USS Dade (APA-99)

Evidence

13 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-13).

1. [1]research packet af-packet.md (3 sources cited) [nhhc_danfs]

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED (mirror-sourced

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Limitations

   qualifier: VERIFIED (mirror-sourced

   Evidence ID

   uss-dade-apa99-pkt-af-packet-md

2. [2]Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, Vol. 3 (NAVSHIPS 250-012, 1945), auxiliaries - transports, attack (APA) tables, per-hull row 73 for DADE APA-99 (shipscribe.com scan of the official BuShips publication) [other_primary]

   Locator

   SDB1945v3 APA tables printed pp. 234-239 (PDF pp. 253-258): dimensions row (p.234), personnel row (p.235), machinery row (p.236), armament/cargo row (p.238), construction row (p.239); index lists 'APA99 DADE' and 'Dade (ex-Lorain, ex-M.C. Hull 864) APA99'

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Official BuShips Ships' Data 1945 Vol. 3 carries a per-hull row for DADE APA-99 (ex-Lorain, ex-M.C. Hull 864): 492'0" overall / 465'0" waterline; beam 69'6"; trial speed 18.4 knots at trial displacement 11,760 tons; limiting displacement 16,100 tons; tons per inch immersion 58; limiting draft 26'6"; accommodations 51 officers + 515 enlisted, troop capacity 79 officers + 1,445 enlisted, flag accommodations 43 officers + 108 enlisted; largest boom 30 t; machinery 1 Westinghouse turbine, 8,500 shp, 1 propeller, 2 Foster Wheeler 'D' boilers at 465 psi / 765F; armament 2 x 5"/38 cal (D.P.) + 4 twin 40mm (ultimate authorized); cargo 180,500 cu ft non-refrigerated, 7,800 t total / 4,800 t DWT; built by Ingalls S.B. Co., Pascagoula, Miss. (ditto of preceding row); acquired 29 Apr 1944; year built 1943; date of first commission 29 Apr 1944.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1945

   Limitations

   Authoritative wartime BuShips publication naming this hull - confirms identity, machinery plant, manning, builder, and key dates. Contains no materials, insulation, or asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim. Armament figure is the ultimate authorized fit; actual 40mm fit may have differed (see ev-06 class note).

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-dade-apa99-01

3. [3]DANFS, 'Dade (APA-99)' entry, Naval History and Heritage Command (updated Robert J. Cressman, 2024-03-15; live NHHC URL returns 404 - verbatim text retrieved via Internet Archive Wayback capture 20251209184959) [nhhc_danfs]

   Locator

   DANFS entry body text + spec block (Wayback capture 20251209184959)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   NHHC records: named for the Dade Counties of Florida, Georgia, and Missouri. Lorain (APA-99) laid down 9 Sep 1943 at Pascagoula, Miss., by Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. under Maritime Commission contract (M.C. Hull 864); renamed Dade 19 Nov 1943; launched 14 Jan 1944, sponsored by Mrs. J. C. Schwingle; transferred to the Navy 29 Apr 1944 and placed in partial commission the same day (Cmdr. Hans H. B. Olsen, USNR, ferry crew); decommissioned 9 May 1944 for conversion at Hoboken, N.J., by Todd-Hoboken Yards; full commission 11 Nov 1944, Cmdr. Miles P. Du Val Jr. Departed Norfolk 15 Dec 1944; San Francisco 30 Dec; sailed 7 Jan 1945 for Espiritu Santo and Tulagi; trained for Okinawa; final staging Ulithi; invasion landings Okinawa 1 Apr, landing marines and combat cargo on Blue Beach and embarking casualties under frequent air attack; Pearl Harbor 23 Apr with passengers, casualties, and medical evacuees for San Francisco. After overhaul departed San Francisco 22 Jun 1945 via Pearl Harbor to San Pedro Bay, Leyte (arrived 27 Jul, construction battalion men and cargo); receiving ship at Eniwetok 13-19 Aug. Embarked occupation troops at Manila, landed them at Yokohama 13 Sep; carried U.S. Marines Guam to Tsingtao and Chinese troops from Indochina to Chinwangtao and Taku; homeward-bound troops Manila to San Francisco (arrived 17 Dec 1945). Sailed 11 Jan 1946 for New York (arrived 29 Jan); decommissioned 25 Feb 1946 and returned to the Maritime Commission the same day; entered Reserve Fleet berthing area James River off Lee Hall, Va., 18 Mar 1946 (Unit S-3 at midnight); stricken from the Navy Register 12 Apr 1946. Merchant chain per DANFS: Moran Towing & Transportation Co. 23 Oct 1946 (2:45 p.m.) for tow to New York (arrived 26 Oct 5:45 p.m.); United Engineering Co. custody for conversion; leased to Matson Navigation Co. under GAA 2 Jul 1947 (10:00 p.m.); entered Todd Shipyards, Hoboken, 3 Jul 1947 (6:00 p.m.) for reconversion; title passed to Matson 12:56 p.m. at San Francisco; renamed Hawaiian Retailer. One battle star, Okinawa Gunto 1-9 Apr 1945. Spec block: dp. 8,392; l. 492'0"; b. 69'6"; dr. 26'6"; s. 17.0 k.; cpl. 592; troops 1,500; a. 2 5-in., 8 40mm., 12 20mm.; cl. Bayfield; T. C3-S-A2.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1943-1947

