Evidence
11 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-11).
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[1]NavSource Online, USS General J. C. Breckinridge (AP-176/T-AP-176) ship data block (boilers, turbines, gearing, 17,000 shp); shipscribe.com General John Pope (AP-110) class page (machinery: De Laval turbines, 2 screws; Federal ships received standard C3 geared turbines) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 'Specifications' block (propulsion section); shipscribe https://www.shipscribe.com/usnaux/AP/AP110.html class data header and class notes
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Class/era inference only: this hull's documented propulsion plant was four Foster & Wheeler D-type boilers at 465 psi and 765 deg F superheat feeding two De Laval steam turbines with double main reduction gears in divided machinery spaces - a high-energy steam plant of the type that era-typically carried asbestos-containing boiler and machinery insulation, steam-line lagging, gaskets, packing, and fireproofing materials in a ship built 1944-45.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 1944-1945 construction; 1946-1965 service
- Population
- Engine-room and machinery-space crew; shipyard workers at Federal Shipbuilding (1944-45) and conversion yards
- Limitations
- Machinery specifications are documented; asbestos content is not. Neither source states 'asbestos' and no hull-level insulation schedule, survey, or abatement record was located. Inference from plant type and construction era only - does not establish presence, quantity, location, exposure, or causation aboard this hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-general-j-c-breckinridge-ap176-01
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[2]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 an insulating and fireproofing material in U.S. shipbuilding during World War II, the era and federal shipbuilding program (Maritime Commission P2 design, Navy acquisition) under which this transport was constructed at a wartime-contract yard.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- 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 and does not establish that asbestos was or remained aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-general-j-c-breckinridge-ap176-02
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[3]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS), 'General J. C. Breckinridge (AP-176)' - canonical NHHC page returns HTTP 404 (2026-09-18); verbatim text verified via historycentral.com transcription, corroborated by the hazegray.org DANFS mirror text surfaced in search [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- NHHC canonical URL (404 - standing NHHC link-rot issue); transcription at https://www.historycentral.com/navy/ap/GeneralJCBreckinridge.html ; mirror at https://www.hazegray.org/danfs/auxil/ap176.htm
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS entry: launched 18 March 1945 by Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Kearny, N.J., sponsored by Mrs. Dorothy T. Breckinridge; commissioned 30 June 1945 at Bayonne, N.J., Capt. H. S. Berdine, USCG, commanding. Operated under the Coast Guard; after shakedown proceeded to Marseilles, arriving 14 August 1945, loaded over 5,000 troops for Manila, but Japan's surrender redirected her to New York (troops unloaded 24 August). Four more voyages (three Marseilles, one Le Havre); at Marseilles 18 November 1945 she embarked the two-millionth American veteran returned from Europe since VE Day. Arrived San Francisco 20 January 1946; Navy crew took over 10 February. Five western-Pacific voyages (Saipan, Guam, Shanghai, Tsingtao); departed Taku 4 September 1946, arrived Philadelphia 3 October for conversion to a dependent transport (modern nursery, kitchen, medical facilities). Departed Philadelphia 11 January 1947; roughly 80 percent of the next 2.5 years underway serving Pearl Harbor, Guam, Shanghai, Okinawa, Tsingtao, Manila; June 1947 carried convicted Japanese war criminals Manila to Japan. Transferred to MSTS 1 October 1949 as T-AP-176 with Navy captain and crew. Korean War: returned to San Francisco 19 July 1950, Mare Island Shipyard conversion to troop transport; Seattle-to-Yokosuka troops arriving 14 August; Inchon support the day after the assault; Wonsan evacuation 22 November; Hungnam evacuation 15 December; two further troop voyages. Postwar MSTS Pacific schedule (Guam, Yokosuka, Okinawa, Inchon, Adak, Midway) until returned to the Maritime Administration and placed in the NDRF at Suisun Bay 1 December 1966. Four battle stars for Korean service.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 1945-1966
