Evidence
13 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-13).
-
[1]research packet 513-packet.md (7 sources cited) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-guadalcanal-lph7-pkt-513-packet-md
-
[2]DANFS, Guadalcanal II (LPH-7) - construction at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, sponsor, commissioning, Atlantic Fleet service through 1967, Gemini X recovery (live NHHC page verified 2026-09-30) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS service narrative and spec block (Guadalcanal II (LPH-7))
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Documented for this hull: 'The second Guadalcanal (LPH-7), an amphibious assault ship, was launched by the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard 16 March 1963, sponsored by Mrs. David Shoup, wife of the former Commandant of the Marine Corps; and commissioned 20 July 1963, Captain Dale K. Peterson in command.' Joined Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet; six weeks shakedown at Guantanamo Bay from 23 October 1963; practice landings at Onslow Beach, NC, 6 December; departed for Panama 11 February 1964 as flagship for Commander PhibRon 12 with a Marine expeditionary unit embarked (DANFS prints 'the 12 Marine Expeditionary Unit'); entered Philadelphia Naval Shipyard 26 May (1964); deployed 7 October (1964) for Operation 'Steel Pike 1' NATO landing exercise in southern Spain; 'on 21 July 1966 when she recovered Gemini X astronauts after their spacecraft landed in the Atlantic east of Cape Kennedy.' Spec block: dp. 18,000 (f.); l. 592'; b. 84'; ed. 105'; dr. 27'; cpl. 900; cl. Iwo Jima.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1959-1967 (entry coverage)
- Population
- PNSY construction trades (1961-63); crew and embarked Marines (1963-forward)
- Limitations
- Ship-specific history only; no asbestos or material content. The DANFS entry ends in 1967 (published-era entry) - all post-1967 milestones come from other rows. 'The 12 Marine Expeditionary Unit' is transcribed verbatim from the DANFS text and is likely a rendering artifact (see gaps).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-guadalcanal-lph7-01
-
[3]Naval Vessel Register ship detail, GUADALCANAL (LPH 7) - registry milestones, dimensions, accommodations, final status (ARCHIVED copy: live NVR no longer carries the retired detail page; Wayback capture 2010-12-13) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NVR ship-detail table, GUADALCANAL (LPH 7); footer 'No changes to this information were reported since 10/05/2010'
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NVR registry record for this hull: UIC 07352; class LPH 2 (Iwo Jima); builder 'NAV SY/PHILADELPHA'; Award Date 12/21/1959; Keel Date 09/01/1961; Launch Date 03/16/1963; Delivery Date 07/09/1963; Commission Date 07/20/1963; Decommission Date 08/31/1994; Stricken Date 08/31/1994; Status 'Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise', date status changed 05/19/2005; 31.1 years commission-to-decommission. Hull: 'Steel hull, aluminum superstructure.' Overall length 598 ft; extreme beam 84 ft; max navigational draft 28 ft; light displacement 13,465 tons; full displacement 19,395 tons; accommodations officers 77, enlisted 737.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1959-2005
- Population
- Construction trades at builder; crew (1963-94); inactive-fleet and disposal personnel (1994-2005)
- Limitations
- Registry data establishes identity, milestones, and disposal category only - no asbestos, hazmat, or material content. Live NVR no longer serves the retired per-ship detail page (redirects to the register index); the archived capture is cited and labeled as archived. NVR 'accommodations' is a berthing figure, not an at-sea crew count - crew figures conflict across sources (see gaps).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-guadalcanal-lph7-02
-
[4]NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive, USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7) - timeline, specifications, awards, commanding officers, captioned photo record (page last updated 27 Sep 2024; verified live 2026-09-30) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 10/11/1107.htm header block, specifications block, awards line, CO list, and captioned photo table
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource timeline for this hull: laid down 1 September 1961 at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard; launched and christened 16 March 1963; commissioned 20 July 1963, CAPT Dale K. Peterson; decommissioned 31 August 1994 at Norfolk, VA; laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, James River Group; struck from the Naval Register 31 August 1994; final disposition 'disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 19 May 2005'. Specs: 11,000 t (lt.) / 18,474 t (fl); 592' x 84' (105' flight deck); 22 kts; complement 667; troop accommodations 2,157; 25 helicopters; propulsion 'two 600 psi boilers, one geared steam turbine, single propeller, 22,000 shp'. Captioned US Navy / DefenseImagery photography places this hull: recovering Gemini X astronauts July 1966 (HS-3 SH-3A aboard); returning to Norfolk 17 March 1969 after the Apollo 9 recovery; aground at Augusta Bay, Sicily, the night of 27/28 January 1976; hosting HM-14 RH-53D mine countermeasures helicopters in the Persian Gulf, 18 August and 1 November 1987 (DoD VIRIN DN-ST-88-00919, DN-ST-88-05668); at Fleet Week New York, 20 May 1992; laid up at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard pier 2 on 30 October 1995 (NISMF storage); ex-Guadalcanal at the James River Reserve Fleet, Fort Eustis, VA, 3 May 2001. Awards listed include Navy Expeditionary Medal (Iran/Indian Ocean, Lebanon x2, Libya), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Dominican Republic, Lebanon, Persian Gulf, Operation Restore Hope), and Humanitarian Service Medal (Beirut evacuation).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1959-2005
- Population
- PNSY construction trades (1961-63); crew and embarked units (1963-94); reserve-fleet caretakers (1994-2005)
- Limitations
- NavSource is a volunteer secondary compilation, not a primary registry - its milestone dates here match the archived NVR record. No asbestos or material content; photo captions document presence/operations, not exposure or work scope.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-guadalcanal-lph7-03
-
[5]NASA, 'Apollo 9 Splashdown' (image article); corroborated by NASA History, '50 Years Ago: Apollo 9 Completes its Mission' (nasa.gov/history) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NASA image article text; NASA history article (splashdown point ~670 miles SSW of Bermuda); NavSource photo 10110735 caption
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NASA documents this hull as Apollo 9's prime recovery ship: 'Splashdown was at 12:00:53 p.m. EST, March 13, 1969, only 4.5 nautical miles from the prime recovery ship, USS Guadalcanal,' concluding a ten-day Earth-orbit mission (McDivitt, Scott, Schweickart); the splashdown point was about 670 miles south-southwest of Bermuda. NavSource photography shows the ship returning to Naval Operating Base Norfolk on 17 March 1969 with the recovered spacecraft context.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1969-03
- Population
- Recovery crews and ship's company, March 1969
- Limitations
- Vessel-history fact only; no asbestos or exposure content. NASA does not name the hull number on this page - the identification of the recovery ship as LPH-7 rests on the ship's name plus the corroborating NavSource/DANFS record.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-guadalcanal-lph7-04
-
[6]Marine Corps Association Gazette, 'Operation PROVIDE COMFORT' - 24th MEU(SOC) / PhibRon-8 aboard Guadalcanal to Iskenderun, Turkey, April 1991 [reputable_press]
- Locator
- MCA Gazette 'Operation PROVIDE COMFORT' article body (9-14 April 1991 sequence)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Documented for this hull: on 9 April 1991, three months into a six-month Mediterranean deployment, the 24th MEU(SOC) - embarked aboard USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7), USS Austin (LPD-4), and USS Charleston (LKA-113), Amphibious Squadron 8 under Capt. Dean Turner - was ordered off a landing exercise in Sardinia to proceed to Iskenderun, Turkey, for duty with Combined Task Force Provide Comfort (Kurdish relief, northern Iraq); the three ships arrived on station 13 April 1991 and reported to MGen Jamerson and BGen Zinni the following morning.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1991
- Population
- Crew and embarked 24th MEU(SOC)/PhibRon-8, April 1991
- Limitations
- Service history only; no asbestos content. Documents the ship's Provide Comfort role - not a claim that she entered the Persian Gulf during Desert Storm; her 1990-91 hull movements beyond this citation are not established here.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-guadalcanal-lph7-05
-
[7]Bradley Peniston, 'Capturing the Iran Ajr' - companion timeline to 'No Higher Honor' (U.S. Naval Institute Press) [reputable_press]
- Locator
- navybook.com timeline 'Capturing the Iran Ajr' (21-26 September 1987); cross-checked against Wikipedia LPH-7 text
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- CORRECTION: a circulating account (e.g., the Wikipedia LPH-7 article) states that during 1987 Persian Gulf minesweeping operations 'helicopters from Guadalcanal attacked [the Iranian minelayer Iran Ajr]; troops from Guadalcanal boarded and captured the ship' on 21 September 1987. The detailed Operation Prime Chance account records instead that Army Task Force 160 MH-6/AH-6 helicopters launched from the frigate USS Jarrett (FFG-33) tracked and attacked Iran Ajr; Navy SEALs boarded her; detainees were held aboard USS La Salle / USS Raleigh (LPD-1); and the hulk was scuttled 26 September 1987. Guadalcanal's documented 1987 role was as a platform for HM-14 RH-53D mine countermeasures operations (see ev-03) - not the intercept or boarding platform. The 'second enemy warship captured on the high seas since 1815' comparison correctly traces to the first Guadalcanal (CVE-60) capturing U-505 in 1944.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1987-09