   Limitations

   Primary Navy historical entry - authoritative for service history, name history, and dates. Contains no asbestos or materials information; supports no asbestos claim. Live NHHC page 404s (standing link rot, cf. BATCH-01); the Wayback capture is the verbatim NHHC text. The DANFS spec block's complement/speed figures are generalized and conflict with the BuShips per-hull row (see ev-06); the DANFS keel date (9 Sep 1943) conflicts with shipscribe (2 Sep) and NavSource (2 Nov) - unresolved.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-dade-apa99-02

4. [4]NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive - USS Dade (APA-99), file 10/03/03099 [other_primary]

   Locator

   NavSource 03099.htm - timeline, specifications block, campaign table, occupation/China medal tables, commanding-officer note, merchant-service and disposal entries; photo captions incl. NARA Riverside ID 11147 (Blue Beach transport area, Okinawa, 1-5 Apr 1945) and NHHC NH 98714 (San Francisco arrival 17 Dec 1945)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   NavSource timeline corroborates DANFS and adds detail: Bayfield-class attack transport, MC type C3-S-A2, MC hull 864; laid down 2 Nov 1943 as SS Lorain at Ingalls Shipbuilding Co., Pascagoula, MS; renamed Dade 19 Nov 1943; launched 14 Jan 1944; acquired by the Navy 29 Apr 1944; reduced commission 29 Apr-9 May 1944 under CDR Hans H. B. Olsen USNR (Ferry Crew #2) for transit to fitting-out yard at Hoboken, N.J.; fitted out at Todd-Hoboken Yards; recommissioned USS Dade (APA-99) 11 Nov 1944, CDR Miles Percy DuVal Jr. USNR. Pacific assignment: TransRon Twenty-Four (flagship), TransDiv Seventy, COMO E. L. Short. Campaign: Okinawa Gunto operation - assault and occupation 1-9 Apr 1945. Navy Occupation Service Medal 13-19 Sep 1945; China Service Medal (extended) 11-17 Oct and 27 Oct-24 Nov 1945; also American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1 star), WWII Victory Medal. Decommissioned New York 25 Feb 1946; struck 12 Apr 1946; one battle star; returned to Maritime Commission 18 Mar 1946 for NDRF James River Group, Lee Hall, VA. Merchant service per NavSource: withdrawn 23 Oct 1946 by Moran Towing (GAA) to New York; United Engineering Co. 26 Oct 1946 for reconversion; leased to Matson 2 Jul 1947 (GAA); Todd Shipyard Hoboken drydocking 9 Jul 1947; sold to Matson 21 Jul 1947, renamed Hawaiian Retailer; title exchange 12 May 1964 MARAD/Matson; bareboat charter 12 May 1964; 'MSC operation by Matson 03 June 1965'; laid up 9 Nov 1967 NDRF Suisun Bay, Benicia, CA; sold for scrapping 3 Sep 1970 to National Metal and Steel Co., delivered 15 Sep 1970. Spec block: 7,950 t light / 16,100 t full; 492' x 69'6" x 26'6"; 18.4 kt; complement 51 officers + 516 enlisted; troop accommodations 79 officers + 1,445 enlisted; flag accommodations 43 officers + 108 enlisted; boom 30 t; cargo 4,800 DWT / 180,000 cu ft non-refrigerated; armament 2 x 5"/38 DP, 4 twin 40mm, 2 twin + 18 single 20mm; fuel NSFO 8,500 bbls + diesel 750 bbls; propulsion 1 Westinghouse geared turbine, 2 Foster Wheeler D-type boilers 465 psi/765F, double Westinghouse reduction gears, 3 x 400kW turbo-drive generators, 8,500 shp, single propeller.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1943-1970

