USS Cecil (APA-96)

Evidence

13 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-13).

1. [1]research packet af-packet.md (1 sources cited) [nhhc_danfs]

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED (DANFS primary)

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Evidence ID

   uss-cecil-apa96-pkt-af-packet-md

2. [2]Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, Vol. 3 (NAVSHIPS 250-012, 1945), auxiliaries - transports, attack (APA) tables, per-hull row 52 for CECIL APA-96 (shipscribe.com scan of the official BuShips publication) [other_primary]

   Locator

   SDB1945v3 APA tables printed pp. 234-239 (dimensions p.234, personnel/flag-accommodations p.235, machinery p.236, gears/generators/fuel p.237, armament/cargo p.238, construction p.239); alphabetical index lists 'Cecil (ex-M.C. Hull 1544) APA 96'

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Official BuShips Ships' Data 1945 Vol. 3 carries a per-hull row for CECIL APA-96 (ex-Sea Angler, ex-M.C. Hull 1544): 492'0" overall / 465'0" waterline; beam 69'6"; trial speed 18.4 knots at trial displacement 11,760 tons; limiting displacement 16,100 tons; tons per inch immersion 58; limiting draft 26'6"; accommodations 60 officers + 518 enlisted; troop capacity 79 officers + 1,423 enlisted; flag accommodations 43 officers + 108 enlisted (footnote: fitted as flagship, squadron flag, relief AGC); largest boom 30 t; machinery 1 G.E. turbine, 8,500 shp, 1 propeller, 2 B.&W. 'D' boilers at 465 psi / 765F; double G.E. main reduction gears; three 300kW 120/240V DC turbo-drive ship's-service generators; fuel oil 8,510 bbls + diesel 750 bbls; armament 2 x 5"/38 cal (D.P.) + 4 twin 40mm (ultimate authorized); cargo 180,500 cu ft non-refrigerated, none refrigerated, 7,600 t total / 4,500 t DWT; built by Western Pipe & Steel Co., San Francisco, Calif.; acquired 26 Feb 1944; year built 1943; date of first commission 27 Feb 1944.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1945

   Limitations

   Authoritative wartime BuShips publication naming this hull - confirms identity, machinery plant, manning, builder, and key dates. Contains no materials, insulation, or asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim. Armament figure is the ultimate authorized fit; actual 40mm fit may have differed (see ev-04 class armament note). 'Year built 1943' in SDB reflects the launch year - completed/delivered Feb 1944 (see gaps).

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-cecil-apa96-01

3. [3]DANFS, 'Cecil' entry, Naval History and Heritage Command (live NHHC URL returns 404 - verbatim text retrieved via Internet Archive Wayback capture 20251209124209) [nhhc_danfs]

   Locator

   DANFS entry body text + spec block (Wayback capture 20251209124209)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   NHHC records: the name Cecil is 'a county in Maryland'; the contract for building Cecil (APR-4) was cancelled 12 March 1943 (prior name assignment, different hull). APA-96 was launched as Sea Angler by Western Pipe and Steel Co., San Francisco, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. S. Belither; acquired by the Navy 26 February 1944; placed in reduced commission 27 February 1944; converted at 'Continental Iron Works,' Portland, Oreg. (see gaps - the Portland yard is documented elsewhere as Commercial Iron Works); placed in full commission 15 September 1944, Captain P. G. Hale in command. Cleared San Francisco 26 November 1944 for amphibious training in Hawaiian waters and Iwo Jima staging at Eniwetok and Saipan; cleared Saipan 16 February 1945 and took position off Iwo Jima for the initial assault on 19 February; unloaded troops, cargo, and vehicles and embarked casualties, sailing 28 February to Saipan. Continued to Tulagi and Espiritu Santo, loaded men and cargo of the 27th Infantry, and landed them through high surf on Okinawa 9 April 1945; remained a week unloading under enemy air attack; departed 16 April for Saipan and Ulithi repairs; Subic Bay transport/training duty 21 May-27 August; departed Luzon with 1st Cavalry troops and cargo for occupation duty in Japan. Called at Yokohama 2-4 September 1945 (Tokyo Bay, during the surrender period); returned to the Philippines for more occupation troops; ordered into Okinawa 25 September-3 October to avoid a typhoon; disembarked troops at Aki Nada; minor overhaul at San Pedro November 1945; another Philippines lift returning men and equipment to San Pedro 22 January 1946; sailed to Norfolk in March; decommissioned there 24 May 1946 and returned to the Maritime Commission the next day. Two battle stars for World War II service. Spec block: dp. 8,100 (lt.); l. 492'; b. 69'6"; dr. 26'6"; s. 18 k.; cpl. 575; a. 2 5"; cl. Bayfield.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1943-1946

