Evidence
16 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-16).
-
[1]research packet lx-packet.md (12 sources cited) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED — real identity: USS Coontz
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-coontz-dl9-pkt-lx-packet-md
-
[2]DANFS, Coontz (DLG-9) - Wayback Machine capture 2025-02-02 of history.navy.mil DANFS page (live page returns 404) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS 'Coontz' entry, spec block + namesake paragraph + opening paragraph
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS entry for this hull: spec block '(DLG-9: dp. 5,368; l. 512'; b. 52'; dr. 16'7"; s. 35 k.; cpl. 377; a. Classified; cl. Farragut)'; namesake biography (Robert Edward Coontz, b. 11 June 1864 Hannibal MO, Naval Academy 1885, Commandant Puget Sound Navy Yard 1915-18, second Chief of Naval Operations 1919-23, d. 26 Jan 1935); 'Coontz (DLG-9) was launched 6 December 1958 by Puget Sound Naval Shipyard; sponsored by Mrs. Robert J. Coontz; and commissioned 15 July 1960, Commander H. H. Ries in command. For the remainder of 1960, Coontz engaged in tests and training off the coast of southern California.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1955-1960
- Population
- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard construction trades 1957-60; crew (design complement 377)
- Limitations
- DANFS documents lineage, builder, dates, and specifications - not materials or asbestos content. Entry is the short postwar format and ends at 1960, so the bulk of service history rests on other records. Live NHHC page 404s; verbatim Wayback capture cited.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-coontz-dl9-01
-
[3]NHHC Online Library of Selected Images, 'USS Coontz (DLG-9, later DDG-40), 1960-2002' (verbatim NHHC page via HyperWar/ibiblio mirror) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NHHC Online Library page text (ship summary paragraph above photo entries)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NHHC ship page for this hull: 'a 4150-ton Farragut class guided missile frigate, built at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Washington,' commissioned July 1960, joined Pacific Fleet; first of seven Seventh Fleet tours a year later including Vietnam operations 1965-70; decommissioned February 1971 for 'an extensive anti-air warfare modernization,' returned to active service March 1972 with the Atlantic Fleet; redesignated guided missile destroyer DDG-40 July 1975; Standing Naval Force Atlantic 1976 and 1978-79; Black Sea cruise and Grenada operation in the 1980s; Persian Gulf 1987; taken out of service October 1989; 'Sold for scrapping in April 1994, the ship had to be repossessed in October 1996. She was sold again in February 1999 and again repossessed. The hulk of the former USS Coontz was finally broken up under a contract awarded in February 2002 to a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania firm.' Named for Adm. Robert E. Coontz (1864-1935), second CNO.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1960-2003
- Population
- Crew across seven WESTPAC/Seventh Fleet tours and Atlantic service 1960-1989
- Limitations
- Official NHHC summary but a photo-catalog page, not a full DANFS narrative; it establishes the service arc and the disposal sequence (1994 sale, 1996 repossession, 1999 resale, second repossession, 2002 dismantling contract) without buyer names or contract detail. No materials or asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-coontz-dl9-02
-
[4]Naval Vessel Register, COONTZ (DDG 40) ex-DLG 9 (Wayback capture 2012-01-26; live NVR detail page no longer resolves for this disposed hull) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NVR ship detail page DDG-40, data block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NVR register data for this hull: Class DDG-37 (Farragut); UIC 52234; award date 11/18/1955; builder 'NAV SY/PUGET SOUND'; keel 03/01/1957; launch 12/06/1958; commission 07/15/1960; delivery date 04/27/1972 (reflecting redelivery after the 1971-72 inactivation/modernization); decommission 10/04/1989; stricken 01/26/1990; status 'Disposed of by scrapping, dismantling,' date status changed 04/04/2003; dimensions 513 ft OA / 490 ft WL, beam 52 ft, max navigational draft 27 ft; light displacement 5,083 t, full 6,160 t, deadweight 1,077 t; steel hull, aluminum superstructure.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1955-2003
- Population
- Crew 1960-1989
- Limitations
