Evidence
14 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-14).
-
[1]research packet r3-packet.md [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED — real identity: Cedar Creek
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-cedar-creek-ao138-pkt-r3-packet-md
-
[2]DANFS entry 'Cedar Creek (AO-138)' - live NHHC page returned HTTP 404 on both canonical URL patterns 2026-09-25 (standing NHHC link rot per BATCH-01); transcription cited from hazegray DANFS mirror [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- hazegray.org/danfs/auxil/ao138.htm (DANFS transcription, full entry); NHHC canonical URLs 404'd: /research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/cedar-creek.html and /content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/cedar-creek.html
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS records: 'Cedar Creek (AO-138), a tanker, was built by Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Chester, Pa., in 1943, and lend-leased to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on 30 April 1944. She was returned to the Maritime Commission in March 1948, acquired by the Navy and classified AO-138 in July 1948, and operated in a noncommissioned status by a civilian company under contract with the Navy. In October 1949 she was assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service and continued operations with a civilian crew. On 28 September 1954 she was placed in reserve at San Diego where she remained until 1 November 1956 when she again transferred to MSTS. She was stricken from the Naval Register and turned over to the Maritime Administration on 14 October 1957.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1943-1957
- Population
- Civilian contract crews under NTS/MSTS
- Limitations
- Official Navy history text (transcription mirror; canonical NHHC URL unresolved - link rot as in BATCH-01). Establishes identity, custody chain, and dates. DANFS does not name the civilian operating company and contains no asbestos or materials statement.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cedar-creek-ao138-01
-
[3]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - CEDAR CREEK (AO-138), Ship History Detail 850, incl. digitized status cards and historical documents (CedarCreek_850_001.pdf et al.) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- ShipHistory Detail 850 - data block, milestones, status cards, document PDFs (/documents/CedarCreek_850_001.pdf; /documents/e5b13648-71f3-47d5-ae5b-4460cc4dea5c.pdf; /documents/188358a6-bd97-4036-8c76-67c05ad164c5.pdf)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD ShipHistory record for CEDAR CREEK (AO-138): Year Built 1943; U.S. Official No. 244786; Shipyard 'Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock'; MARAD Type T2-SE-A1; 523.5 ft, 68-ft beam, 10,195 gross tons, 141,158-barrel cargo capacity, 21,880 t summer displacement; vessel name history 'Taganrog II'; fate 'Sold -NTU'; milestones Disposition and Withdrawal both 1975-09-29; WWII mission. The digitized vessel status card (ex-Taganrog II) records the custody chain: Sun S.B. & DD Co. -> Marine Transport Lines (Chester/New GAA); Marine Transp. Lines -> U.S.S.R. (Brooklyn NY, GAA/LL); Russian Government -> Amer. Pacific SS Co., 3/27/48, Yokohama (LOAA). A second card records MSTS -> Reserve Fleet, permanent transfer, 10/14/57 4:00 PM PST, Suisun Bay, Calif. (Navy layup). USCG photo caption: Cedar Creek at New York 6 April 1944, leased to the Soviet Union 30 April 1944.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1943-1975
- Limitations
- Authoritative government custody record. Status-card OCR is fragmentary but the custody columns read cleanly. Header artifact: 'Specific Type: LNG Liquefied Natural Gas' is impossible for a 1943 T2 tanker - disregarded. Contains no asbestos, materials, or condition-survey information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cedar-creek-ao138-02
-
[4]USCG Port Security Command Radio Inspection Report, SS CEDAR CREEK, 6 April 1944, New York - scanned document hosted in MARAD ShipHistory documents for this hull [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- CedarCreek_850_001.pdf, form fields 1-11 (vessel name, type, radio call, last port, transmitters/seals)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- U.S. Coast Guard Port Security Command 'Radio Inspection Report' for CEDAR CREEK, dated 6 April 1944 at New York: vessel type SS (tanker), merchant radio call KVKD, last port Glasgow, speed 15; main, emergency, and lifeboat transmitters (RMCA sets) sealed by the boarding officer - the lend-lease radio-sealing practice before Soviet handover; sealed 24 days before the 30 April 1944 transfer.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1944-04-06
- Population
- Merchant crew and USCG boarding detail, April 1944
- Limitations
- Primary government document, but the scan OCRs poorly - vessel name, call sign KVKD, date, New York, Glasgow, speed, and seal entries are legible; master/agent/radio-operator name fields are garbled and not asserted. Establishes the last pre-handover U.S. port call; contains no asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cedar-creek-ao138-03
-
