Evidence
6 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-6).
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[1]DANFS, Change (AM-159) (builder, dates, service narrative, reclassification; verbatim NHHC text via Wayback capture of history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/change.html, 2021-07-23 - the live NHHC page returns 404) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS entry 'Change' (AM-159), specifications block + service narrative (Wayback capture of history.navy.mil, 2021-07-23)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS record for this hull: launched 15 December 1942 by Willamette Iron and Steel Corp., Portland, Oreg.; commissioned 28 February 1944, Lieutenant F. M. Linderman in command; reported to the Pacific Fleet. Arrived Kwajalein 2 June 1944 for convoy escort duty between Pearl Harbor, Kwajalein, Majuro, and Eniwetok; based at Eniwetok from 15 September 1944; operations to Guadalcanal, Manus, Ulithi, Guam, Iwo Jima, and Saipan before 5 August 1945, when she cleared for Seattle overhaul. November 1945 to Pearl Harbor, then cleared for the east coast; placed out of commission in reserve at New Orleans 3 July 1946; reclassified MSF-159 on 7 February 1955. Spec block: dp. 530; l. 184'6"; b. 33'; dr. 9'9"; s. 15 k.; cpl. 104; a. 1 x 3"; cl. Admirable.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1942-1955
- Population
- Willamette Iron and Steel construction trades 1942-44; wartime crew (design complement 104)
- Limitations
- DANFS documents service history and specifications, not materials or asbestos content. DANFS does not print a laid-down date (23 May 1942 rests on NAVSHIPS 250-011 and NavSource) and does not print a striking or disposal date. The hazegray transcription of this same entry carries a transcriber typo ('AM-169' in the lead line) - the archived NHHC text reads AM-159 and is the version carried. Live NHHC page 404s (standing batch-01 defect).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-change-am159-01
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[2]Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data U.S. Naval Vessels, Vol. II: Mine Vessels (less DM and CM), Patrol Vessels, Landing Ships and Craft, NAVSHIPS 250-011, 13 April 1945 (GPO 1945; scan via shipscribe.com) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NAVSHIPS 250-011, Mine Vessels - Mine Sweepers (AM) tables: builder/date table and propulsion/generator table (CHANGE AM159 rows, pp. 30-31 of the section) + AM136-165 class characteristics block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The official 1945 BuShips register names CHANGE, official number AM159, in the mine-sweeper tables: builder Willamette Iron & Steel Corp., Portland, Ore.; keel laid 23 May 1942; launched 15 December 1942; date of first commission 28 February 1944; engine manufacturer/model 'Alco 539', shaft horsepower 1,710, 'F.B.' (Farrel-Birmingham) single reduction gear. The AM136-165 class characteristics block prints: 2 propellers, diesel drive with single reduction gears; length 184'6" o.a., 180'0" w.l.; extreme beam 33'0"; full-load displacement 945 tons (at limiting draft); trial speed 14.8 knots; total accommodations 11 officers + 93 enlisted; armament 1 x 3"/50 cal. D.P. and 2 twin 40mm A.A. mounts.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1942-1945 (register data as of 13 April 1945)
- Population
- Willamette Iron & Steel construction trades 1942-44; wartime crew
- Limitations
- Contemporaneous official register - establishes identity, builder, construction dates, and propulsion for this hull; contains no materials or asbestos information. The class block prints 'Diesel' (geared) drive for AM136-165, not 'diesel-electric' - secondary summaries (e.g., the HyperWar data card, 'diesel-electric engines, twin screws, 1,800 h.p.') conflict with this table; the official table is carried and the conflict logged in gaps. The 1,710 figure is the class-table shaft-horsepower entry and is not labeled per-engine or aggregate. OCR noise in the scanned table does not affect the row's substance.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-change-am159-02
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[3]NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive, Change (MSF 159) ex-AM-159, ex-AMc-136 (photo/data archive page) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource AM-159 archive page, ship history block + specifications block + CO roster
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource archive record for this hull: originally planned as coastal minesweeper Change (AMc-136); reclassified AM-159 on 21 February 1942; laid down 23 May 1942 by Willamette Iron and Steel Corp., Portland, OR; launched 15 December 1942; commissioned USS Change (AM 159) on 28 February 1944; decommissioned 3 July 1946 at New Orleans, LA; the Naval Vessel Register of 1 January 1949 lists her out of commission, in reserve; reclassified fleet minesweeper (steel hull) MSF-159 on 7 February 1955; scrapped in 1960. Commanding officers: LT Francis Monroe Linderman, USN (28 February 1944 - 31 July 1945); LCDR Charles Lund Alward, USNR (May 1946). Spec block (650 t.; 184'6" x 33' x 9'9"; 14.8 kts; complement 104; 1 x 3"/50 DP, two twin 40mm, hedgehog, two depth-charge tracks; two ALCO 539 diesels, Farrel-Birmingham single reduction gear, two shafts) is consistent with the official NAVSHIPS table where they overlap.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1942-1960 (compiled)