   Limitations

   Specialist secondary compilation - detailed but non-official; consistent with NHHC except the keel date (NavSource 2 Nov 1943 vs DANFS 9 Sep / shipscribe 2 Sep 1943), the return-to-custody framing (18 Mar 1946 = fleet entry, not the 25 Feb allocation), the MSTS-operation date (3 Jun 1965 vs MARAD card 30 Jul 1965), enlisted complement (516 vs SDB 515), and the 20mm fit. Contains no asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-dade-apa99-03

5. [5]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - DADE (APA-99), Ship History Detail 7548, and HAWAIIAN RETAILER, Detail 2121, including digitized vessel status cards and movement cards [marad_nrc]

   Locator

   ShipHistory Detail 7548 registry block + status cards (1OF_01.png; c33115f8-e0f4-40ee-a6fe-151dc4587cc4.png; 9dc0f79d-1d87-4fae-a4bd-b107c63c6aa8.TIF; 8cd34e1c-b43a-4ce0-909b-7e37cf0ae52d.png - card text read from scanned images); DADE.pdf document scan; Detail 2121 milestones + 14 movement-card document scans

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   MARAD ShipHistory registry for this hull: Year Built 1944; Official Number 252477; Shipyard 'Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation'; MARAD Type C3-S-A2; length 492 ft / beam 69.5 ft; net 4,600 t; displacement 16,100 t (summer) / 7,950 t (lightweight); Fate 'Sold - Scrap'; missions World War II and Vietnam War; name history DADE (APA-99) -> HAWAIIAN RETAILER; milestones Disposition + Withdrawal 9/15/1970. Digitized status cards document the custody chain: MC Hull No. 864, Ingalls builder's hull 408, completed 4-29-44; 'Basis to W.S.A. 4-29-44 10:30AM CWT @ Pascagoula, Miss., del. by Builders to USMC'; Navy Dept. (del. from USMC) same date/time; Grace Line, Inc. GAA New York 2-25-46 4:00PM EST; Laid Up Fleet Lee Hall, Va. 3-18-46 midnight EST; Moran Towing & Transp. Co. GAA Lee Hall 10-23-46 2:45PM EST; United Engineering Co. custody (for conversion purposes) New York 10-26-46 5:45PM EST; Matson Nav. Co. GAA (WSA-325) New York 7-2-47 10PM EDT; Todd SY reconversion Hoboken 7-3-47 6PM EDST; purchase under Merchant Ship Sales Act 1946 - title passed 7-21-47 12:56PM PST at San Francisco, renamed HAWAIIAN RETAILER; Maritime Administration title (Exchange) Washington DC 5-12-64 12Noon EDT. Card continuation: Matson Navigation Co. BB(UCA) 'At Sea' 5-12-64; Matson (MSTS Operation) GAA San Francisco 7-30-65 12Noon PDST; Reserve Fleet (returned) Suisun Bay 11-9-67 2:00PM PST; Matson GAA (removal of equipment - reserve-fleet card specifies the rudder, loaned) Suisun Bay 7-17-68 9:45AM PDST; returned 7-19-68 12:45PM PDST; National Metal & Steel Co. (Scrap) Purchase Suisun Bay 9-3-70; physically delivered 9-15-70 2:00PM PDT. Reserve-fleet cards record: James River fleet/unit 'Jas. Riv. S3', entry 3-18-46, 'RECON.' status, work started by United Eng. Co. 10-26-46, Todd Shipyard 7-3-47, withdrawn 10-23-46 delivered to operators; Suisun card notes 'HAWAIIAN RETAILER picked up by Maritime via Exchange Ship. From 5-12-64 to 7-30-65 under Use Agreement to Matson. Then GAA/MSTS/SEA until 11-9-67 when it entered Suisun Bay fleet' and 'SOLD SCRAP on PD-X-880 dated 9-3-70 Contract MA-6082 for $71,528 to National Metals. DELIVERED 9-15-70 1400 PDT.' Handwritten MARAD movement cards (HAWAIIAN RETAILER documents 01-14) record 1965-67 voyage-level activity including Saigon/Bangkok/Yokohama MSTS runs and redelivery from Use Agreement 7-30-65 1200 at San Francisco. The Detail 7548 record also carries eleven official U.S. Navy photographs of the ship at San Francisco dated 5 and 19 June 1945 with alterations circled.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1944-1970

