USS Herkimer (AK-188)

Evidence

12 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-12).

1. [1]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 program under which this C1-M-AV1 hull was mass-produced (Maritime Commission Design AV; contracts for the first 100 ships approved 1943-09-02 per shipscribe class notes) - and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization aboard merchant-type hulls.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-21

   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 the C1-M-AV1 type 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-herkimer-ak188-01

2. [2]USS Herkimer (AK-188) War Diary, July-November 1945, and 'History of U.S.S. Herkimer (AK-188)' letter A4-1/A4-3/AK-188 serial 79 (1945-10-28, CO to SecNav) - NARA-held WWII war diary series; digitized scan hosted by NavSource (navsource.net/archives/09/13/pdf/130188a.pdf, contributed by Frank Gerhardt) [other_primary]

   Locator

   Scanned document read directly, all 25 pages: Jul 1945 diary (A5-7/AK188 serial 06, submitted 1945-08-01); Aug 1945 diary (A12-1/AK-188 serial 95, submitted 1945-11-07); Nov 1945 diary (A12-1/AK-188 serial 100, submitted 1945-12-03); history letter serial 79 dated 1945-10-28

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   The ship's own war diary (monthly submissions to CominCh, Jul-Nov 1945, signed by LT C. W. Crocker, Jr., USNR; Navy Dept. registration stamp N-5642) documents, in the ship's own record: commissioning 1430 on 1945-07-14 at Navy Dock, Westwego, La.; loading at Naval Supply Depot New Orleans; the ammunition load (252 rds 3"/50 AA, 13,140 rds 20mm, and small-arms/pyrotechnics); gunnery exercises off Southwest Pass; drydocking in No. 2 Drydock, Todd-Galveston Drydocking Co., Galveston, 1945-07-22 to 25 'for purposes of having bottom inspected, sand-blasted, and painted'; a four-day post-shakedown availability at Texas Coast Shipyards, Galveston, 1945-08-03 to 09 ('Shipyard work in progress on vessel' 5-8 Aug); cargo loading at Gulfport (cement, beer, construction machinery); Panama Canal transit completed 1945-08-29; Subic Bay arrival 1945-10-07; and Sasebo operations through November (moored alongside USS Tombigbee AOG-11 for fresh water 1945-11-11). The CO's 1945-10-28 history letter to SecNav (serial 79) records: built by Walter Butler Shipbuilders, Inc.; launched Superior, Wis., 1944-07-02; 'Diesel Driven, Cargo Vessel (3 Dry Hatches and 1 Refer)'; 12 knots; complement 8 officers and 61 enlisted; commissioned New Orleans 1945-07-14; shakedown Galveston 1945-07-30 to 08-04.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-21

   Study period

   1945-07-14 to 1945-11-30 (diary coverage); history letter 1945-10-28

   Population

   Navy crew (8 officers + 61 enlisted per the ship's own letter); Todd-Galveston Drydocking and Texas Coast Shipyards yard trades (Jul-Aug 1945)

   Limitations

   Primary document (the ship's own official submissions) hosted on a secondary site - the scan was read directly and is the strongest ship-specific record located. It documents two Galveston yard availabilities and the diesel plant/complement, but contains NO asbestos, insulation-material, or hazardous-material statement - the documented yard events establish disturbance of ship's material, not fiber content. Does not establish asbestos aboard this hull.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-herkimer-ak188-02

3. [3]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships - 'Herkimer' (AK-188) entry (Wayback capture of NHHC danfs/h/herkimer.html; canonical NHHC URL returned 404 on 2026-09-21) [nhhc_danfs]