- Population
- Construction trades 1942-44; wartime crew; reserve-fleet caretakers 1946-1960
- Limitations
- Private photo/data archive, not an official source: the disposal detail ('scrapped in 1960') and the NVR 1 January 1949 reserve-fleet listing rest on a secondary compilation - consistent with DANFS and NAVSHIPS where they overlap but not independently corroborated by an official source. The Navy List striking date is not printed ('not shown in Navy records' per secondary renderings). No materials or asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-change-am159-03
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[4]Albina Engine & Machine v. Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 627 F.3d 1293 (9th Cir. 2010), No. 09-70592 [court_record]
- Locator
- Opinion text, 627 F.3d 1293 at 1296-1297 (Background; employment dates; stipulation)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Published appellate opinion records an LHWCA death-benefits claim by the widow of James McAllister, a shipyard carpenter who died of mesothelioma from asbestos exposure across three shipyard employers: Willamette Iron & Steel Co. ('WISCO'), Albina Engine & Machine, and Lockheed Shipbuilding. All parties stipulated the death was caused by asbestos exposure at a maritime situs; the opinion notes 'WISCO admitted that Decedent was exposed to asbestos in its employ.' WISCO is the builder of this hull (the Atlas yard dataset lists 'WISCO' as an alias of Willamette Iron & Steel Corp., Portland, OR). The Ninth Circuit resolved only which employer was liable for benefits under the last-employer framework, holding Lockheed liable.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1956-1960 (employment); 2010 (opinion)
- Population
- Willamette Iron & Steel shipyard workers (1956 employment window documented)
- Limitations
- Yard-level context, not a hull finding: McAllister's WISCO employment was in 1956 - more than a decade after this hull's 1942-44 construction - so the documented exposure window does not overlap the build period. The opinion names the employer, not AM-159, and adjudicates an LHWCA liability-allocation question only; exposure at WISCO was stipulated/admitted, not tried. Does not establish conditions aboard any vessel or during the wartime window. CourtListener API was unavailable on 2026-09-22 (shared daily quota exhausted); opinion read via vLex.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-change-am159-04
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[5]GAO, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure, HRD-80-2 (Oct 18, 1979) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO product page HRD-80-2 (full text blocked, HTTP 403)
- Finding type
- gov_survey
- Finding
- GAO documented the Navy's asbestos-protection program and its 1975/1979 insulation-removal policies covering the WWII-built fleet - program-level confirmation that Navy ship construction of Change's era incorporated asbestos insulation and that the material was managed as a known hazard aboard Navy vessels.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1979
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers; asbestos program review
- Limitations
- Program-level documentation, not hull-specific; establishes era context for WWII Navy construction, not materials aboard AM-159 - which left active service in July 1946 and was disposed of in 1960, before the Navy's asbestos-management program was documented. Does not establish individual exposure, quantities, or presence at any time. Full text not retrieved (gao.gov blocks automated fetch, HTTP 403) - content via product-page description.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-change-am159-05
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[6]Batch-1183 search ledger (this record): NHHC DANFS (live + Wayback capture), NAVSHIPS 250-011 Ships' Data 1945, Naval Vessel Register, NavSource archive, CourtListener opinion/docket indexes, NARA catalog, general web index [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-change-am159-01 through sl-uss-change-am159-12
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming USS Change under AM-159, AMc-136, or MSF-159 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). CourtListener API sweep could not be completed on 2026-09-22 (authenticated 2,800/day quota exhausted on the shared key; the web UI returned 403 to automated fetch); web-index spot checks surfaced only name collisions and law-firm marketing listicles that name the vessel without evidence.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 2026-09-22
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - the hull was built 1942-44 at a yard later documented as an asbestos-litigation site (post-war windows), and its post-1946 life was reserve-fleet lay-up followed by domestic scrapping for which no survey or sale/disposal record was located. Does not establish that asbestos is or was not present; does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility. CourtListener sweep remains open - logged as a gap, not a clean negative.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-change-am159-06