   Limitations

   Authoritative MARAD registry plus digitized original status and movement cards - the strongest source for custody chain and merchant disposition. Contains no asbestos or materials information; supports no asbestos claim. 'Sold - Scrap' fate field is consistent with the card's National Metal & Steel sale line; the NavSource 'MSC operation 03 June 1965' conflicts with the card's 7-30-65 MSTS-operation GAA entry (card adopted).

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-dade-apa99-04

6. [6]shipscribe.com U.S. Navy Auxiliary Ships - BAYFIELD (APA-33) class, Part 2 (relief-AGC-fitted ships), class data, construction/disposition tables, class notes, and per-ship notes (Stephen S. Roberts compilation) [other_primary]

   Locator

   APA36.html construction table row APA-99, disposition table row APA-99, class notes (relief-AGC paragraphs), ship notes table APA-99/MC#864

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   shipscribe class-page row for APA-99 DADE (MC# 864): builder Ingalls SB, Pascagoula; keel 2 Sep 43; launch 14 Jan 44; acquired 29 Apr 44; commissioned 11 Nov 44; decommissioned 25 Feb 46; struck 12 Apr 46; disposal 25 Feb 46 (MC/D); MA sale 21 Jul 47. Ship note: 'Ex USS LORAIN 19.11.43. Delivered incomplete. Ferry comm. 29 Apr-9 May 44. Converted by Todd Shipyards, Hoboken, N.J. Merc. HAWAIIAN RETAILER 1947. To NDRF 1967. Sold by MA 3 Sep 70, to buyer 15 Sep 70.' Class notes: this Part-2 group were additionally fitted during APA conversion as relief headquarters ships (relief AGCs) and transport-squadron flagships - two added deckhouse levels aft of the stack and at the after superstructure, with manpower allowance increased by 43 staff officers and 108 enlisted; six Bayfield-class ships designated for the alterations Jun-Jul 1943 and seven of the 15 APAs added to the program in July 1943 later selected. Class armament table lists APA 33, 38, 45, 95-96, 99-102, 104 as '2-5"/38 2-40mmT 18-20mm' (later actual fit vs SDB ultimate-authorized 4 twin 40mm), and the 1945-46 fit for APA 36-38, 92, 99 as '2-5"/38 4-40mmT 12-20mmT'.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1943-1970

   Limitations

   Specialist secondary compilation (Roberts) consistent with DANFS, SDB, and the MARAD card on all overlapping data points except the keel date (2 Sep vs DANFS 9 Sep vs NavSource 2 Nov 1943). Contains no asbestos or materials information; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-dade-apa99-05

7. [7]Source reconciliation - NHHC DANFS + BuShips SDB 1945 v3 + MARAD status cards + shipscribe vs NavSource/Wikipedia [other_primary]

   Locator

   DANFS body/spec block; SDB1945v3 pp. 234-239; MARAD cards 1OF_01 + c33115f8 + 8cd34e1c + 9dc0f79d; movement card HR doc 01 (7/30/65 redelivery line); NavSource 03099.htm spec/disposal blocks; shipscribe APA36 construction/disposition/class tables; NHHC photo page via ibiblio HyperWar mirror

