Evidence
8 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-8).
-
[1]DANFS, Harder (SS-257) - construction, war patrols, awards, and disposition (verbatim transcription via historycentral.com DANFS 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 1 December 1941 by Electric Boat Co., Groton; launched 19 August 1942 (sponsor Miss Helen M. Shaforth); commissioned 2 December 1942, Comdr. Samuel D. Dealey. Six war patrols, all designated successful: Honshu actions sinking Sagara Maru, Kogo Maru, Yoko Maru, Kachisan Maru, Kowa Maru and Daishin Maru (1943); Marianas patrol with Snook and Pargo (Nov 1943) then overhaul at Mare Island; fourth patrol sinking destroyer Ikazuchi in a 'down the throat' shot and 7,000-ton Matsue Maru plus the Woleai beach rescue of a downed pilot; fifth patrol off Tawi-Tawi - three destroyers sunk (Minatsuki, Hayanami, Tanikaze) and two more damaged in four days, alarming Admiral Toyoda into early fleet departure before the Battle of the Philippine Sea; sixth patrol with Hake and Haddo sinking frigates Matsuwa and Hiburi (22 Aug 1944). On 24 August 1944 in Dasol Bay, Luzon, after Hake broke off an approach and went deep, a Japanese minesweeper's depth-charge attack (15 charges heard at 0728) sank Harder with all hands. Presidential Unit Citation and six battle stars; Comdr. Dealey posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
- 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-harder-ss257-01
-
[2]NavSource Online Submarine Photo Archive, header 'as built' spec block and disposition line for this hull; corroborated by DANFS (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/08/0857.htm)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Machinery fit for this hull per NavSource 'as built' spec block: diesel electric reduction gear with four Hoover, Owens, Rentschler Co. main generator diesel engines (5,400 hp), four Allis Chalmers Manufacturing Co. main motors (2,740 hp), two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin propellers. NO BOILERS and no steam plant - the asbestos-relevant machinery profile differs materially from steam classes; the Allis Chalmers motor fit differs from the General Electric motors of earlier sisters.
- 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-harder-ss257-02
-
[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-harder-ss257-03
-
[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 ~17.3 hours'), so the sweep ran on the site:courtlistener.com index fallback for "USS Harder" and "SS-257". The fallback surfaced only unrelated Navy material (Thresher FOIA; USS Fitzgerald collision; USS Liberty FOIA) - 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-harder-ss257-04
-
[5]Negative finding: no qualifying non-litigation ship-specific asbestos record located across DANFS/NHHC (via transcription sources), NavSource, NARA guided topic, 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, or adjudicated exposure finding naming this vessel was located anywhere in the research sweep. As a 1944 war loss there is no postwar disposal record; the confirmed wreck lies at >3,000 ft and its material condition is not publicly characterized.
- 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-harder-ss257-05
-
[6]DANFS closing narrative + NavSource disposition line - postwar custody, foreign service (if any), and terminal disposition [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS/NavSource disposition data
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Terminal event for this hull: sunk by depth-charge attack in Dasol Bay, west coast of Luzon, 24 August 1944 - all hands lost (79 souls per the 2024 NHHC announcement). A war loss: no postwar custody, reserve period, or disposal event exists for this hull, so no postwar material-disturbance record is possible. Strike date unrecorded in located sources (NavSource carries 'date unknown').
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- Documents custody/disposition only; no asbestos or material-condition content. Whether era insulation was disturbed during postwar periods is undocumented. Scrapper/disposal records for this era predate modern hazmat documentation practice and none was located.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-harder-ss257-06
-
[7]U.S. Navy / NHHC news release 'WWII "Hit 'em HARDER" submarine wreck site confirmed' (navy.mil 24 May 2024; DVIDS release 472171 dated 23 May 2024) [other_primary]
- Locator
- navy.mil article 3787069 / DVIDS release 472171 (23-24 May 2024)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NHHC's Underwater Archaeology Branch confirmed the wreck site discovered by Tim Taylor's Lost 52 Project (Tiburon Subsea) as the final resting place of USS Harder (SS-257): resting upright on her keel at more than 3,000 feet depth, relatively intact except for depth-charge damage aft of the conning tower; lost with 79 souls aboard on 24 August 1944. NHHC Director Rear Admiral (ret.) Samuel J. Cox: 'Harder was lost in the course of victory.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 1944 loss; 2024 confirmation
- Population
- 79 crew lost (NHHC figure)
- Limitations
- Official identification of the wreck location and condition - contains no asbestos or material-content characterization. The wreck's interior material condition is not publicly documented and is unlikely to be surveyable at >3,000 ft depth.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-harder-ss257-07
-
[8]NARA guided research topic 'Researching Asbestos aboard US Naval Vessel up through 1961' (archives.gov) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NARA guided topic page, RG 19/RG 38 series description
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA's guided research topic 'Researching Asbestos aboard US Naval Vessel up through 1961' identifies where hull-level material records would live if they exist: Record Group 19 (Bureau of Ships) general/confidential/secret correspondence filed by hull designation (this hull: 'SS257') and Record Group 38 (Board of Inspection and Survey reports, written before trials/after conversions/before demilitarization). No digitized per-hull asbestos material was located in the public sweep; these series are not digitized and require in-person or hired-researcher access.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- A research-pathway pointer, not evidence about this hull: the RG 19/RG 38 series may contain hull-level material records but are not digitized and were not searched for this batch. The guide itself documents that per-vessel asbestos determination requires correspondence-level research, not that any record exists.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-harder-ss257-08