Evidence
15 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-15).
-
[1]U.S. Navy, Naval Vessel Register (nvr.navy.mil), ship detail page 'CHALLENGE (ATA 201) (ex-ATR 128)' [other_primary]
- Locator
- Wayback capture 2012-01-26 of NVR detail page ATA201 (identity, class, milestone dates, disposal status)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The Naval Vessel Register detail page for CHALLENGE (ATA 201), ex-ATR 128, lists the vessel as an Auxiliary Ocean Tug of class ATA 174, UIC 08128: contract award 1943-08-16; keel laid 1944-08-03; launched 1944-09-23; delivered 1944-11-22; stricken 1962-09-01; status 'Disposed of, by Navy Sale' with status-change date 1976-10-01 (age at disposal 31.9 years).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1943-1976
- Limitations
- Official NVR record; the Commission Date and Decommission Date fields are blank on this page, so commissioning rests on the Ships' Data 1945 entry, the Roberts table, and the NARA deck-log start date (all 1944-11-22). Contains no asbestos or materials information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-challenge-ata201-01
-
[2]Bureau of Ships, 'Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, 1945,' Vol. III Auxiliaries (NAVSHIPS 250-012), Ocean Tugs, Auxiliary (ATA) construction table and characteristics table [other_primary]
- Locator
- List of Naval Vessels / ATA construction table (printed p. 385, ATA 201 row) and ATA characteristics table (ATA 170-213 group, p. 384)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Bureau of Ships 'Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, 1945,' Volume III (NAVSHIPS 250-012, dated 1945-04-15) lists 'ATA 201 (ex-ATR128)' built by Gulfport Boiler & Welding Works, Port Arthur, Tex., with keel laid 1944-08-03, launched 1944-09-23, and date of first commission 1944-11-22. The same volume's characteristics table groups ATA 170-213 at 143 ft overall, 33 ft 10 in extreme beam, 835 tons trial displacement, 13.0 knots.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1945-04-15 publication; records through early 1945
- Limitations
- Official wartime BuShips publication (shipscribe.com hosts the digitized scan; OCR is imperfect but the ATA-201 row is legible). Establishes construction, builder, and first-commission date; contains no asbestos or materials information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-challenge-ata201-02
-
[3]U.S. Navy, 'United States Pacific Fleet Organization, 1 May 1945' (Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet administrative organization list) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Service Force, Pacific Fleet > Service Squadron Two > auxiliary ocean tug (ATA) listing, 'ATA 201' row. NHHC-hosted copy https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/u/us-pacific-fleet-organization-1may1945.html returned 404 on 2026-09-26 (Wayback capture 2025-12-08 exists); HyperWar transcription used.
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The official 'United States Pacific Fleet Organization' list of 1945-05-01 records ATA 201 under Service Squadron Two, Service Force, Pacific Fleet, confirming the vessel in commissioned Pacific service on that date.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1945-05-01
- Population
- Ship's complement on station (unenumerated in this source)
- Limitations
- Single-date organization snapshot; no commanding officer is printed for ATA 201 (entry shows '..........'). Establishes assignment and in-service status, not materials, asbestos content, or exposure.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-challenge-ata201-03
-
[4]Bureau of Naval Personnel, Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (1953), Part IV, Section 18, 'Units Eligible - (A) Ships' [other_primary]
- Locator
- Units Eligible ships table, 'ATA 201 | 2 Sep 45 - 20 Feb 46 | A' row. NHHC copy https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/n/navy-mc-awards-manual-rev1953/pt4-campaign-service-medals.html returned 404 on 2026-09-26 (Wayback capture 2025-12-08 exists); HyperWar transcription used.
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (1953 revision), Part IV, lists ATA 201 among ships credited by the Secretary of the Navy for Navy Occupation Service Medal eligibility with the Asia clasp for the period 1945-09-02 through 1946-02-20, corroborating occupation service in the Far East after the Japanese surrender.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1945-09-02 to 1946-02-20
- Population
- Crew attached during 1945-09-02 to 1946-02-20 (unenumerated)
- Limitations
- Unit-level medal-eligibility listing; establishes where and when the ship served, not materials, asbestos content, or individual exposure.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-challenge-ata201-04
-
[5]Naval History and Heritage Command, DANFS, 'Bangust I (DE-739)' (updated 2022-08-31, R. J. Cressman) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- 1946-1947 section, towing paragraph. Live NHHC URL https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/b/bangust-i.html returned 404 on 2026-09-26; Wayback capture 2024-12-09 used.