   Limitations

   Primary Navy historical entry - authoritative for service history, name history, and dates. Contains no asbestos or materials information; supports no asbestos claim. Live NHHC page 404s (standing link rot, cf. BATCH-01); the Wayback capture is the verbatim NHHC text. The conversion-yard name it gives ('Continental Iron Works') conflicts with sister-ship DANFS entries, shipscribe, and other sources that record 'Commercial Iron Works' at Portland - see gaps.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-cecil-apa96-02

4. [4]NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive - USS Cecil (APA-96), file 10/03/03096 [other_primary]

   Locator

   NavSource 03096.htm - specifications block, campaign table, occupation-service table, commanding-officer table, merchant-service and disposal entries, photo captions

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   NavSource timeline corroborates DANFS and adds detail: Bayfield-class attack transport, MC type C3-S-A2, MC hull 1544; laid down 24 Jun 1943 as SS Sea Angler at Western Pipe & Steel Co., San Francisco; launched 27 Sep 1943; acquired and delivered to the Navy 26 Feb 1944; reduced commission 27 Feb 1944 for transit to the fitting-out yard at Portland, OR; fitted out at 'Continental Iron Works,' Portland; full commission 15 Sep 1944, CAPT Peter G. Hale. Pacific assignment: TransRon Sixteen (flagship), COMO J. R. McGovern USN; TransDiv Forty-Six. Campaigns: Iwo Jima operation (assault and occupation 19-28 Feb 1945) and Okinawa Gunto operation (9-15 Apr 1945). Navy Occupation Service Medal periods 2-10 Sep 1945 and 5-11 Oct 1945. Decommissioned 24 May 1946; struck 10 Jun 1946 (shipscribe records 19 Jun 1946 - see gaps); two battle stars. Merchant service: returned to the Maritime Commission 25 May 1946 for NDRF James River Group, Lee Hall, VA; towed from Lee Hall 29 Nov 1946 by Moran Towing & Transportation Co. (NavSource states the destination as Galveston, TX - the MARAD custody document records Moran redelivering the ship to the U.S.M.C. at Mobile, Ala. 19 Dec 1946; see ev-05 and gaps); sold 7 Aug 1947 at Galveston to Isthmian Steamship Co., renamed SS Steel Admiral; sold for scrapping 18 Oct 1973 to Yung Tai Steel & Iron Co. Ltd., Taiwan. Commanding officers: CAPT Peter Gerald Hale (15 Sep 1944-28 Dec 1944); CAPT George Dunham Lyon (28 Dec 1944-15 Aug 1945); CAPT Thomas Joseph Casey (15 Aug 1945-24 May 1946). Photo captions document BuShips photo 19-N-75779 (Willamette River near the Portland fitting-out yard, circa 15 Sep 1944, camouflage Measure 32 Design 3D) and Fifth Marine Division troops hearing mass aboard en route to Iwo Jima, Feb 1945 (USMC photo). Spec block: 8,100 t light / 18,000 t full; 492' x 69'6" x 26'6"; 18.4 kt; complement 60 officers + 518 enlisted; troop accommodations 79 officers + 1,423 enlisted; flag accommodations 43 officers + 108 enlisted; boom 30 t; cargo 180,500 cu ft / 4,500 DWT; boats 12 LCVP + 4 LCM Mk-6 + 3 LCP(L) Mk-IV; armament 2 x 5"/38 DP, 4 twin 40mm, 18 single 20mm; fuel NSFO 8,510 bbls + diesel 750 bbls; propulsion 1 G.E. geared turbine, 2 Babcock & Wilcox D-type boilers, double G.E. reduction gears, 3 x 300kW 120/240V DC turbo generators, 8,500 shp, single propeller.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1943-1973

   Limitations

   Specialist secondary compilation - detailed but non-official; consistent with NHHC/SDB/MARAD on nearly all points. Contains no asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim. Known deviations logged in gaps: tow destination (Galveston per NavSource vs Mobile, Ala. per the MARAD custody document), strike date (10 Jun vs 19 Jun 1946 per shipscribe), full-load displacement (18,000 t vs SDB limiting 16,100 t), and its boiler line carries a '1465psi' typo (SDB: 465 psi).

