on a multi-ship jobsite list - exposure not apportioned per ship, not adjudicated, no trial finding. Classified at the lowest supported stage per batch rule.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cavalla-ss244-07