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NHHC's updated DANFS history of USS Bangust (DE-739) records that the decommissioned destroyer escort, earmarked for deferred disposal 1947-03-21, was taken from Green Cove Springs to Charleston Naval Shipyard in June 1947: 'Towed there by Challenge (ATA-201) on 17 and 18 June.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1947-06
- Population
- ATA-201 crew during the June 1947 tow (unenumerated)
- Limitations
- Establishes a documented towing evolution on 1947-06-17/18; the towed vessel (not the tug) held the deferred-disposal status. Contains no materials, asbestos, or condition information about ATA-201.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-challenge-ata201-05
-
[6]Naval History and Heritage Command, DANFS, 'Challenge II' entry [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- Challenge II single-line entry. Live NHHC URL https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/challenge-ii.html returned 404 on 2026-09-26; Wayback capture 2024-05-26 used.
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NHHC's DANFS entry for Challenge II states: 'ATA-201 (q.v.) was assigned the name Challenge 16 July 1948.' The vessel received its name nearly eight months after decommissioning while laid up in reserve.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1948-07-16
- Limitations
- One-line naming entry only; the pointed-to full ATA-201 appendix text is not available on the current NHHC site. Contains no asbestos or materials information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-challenge-ata201-06
-
[7]U.S. Maritime Administration, Vessel History Database (MARAD ShipHistory), CHALLENGE (ATA-201), Detail 859, milestones and digitized vessel status card [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- Milestones table and Status Cards (859_1544AF.jpg); document download 'CHALLENGE.pdf' status card
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The Maritime Administration's Vessel History Database record for CHALLENGE (ATA-201), year built 1944, lists milestones: entry/acquisition 1961-03-14 (custody, James River reserve fleet) and disposition/withdrawal 1975-05-14, with fate 'Transferred - U.S. Govt.' The digitized status card records custody to the M.A. fleet at James River on 1961-03-14 and permanent title transfer to the Maritime Administration on 1962-09-01, matching the NVR stricken date.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1961-1975
- Limitations
- Authoritative for government custody milestones. The database's shipyard field reads 'Levingston Shipbuilding Company,' which conflicts with every construction record for this hull (see correction row). Contains no asbestos, materials, or condition-survey information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-challenge-ata201-07
-
[8]National Archives and Records Administration, Special List No. 44, index of Navy deck logs by ship number [other_primary]
- Locator
- ATA-201 row ('ATA-201 | 11/22/1944 | 12/31/1945')
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA's Special List 44 (index of U.S. Navy deck logs) indexes ATA-201 deck logs covering 1944-11-22 through 1945-12-31. The start date coincides with the commissioning date (1944-11-22) given by BuShips Ships' Data and the Roberts table, corroborating the commissioning date independently of the secondary compilations.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1944-11-22 to 1945-12-31 (indexed coverage)
- Limitations
- An index of log coverage, not the logs themselves; NARA notes deck logs do not directly document shipboard asbestos. Post-1945 deck logs (1946-1947 active period) are not in this index segment and remain an archival task.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-challenge-ata201-08
-
[9]Cross-source reconciliation: NVR detail ATA201; BuShips Ships' Data Vol. III; Roberts ATA-174 tables (shipscribe.com); MARAD Detail 859; NavSource USS Challenge (ATA-201) page [other_primary]
- Locator
- Roberts construction and disposition tables, ATA 201 row; NVR field table; SDB Vol. III ATA 201 row; MARAD milestone table
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Source discrepancies resolved: (a) Commissioning - a widely copied secondary figure 'commissioned 15 September 1944' predates the 1944-09-23 launch and is impossible; the BuShips Ships' Data 'date of first commission' (1944-11-22), the Roberts ATA-174 commissioning table (22 Nov 44), NavSource's commanding-officer listing (LT Max B. Parker in command 22 November 1944), and the NARA deck-log start (1944-11-22) all support 1944-11-22, which is adopted. (b) Decommissioning - Roberts gives 7 November 1947 while NavSource-derived compilations give 23 December 1947; Roberts assigns 23 Dec 47 to sister Tunica (ATA-178), suggesting possible transposition, but no primary record was located - unresolved. (c) Builder - MARAD's shipyard field lists Levingston Shipbuilding, which built the ATA 174-198 block; Ships' Data, Roberts, and the NVR-consistent record place this hull at Gulfport Boiler & Welding, Port Arthur - Gulfport adopted. (d) Disposal date - Roberts' disposal column gives 1976-08-12; the NVR status-change date (1976-10-01) and NavSource's DRMS sale date (1976-10-01) agree; NVR adopted.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1944-1976
- Limitations
- Resolves publication-level discrepancies among official records and compilations; the decommissioning conflict remains open. No asbestos content in any of these sources.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-challenge-ata201-09
-
[10]Stephen S. Roberts, 'USS ATA-174 (later Wateree) Class' data compilation, shipscribe.com (construction/disposition tables and ship notes) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Construction table ATA 201 row; Disposition table ATA 201 row; Ship Notes ATA 201 entry; Class Notes