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-cecil-apa96-03

5. [5]shipscribe.com U.S. Navy Auxiliary Ships - BAYFIELD (APA-33) class Part 2 page (relief-AGC-fitted ships), construction/disposition tables, class notes, per-ship notes (S. S. Roberts compilation) [other_primary]

   Locator

   shipscribe APA36.html - Construction table row 96, Disposition table row 96, Ship Notes row 96 (MC#1544), Class Notes (relief-AGC program)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   shipscribe class page gives a per-hull row for APA-96 CECIL (MC#1544): acquired 26 Feb 44; built by Western Pipe, San Francisco; keel 24 Jun 43; launched 27 Sep 43; commissioned 15 Sep 44; decommissioned 24 May 46; struck 19 Jun 46 (NavSource records 10 Jun - see gaps); returned to MC 25 May 46 (fate MC/D); MA sale 7 Aug 47. Ship note: 'Ex merc. SEA ANGLER. Ferry comm. 27 Feb-5 Mar 44. Converted by Commercial IW, Portland, Ore. Merc. STEEL ADMIRAL 1947. Scrapped 1973.' Class notes document the relief-AGC program: seven of the 15 APAs added to the building program in July 1943 (the APA 91-102 group, of which APA-96 is one) received the flagship alterations - a two-level deckhouse aft of the stack and another at the after end of the central superstructure - with manpower allowance increased by 43 staff officers and 108 enlisted. Class data: 7,845 t light / 16,100 t limiting; 492' oa x 69.5' x 26.5' lim.; 18.4 kt; 8,500 hp; G.E. turbine, 1 screw; complement 520 (1944); later armament for the APA 95-96 group recorded as 2-5"/38 + 2 twin 40mm + 18-20mm.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1943-1973

   Limitations

   Authoritative specialist compilation (Roberts); per-hull data consistent with SDB/DANFS except the strike date (19 Jun vs NavSource 10 Jun 1946). Contains no asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-cecil-apa96-04

6. [6]MARAD Vessel History (ShipHistory) records CECIL (APA-96) Detail 12203, SEA ANGLER Detail 4456, and STEEL ADMIRAL Detail 11073 - registry fields, milestones, nine U.S. Navy fitting-out photographs (Portland, OR, 26 Sep 1944), digitized vessel status cards, and the custody-transfers document CECIL.pdf [marad_nrc]

   Locator

   vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov Detail/12203 (CECIL), Detail/11073 (STEEL ADMIRAL), Detail/4456 (SEA ANGLER); status cards incl. /cards/6QE_01.png (Isthmian sale/scrap card), card 7980 (SEA ANGLER custody), Reserve Fleet Division data card, and /documents/af30ff32-d00a-41ae-8448-af6c4496a67e.pdf (CECIL.pdf custody-transfers table)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   MARAD records document the full custody chain of this hull (O.N. 252403, C3-S-A2): name history Sea Angler (1944) -> Cecil APA-96 (1944-1947) -> Steel Admiral (1947-1973); milestones - name changed Sea Angler to Cecil and transferred to U.S. Navy 26 Feb 1944, entered James River Reserve Fleet 25 May 1946, sold for commercial operation to Isthmian Steamship Co. 7 Aug 1947 and renamed Steel Admiral same day. Status cards record: builder delivery to USMC at San Francisco 26 Feb 1944 6:00 PM PWT; Navy return to Reserve Fleet custody at Lee Hall, Va. 25 May 1946 1:20 PM EDT (surplus/layup); withdrawal from Lee Hall to Moran Towing & Transp. Co. 29 Nov 1946 1:45 PM EST; Moran redelivery to U.S.M.C. at Mobile, Ala. 19 Dec 1946 12:01 AM CST (custody doc); title transfer at Hoboken to Isthmian Steamship Co. as purchaser 7 Aug 1947 12:15 PM EST with port of delivery Galveston 10:15 AM CST; final disposition Yung Tai Steel & Iron Works Company Limited 18 Oct 1973, scrapped in Taiwan. A reserve-fleet card carries the handwritten note 'Reconversion Vessel - shore side head down alongside Sea Witch' and a remark referencing Todd at Galveston. An embedded 1999 NHHC/Norfolk NSY in-house research memo on the archive printout records: builder Western Pipe & Steel Company, San Francisco, CA; contract no. MCC 13172; MC hull no. MC 1544 (correction of card's 'MC 1594'); builder's hull no. 121; award 31 Dec 1942; keel 24 Jun 1943; launch 27 Sep 1943 (launched as Sea Angler); delivery 26 Feb 1944 (Navy acquired this date); commissioned 15 Sep 1944; decommissioned 24 May 1946 and returned to MARAD the next day at 1315 at Lee Hall, VA.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1944-1973

