Evidence
9 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-9).
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[1]Naval History and Heritage Command, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, 'Conecuh (AOR-110)' (published 2022-05-31; live page returned HTTP 404 on 2026-09-25, Wayback capture used) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- Wayback Machine capture 2025-01-21 of the live NHHC page (canonical URL https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/conecuh.html); full article text
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS timeline: Dithmarschen, a combination oiler and supply vessel, laid down 6 June 1936 at Danzig by Schichau ('Schuichau' in the NHHC transcription) for the Kriegsmarine; launched 12 June 1937; commissioned 20 July 1939. Taken over by British authorities at Bremerhaven 8 May 1945; allocated to the U.S. Navy 15 January 1946 by the Inter-Allied Reparations Commission. Placed in service 2 May 1946 as Dithmarschen (IX-301), Capt. Adolph W. Maddox USNR in charge; departed Bremerhaven 8 May, arrived Philadelphia Naval Shipyard 19 May for conversion; used for experimental one-stop oiler-replenishment work. Renamed Conecuh and redesignated AO-110 on 1 October 1946; placed out of service 24 October 1946 (conversion delayed by lack of funds). Reclassified AOR-110 on 4 September 1952 and converted to a replenishment fleet tanker; commissioned 16 February 1953, Cmdr. M. B. Freeman in command. Shakedown in the Virginia capes; NATO Operation Mariner (16 September-20 October 1953) via Greenock, Scotland; Sixth Fleet Mediterranean tour 5 March-28 May 1954; extensive overhaul at Norfolk 30 June 1954-4 January 1955; refueling operations, Caribbean, and off the Florida Keys 25 October-7 November 1955; decommissioned and transferred to the Maritime Commission, entering the James River Reserve Fleet at 1100 on 4 April 1956. Stricken from the Navy List 1 June 1960; approved for scrap sale 7 July 1960; bids opened 28 October 1960; sold 23 November 1960 to Southeastern Rail & Steel Co. for $136,688 and scrapped subsequently. DANFS credits Conecuh with proving the feasibility of the combination oiler-replenishment ship, experience that led to the fast combat support ship (AOE).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1936-1960
- Limitations
- Official secondary history; establishes identity, custody, and service chronology. Contains no asbestos, insulation-material, or condition-survey information; supports no asbestos claim. DANFS spec block lists speed 23 knots and armament 8x40mm - see correction row for reconciliation with shipscribe (20 kts US service; 2 quad 40mm mounts = 8 barrels).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-conecuh-aor110-01
-
[2]Wildenberg, Thomas, 'Gray Steel and Black Oil: Fast Tankers and Replenishment at Sea in the U.S. Navy, 1912-1995' (Naval Institute Press, 1996), chapters 19 and 21 and Appendix D (HyperWar mirror) [reputable_press]
- Locator
- Ch. 19 'The Oiler-Supply Ship Dithmarschen' section and Table 21; Ch. 21 discussion of Conecuh trials and 'One-Stop Replenishment' paper; Appendix D oiler list (AO-103 line)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Scholarly history of the hull's role in developing one-stop replenishment: BuShips chief VAdm. Cochrane recommended using ex-Dithmarschen (IX-301) to crystallize requirements for fast-task-force replenishment; the conversion was postponed indefinitely in October 1946 amid postwar budget cuts and the ship lay inactive six years. The CNO's April 1952 Conference on Mobile Logistic Support revived the project; reclassified AOR-110 on 4 September 1952 as the first replenishment oiler in the U.S. Navy. Conversion performed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard (work including three sea trials completed June 1953). Table 21 'Characteristics of Dithmarschen (as Built)': 582 ft oa, 72'5" beam, 33'6" draft, 20,850 tons displacement, 22,000 shp rated. Operationally: two months as 'sole source' logistics ship for a Hunter-Killer Group; Sixth Fleet evaluation documented underway replenishment on some 87 occasions; March 1954 demonstrated simultaneous stores transfer with span-wire fueling. Machinery breakdowns and spare-parts shortages were chronic; 'the Conecuh was kept at sea only by the efforts of her crew, which made repairs on a patchwork basis with the aid of a fleet repair ship.' After refit she conducted only one further operation (Florida Keys, late fall 1955) before decommissioning 3 April 1956. Ch. 21: although $4 million was allocated for conversion, funds were diverted; the 1954 demonstrations nonetheless led to the recommendation to build the fast combat support ship (AOE) rather than more AO-to-AOR conversions. Appendix D confirms the earlier USS Conecuh (AO-103, Marinship) was cancelled and completed as Mission Los Angeles (AO-117) - a different hull.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1946-1956
- Population
- Ship's crew (~284) and Philadelphia Navy Yard workers during conversion; Sixth Fleet receiving-ship crews during 1953-1955 evaluations
- Limitations