- Limitations
- Corrects a platform misattribution in secondary literature, not a material claim. Peniston's account is a reputable published secondary source (USNI Press companion), not a primary record; no Navy action report was located this session. Whether Guadalcanal played any supporting role in the wider Prime Chance/Earnest Will effort beyond the documented HM-14 MCM tasking is not established here.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-guadalcanal-lph7-06
-
[8]National Archives, 'Navy Deck Logs Available in the National Archives Catalog' - Guadalcanal (LPH-7) digitized deck-log index [other_primary]
- Locator
- archives.gov/research/military/logbooks/navy-online, 'Guadalcanal (LPH-7)' collapse panel (NAIDs 217545370-400176460 series); NHHC photo index page for USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA's official index lists digitized deck logs for this hull covering every month July 1963 through May 1975 (catalog.archives.gov file-unit NAIDs; header confirms 'Commission: July 1963 / Decommission: August 1994'). Deck logs document daily movements, availabilities, and port calls - the primary-source channel for reconstructing yard periods (including the reported late-1966 Portsmouth overhaul) and any recorded material notes. NHHC additionally holds item-level photography: the UA 362.01.02 collection (Fleet Week 1992) and the S-493-D donated photo collection for this hull.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1963-1975
- Population
- Ship's company and yard personnel as recorded in daily log entries, 1963-75
- Limitations
- Archival lead only: the logs exist and are digitized, but they were not read this session - nothing in this row establishes what any log page contains. Deck logs rarely note insulation work directly; their value is availability/location reconstruction. NHHC photo collections are catalog records, not digitized bulk text.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-guadalcanal-lph7-07
-
[9]Era inference built on: NavSource/NVR specifications (two 600 psi boilers, one geared steam turbine, ~22,000 shp, single screw - steam plant); NVR construction dates (keel 09/01/1961, delivery 07/09/1963); GAO HRD-80-2 Navy asbestos-era documentation (see ev-09); Philadelphia Naval Shipyard documented-product environment (see ev-08) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NVR construction block; NavSource specifications block; GAO HRD-80-2 product-page description
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- A steam-driven amphibious assault ship laid down 1 September 1961 and delivered 9 July 1963 at a Navy shipyard sits inside the Navy's documented asbestos-use era; era-standard applications aboard a steam ship of this type and period were boiler casing and fireroom insulation, steam-pipe lagging throughout the machinery spaces, turbine lagging, valve and flange gaskets and packing, deck tile in living and messing spaces, bulkhead fireproofing, and cable/electrical insulation. The Navy did not begin substituting alternative insulation materials until the early 1970s - after this hull was built.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1961-1994
- Population
- PNSY construction trades (1961-63); crew (1963-94); yard trades at documented availabilities (PNSY 1964; reported Portsmouth overhaul 1966-67)
- Limitations
- Class/era inference only - no hull-specific insulation survey, material list, or work package located for LPH-7. Names era-standard applications, not confirmed installed materials. No quantity. Does not establish individual exposure or remaining material (hull sunk 2005).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-guadalcanal-lph7-08
-
[10]Philadelphia Naval Shipyard asbestos-product environment, per Atlas shipyards.json (philadelphia-naval-shipyard, evidence_tier 3): named products in published Pennsylvania appellate opinions - Taylor v. Celotex Corp., 393 Pa. Super. 566 (1990); Junge v. Garlock, Inc., 427 Pa. Super. 592 (1993); Gross v. Johns-Manville Corp., 410 Pa. Super. 486 (1991) - and OSHA establishment inspection 17999079 (1989, asbestos citation under 29 CFR 1910.1001, bulk sample B38219 reported 90%) [court_record]
- Locator
- shipyards.json philadelphia-naval-shipyard evidence rows ev-philadelphia-naval-s-02 and ev-philadelphia-naval-shipyard-osha-1989-17999079; underlying reporters as named
- Finding type
- litigation_product_id
- Finding
- Yard-level documentation at this hull's builder: published appellate opinions identify named asbestos products used by workers at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard - Eagle-Picher Super 60, Onecote cement, Thermasil pipe covering and block, Unibestos, Cary block, Baldwin-Ehret-Hill and Carey asbestos products, Kaylo, Garlock asbestos sheet gaskets and packing, Ruberoid, Johns-Manville pipe insulation - spanning the yard's asbestos-era operations that include this hull's 1961-63 construction window; a 1989 OSHA health inspection carried a current asbestos citation under 29 CFR 1910.1001.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1941-1989 (documentation window); 1961-63 build period relevant