- Limitations
- Establishes identity, construction, WWII/Korea service, conversions, and layup framing. DANFS compresses the disposal chain - 'returned to the Maritime Administration and placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay 1 December 1966' merges the December 1965 NDRF custody entry with the December 1966 strike/permanent transfer (see correction row ev-11). No asbestos or insulation-material content in this source.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-general-j-c-breckinridge-ap176-03
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[4]Naval Historical Center / NHHC Online Library of Selected Images, 'USS General J. C. Breckinridge (AP-176, later T-AP-176), 1945-1987' (ship history narrative) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- ibiblio.org HyperWar mirror of the NHHC Online Library page, narrative paragraph block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NHHC Online Library narrative for this hull (11,828-ton light displacement General John Pope-class transport, P2-S2-R2): commissioned with a U.S. Coast Guard crew June 1945, enroute to Marseilles when Japan surrendered; four more France voyages; transferred to the Pacific, arriving San Francisco January 1946, where a Navy crew replaced the Coast Guard crew in February, 'probably after she was selected as one of six ships of her class to be retained in the postwar commissioned fleet.' After five trans-Pacific voyages, converted at Philadelphia October 1946-January 1947 for peacetime employment with special facilities for military dependents, retaining armament but losing some lifeboats. Reassigned to MSTS October 1949 as T-AP-176, retaining 'USS' because she was a commissioned vessel with a Navy, not civilian, crew. Reconverted to troop transport at San Francisco July 1950; August 1950 troops Seattle to Yokosuka; Inchon support the day after the landing; Wonsan evacuation November 1950; Hungnam evacuation December 1950. Modified again in 1955 or 1956, losing armament and receiving additional lifeboats. Remained an active MSTS nucleus-fleet commissioned ship until December 1965 inactivation and turnover to the Maritime Administration for layup; stricken from the Naval Vessel Register and permanently transferred to the Maritime Administration December 1966; sold by the Maritime Administration in August 1987 to a Japanese firm for scrapping.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 1945-1987
- Limitations
- Official Navy historical narrative - strongest single timeline source (Crew change, six-ship retention, conversions, 1955/56 modernization, inactivation, strike, and 1987 sale all covered). Dates are month-level; it does not give the 16 Dec 1965 NDRF custody date or buyer/scrapping detail beyond 'a Japanese firm ... for scrapping.' No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-general-j-c-breckinridge-ap176-04
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[5]Shipscribe.com, 'USS General John Pope (AP-110) Class' - construction/disposition tables, class notes, and AP-176 ship note (compiled 23 Aug 2009 by Stephen S. Roberts from official Navy records) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Class data header (design, machinery, complement); construction table row AP-176; disposition table row AP-176; class notes (P2-S2-R4 origin paragraph); ship notes AP-176
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Shipscribe (S. S. Roberts) General John Pope (AP-110) class compilation reproducing official U.S. Navy data: AP-176 = MC hull 2080, keel 10 May 1944, Navy acquisition 29 June 1945, launched 18 March 1945, commissioned 30 June 1945. Origin: on 17 April 1944 the Maritime Commission informed the Navy that the first of four slightly modified (P2-S2-R4) ships contracted for postwar United States Lines operation would be fitted as a naval troop transport; Auxiliary Vessels Board recommended acquisition 2 May 1944 - not covered by the April 1943 Army manning agreement, so the Navy named her for a Marine Corps general. Ship note: 'Converted to carry dependents at NSY Philadelphia Oct 46 to Jan 47. To MSTS 1 Oct 49 as commissioned naval vessel. Modernized ca. 1956. To NDRF 16 Dec 65. To buyer 29 Sep 87, scrapped by 11 Jan 88.' Disposition table: Decomm. 1965, Strike 1 Dec 66, Disposal 1 Dec 66, MA Sale 31 Aug 87. Machinery: Federal-built P2-S2-R2 hulls received standard C3 geared turbines (turbo-electric drive applied to the Bethlehem-Alameda P2s); class complement 411; class displacement 10,704 light / 20,175 lim.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 1944-1988