- Published scholarly secondary source compiled from Navy primary records (NARA); the standard reference on USN fleet-replenishment history. German-transit dates differ from DANFS (departure 19 May vs DANFS 8 May; arrival 'eleven days later' vs DANFS 19 May) - DANFS dates adopted. No asbestos, materials, or insulation content; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-conecuh-aor110-02
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[3]Shipscribe (Stephen S. Roberts), 'USS Conecuh (AO 110) Class' - compilation of the CNO/BuShips/SCB correspondence record, citing NARA RG 19 Entry UD 1024-A Box 1 (AOR 109 and 110), RG 19 BuShips General Correspondence 1953-57 boxes 161/171/196, RG 19 BuShips Confidential Correspondence 1946-61 box 42, and Wildenberg [other_primary]
- Locator
- Class notes and ship notes for AO-110; construction and disposition tables
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Primary-correspondence-derived account of acquisition and conversion: ex-Dithmarschen delivered 15 January 1946 to the US Naval Advanced Base, Weser, Germany by a German maintenance crew as part of the Allied Control Council allocation of ex-German warships; repairs/overhaul completed at Hamburg by German workers under US and British supervision; sister NORDMARK allocated to Britain (later HMS Bulawayo). CNO directed 11 April 1946 that she be placed in service as IX-301 using crew transferred from USS Europa (AP-177); placed in service 2 May 1946; arrived Philadelphia 19 May 1946. CNO authorized prototype 'Tanker - Supply ship' conversion 27 June 1946 (15 conversion items incl. upgraded berthing/messing/sanitary facilities and US-type replenishment gear); BuShips recommended minimizing scope citing cost and foreign features; conversion formally deferred 17 October 1946; out of service 24 October 1946; designated for disposal then retained 'in reserve' June 1948. CNO tentatively designated Conecuh for the FY1951-1st-Supplemental AOR conversion 29 October 1951; reclassified AOR-110 4 September 1952; converted September 1952-February 1953 (SCB Project No. 50 characteristics promulgated 6 November 1952); commissioned 16 February 1953; evaluated by COMHUKLANT November 1953 and COMSERVFORSIXTHFLT March-May 1954. Machinery line: geared Schichau steam turbines, 2 Wagner boilers (662 psi/815 deg F), 22,000 HP, 2 screws, 20 kts; accommodations 18 officers + 266 enlisted; armament (1955) 2-40mm quad mounts. Scheduled navy-yard availability at Maryland Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Baltimore, April 1956 was cancelled when inactivation was ordered 20 December 1955. Sold 23 November 1960 by MA to Southeastern Rail & Steel Co. for $136,688 and broken up.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1945-1960
- Population
- German workers (Hamburg repairs 1945-46); USS Europa transfer crew; Philadelphia Navy Yard workers (1946 prep, 1952-53 SCB-50 conversion)
- Limitations
- Secondary compilation quoting primary Navy correspondence; compiler names the NARA boxes used, making it traceable but not itself the archival record. Its 'in German service 20 Jul 1938' and 'to Britain 6 Jun 1945, renamed SOUTHMARK, handed over at Kiel 15 Jan 1946' entries conflict at the day/year level with DANFS (commissioned 20 Jul 1939; British takeover 8 May 1945) - see correction row and gaps. No asbestos or materials content; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-conecuh-aor110-03
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[4]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - CONECUH (AOR-110), Ship History Detail 1081, incl. scanned vessel status card (CONECUH.pdf) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- ShipHistory Detail 1081 fields and milestone table; Status Cards 1081_1964AF.jpg / 1081_1964AB.jpg / 1081_AF.jpg; Documents > CONECUH.pdf
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- MARAD custody record: year built 1939; shipyard 'Schichau GmbH Abt. Schiffswerft'; type AOR Replenishment Oiler, MARAD type Foreign; 584.00 ft length, 72.00 ft beam, 12,000 gross tons; milestones - Entry 4/4/1956, Acquisition 4/4/1956, Disposition 11/23/1960, Withdrawal 11/23/1960; fate 'Sold - Scrap.' Scanned status card corroborates Navy Department delivery to James River Reserve Fleet custody (April 1956) and later delivery to 'Southeastern Rail & Steel Co., Inc.' (November 1960, Lu/Purchaser-Scrap).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1956-1960
- Population
- NDRF James River Group caretakers (1956-1960); Southeastern Rail & Steel scrapping workforce (1960-61)
- Limitations
- Government custody record authoritative for reserve-fleet milestones and disposal; contains no asbestos, materials, condition-survey, or exposure information. 'Year built 1939' conflicts with NavSource 'built 1938' and with German commissioning-date variants - see correction row. Status-card scan partially legible (OCR-aided).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-conecuh-aor110-04