   Limitations

   Official MARAD records for this hull - the strongest custody-chain source. Contains no asbestos, materials, or abatement information; supports no asbestos claim. Minor internal variants: the older card prints 'MC 1594' where the embedded memo corrects to MC 1544; the memo records the Lee Hall return at 1315 vs the card's 1:20 PM EDT; one ARC record prints year built 1943 and another 1944.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-cecil-apa96-05

7. [7]Isthmian Lines ship history page for S.S. Steel Admiral (isthmianlines.com) - merchant-career event log for the former USS Cecil (APA-96) [other_primary]

   Locator

   isthmianlines.com/ships/sm_steel_admiral.htm - events/disposition table

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Specialist merchant-service compilation documents the post-Navy career of this hull: keel laid 24 Jun 1943; launched 27 Sep 1943; Navy accepted and completed by Commercial Iron Works, Portland, OR, as attack transport Cecil (APA-96); off Iwo Jima Feb 1945 as Maj. Gen. Keller Rockey's (5th Marine Division) command ship with a Navajo code-talker team embarked; Okinawa Apr 1945; decommissioned Norfolk 24 May 1946; returned to U.S. Maritime Commission 25 May 1946. Post-sale: 1946 reconversion contract awarded to Todd Shipbuilding, Galveston, TX, at $534,235; 1947 refrigerated-cargo capacity added - 55,000 cu ft reefer space installed by Ingalls Shipbuilding, Birmingham, AL; 20-24 Sep 1948 aground in Suez Roads off Marakeb Quay, Port Tewfik (Baltimore-Ras Tanura voyage; lightered 1,750+ tons cargo, refloated 24 Sep; $12,497 damage); Oct 1948 propeller damaged by barge #113 ($7,736); Nov 1948 stevedore damage to boom and hold sheathing ($3,249); 23 Feb 1949 a command-detonated mine exploded 50 yards off the ship in the Saigon River; Isthmian service 1947-1973; sold to Yung Tai Steel & Iron Works Co., Ltd., delivered at Kaohsiung 18 Oct 1973 and scrapped Oct 1973.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1943-1973

   Limitations

   Specialist secondary compilation (Isthmian Lines fleet-history site), not an official source; the disposal and sale facts are corroborated by the MARAD status card, but the casualty/damage details and the Todd Galveston reconversion figure stand on this compilation alone. Records sponsor as 'Mrs. J.L. Bloom,' conflicting with DANFS 'Mrs. S. Belither' (see gaps). Contains no asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-cecil-apa96-06

8. [8]BuShips SDB 1945 v3 propulsion documentation (ev-01) + class/era construction context (ev-04) [other_primary]

   Locator

   SDB1945v3 machinery row for APA-96 (printed p.236) + shipscribe APA36 class notes + ev-05/ev-06 work-phase documentation

   Finding type

   asbestos_application

   Finding

   The documented C3-S-A2 machinery fit aboard this hull - two superheated Babcock & Wilcox 'D'-type boilers at 465 psi/765F feeding a single General Electric geared turbine - is of the type whose boiler and fireroom insulation, steam-line and turbine lagging, gaskets, packing, and accommodation insulation were commonly asbestos-containing in WWII naval construction. Documented disturbance phases aboard this specific hull: the 1944 attack-transport conversion at Commercial Iron Works, Portland (including the relief-AGC flagship alterations - two added deckhouse levels); the 1946 reconversion for merchant service (Todd Shipbuilding, Galveston contract per ev-06); the 1947 refrigerated-cargo installation (Ingalls, Birmingham per ev-06); 26 years of merchant operation; and breaking at Kaohsiung in 1973.