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   Source discrepancies resolved in favor of the official/primary sources: (a) Keel date - three-way conflict: DANFS 'laid down on 9 September 1943'; shipscribe construction table '2 Sep 43'; NavSource (and Wikipedia following it) '2 November 1943'. No primary source resolving the conflict was located (the MARAD card records only completion 4-29-44); September 1943 is consistent with the July 1943 program-addition timing in the shipscribe class notes - unresolved, logged in gaps. (b) Return-to-custody dates are reconcilable rather than conflicting: DANFS 'returned to the Maritime Commission the same day' (25 Feb 1946) corresponds to the MARAD card's Grace Line GAA allocation at New York 2-25-46 4:00PM EST; NavSource 'returned to the Maritime Commission 18 March 1946' corresponds to the card's Laid Up Fleet entry at Lee Hall, Va. 3-18-46 and the DANFS Unit S-3 berthing line - both events recorded. (c) MSTS-operation date - NavSource 'MSC operation by Matson Navigation Co., 03 June 1965' vs the MARAD card 'Matson Navigation Co. (MSTS Operation) GAA San Fran 7-30-65 12 Noon PDST' and the movement-card redelivery line '7/30/65 1200 redel from Use Agree & sim del to GA at S.F.' - adopted 30 Jul 1965. (d) Complement - SDB per-hull row 51 off + 515 enl, troops 79 + 1,445, flag 43 + 108 vs NavSource 516 enlisted vs DANFS spec block cpl. 592 / trp. 1,500 - adopted SDB. (e) Speed - DANFS spec block 17.0 k vs SDB trial 18.4 kt / NavSource 18.4 kt - adopted 18.4 trial. (f) Turbine manufacturer - Wikipedia infobox 'General Electric geared turbine' vs SDB machinery row and NavSource 'Westinghouse geared turbine' - adopted Westinghouse (Ingalls-built Bayfields in this row group carry mixed GE/Westinghouse units; Dade's row reads 'Westgh. turb.'). (g) Merchant service end - the NHHC photo-caption page says she served Matson 'until 1966, when she was returned to the Maritime Administration' vs the status card's Suisun Bay entry 11-9-67 - adopted the card. (h) 40mm fit - SDB '4 twin' is the ultimate authorized fit; shipscribe records the APA 99-102 group's later actual fit as 2 twin 40mm and the 1945-46 APA-99 fit as 4 twin 40mm + 12 twin 20mm.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   correction

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1943-1970

   Limitations

   Resolves secondary-source conflicts against primary sources (DANFS, BuShips, MARAD cards). The keel-date discrepancy remains open (three-way). None of the compared sources contains asbestos information; this row supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-dade-apa99-06

8. [8]Consolidated era/design inference - BuShips SDB 1945 v3 machinery row for this hull + C3-S-A2 type data + documented refit events (Todd-Hoboken conversion 1944; United Engineering 1946 + Todd Shipyards 1947 reconversion; Matson merchant service 1947-67 incl. MSTS; National Metal & Steel breaking 1970) [other_primary]

   Locator

   SDB1945v3 machinery table row 73; shipscribe APA36 class notes + ship note; MARAD status/movement cards (reconversion custody 10-26-46, Todd 7-3-47; Suisun 11-9-67; rudder withdrawal 7-17/19-68; sale 9-3-70)

   Finding type

   asbestos_application

   Finding

   Era/design inference: this hull carried a single-screw geared-steam plant (one Westinghouse turbine, two Foster Wheeler 'D'-type boilers at 465 psi / 765F superheat) built at the peak of WWII asbestos usage - the machinery configuration for which boiler and fireroom insulation, main and auxiliary steam-line lagging, turbine lagging, valve and flange gaskets, machinery packing, and accommodation joiner insulation of the period were commonly asbestos-containing. The documented work history concentrates the candidate disturbance points: delivered incomplete to a Todd-Hoboken conversion that added the attack-transport fit plus relief-flagship deckhouses and staff accommodations; the October 1946-July 1947 United Engineering/Todd reconversion to merchant configuration; twenty years of Matson merchant operation including MSTS runs to Saigon and Bangkok; the July 1968 rudder-removal withdrawal at Suisun Bay; and the 1970 breaking at National Metal & Steel, Terminal Island.