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[5]Batch-2027 search ledger (this record): NHHC DANFS (via Wayback), NavSource 19110, MARAD ShipHistory 1081 + status card, shipscribe AO-110, Wildenberg GSBO ch. 19/21 + App. D, CourtListener opinion and RECAP docket searches (6 queries), NVR AOR-110 check, web asbestos-term search [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-conecuh-aor110-01 through -12
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, museum/managing-body materials statement, or docketed litigation naming Conecuh, Dithmarschen, Southmark, or hull numbers IX-301/AO-110/AOR-110 was found in the public sources searched. CourtListener 2026-09-25: 'USS Conecuh' 0 opinions; 'Dithmarschen' 0; 'AOR-110' 0; 'AO-110' 4 results (all unrelated docket-fragment collisions); 'IX-301' 3 results (all unrelated fragment collisions); bare 'Conecuh' 775 opinions + 660 dockets - every hit reviewed is a Conecuh County/Conecuh Timber/Conecuh River Alabama name collision, none referencing the vessel (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 German naval auxiliary built 1936-1939 and converted at Philadelphia Navy Yard 1952-1953 is era-consistent with asbestos-containing insulation, but presence, quantity, condition, individual exposure, and legal eligibility are all unestablished. This hull was scrapped in 1960-61, before modern asbestos recordkeeping existed.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-conecuh-aor110-05
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[6]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); machinery particulars per shipscribe AO-110 page and Wildenberg GSBO Table 21 (2 Wagner boilers 662 psi/815 deg F, geared turbines, 22,000 shp) [other_primary]
- Locator
- AJIM 11(3):359-373 (1987) article; shipscribe AO-110 machinery line; GSBO Table 21
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Era/class-level context for asbestos likelihood: the ship was built 1936-1939 for the Kriegsmarine with a high-pressure, high-temperature steam plant (Wagner boilers at 662 psi/815 deg F) - machinery and piping of this type and era were routinely insulated with asbestos-containing lagging, gaskets, and packing, and peer-reviewed scholarship documents extensive asbestos use as fireproofing/insulation in WWII-era shipbuilding generally. Typical applications for a vessel of this type and period: boiler and steam-drum insulation; steam-line lagging between fireroom and engine spaces; valve and flange gaskets; machinery packing; accommodation-space and galley insulation. The hull additionally underwent US Navy conversion work at Philadelphia Navy Yard (1946 preparations; September 1952-February 1953 SCB-50 conversion plus completion work to June 1953) and an extensive Norfolk overhaul (June 1954-January 1955) - disturbance/reinstallation events typical of those that exposed yard workers in the documented US yard literature.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1936-1961 era; article 1987
- Population
- F. Schichau yard workers (1936-39); Kriegsmarine crew (1939-45); Hamburg repair workers (1945-46); Philadelphia Navy Yard workers (1946, 1952-53); ship's crew (1946 transit, 1953-56); Norfolk overhaul workers (1954-55); NDRF caretakers (1956-60); Southeastern Rail & Steel scrappers (1960-61)
- Limitations
- Era inference only - Corn & Starr documents US WWII shipbuilding practice and does not name this hull or address German construction specifically; no German-yard material specification for this vessel was located, and no US survey of the hull's insulation exists in public records. Does not establish that asbestos was or was not aboard, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation. Norfolk-overhaul performing yard not documented (see gaps).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-conecuh-aor110-06
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[7]NARA record-group mapping for hull-specific records: RG 19 Entry UD 1024-A Box 1 (AOR 109/110 preliminary-design and SCB files) and BuShips General/Confidential Correspondence boxes named by shipscribe; RG 181 Philadelphia Naval Shipyard records for the 1946 and 1952-53 conversions; RG 24 deck logs and muster rolls for the 1953-56 commissioned period; MARAD NDRF James River custody files; prize/disposal correspondence per the shipscribe-documented CNO-BuShips exchanges [other_primary]
- Locator
- NARA RG 19 guide; shipscribe 'Special sources' note naming the specific boxes; NavSource PD-X-591 reference
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - require research-room or reproduction order; no spend authorized): (1) NARA RG 19 Entry UD 1024-A Box 1 - the exact box shipscribe cites for AOR 109/110 records; (2) RG 19 BuShips General Correspondence 1953-57 boxes 161, 171, 196 and Confidential Correspondence 1946-61 box 42; (3) Philadelphia Naval Shipyard (RG 181, Philadelphia Federal Records Center holdings) work packages for the 1946 conversion prep and the September 1952-February 1953 SCB-50 conversion - the likeliest location of insulation/materials specifications for this hull; (4) RG 24 deck logs and muster rolls, 1953-56; (5) MARAD/James River NDRF custody records 1956-60; (6) Southeastern Rail & Steel disposal file (PD-X-591 dated 7 October 1960 per NavSource).