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The Roberts ATA-174-class ship note for ATA 201 reads: 'Ex ATR-128 15 May 44. Name assigned 16 Jul 48. In USN reserve 1946-61. To NDRF 14 Mar 61, title to MA 1 Sep 62. From MA to Navy 14 May 75 for equipment removal and sale. Merc. MARINE COMMANDER 1978 (rebuilt as ex ATA-195 1978-82), later SAJE COMMANDER.' The class note records that ATA 174-213 were projected as steel rescue tugs ATR 101-140, reclassified to auxiliary ocean tugs (ATA) before completion, of Navy BAT-1 design identical to the ATR-41 class, with BuShips contracting through General Motors for diesel-electric machinery and subcontracted hull construction.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1944-1978+
- Limitations
- Expert reference compilation (Roberts is co-author of 'Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy 1775-1990'), not the primary record itself; the commercial-renaming chain and 'rebuilt as ex ATA-195' note trace to secondary reporting. Contains no asbestos or materials information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-challenge-ata201-10
-
[11]Batch-2875 search ledger (this record): NVR detail; BuShips Ships' Data Vol. III; Pacific Fleet Organization 1 May 1945; Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual 1953; DANFS Bangust I and Challenge II; MARAD ShipHistory 859 + status card; NARA Special List 44; NARA asbestos research guide; NAVSEA FOIA asbestos reading room (403); CourtListener name/hull searches [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-challenge-ata201-01 through -20
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos or insulation-material specification, S39 insulation drawing, survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming ATA-201, USS Challenge, or ATR-128 was found in the official and archival sources searched (see search_ledger).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard; a 1944 wartime steel tug is era-consistent with retained asbestos-containing materials in insulation, gaskets, and packing. Does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-challenge-ata201-11
-
[12]National Archives, 'Researching Asbestos aboard US Naval Vessel up through 1961' [other_primary]
- Locator
- Opening paragraph and Beginning Research section
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- NARA describes asbestos use in U.S. Navy materiel from 1941 through 1961 as a frequently requested topic requiring ship-by-ship archival research. ATA-201 was built in 1944, inside that documented era of Navy asbestos use, but the guide identifies no material aboard this hull.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1941-1961 era documented; page consulted 2026-09-26
- Population
- WWII-era Navy construction and shipboard personnel (class context)
- Limitations
- Era-level Navy materiel context only. Does not establish that any asbestos product was installed on ATA-201, that a crewmember encountered it, or that it survived the 1975-76 equipment removal and later commercial rebuild.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-challenge-ata201-12
-
[13]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 program under which this steel-hulled auxiliary tug was built, and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization in ship construction.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- 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-challenge-ata201-13
-
[14]CourtListener authenticated v4 opinion and RECAP docket searches, 2026-09-26 [court_record]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-challenge-ata201-12 through -17; hit URLs and classifications in batch report
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Authenticated CourtListener v4 searches on 2026-09-26: hull-number opinion queries for 'ATA-201' and 'ATR-128' and a scoped 'Challenge' opinion query each returned zero results; the 'ATA-201' docket query returned three unrelated matters (Sokolow v. PLO, D. Guam criminal, bankruptcy) and 'ATR-128' returned one patent-litigation docket, all classified as name collisions. Exact-name 'USS Challenge' opinion and docket queries remained blocked by shared fleet pacing at the research cutoff and are logged as pending in the search ledger, not as negative results.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- A search-index result is not an exhaustive survey of all filed cases, and OCR may create irrelevant matches. No docket hit names the vessel; no pleading allegation, discovery finding, trial finding, or judgment about this hull was identified.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-challenge-ata201-14
-
[15]National Archives, 'Researching Asbestos aboard US Naval Vessel up through 1961' (RG 19 correspondence series; Navy Filing Manual filing codes; S39/S48 drawing guidance) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Beginning Research; Bureau of Ships General, Confidential, and Secret Correspondence; cartographic/S39 and S48 references
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved): NARA's asbestos research guide identifies Bureau of Ships RG 19 general correspondence (arranged by hull designation 'ATA-201', class code 'ATA 174 Class' or type code 'ATA', and builder code 'QM/Gulfport Boiler & Welding') and cartographic records including S39 insulation-and-lagging and S48 piping drawings as the probative next sources for hull-specific asbestos research; deck logs for ATA-201 beyond the indexed 1944-1945 coverage would also sit at NARA. No box-level retrieval was performed.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1944-1976 records
- Limitations
- Record-group and filing-code mapping only - no ATA-201 drawing or file has been located or surveyed, and nothing in this row is an asbestos finding for this hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-challenge-ata201-15