- Register data only - no operational narrative, no materials data. NVR's decommission date (10/04/1989) conflicts with NavSource/Wikipedia (10/02); NVR's stricken date (01/26/1990) conflicts with NavSource (01/07); NVR carried as the authoritative register, conflicts in gaps.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-coontz-dl9-03
-
[5]Pease v. A.W. Chesterton Co. et al. (MDL-875 consolidated), E.D. Pa. Civil Action No. 2:09-cv-62581-ER, Order denying Crane Co. motion for summary judgment, filed 2011-01-14 (Robreno, J.); official E.D. Pa. opinions PDF [court_record]
- Locator
- Order pp. 1, 4-6 (recited testimony; genuine-issue holding; MSJ denial)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Published federal order naming this hull in asbestos litigation: decedent Herbert Pease, a Navy machinist mate 1960-63 and 1965-67, testified he served aboard USS William Wood (1960-62), USS Yosemite (1962-63), and USS Coontz (1965-67), working with valves and pumps 'all of the time' and naming 'Crane' for valves and gaskets/packing. Shipmate James Moody (aboard USS Coontz 1962-68) testified he and Pease worked in the Coontz engine room together and that Crane supplied 'packing materials and other products that were used in the engine room.' Applying Delaware product-nexus law after finding the maritime location test met, Judge Robreno held plaintiffs 'have at least raised a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Mr. Pease was exposed to Crane Co. asbestos-containing products on the USS Coontz' and DENIED Crane Co.'s motion for summary judgment, while noting it was unclear whether Moody meant John Crane or Crane Co. Filed 2008-08-01 in Delaware Superior Court; transferred to E.D. Pa. as part of MDL-875 on 2009-02-03; Pease died of mesothelioma 2009-04-15.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1965-1967 (alleged exposure); 2008-2011 (litigation)
- Population
- Herbert Pease (USN machinist mate, mesothelioma, d. 2009); James Moody (shipmate, engine room 1962-68)
- Limitations
- Summary-judgment posture: denial establishes only that a genuine factual dispute existed, not that exposure aboard this hull was proven or adjudicated. The court expressly noted the Crane Co. vs John Crane product-identity ambiguity in the corroborating testimony. No quantities, no ACM inventory finding. Post-order disposition not located.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-coontz-dl9-04
-
[6]Board of Veterans' Appeals, Citation Nr. 0715533, Docket No. 05-03 200 (decision date 2007-05-24; St. Paul RO origin) - administrative adjudication [other_primary]
- Locator
- BVA decision 0715533, Reasons and Bases (Sept. 2004 RO letter discussion)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Adjudicated negative finding naming this hull: a veteran (active service February 1965 - November 1968) asserted an anxiety disorder from Vietnam service 'as well as, time spent on a destroyer which resulted in his exposure to asbestos.' The Board found: 'While the evidence of record does show that the veteran had service aboard the USS Coontz during his period of active service, there is no evidence that he was exposed to asbestos.' Service connection for the psychiatric disorder was denied.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1965-1968 (service); 2004-2007 (claim)
- Population
- One USS Coontz veteran (service 1965-1968)
- Limitations
- Merits-level administrative finding that the record showed no evidence of asbestos exposure for THIS claimant - it does not establish absence of asbestos materials aboard the hull, addresses no product identity, and is non-precedential. The asbestos assertion was ancillary to a psychiatric-disorder claim; no asbestos-specific medical issue was adjudicated.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-coontz-dl9-05
-
[7]NHHC Archives, USS Coontz (DLG-9) Command History for 1966 (OPNAV Report Symbol 5750-1), CO letter Ser 01/03 dated 1967-04-02, declassified (live NHHC dam link 404s; Wayback capture 2025-12-10) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Command history enclosure (1), narrative paragraphs on 1966 WESTPAC and return to LBNSY
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The ship's own 1966 command history: 1966 WESTPAC deployment with Gulf of Tonkin SAR/AAW operations; 1 July 1966 PT-boat engagement (three North Vietnamese PT boats sunk by aircraft under Coontz control; 19 prisoners taken aboard); Navy Unit Commendation for the deployment; return to San Diego, then 'COONTZ entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard for regular overhaul. The ship entered dry dock following a 1081 day period from the previous drydocking. While in the shipyard several main modifications and alterations were planned' (TRAM sonar work, Terrier missile system modification, communications package).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1966-1967
