Evidence
6 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-6).
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[1]DANFS, Croaker (SS-246) - Electric Boat construction; six war patrols incl. Nagara sinking (NUC); Portsmouth SSK-246 conversion 1953; postwar career through museum status (NHHC entry via Wayback capture; live page returned 404) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS service narrative and spec block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Documented for this hull: laid down 1 April 1943 at Electric Boat Co., Groton, Conn. - the last Gato built by EB; launched 19 December 1943 (sponsor Mrs. W. H. P. Blandy); commissioned 21 April 1944, Commander J. E. Lee in command. Six war patrols. First patrol in the East China and Yellow Seas won the Navy Unit Commendation - sank the light cruiser Nagara 7 August 1944 and two freighters; lifeguard duty during Bonins air strikes. Third patrol provided lifeguard service for Lingayen Gulf strikes; fifth patrol in the Java Sea; sixth on lifeguard duty in the South China Sea and off Hong Kong at war's end. Decommissioned at New London 15 June 1946 (NavSource); recommissioned 7 May 1951 as schoolship out of New London; decommissioned 18 March 1953 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for hunter-killer conversion; reclassified SSK-246 9 April 1953; recommissioned 11 December 1953; east coast/Caribbean operations; NATO exercises in England 1957, 1958 and 1960; Mediterranean-Suez-Karachi cruise September-December 1960; reverted SS-246 15 August 1959; AGSS-246 1 May 1967; decommissioned 2 April 1968; IXSS-246 30 June 1971; struck 20 December 1971; museum ship at Buffalo, NY. NUC and three battle stars; 19,710 tons sunk.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- Ship-specific history only; no asbestos or material content. Yard-period asbestos disturbance is era inference, not a per-hull record.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-croaker-ss246-01
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[2]NavSource Online Submarine Photo Archive, header 'as built' spec block and disposition line for this hull; corroborated by DANFS spec block (diesel-electric) and BuShips Ships' Data 1945 submarine machinery tables (via shipscribe.com, per Gato class profile) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource page header spec block for this hull (https://www.navsource.net/archives/08/08246.htm)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Machinery fit for this hull per NavSource 'as built' spec block: diesel electric reduction gear with four General Motors main generator engines (5,400 hp), four General Electric main motors (2,740 hp), two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin screws. NO BOILERS and no steam plant - the asbestos-relevant machinery profile differs materially from steam classes (no boiler/furnace insulation, no steam-line lagging run-outs; exposure-relevant systems are diesel exhaust lagging, engine gaskets/packing, hull thermal/acoustic insulation, and auxiliary equipment).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- The NavSource spec block is a class-standard spec sheet, not a per-hull machinery survey - actual installed equipment is presumed class-typical and unverified for this specific hull. No hull-specific machinery or material list was located. Establishes propulsion type only, not fiber content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-croaker-ss246-02
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[3]Gato class profile ev-gato-class-07 (era/design inference for diesel-electric fleet boats) built on navypedia member table and BuShips Ships' Data 1945; GAO HRD-80-2 for the Navy's era asbestos-use regime [other_primary]
- Locator
- class profile gato-class.class.json ev-07; GAO HRD-80-2 product page
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Class/era inference for diesel-electric fleet boats of this build period: era-standard applications likely included asbestos-containing diesel exhaust lagging, engine gaskets and packing, hull thermal and acoustic insulation, insulation around galley/refrigeration equipment, and electrical/battery materials.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- CLASS/ERA INFERENCE ONLY - no ship-specific material schedule, insulation survey, or asbestos product list was located for this hull. Names era-standard applications, not confirmed installed materials; no quantity. Does not establish exposure or eligibility for any individual.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-croaker-ss246-03
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[4]CourtListener API v4 (opinions type=o, RECAP dockets type=r) exact-name and hull-number searches; site:courtlistener.com index sweep as throttling fallback [court_record]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows for this vessel
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Litigation sweep for this hull: CourtListener API queries were throttled at the daily cap (HTTP 429, 'expected available in 62981 seconds'), so the sweep ran on the site:courtlistener.com index fallback for "USS Croaker" and "SS-246". The fallback surfaced only general Navy asbestos litigation - nothing naming this hull. No qualifying asbestos litigation - and no litigation of any kind verified as naming this hull - was located.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- A negative result is bounded by the search mechanism: CourtListener coverage is not exhaustive for state-court pleadings, and the API throttle meant docket-text and opinion queries could not complete - the site:-index fallback is corroboration, not a substitute for docket search. Does not prove no litigation exists.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-croaker-ss246-04
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[5]Negative finding: no qualifying non-litigation ship-specific asbestos record located across DANFS/NHHC (via hazegray/losthistory transcription and Wayback captures), NavSource, and ACM-survey/abatement/disposal sweeps [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows for this vessel
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No hull ACM survey, abatement contract, scrapping/disposal hazmat disclosure, or adjudicated exposure finding naming this vessel was located anywhere in the research sweep. A 2026 New York State DEC fuel-removal/vessel-stabilization record exists for the museum hull but documents diesel fuel and oily-water removal only - it is not an asbestos record (carried as context).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- Absence of a located record is not proof no record exists. Does not establish that asbestos is or is not present aboard/within the hull, and does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-croaker-ss246-05
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[6]NYS DEC, 'Unified Command Completes Phase One of Environmental Cleanup and Vessel Stabilization at Buffalo Naval Park' (dec.ny.gov press release, 2026) [other_primary]
- Locator
- dec.ny.gov press release, April 2026
- Finding type
- environmental_record
- Finding
- New York State DEC announced completion of Phase One of a Unified Command environmental response at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park: after a pinhole was found in one of USS Croaker's fuel tanks in March 2026, crews removed 124,665 gallons of diesel fuel and oily water from Croaker (and 100,418 gallons from USS The Sullivans) to protect the Buffalo River, ahead of stabilization and towing for long-term repair.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 2026
- Population
- Buffalo Naval Park staff and Unified Command response crews
- Limitations
- Current-condition environmental/vessel-preservation record only - it documents fuel and oily-water removal, NOT asbestos. Not used as asbestos evidence; carried as museum-hull material-handling context.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-croaker-ss246-06