Evidence
6 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-6).
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[1]DANFS, Dorado (SS-248) - Electric Boat construction; lost en route to Panama October 1943, cause unknown (verbatim transcription; live NHHC page returned 404) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS service narrative and spec block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Documented for this hull: laid down 27 August 1942 at Electric Boat Co., Groton, Conn.; launched 23 May 1943 (sponsor Mrs. E. G. Allen); commissioned 28 August 1943, Lt. Comdr. E. C. Schneider in command. Sailed from New London 6 October 1943 for the Canal Zone and never arrived - never heard from after sailing. Air searches began after her 14 October scheduled arrival; widely scattered oil slicks and occasional debris were found. The Court of Inquiry could reach no conclusion: a Guantanamo-based patrol plane with faulty bombing-restriction instructions delivered a surprise three-depth-charge attack on an unidentified submarine on the evening of 12 October and was later fired upon by another unidentified submarine; a German submarine was known to be operating nearby. All hands lost; wreck never located.
- 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-dorado-ss248-01
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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/08/08248.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-dorado-ss248-02
-
[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-dorado-ss248-03
-
[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 Dorado" and "SS-248". 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-dorado-ss248-04
-
[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. The hull was lost on her delivery transit in October 1943 - no postwar material record is possible and none exists in located sources.
- 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-dorado-ss248-05
-
[6]U.S. Navy Submarine Losses in World War II (official loss summary, HyperWar/ibiblio mirror) - Dorado Court of Inquiry account and casualty roster [other_primary]
- Locator
- SS_losses-dorado.html - Court of Inquiry account and printed casualty roster
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- War-loss terminal event for this hull per the official Navy submarine-loss summary: the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet, commenting on the Court of Inquiry, listed three possible causes - operational casualties, enemy action, and attack by friendly forces. Bombing restrictions (15 miles each side of track, 50 ahead/100 astern of scheduled position) had been imposed and notified; a convoy was routed through the restriction area on the evening of 12 October 1943, and a patrol plane given faulty instructions delivered a surprise three-depth-charge attack on an unidentified submarine at 2049, then about two hours later unsuccessfully exchanged recognition signals with a submarine that fired on it. A German submarine was known to be operating near the scene. The Court of Inquiry reached no conclusion. The summary prints the casualty roster (~75 names).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 1943
- Population
- Crew of USS Dorado - all hands lost October 1943
- Limitations
- Documents the terminal event and unresolved cause only; wreck-site material condition is undocumented and unsurveyed - the hull has never been found. Strike date not recorded in located sources.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-dorado-ss248-06