- Population
- Crew during 1966 combat deployment and subsequent overhaul
- Limitations
- Primary operational document; corroborates the late-1966 LBNSY overhaul and (via the 1,081-day drydock interval) roughly the late-1963 previous yard period. Not a material-condition survey - no asbestos content. OCR of the scanned report is rough; quoted language verified against extracted text.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-coontz-dl9-06
-
[8]navysite.de USS Coontz (DDG 40) ship history (secondary compilation reproducing the ship's official-history narrative), corroborated for 1966-67 by the ship's own command history (ev-06) [other_primary]
- Locator
- navysite.de/dd/ddg40.htm 'USS COONTZ History' narrative; NavSource photo index DN-ST-88-08244 caption
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Post-construction industrial availabilities for this hull per secondary ship-history compilation: January 1971 departed San Diego via Panama Canal for Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and extensive AAW modification (decommissioned 1971-02-23, recommissioned 1972-03-18, homeported Newport RI); fall 1972 three-month post-shakedown availability at Boston Naval Shipyard; homeport changed Newport to Norfolk 1974-01-17; entered Charleston Naval Shipyard for overhaul spring 1975, returned to Norfolk 1975-10-01; one-year regular overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard ending July 1978; Philadelphia Naval Shipyard one-year regular overhaul July 1982 - July 1983; first Phased Maintenance Availability August-October 1985; October 1987 maintenance availability in floating drydock at Metro Machine Co., Portsmouth, VA (official Navy photo DN-ST-88-08244 via NavSource).
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1963-1989
- Population
- Shipyard workers at five naval shipyards + Metro Machine, 1963-1989; crew during availabilities
- Limitations
- Secondary compilation (navysite.de, consistent with Wikipedia's identically-sourced narrative) - not official overhaul records. The 1971-72 Philadelphia inactivation is independently corroborated by NHHC (ev-02); the 1966-67 LBNSY overhaul by the ship's command history (ev-06); remaining yard periods carried at reduced confidence. Asbestos scope of each yard period is inference.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-coontz-dl9-07
-
[9]NavSource Destroyer Photo Index, USS Coontz (DL-9/DLG-9/DDG-40) - 'Operational and Building Data' and 'Fate' lines (volunteer-compiled; disposal figures track NVR record) [other_primary]
- Locator
- navsource.org/archives/05/0209.htm - class data block and fate paragraph
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Disposal timeline for this hull: 'October 3 1989 moved from ISMF Philadelphia to ISMF Portsmouth, VA arriving October 5 1989. May 5 1993 sold to NR Aquisition for $232,270.10, arrived Wilmington, NC October 24 1994. Reposessed October 1 1996, moved by Moran Towing to ISMF Philadelphia October 13 1996. January 25 2002 sold to Metro for $97,275.00, removed April 1 2002. Scrap completed March 26 2003.' Also: reclassified DLG-9 on 14 November 1956 (pre-launch); machinery 85,000 shp geared turbines, 2 screws, 33 kt; crew 360; stricken 'January 7 1990' (conflicts with NVR 01/26/1990).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1989-2003
- Population
- ISMF custodial crews; towing/salvage crews (Moran Towing 1996)
- Limitations
- NavSource is volunteer-compiled, not an official source - carried for the disposal contract detail and cross-checked against NVR (decommission/stricken/disposal dates) and NHHC (sale-repossession sequence). The 1993 sale date conflicts with NHHC's 'April 1994'; the May 1993 date may reflect transfer toward disposal rather than contract award - carried in gaps. 'Stricken January 7 1990' is superseded by NVR.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-coontz-dl9-08
-
[10]Paul Stillwell, 'To the Boneyard,' Naval History Magazine (U.S. Naval Institute), February 1997, Vol. 11 [reputable_press]
- Locator
- usni.org Naval History, Feb. 1997, paragraphs 3-4 (Wilmington scene)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Contemporaneous account placing this hull at the Wilmington, N.C. scrapping site: the author describes the ex-Coontz hulk on the Cape Fear River 'await[ing] her turn to go under the ship-breaker's cutting torches,' topsides in shambles, name painted out - 'This hulk once had been the USS Coontz (DLG-9), commissioned in July 1960 as the name ship of a new class of guided-missile frigates.' Decommissioned 1989, joined the reserve fleet; by October 1996 on her way back to Navy custody per the repossession timeline.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1996-1997