- Limitations
- Secondary compilation of official USN/MC records - values reconcile with DANFS, NHHC narrative, and MARAD milestones (NDRF 16 Dec 65; buyer 29 Sep 87). The underlying BuShips/Auxiliary Vessels Board documents are not themselves reproduced. Yard for the ca.1956 modernization is not named. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-general-j-c-breckinridge-ap176-05
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[6]NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive, USS General J. C. Breckinridge (T-AP-176) ex-AP-176 (page manager Gary P. Priolo; updated 16 May 2025), incl. NHHC-sourced photographs [other_primary]
- Locator
- Chronology bullet block; campaign/ribbon tables; specifications block; commanding officers roster
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource service-ship archive page for this hull: MC hull 2080 laid down under Maritime Commission contract at Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny; commissioned 30 June 1945 CAPT Harold S. Berdine USCG; Coast Guard crew replaced by Navy crew 10 February 1946; China Service Medal and Navy Occupation Service Medal qualifying periods listed; Korean War campaign participation listed (North Korean Aggression Aug-Sep 1950, Inchon Landing 16-17 Sep 1950, Communist China Aggression Nov-Dec 1950, First UN Counter Offensive 15-16 Feb 1951); Vietnam War campaign: Vietnam Defense 11-16 July, 12-17 September, 28-30 October 1965. Decommissioned 10 December 1965 (commanding officer roster ends CDR Kermit W. Montz, USNR, 10 Nov-10 Dec 1965); struck from the Naval Register 'date unknown'; transferred to the Maritime Administration 1 December 1966 for layup in the NDRF, Suisun Bay; sold for scrapping in 1987 for $1,345,600, scrapped in Taiwan in 1988. Ship data block: 11,450 t light / 20,175 t full; 622'7" oa; 75'6" beam; 25'6" draft; 20.6 kts; complement 40 officers/426 enlisted; troop accommodations 393 officers/4,896 enlisted; armament 4 x 5"/38, 4 x twin 40mm, 20 x 20mm; four Foster & Wheeler D-type boilers 465 psi/765 deg F; two De Laval turbines, double main reduction gears, twin 17,000 shp propellers.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 1945-1988
- Limitations
- Reputable secondary archive; figures reconcile with DANFS/NHHC/shipscribe except 'struck date unknown' here vs shipscribe's 1 Dec 66 (adopted) and light-displacement variance (11,450 vs 10,704 shipscribe vs 11,828 NHHC). Sale price $1,345,600 and 'scrapped in Taiwan in 1988' appear only here among consulted sources - single-source details, flagged rather than silently adopted as settled. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-general-j-c-breckinridge-ap176-06
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[7]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - GENERAL J. C. BRECKINRIDGE (AP-176/T-AP-176), Detail 1826 [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- MARAD ShipHistory detail page milestone table and vessel-header fields
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD ShipHistory database record for GENERAL J. C. BRECKINRIDGE (AP-176/T-AP-176), Ship History Detail 1826: builder Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock, 1945, design P2-S2-R2; missions WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War; milestones - Entry 12/16/1965, Acquisition 12/16/1965, Disposition 9/29/1987 (annotation 'CUST 1965 NDRF 1965'), Withdrawal 9/29/1987; vessel closes 'Sold - No Further Info.'
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 1965-1987
- Limitations
- Direct fetch of the detail page returned HTTP 502 on 2026-09-18; milestone values above were captured from the page's indexed content (consistent with shipscribe's 16 Dec 65 NDRF entry and 29 Sep 87 buyer delivery). The digitized vessel status card and any 1987 sale-file documents (buyer identity, material declarations) were not retrievable - flagged as an archival lead, not exhausted.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-general-j-c-breckinridge-ap176-07
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[8]U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Board of Veterans' Appeals decision, Citation Nr. 1528494 (2015) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Decision text, 'Reasons and Bases' service-history recital (para. beginning 'In his hearing testimony...')