[5]Shipscribe U.S. Naval Auxiliary register - 'USNS Cedar Creek (T-AO 138, T2-SE-A1) Class' page, compiled by Stephen S. Roberts (2021); special source: Thomas Wildenberg, Gray Steel and Black Oil (Naval Institute Press, 1996) [other_primary]
- Locator
- AOT138.html - class construction/disposal tables, class notes paragraphs, ship note for T-AO 138 / MC 395
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Shipscribe U.S. Naval Auxiliary register class page for 'CEDAR CREEK (T-AO 138, T2-SE-A1)' records: T-AO-138 acquired 1948-07-18, in service 1948-07-18; keel 1943-11-20 (conflicts with 09-20 in other sources - carried in gaps); strike and disposal both 1957-10-14, fate MA/T; MA sale 1975-09-02; ship note for MC 395: 'Completed 27 Dec 1943 and to USSR 30 Apr 1944 under Lend-lease as TAGANROG. Returned to MC at Yokohama 27 Mar 1948, to Navy 4 Apr 1948 after discharge of commercial cargo at Port Arthur, Texas, then to commercial operator 6 Apr 1948 and proceeded to Norfolk for conversion. In USN reserve 15 Sep 1954 to 1 Nov 1956. Struck again 1 Feb 1972 when removed from the NDRF retention list. To buyer 29 Sep 1975.' Class notes record the 25-26 March 1948 SECNAV-MC correspondence acquiring five more T2-SE-A1s (MUIR WOODS, SHAWNEE TRAIL, PIONEER VALLEY, CEDAR CREEK, SAPPA CREEK - four being returned by the USSR, Sappa Creek substituting for the wrecked DONBASS III/ex BEACON ROCK); the 22 Sep 1949 reassignment of the NTS tankers to MSTS effective 1 Oct 1949 as 'Non-Commissioned Naval Vessels manned by Civilian Personnel' with USNS redesignation by ALNAV 96; the conversion scope (voyage repairs, tank cleaning for clean cargoes, painting, commercial radar, crack-arrestor seam strapping); the Commander MSTS letter of 8 Nov 1956 listing T-AO 138 among eight civilian-manned tankers activated amid the Suez closure and POL backlog; and the 18 Jan 1970 MSC decision removing T-AO 116, 128, and 138 from the NDRF retention list for scrapping.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1943-1975
- Population
- USNT/USNS civilian mariners; Norfolk conversion-yard workers 1948
- Limitations
- Specialist register compilation reproducing Naval Vessel Register/Ships Data Book entries and NARA-derived ship notes - not the register itself, but consistent with DANFS, MARAD cards, and FRUS on every shared fact except the keel date (11-20 vs 09-20) and the unreconcilable 'to Navy 4 Apr 1948' fragment (a Yokohama-Port Arthur transit in under 10 days is implausible; carried as reported). 'Armament: none' confirms no weapons fit in U.S. service. No asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cedar-creek-ao138-04
-
[6]Department of State Office of the Historian, FRUS 1948 vol. IV - U.S. note acknowledging Soviet note No. 18 of 1948-01-31 (doc 642) and Soviet embassy note agreeing Yokohama delivery (doc 643) [other_primary]
- Locator
- FRUS 1948 IV docs 642-643 (fn 2 to doc 643 records the 1948-02-26 authorization to the MC chairman)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Foreign Relations of the United States (1948, vol. IV) prints the January-February 1948 U.S.-Soviet notes on the return of eight lend-lease merchant vessels: the U.S. accepted delivery of tankers Krasnaya Armiya at Hong Kong and Elbruz at Trieste, and the Soviet Government agreed to deliver tankers Emba, Belgorod, Apsheron, Maikop and Taganrog plus dry-cargo vessel Lev Tolstoi at Yokohama; the Maritime Commission chairman was authorized to accept delivery and declare the five tankers surplus (resale restricted to U.S. citizens). Taganrog is this hull.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1948
- Limitations
- Primary diplomatic record naming Taganrog; establishes the negotiated terms and Yokohama delivery point - corroborates the MARAD card's 27 Mar 1948 Yokohama handover. Says nothing about the vessel's material condition; no asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cedar-creek-ao138-05
-
[7]Thomas Wildenberg, Gray Steel and Black Oil: Fast Tankers and Replenishment at Sea in the U.S. Navy, 1912-1995 (Naval Institute Press / Naval Historical Center), Appendix D - HyperWar transcription [other_primary]
- Locator
- GSBO-D.html, AO-138 table row and footnote 25
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The NHHC-published history of U.S. Navy oilers (Wildenberg, Gray Steel and Black Oil, 1996), Appendix D 'Fleet Oilers Commissioned in the U.S. Navy, 1915-1993,' lists: AO-138, Cedar Creek, Sun SB&DD, 1943, T2-SE-A1, first commissioned Jul-48, note 25 - 'Operated in a noncommissioned status by a civilian company under charter to navy.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1943-1948
- Limitations
- NHHC-published scholarly reference naming this hull; table compressed to one row - confirms type, builder, year, acquisition month, and the civilian-charter operating arrangement, nothing more. No asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cedar-creek-ao138-06
-
[8]Corn, Jacqueline Karnell, and Jennifer Starr, 'Historical perspective on asbestos: Policies and protective measures in World War II shipbuilding,' American Journal of Industrial Medicine 11(3):359-373 (1987) [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 Maritime Commission program under which this 1943 T2-SE-A1 tanker was built - and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization aboard merchant-type hulls.