- Population
- Philadelphia Naval Shipyard civilian and uniformed trades (1941-1984 litigation window covers the 1961-63 build)
- Limitations
- Builder-level, not hull-level: these records document the yard's asbestos-product environment and exposures of yard workers; no opinion located names LPH-7 or ties a product to this hull. Cited URLs (law.justia.com for Taylor; osha.gov inspection detail 17999079) returned HTTP 403 to automated fetch on 2026-09-30 - records cited by name/reporter cite only. Does not establish materials aboard this ship.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-guadalcanal-lph7-09
-
[11]GAO, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure, HRD-80-2 (Oct 18, 1979) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO product page HRD-80-2 (full text blocked, HTTP 403)
- Finding type
- gov_survey
- Finding
- GAO documented that the Navy used asbestos insulation extensively aboard ships and did not begin substituting alternative insulation materials until the early 1970s - spanning this hull's entire construction (1961-63) and most of her service era (1963-94).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1979
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers; asbestos program review
- Limitations
- Program-level documentation; supports era context only, not any fact specific to this hull. Full text not retrieved (gao.gov blocks automated fetch, HTTP 403, confirmed 2026-09-30) - content via product-page description.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-guadalcanal-lph7-10
-
[12]U.S. 7th Fleet, 'Valiant Shield: U.S. Forces conclude SINKEX exercise' (Sept 2016) - official Navy description of SINKEX environmental-remediation requirements [other_primary]
- Locator
- C7F article body, SINKEX compliance paragraphs
- Finding type
- environmental_record
- Finding
- Official Navy description of the SINKEX preparation regime applicable to hulls disposed as fleet-training targets: 'Former Navy vessels used in all SINKEXs are prepared in strict compliance with regulations prescribed and enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under a general permit the Navy holds pursuant to the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act.' Each hulk must sink in at least 1,000 fathoms at least 50 nautical miles from land; the cleaning process includes removal of all PCBs, transformers and large capacitors, small capacitors to the extent practical, trash, floatable materials, mercury or fluorocarbon materials, and readily detachable solid PCB items, with petroleum cleaned from tanks and piping; a Navy quality-assurance supervisor and environmental/safety/health manager inspect and sign certification per EPA requirements.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 2016 (article); SINKEX regime applicable at 2005 disposal
- Population
- Disposal/remediation personnel on SINKEX hulks; exercise participants
- Limitations
- Program-level context only - this article describes the SINKEX regime generally (written 2016, ex-Rentz) and does NOT name ex-Guadalcanal or certify what was removed from this hull before the 19 May 2005 sinking; notably the enumerated removal list covers PCBs/mercury/petroleum/floatables and does not expressly list asbestos. No hull-specific SINKEX remediation certificate or survey was located for LPH-7 (see gaps).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-guadalcanal-lph7-11
-
[13]Batch-5797 search ledger (this record): live DANFS; archived NVR; NavSource; NASA; MCA Gazette; NARA deck-log index; NHHC photo collections; Peniston/NHH; GAO product page; CourtListener; secondary web litigation sweep [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-guadalcanal-lph7-01 through -12
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or verified litigation naming USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7) was found in the public sources searched. CAVEAT: CourtListener could not be queried this session - the authenticated helper returned the fleet-wide pacing stand-down (shared ~114/hr budget) on 10 spaced attempts over ~55 minutes; logged as blocked in search_ledger, not as a negative result. Secondary web sweeps surfaced only law-firm marketing content (asbestos-ships.com and similar listicles) asserting asbestos aboard 'USS Guadalcanal' without primary sourcing - excluded by source policy; at least one such page addresses the wrong hull (CVE-60) entirely.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 2026-09-30
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard. Digitized deck logs (1963-75), PNSY work packages, the reported 1966-67 Portsmouth overhaul record, and any 2005 SINKEX remediation certification are open leads. Does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-guadalcanal-lph7-12