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- A 2015 VA Board of Veterans' Appeals decision (asbestosis service-connection claim, remanded for VA examination) records that the veteran served March 1955 - September 1958 and was stationed aboard USS Iowa (BB-61) 'as well as the USS Breckinridge,' testifying to duties including work in the boiler room and asserting asbestos exposure in service. The decision does not give a hull number: both USS General J. C. Breckinridge (AP-176, in commission through December 1965) and USS Breckinridge (DE-1237, commissioned 1954) were in service during 1955-58, so attribution to this hull is unresolved.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 1955-1958 (service); 2015 (decision)
- Population
- U.S. Navy veteran, Steward's Mate/Boatswain's Mate rating, service 1955-1958
- Limitations
- Names 'USS Breckinridge' without a hull number - could be this transport or destroyer escort DE-1237; NOT counted as qualifying evidence against this hull. Even if attributed, the decision is a claim/remand record: the exposure assertion is recited, not adjudicated, and the decision establishes nothing about materials aboard. Kept as a lead for any future docket-level check.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-general-j-c-breckinridge-ap176-08
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[9]Batch-154 search ledger (this record): DANFS (mirror), NHHC Online Library, shipscribe AP-110 class page, NavSource 22176, MARAD ShipHistory 1826, shipbuildinghistory P-types table, va.gov BVA index results, CourtListener (blocked), Google-indexed courtlistener.com review [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-general-j-c-breckinridge-ap176-01 through -10
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, museum remediation record, or docketed asbestos case naming AP-176/T-AP-176/MC hull 2080 was found in the public sources searched. DANFS, the NHHC Online Library narrative, shipscribe class notes, NavSource, and MARAD milestones contain no asbestos or insulation-material statement. Direct CourtListener API and HTML searches were blocked this session (HTTP 429 daily-limit throttle; Cloudflare 403/202 interstitial) - a Google-indexed review of courtlistener.com content surfaced no hull-naming case (see search_ledger).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1944-45 steam transport is era-consistent with asbestos-containing insulation and outfit, and scrapping in Taiwan in 1988 leaves no present-day hull to survey. The CourtListener block means the litigation surface was checked only via the public web index; a direct re-run is the stated follow-up. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-general-j-c-breckinridge-ap176-09
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[10]NARA Guide to Federal Records (RG 178 U.S. Maritime Commission); NARA deck-log guidance; MARAD ShipHistory detail 1826 (status-card/sale-file lead) [other_primary]
- Locator
- RG 178 guide; https://www.archives.gov/research/military/logbooks ; MARAD detail 1826 (HTTP 502 on direct fetch)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - no spend authorized): NARA deck logs and ship's history files for AP-176/T-AP-176; U.S. Coast Guard records for the 1945-46 USCG-manned period; RG 178 (U.S. Maritime Commission) construction files for MC hull 2080, including the P2-S2-R4-to-naval-transport change; Philadelphia NSY work packages for the Oct 1946-Jan 1947 dependent-transport conversion and Mare Island NSY records for the 1950 troop reconversion (yard of the ca.1956 modernization and 1959 refurbishment unverified); and the MARAD disposal file for the 1987 sale, which for NDRF hulls sold to foreign breakers can carry material declarations or condition reports.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 1944-1988 records
- Limitations
- Record-group mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for MC hull 2080 is unknown until surveyed in person. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-general-j-c-breckinridge-ap176-10
-
[11]shipscribe class page (geared turbines; NDRF 16 Dec 65; MA sale 31 Aug 87; buyer 29 Sep 87; scrapped by 11 Jan 88); NHHC Online Library (Aug 1987 Japanese-firm sale; Dec 1966 strike); NavSource (10 Dec 65 decomm; struck date unknown; $1,345,600; Taiwan 1988); DANFS (1 Dec 1966 framing) [other_primary]
- Locator
- shipscribe class notes + AP-176 ship note + disposition table; ibiblio NHHC narrative; NavSource chronology/specs; DANFS transcription
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Source discrepancies resolved: (a) Propulsion - Wikipedia and derivative pages describe 'turbo-electric transmission'; shipscribe class notes document that the Federal-built P2-S2-R2 hulls received standard C3 geared turbines while the Bethlehem-Alameda P2s received turbo-electric drive, and the NavSource ship data block lists De Laval turbines with double De Laval main reduction gears - geared drive adopted, 'turbo-electric' rejected as a design mix-up. (b) Disposal chain - DANFS reads as if she entered the NDRF on 1 December 1966, but MARAD milestones and shipscribe show NDRF custody/entry 16 December 1965 (decommissioned 10 December 1965), with the strike and permanent MARAD transfer on 1 December 1966; all three sources reconcile once custody vs title transfer are separated. (c) Light displacement - sources give 10,704 (shipscribe class), 11,450 (NavSource), and 11,828 (NHHC photo narrative) tons; carried as a stated variance, not merged. (d) Buyer/scrapping - NHHC says sold August 1987 'to a Japanese firm for scrapping'; NavSource says sold 1987 for $1,345,600 and scrapped in Taiwan 1988; shipscribe gives MA sale 31 August 1987, delivery to buyer 29 September 1987, scrapped by 11 January 1988 - consistent with a Japanese broker or owner selling on to Taiwan breakers; the buyer's name remains unverified.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 1944-1988
- Limitations
- Resolves publication-level discrepancies among secondary and official-narrative framings; the unresolved residue (buyer name; exact light-displacement basis; yard for the ca.1956 modernization) is carried in gaps. No asbestos content in any of these sources.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-general-j-c-breckinridge-ap176-11