- Population
- Scrapping-yard workforce at Wilmington Resources/Sigma Recycling, 1994-96
- Limitations
- Journalism, not contract records - corroborates the hull's physical presence at Wilmington awaiting dismantling during the yard's operation, and that dismantling had not begun. The class-designation remark ('name ship of a new class') is loose usage - the official class is Farragut.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-coontz-dl9-09
-
[11]GAO/NSIAD-99-18, 'Federal Surplus Ships: Government Efforts to Address the Growing Backlog of Ships Awaiting Disposal' (1998-10-22); text via globalsecurity.org mirror (gao.gov blocks automated fetch) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO NSIAD-99-18, results section (repossession statistics and $2M tow-back cost)
- Finding type
- environmental_record
- Finding
- GAO documents the disposal-program episode that included this hull: 'between 1991 and 1996, the Navy repossessed 20 of the 62 ships it had sold to domestic firms for scrapping due to environmental pollution and worker safety compliance problems and other contractor performance issues,' and the Navy 'had to spend about $2 million to tow 14 ships back to federal storage facilities in Philadelphia from North Carolina and Rhode Island when a ship scrapping contract was terminated due to contractor noncompliance with environmental and safety regulations.' Coontz was one of the North Carolina-returned ships (NavSource: repossessed 1996-10-01, towed by Moran Towing to ISMF Philadelphia 1996-10-13).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1991-1998
- Population
- Domestic shipbreaking workforce, 1991-1996
- Limitations
- Program-level report - GAO does not name Coontz; the hull's inclusion is established by the NavSource/NHHC timeline, not by this document. Describes yard noncompliance (environmental pollution, worker safety) without ship-specific findings. gao.gov fetch blocked (standing issue); report content verified via mirror.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-coontz-dl9-10
-
[12]Wilmington Star-News, 'Million-dollar job / After five years, Sigma Recycling cleanup nears OK by state' (2001-08-30) [reputable_press]
- Locator
- Star-News article, paragraphs on site contamination and worker practices
- Finding type
- environmental_record
- Finding
- Documents asbestos contamination at the yard where this hull lay awaiting dismantling (Oct 1994 - Oct 1996): 'Sigma Recycling left behind giant stains of petroleum, lead and asbestos at the 26-acre site off U.S. 421 where the company dismantled old Navy ships and sold the parts from 1994 to 1996. Workers flushed hydraulic fluids out of pipes, stripped fire-retardant asbestos from walls and sandblasted lead paint from metal scraps.' Environmental and worker-safety violations forced shutdown; ten vessels were returned to the Navy.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1994-2001
- Population
- Sigma Recycling/Wilmington Resources yard workers 1994-96
- Limitations
- Yard-level contamination record only - it does not establish that Coontz's own materials were disturbed; USNI (Feb. 1997) describes her as intact, 'awaiting her turn.' Full article text paywalled; quoted passages verified via indexed excerpt.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-coontz-dl9-11
-
[13]OSHA inspection record 303874739, Metro Machine of Pennsylvania Inc., Philadelphia Naval Business Center (opened 2001-05-02, closed 2003-07-22); OSHA National Emphasis Program on Shipbreaking, CPL 02-00-136 (1999 DOD/DOT/EPA/OSHA ship-scrapping MOA framework) [other_primary]
- Locator
- osha.gov establishment inspection detail, inspection 303874739 header block
- Finding type
- regulatory
- Finding
- Regulatory context for the final dismantling site: OSHA conducted a planned, complete-scope health inspection at Metro Machine of Pennsylvania's Philadelphia Naval Business Center facility under the shipyards emphasis program during the window in which ex-Coontz was dismantled there (June 2002 - March 2003); the case record shows 10 violations and $17,850 in penalties, closing 2003-07-22. The facility's shipbreaking work operated under the OSHA shipbreaking emphasis program implementing the 1999 DOD/DOT/EPA/OSHA memorandum of agreement.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 2001-2003
- Population
- Metro Machine shipbreaking workforce, Philadelphia, 2001-2003
- Limitations