- 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 and does not establish that asbestos was or remains aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cedar-creek-ao138-07
-
[9]Fleischer, W.E., Drinker, P., et al., 'A Health Survey of Pipe Covering Operations in Constructing Naval Vessels,' Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology 28(1):9-16 (1946) - U.S. Maritime Commission-commissioned industrial hygiene survey [other_primary]
- Locator
- J. Ind. Hyg. Toxicol. 28(1):9-16 (1946), PMID 21016030; shipyard dataset entry sun-shipbuilding-chester
- Finding type
- gov_survey
- Finding
- A U.S. Maritime Commission-commissioned industrial hygiene survey of WWII shipyard pipe-covering operations documented amosite asbestos pipe covering and boiler-block insulation being cut and fitted at contract shipyards - the documented product environment at MC contract yards of the era at which this hull was built (Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock, Chester PA, 1943). The builder yard is documented in the companion shipyard dataset as an asbestos-exposure site (sun-shipbuilding-chester: Lilley v. Johns-Manville product-identification record, employment window 1959-1976).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1942-1945 (survey era); published 1946
- Population
- Construction trades at WWII MC contract yards, including Sun Ship workers on this hull's build (Sep-Dec 1943)
- Limitations
- Yard/era-level documentation - the survey covered multiple contract yards as a group and names neither Sun Ship nor this hull; it establishes the documented product environment for construction-period workers, not asbestos presence on this vessel. The yard dataset's Lilley record postdates this hull's construction by sixteen years (1959-1976) and cannot be projected back to 1943 without a period source.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cedar-creek-ao138-08
-
[10]NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - USNS Cedar Creek (T-AO-138), file 09/19/19138 [other_primary]
- Locator
- navsource.org 09/19/19138 - timeline, spec block, awards display, final disposition line (page content accessed via search-indexed text; direct fetch failed to automated retrieval)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource Online service-ship photo archive for USNS Cedar Creek (T-AO-138) records the timeline consistent with DANFS plus details DANFS omits: radio call sign NHQR; National Defense Service Medal ribbon display; laid down 1943-09-20; delivered to MC 1943-12-27; to USSR 1944-04-30 renamed SS Taganrog; MSTS transfer 1949-10-01; Pacific Reserve Fleet San Diego Group September 1954; MSTS reactivation 1956-11-01; MARAD transfer 1957-10-14 for NDRF Suisun Bay layup; and final disposition 'sold for scrapping, 2 September 1975 to Ziedell Explorations Inc., for $261,898.99 under MARAD sale contract PD-X-998.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1943-1975
- Population
- MSTS civilian mariners; shipbreaking workers at Portland 1975
- Limitations
- Volunteer-maintained unofficial archive compiling DANFS/NVR/MARAD data - used for the sale-contract number, buyer, and price, all of which cross-confirm against MARAD milestones (withdrawal 9/29/75) and shipscribe (MA sale 9/2/75; to buyer 9/29/75). Buyer spelled 'Ziedell' - a misspelling of documented Portland shipbreaker Zidell Explorations Inc. Spec-block armament is the Navy-manned Suamico standard, not this civilian-crewed hull's fit. No asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cedar-creek-ao138-09
-
[11]This record's sources: DANFS + shipscribe disposal table + MARAD status card (strike date); shipscribe class block (armament); NavSource vs documented buyer name; DANFS noncommissioned-status language [other_primary]
- Locator
- cross-source comparison within this record's evidence set
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Secondary-source corrections applied on this record: (a) Wikipedia's infobox 'Stricken: 1956' contradicts DANFS ('stricken from the Naval Register and turned over to the Maritime Administration on 14 October 1957'), the shipscribe disposal table (strike and disposal 14 Oct 1957), and the MARAD status card (MSTS to Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, 10/14/57) - 1957-10-14 carried; (b) NavSource's displayed armament (5"/38 DP, 3"/50, 40mm, 20mm) is the Navy-manned Suamico-class standard fit - this hull was never commissioned and shipscribe class data records 'Armament: none' for the USNT period; (c) 'Ziedell Explorations' in NavSource is the documented Portland shipbreaking firm Zidell Explorations Inc.; (d) framing 'USS Cedar Creek' is incorrect - never commissioned, civilian-crewed USNT then USNS.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1943-1975