   Verification

   inferred

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1943-1973

   Population

   Construction trades (Western Pipe San Francisco, 1943-44); conversion-yard workers (Commercial Iron Works, Portland, 1944); crew and embarked troops (1944-46); reconversion/shipyard workers (Todd Galveston 1946-47; Ingalls Birmingham 1947); merchant crews (1947-1973); Taiwan breakers (1973)

   Limitations

   Inference from documented machinery plus era specifications plus documented work phases - not a hull-specific asbestos finding. No insulation survey, materials list, or abatement record for this hull was located; asbestos presence aboard is era- and design-consistent, not ship-proven. Does not establish quantity, location, condition, individual exposure, or causation.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-cecil-apa96-07

9. [9]Corn, J.K. and Starr, J., 'Historical perspective on asbestos: policies and protective measures in World War II shipbuilding,' American Journal of Industrial Medicine 11(3):359-373 (1987), DOI 10.1002/ajim.4700110311 [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 and emergency construction program under which this C3-S-A2 hull was built and converted.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1940s era documented; article 1987

   Population

   WWII shipyard workers and ship crews (class context)

   Limitations

   Program/era-level scholarly documentation of asbestos use in WWII shipbuilding generally; does not name this vessel or class and does not establish that asbestos was or remains aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation. Reused verified citation (carried identically in the batch-2168 record, same research day).

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-cecil-apa96-08

10. [10]Fleischer, W.E., Viles, F.J. Jr., Gade, R.L., and Drinker, P., 'A health survey of pipe covering operations in constructing naval vessels,' J Ind Hyg Toxicol 28(1):9-16 (Jan 1946), PMID 21016030 [other_primary]

    Locator

    PubMed record PMID 21016030; article pp. 9-16 (pipe covering material section)

    Finding type

    gov_survey

    Finding

    The U.S. Maritime Commission-commissioned industrial-hygiene survey of WWII pipe-covering operations at two Navy yards and two Navy contract yards documented that 'an important ingredient of pipe covering material used on U.S. Navy vessels is amosite' - i.e., asbestos insulation was standard material in wartime naval-vessel construction of exactly this hull's era and type.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    class_or_era

    Accessed

    2026-09-25

    Study period

    survey ~1944-45; published 1946

    Population

    WWII pipe coverers and insulators at Navy and contract yards (era context)

    Limitations

    Era-level documentation of asbestos use in naval construction generally; does not name this vessel, class, or builder yard and establishes nothing about this hull's materials, condition, or any individual exposure. (The study's exculpatory 'not a dangerous occupation' conclusion has since been heavily criticized - see the 2026 critique at DOI 10.1177/10482911261446696.) Reused verified citation (carried identically in the batch-2168 record, same research day).

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-cecil-apa96-09

11. [11]Pruitt v. Air & Liquid Systems Corp., C.A. No. 18-1101-MN-SRF (D. Del., In re Asbestos Litigation / MDL-875 track) - Report and Recommendation (2020-07-30) and Memorandum Opinion, verified via ded.uscourts.gov opinion PDFs [court_record]

    Locator

    Report & Recommendation, Facts section (plaintiff's ship assignments); https://www.ded.uscourts.gov/sites/ded/files/opinions/18-1101_1.pdf

    Finding type

    litigation_documented

    Finding

    The located attack-transport asbestos docket names the lead ship of this same class: plaintiff John W. Pruitt Sr. alleged mesothelioma from asbestos exposure as a machinist mate stationed in 1958 on 'the USS Bayfield, an attack transport' (APA-33, Bayfield class - the class lead ship of Cecil's class) and in 1959 on USS Tolovana (AO-64, Cimarron-class oiler). No docketed asbestos opinion naming USS Cecil, APA-96, MC Hull 1544, Sea Angler, or Steel Admiral was located in CourtListener or indexed sources.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    context_only