   Verification

   inferred

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1943-1970

   Population

   Construction trades at Ingalls Pascagoula (1943-44) and Todd-Hoboken conversion (1944); wartime crew, embarked troops, and squadron staff; United Engineering and Todd reconversion workers (1946-47); merchant crews and repair yards incl. MSTS service (1947-67); Suisun Bay fleet workers (1967-70); National Metal & Steel breaking-yard workers (1970)

   Limitations

   Inference from the documented machinery plant, construction era, and documented refit events - NOT a hull record. No survey, specification, or material schedule naming APA-99 or MC Hull 864 was located; establishes no asbestos content, quantity, location, individual exposure, or causation.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-dade-apa99-07

9. [9]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 emergency construction program under which this C3-S-A2 hull was built and converted.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   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 or class 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-dade-apa99-08

10. [10]Fleischer, W.E., Viles, F.J. Jr., Gade, R.L., and Drinker, P., 'A health survey of pipe covering operations in constructing naval vessels,' J Ind Hyg Toxicol 28(1):9-16 (Jan 1946), PMID 21016030 [other_primary]

    Locator

    PubMed record PMID 21016030; article pp. 9-16 (pipe covering material section)

    Finding type

    gov_survey

    Finding

    The U.S. Maritime Commission-commissioned industrial-hygiene survey of WWII pipe-covering operations at two Navy yards and two Navy contract yards documented that 'an important ingredient of pipe covering material used on U.S. Navy vessels is amosite' - i.e., asbestos insulation was standard material in wartime naval-vessel construction of exactly this hull's era and type.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    class_or_era

    Accessed

    2026-09-25

    Study period

    survey ~1944-45; published 1946

    Population

    WWII pipe coverers and insulators at Navy and contract yards (era context)

    Limitations

    Era-level documentation of asbestos use in naval construction generally; does not name this vessel, class, or builder yard and establishes nothing about this hull's materials, condition, or any individual exposure. (The study's exculpatory 'not a dangerous occupation' conclusion has since been heavily criticized - see the 2026 critique at DOI 10.1177/10482911261446696.)

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-dade-apa99-09

11. [11]Pruitt v. Air & Liquid Systems Corp., C.A. No. 18-1101-MN-SRF (D. Del., In re Asbestos Litigation / MDL-875 track) - Report and Recommendation (2020-07-30) and Memorandum Opinion, verified via ded.uscourts.gov opinion PDFs [court_record]

    Locator

    CourtListener search API v4 results sl-uss-dade-apa99-06/07 (counts and classifications); Atlantic Refining opinions /opinion/244669/ (253 F.2d 777), cluster 8741088 (150 F. Supp. 516), cluster 8741279 (151 F. Supp. 747); Pruitt Report & Recommendation, Facts section: https://www.ded.uscourts.gov/sites/ded/files/opinions/18-1101_1.pdf

    Finding type

    litigation_documented

    Finding

    Full CourtListener sweep (opinion + docket indexes, exact name / hull number / bare name / merchant alias): ZERO qualifying asbestos litigation naming USS Dade, APA-99, M.C. Hull 864, Lorain, or Hawaiian Retailer. Opinion 'USS Dade' = 0; docket 'USS Dade' = 0; opinion 'APA-99' = 3, all name collisions (ITG Brands v. Reynolds American, Del. Ch. 2025; Ethyl Corp. v. EPA, D.C. Cir. 1976 x2); opinion '"Dade" asbestos' = 141, all Miami-Dade County / Florida name collisions and unrelated asbestos dockets; opinion 'Hawaiian Retailer' = 6, of which three are the same OTHER-litigation admiralty case against this hull under her merchant name - Atlantic Refining Co. v. Matson Navigation Co., 150 F. Supp. 516 (E.D. Pa. 1957), 151 F. Supp. 747 (E.D. Pa. 1957, reargument), aff'd 253 F.2d 777 (3d Cir. 1958): on 29 Jan 1951 the S.S. Hawaiian Retailer overtook the tanker Atlantic Trader in the Delaware River, and the tanker's resulting grounding damage forced early drydocking; litigation concerned drydock-expense apportionment - zero asbestos content. The three remaining merchant-name hits (D'Costa v. U.S. Lines, S.D.N.Y. 1964; Dixon v. Grace Lines, Cal. App. 1972; Hamilton v. Marine Carriers, E.D. Pa. 1971) matched on search tokens/citation chains only - the literal ship name does not appear in them; name collisions. Separately, the located attack-transport asbestos docket names the lead ship of this same class: plaintiff John W. Pruitt Sr. alleged mesothelioma from asbestos exposure as a machinist mate stationed in 1958 on 'the USS Bayfield, an attack transport' (APA-33, Bayfield class - the class lead ship of Dade's class) and in 1959 on USS Tolovana (AO-64, Cimarron-class oiler).