- Limitations
- Resolves publication-level discrepancies in secondary framings; does not affect identity or custody timeline materially. No asbestos content in any compared source.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cedar-creek-ao138-10
-
[12]Lilley v. Johns-Manville Corp., 408 Pa. Super. 83, 596 A.2d 203 (1991) - as indexed in companion shipyard dataset entries sun-shipbuilding and sun-shipbuilding-chester [court_record]
- Locator
- Pa. Super. opinion via Justia; shipyards.json sun-shipbuilding-chester (flagship ev-sun-shipbuilding-chester-lilley-1991)
- Finding type
- litigation_product_id
- Finding
- The builder yard is a documented asbestos-exposure site in the companion shipyard dataset: Lilley v. Johns-Manville Corp., 408 Pa. Super. 83, 596 A.2d 203 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1991) records pipefitter Fred Lilley's label-level identification of asbestos products at Sun Ship (Unibestos, Caltemp, Pabco, Kaylo, Garlock gaskets, Careytemp and others), corroborating co-worker testimony, a jury verdict of $250,000 compensatory plus $100,000 loss of consortium, and Fibreboard held liable on Caltemp/Pabco claims.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1959-1991
- Population
- Sun Shipyard insulators/pipefitters, 1959-1976 (context)
- Limitations
- Affirmed-judgment yard record - BUT the documented employment window is 1959-1976, sixteen years after this hull's 1943 construction; it characterizes the yard's later-era product environment, not materials aboard MC hull 395 in 1943. Does not name this vessel, establishes no exposure aboard, and says nothing about the 1943 build or the 1948 conversion workforce.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cedar-creek-ao138-11
-
[13]Batch-1850 search ledger (this record): hazegray DANFS; NHHC (404); MARAD ShipHistory Detail 850 + PDFs; shipscribe AOT138; HyperWar GSBO-D; FRUS 1948 IV; NavSource; Mariners' Museum catalog; CourtListener sweeps sl-08..sl-13 [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-cedar-creek-ao138-01 through sl-uss-cedar-creek-ao138-15
- 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 this hull under any of its designations (Cedar Creek, Taganrog/Taganrog II, AO-138, T-AO-138, MC 395, Sun hull 331, Official No. 244786) was found in the public sources searched - DANFS, MARAD ShipHistory incl. status cards and uploaded documents, shipscribe register, NHHC-published oiler history, NavSource, Mariners' Museum catalog, and CourtListener opinion sweeps (see search_ledger).
- 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 high-pressure steam tanker built to emergency MC specifications is era-consistent with asbestos-containing insulation, and neither the 1948 Norfolk conversion nor the 1975 Zidell breaking has a located hazmat/abatement record. Merchant-marine exposure claims would typically proceed against operators (Marine Transport Lines, American Pacific SS Co., or the MSTS contract operator) rather than naming the hull - under-detected by name sweeps. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cedar-creek-ao138-12
-
[14]NARA Guide to Federal Records: RG 178 (USMC), RG 248 (WSA); Independence Seaport Museum finding aid (Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock records, call no. 76); Hagley Museum & Library (Sun Company records); MARAD ShipHistory document set for this hull [other_primary]
- Locator
- archives.gov RG 178/RG 248 guides; findingaids.library.upenn.edu ISM_84.76 (ISM Sun Ship records); snaccooperative.org Sun Shipbuilding corporate record (Hagley accessions)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - requires research-room or reproduction order; no spend authorized): NARA RG 178 (U.S. Maritime Commission) may hold the MC hull 395 contract/construction file; RG 248 (War Shipping Administration) holds general-agency files for Marine Transport Lines (1943-44) and American Pacific Steamship Co. (1948 redelivery); the Independence Seaport Museum holds Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock records 1916-1998 incl. ships plans (hull 331 outfitting plans possible); Hagley Museum & Library holds Sun Company corporate records 1890-1984; the MARAD sale-contract file for PD-X-998 (1975, multi-vessel - also covered sister T2 Mission Loreto T-AO-116) may carry condition/hazmat language for the Zidell purchase; MSTS operating files and deck logs for 1948-54 and 1956-57 are at NARA.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1943-1975 records
- Limitations
- Record-group and collection mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for hull 331/395 is unknown until surveyed in person. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-cedar-creek-ao138-13