    Accessed

    2026-09-25

    Study period

    opinions 2020; service 1958-1963

    Population

    Navy veterans of Bayfield-class APAs (class context)

    Limitations

    Same class but different hull - carried only to document that the Bayfield-class/APA litigation surface exists while no Cecil-specific docket was found. Deposition-stage exposure descriptions are allegations, not findings. CourtListener opinion sweeps ran zero-or-all-collisions ('USS Cecil' count=0; 'APA-96' count=4 all token collisions; '"Cecil" asbestos' count=180 all name collisions); docket coverage partial - see search_ledger.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-cecil-apa96-10

12. [12]Batch-2396 search ledger (this record): NHHC/DANFS via Wayback; NavSource 03096; MARAD ShipHistory Detail 12203/11073/4456 + status cards + custody document; BuShips SDB 1945 v3; shipscribe APA36 class page; isthmianlines.com Steel Admiral history; CourtListener opinion sweeps; indexed-web litigation checks; NARA record-group guides [other_primary]

    Locator

    search_ledger rows sl-uss-cecil-apa96-01 through sl-uss-cecil-apa96-13

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, court finding, or docketed asbestos case naming USS Cecil / APA-96 / M.C. Hull 1544 / Sea Angler / Steel Admiral was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). CourtListener: 'USS Cecil' 0 opinion hits; 'APA-96' 4 hits, all token collisions (asset-purchase-agreement / Administrative Procedure Act / advance-pricing-agreement contexts) with no ship reference; '"Cecil" asbestos' 180 hits, first page inspected - all person-name collisions (e.g., Cecil v. Airco; Cecil S. Wingo v. Celotex; Cecil Overstreet v. Owens-Illinois; counsel named Cecil) with no ship reference. A law-firm marketing page (asbestos-ships.com) lists the hull on a generic ship list asserting era-typical exposure areas without primary support - excluded as a source per the no-law-firm-sources rule.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    negative_finding

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-09-25

    Study period

    2026-09-25

    Limitations

    Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1943-44 geared-steam transport converted at a Portland yard and reconverted for merchant service in 1946-47 is era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials, and her documented conversion, reconversion, reefer installation, 26-year merchant career, and 1973 Taiwan breaking are undocumented disturbance phases. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-cecil-apa96-11

13. [13]NARA Guide to Federal Records: RG 24 (Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel - Navy deck logs), RG 19 (Records of the Bureau of Ships), RG 178 (Records of the U.S. Maritime Commission), RG 357 (Records of the Maritime Administration); MARAD ShipHistory documents/cards for this hull (status cards and custody document retrieved; no asbestos documents listed) [other_primary]

    Locator

    https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/024.html ; /groups/019.html ; /groups/178.html ; /groups/357.html ; MARAD Detail 12203/11073 cards + CECIL.pdf (retrieved)

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    Archival leads (not retrieved - requires research-room or reproduction order; no spend authorized): Navy deck logs for USS Cecil 1944-1946 (RG 24, NARA College Park); BuShips records incl. C3-S-A2 contract plans, Booklets of General Plans, and the Portland conversion file (RG 19); USMC construction-contract records for M.C. Hull 1544 / contract MCC 13172 at Western Pipe & Steel San Francisco (RG 178); MARAD/NDRF custody files covering the 1946 Lee Hall lay-up, the Nov-Dec 1946 Moran tow to Mobile, the Todd Shipbuilding Galveston reconversion, and the 1947 Merchant Ship Sales Act sale to Isthmian (RG 357); and Commercial Iron Works (Portland, OR) conversion-yard records for the 1944 attack-transport conversion (via RG 19 contract files or regional repositories).

    Verification

    unverified

    Role

    archival_lead

    Documentation level

    context_only

    Accessed

    2026-09-25

    Study period

    1943-1973 records

    Limitations

    Record-group mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for this hull is unknown until surveyed in person. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-cecil-apa96-12