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    context_only

    Accessed

    2026-09-25

    Study period

    opinions 2020; service 1958-1963

    Population

    Navy veterans of Bayfield-class APAs (class context)

    Limitations

    The Atlantic Refining litigation is this hull under its merchant name but is collision/admiralty litigation - 'other litigation,' zero asbestos content (classified per sweep rules at merits/affirmance stage as it stands). Pruitt is same class but different hull - carried only to document that the Bayfield-class/APA litigation surface exists while no Dade-specific asbestos docket was found; deposition-stage exposure descriptions are allegations, not findings. CourtListener sweep completed across all name/hull variants on opinion and docket indexes (see search_ledger sl-06, sl-07).

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-dade-apa99-10

12. [12]Batch-2399 search ledger (this record): NHHC/DANFS via Wayback; NavSource 03099; MARAD ShipHistory Detail 7548 + 2121 incl. status and movement cards; BuShips SDB 1945 v3; shipscribe APA-36 class page; CourtListener opinion sweeps; indexed-web litigation checks; NARA record-group guides [other_primary]

    Locator

    search_ledger rows sl-uss-dade-apa99-01 through sl-uss-dade-apa99-12

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, court finding, or docketed asbestos case naming USS Dade / APA-99 / M.C. Hull 864 / Lorain / Hawaiian Retailer was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). CourtListener sweep complete: 'USS Dade' opinion = 0, 'USS Dade' docket = 0, 'APA-99' opinion = 3 collisions, '"Dade" asbestos' opinion = 141 collisions, 'Hawaiian Retailer' opinion = 6 (3 same admiralty case, other litigation; 3 collisions). Law-firm marketing pages carry a dedicated USS Dade exposure page (asbestos-ships.com) and list APA-99 among Ingalls-built hulls (mesotheliomavets.com) without primary support - excluded as sources per the no-law-firm-sources rule.

    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 1943-44 geared-steam transport converted at a Todd yard is era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials, and her documented 1946-47 merchant reconversion, 20-year Matson/MSTS career, and 1970 breaking are undocumented disturbance phases. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-dade-apa99-11

13. [13]NARA Guide to Federal Records: RG 24 (Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel - Navy deck logs), RG 19 (Records of the Bureau of Ships), RG 178 (Records of the U.S. Maritime Commission), RG 357 (Records of the Maritime Administration); MARAD ShipHistory documents/cards for this hull (status and movement cards retrieved); NARA Riverside photo holding 11147 (Okinawa transport area) [other_primary]

    Locator

    https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/024.html ; /groups/019.html ; /groups/178.html ; /groups/357.html ; MARAD Detail 7548/2121 cards+documents tabs (retrieved); NavSource photo credit 'US National Archives, Riverside Identification # 11147'

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    Archival leads (not retrieved - requires research-room or reproduction order; no spend authorized): Navy deck logs for USS Dade 1944-1946 (RG 24, NARA College Park); BuShips records incl. C3-S-A2 contract plans, Booklets of General Plans, and the Todd-Hoboken conversion file (RG 19); USMC construction-contract records for M.C. Hull 864 at Ingalls Pascagoula (RG 178); MARAD/NDRF custody files covering the 1946 James River lay-up (Unit S-3), the 1946-47 United Engineering/Todd reconversion, the 1964 title exchange and Use Agreement, the 1967 Suisun Bay entry, and the 1970 sale under contract MA-6082 (RG 357); and Todd Shipyards Hoboken conversion-yard records for the 1944 APA/RAGC conversion (via RG 19 contract files or Hagley Museum collections).

    Verification

    unverified

    Role

    archival_lead

    Documentation level

    context_only

    Accessed

    2026-09-25

    Study period

    1943-1970 records

    Limitations

    Record-group mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for this hull is unknown until surveyed in person. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-dade-apa99-12