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1936-1961 records
- Limitations
- Record-group mapping only; no box-level retrieval performed. Whether any of these files contain asbestos-specific documentation for this hull is unknown until surveyed. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-conecuh-aor110-07
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[8]Cross-source reconciliation: NavSource Service Ship Photo Archive (19110); DANFS/NHHC (ev-01); MARAD ShipHistory 1081 (ev-04); shipscribe AO-110 (ev-03); german-navy.de operational chronology and Historical RFA Society 'Historical Jottings' SOUTHMARK article [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource archive page bulletins; DANFS text; MARAD milestone table; shipscribe ship notes; german-navy.de Dithmarschen operations page; historicalrfa.uk SOUTHMARK jotting
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Publication-level discrepancies resolved or flagged: (a) NavSource 'Taken over by United Kingdom forces 1944' is a typographical error - all other sources give May 1945 (DANFS 8 May; german-navy.de and Historical RFA 9 May; shipscribe records handover to Britain 6 June 1945 - the discrepancy is noted, with May-June 1945 custody transfer undisputed); (b) German commissioning: DANFS 20 July 1939 vs shipscribe and Historical RFA 'completed 20 July 1938' - unresolved, flagged in gaps rather than reconciled; (c) disposal date: NavSource 'sold 1 November 1960' vs DANFS, shipscribe, and MARAD milestones all 23 November 1960 (withdrawal from fleet same day) - 23 November 1960 adopted; scrap-sale approval 7 July 1960, bids opened 28 October 1960, PD-X-591 dated 7 October 1960 per NavSource; (d) speed: DANFS 23 kts vs shipscribe 20 kts US service vs Wildenberg 'design speed' ~20-21 - different bases (design max vs service rating), both cited without reconciliation; (e) build year: 'built 1938' (NavSource) vs 'year built 1939' (MARAD) vs launched 1937/commissioned 1939 (DANFS) - reflects hull-completion vs service-entry conventions.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1936-1960
- Limitations
- Reconciles secondary-source contradictions; does not affect the custody timeline or any exposure-relevant fact materially. No asbestos content in any reconciled source.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-conecuh-aor110-08
-
[9]Wildenberg, 'Gray Steel and Black Oil,' Appendix D (oiler list); corroborated by NavSource/shipbuildinghistory AO-103 records and Wikipedia 'USS Conecuh' disambiguation [other_primary]
- Locator
- GSBO Appendix D entry 'AO-103 Conecuh Marinship 1945 Canceled'; Wikipedia 'USS Conecuh' and 'SS Mission Los Angeles' entries (lead-level only)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Name-precedence disambiguation: the name Conecuh was first assigned to AO-103, a Marinship-built T2-SE-A3 fleet oiler whose acquisition was cancelled 18 August 1945; that hull was completed as merchant SS Mission Los Angeles and acquired by the Navy in 1948 as USS Mission Los Angeles (AO-117). The name was reassigned to the ex-German Dithmarschen effective 1 October 1946. Any 'USS Conecuh (AO-103)' reference denotes the cancelled Marinship hull, not this vessel.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1945-1946
- Limitations
- Identity disambiguation only; concerns a different hull and carries no exposure implication for AOR-110.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-conecuh-aor110-09