- Facility-level OSHA data - the inspection record does not name ex-Coontz or identify which vessels were in work; violation line-item detail (including whether any item was asbestos-related) not retrievable in this session. Documents regulatory oversight of the site and period, nothing about this hull's materials.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-coontz-dl9-12
-
[14]USS Preble (DDG-46) Association site, quoting Metro Machine Corp. dismantling-status email (Harry Lewis) describing sister-ship dismantling at the same Philadelphia facility, circa 2002 [other_primary]
- Locator
- usspreble.org/location.html, quoted Metro Machine correspondence (middle of page)
- Finding type
- abatement_record
- Finding
- Same-program sister-hull documentation of the dismantling environment: Metro Machine Corp. (NAVSEA 333 contract) described the concurrent dismantling of ex-USS Preble (DDG-46), a Farragut/Coontz-class sister, at Drydock 2, Philadelphia Naval Business Center: 'we have commenced removal of hull insulation and interference items, and started cutting access holes for removal of material. After a survey of paint systems, we will have to sandblast all areas of the interior that contain PCB paint systems, in accordance with EPA regulations. Every piece of the ship has its own waste stream; e.g., PCB paint chips, asbestos insulation, PCB lubricants, fiberglass insulation, bilgewater, rubber gaskets, sonar hydrophones, rubber sound domes, fluorescent light bulbs; you name it, there's a waste stream for it, and it's all monitored by the Navy and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA.'
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 2002
- Population
- Metro Machine dismantling crews; Navy/OSHA/EPA monitors, 2002
- Limitations
- Describes sister ship Preble, not Coontz - class/era context for how these hulls were dismantled at the same facility in the same window (NavSource photos show both at Philadelphia in 2002). Provenance caveat: the passage is a contractor email republished on a ship-association site, not an official repository. Does not establish that Coontz contained the same materials.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-coontz-dl9-13
-
[15]NavSource technical data (85,000 shp geared turbines, 2 screws) + navysite.de technical data (4 x 1,200-psi boilers, 2 geared turbines) + Atlas shipyard dataset Puget Sound Naval Shipyard record + DANFS spec block [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource/navysite technical data blocks; shipyards.json 'puget-sound-naval-shipyard'
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Era/yard inference: a Farragut-class guided missile frigate built 1957-60 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard with a four-boiler 1,200-psi steam plant would have carried period-standard asbestos boiler and turbine insulation, steam-line lagging, gaskets, packing, fireproofing, and deck coverings; Navy insulation substitution did not begin until the early 1970s. Builder yard (PSNS Bremerton) is in the Atlas shipyard dataset; NARA RG19 General Information Books and PSNS work-package archives are leads for hull-level material specs.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1957-1989
- Population
- PSNS construction trades 1957-60; engineering crew 1960-1989
- Limitations
- Class/era inference only - no ship-specific material finding rests on this row; the ship-specific record is ev-04 (deposition testimony at MSJ stage) and ev-05 (BVA negative). 1,200-psi plant detail is from secondary compilations, not DANFS.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-coontz-dl9-14
-
[16]CourtListener API v4 authenticated sweep, 2026-09-29 [court_record]
- Locator
- cl-auth-search.py run, type=o, query '"USS Coontz"' -> count 0
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- CourtListener opinion search for exact phrase 'USS Coontz' returned count=0 (authenticated query via fleet helper, 2026-09-29). The qualifying litigation record for this hull (Pease order, ev-04) was located via the E.D. Pa. court site, not CourtListener; the BVA decision (ev-05) via va.gov. Docket-type (RECAP) sweep and 'Coontz'-only variant queries were blocked by the fleet-wide pacing limiter at session time and are logged as pending in the search ledger.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 2026-09-29
- Limitations
- Negative result covers only the completed opinion-corpus query for the exact name; docket/recap coverage and surname-collision queries ('Coontz' alone, 'Pease' 'Coontz', 'DDG-40', 'DLG-9') remain unrun. 'Coontz' is a surname collision risk for any future sweep; a second ship, DE-91/APD-66 USS Coontz (WWII), adds cross-era collision risk.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-coontz-dl9-15