   Locator

   DANFS 'Herkimer' full entry via Wayback Machine capture 2015-09-24; canonical https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/herkimer.html and the /content/history/nhhc/ variant both returned 404 (standing NHHC link rot, same as batches 01 and 833)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   DANFS 'Herkimer' entry records: namesake 'a county in New York'; stat line (AK-188: dp. 2,382 lt.; l. 338'6"; b. 50'; dr. 21'1"; s. 11.5 k.; cpl. 85; a. 1 3", 6 20mm.; cl. Alamosa; T. C1-M-AV1). Laid down under Maritime Commission contract by Walter Butler Shipbuilders, Inc., Superior, Wis., 1944-04-10; launched 1944-07-02, sponsored by Miss Ann Farley; acquired by the Navy 1945-06-25; commissioned at New Orleans 1945-07-14, Lt. Carlton W. Crocker, Jr., in command. Shakedown Gulf of Mexico; loaded cargo at Gulfport; departed 1945-08-22 for the western Pacific; Subic Bay 1945-10-07 (unloaded refrigerated cargo); sailed 10-13 carrying Army equipment for occupation forces in Japan; Sasebo 1945-10-20 to 12-30; Yokosuka arrival 1946-01-02; stripped of Navy gear; Yokohama 1946-01-16; decommissioned 1946-02-01 and transferred to the Army. Operated by a Japanese merchant crew for SCAP until reacquired by the Navy 1950-07-01; after refitting, assigned to MSTS 1951-02-28, designated T-AK 188; civilian-crewed Korean supply runs from Moji, Kure, Yokohama; continued Japan-Korea runs after the 1953-07-27 truce; Operation 'Passage to Freedom' (departed Yokohama 1954-11-06, Haiphong 11-15, cargo to St. Jacques and Saigon, three runs, departed Saigon 1955-01-23, Kobe 02-01); western Pacific cargo service since 1955 incl. Inchon/Pusan, Hokkaido-to-Kyushu coastal runs, Korea-SE Asia, Japan/Philippines-Formosa 1961-65, and intermittent South Vietnam runs from 1962-02; 'Into 1967 she remains in the Western Pacific.'

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-21

   Study period

   1944-1967 (DANFS coverage window)

   Population

   Navy crew (cpl. 85 per DANFS stat line); Sasebo/Yokosuka/Yokohama occupation-service context

   Limitations

   Authoritative for identity, chronology, and operations through 1967 (the entry's coverage ends there - it does not document the 1973 strike or disposal). Contains no asbestos, insulation-material, or hazardous-material statement - the 1950-51 refit is documented as an event only, with no materials scope described. Supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-herkimer-ak188-03

4. [4]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - HERKIMER (AK-188), Ship History Detail 8480 (vessel status card scan 33F_01.png, custody face read directly) [marad_nrc]

   Locator

   ShipHistory Detail 8480 - data fields and status-card scan /cards/33F_01.png read directly (milestones table itself empty; custody detail is on the card image)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   MARAD ShipHistory records for this hull (Detail 8480 'HERKIMER (AK-188)'): MARAD type C1-M-AV1; shipyard 'Walter Butler Shipbuilders'; year built 1944; Official No. 246441; length 338.70 ft, beam 50 ft; gross 3,805 tons; displacement summer 7,450 / lightweight 2,382; fate 'Transferred - Foreign'; mission flags World War II and Korean War. The digitized vessel status card (read directly) records: 'Hull No MC 2119' with yard no. 37; 'Built by Walter Butler Shipbuilders Superior, Wis. Completed 12-1944'; 'Basis to W.S.A. 12-9-44 3:40pm CWT @ Superior, Wis. fom Builders' (owned); allocation rows - 'Navy Department / LB / Superior' with a struck-and-overwritten delivery date (12-9-44 written over a struck entry; DANFS dates Navy acquisition 1945-06-25 - flagged in correction row); 'War Dept. / BB / Yokohama, Japan / 2-1-46 11AM'; 'NAVY DEPT. / TITLE / 7-1-50'; 'Maritime Administration (Permanent Trans.) / Title / 9/_ /73'; 'Department of the Interior / Loaned / 9/_ /73'; and 'Permanent Transfer to the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia 4/7/82'.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-21

   Study period

   1944-1982

   Limitations

   Authoritative government custody record for this hull; card handwriting read against typed fields (the struck Navy-department date and the two '9/_ /73' day-values are partially legible). Establishes MC hull 2119 (not 2118) and the 1982-04-07 permanent transfer to the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia - correcting the '31 April 1982 to DOI' carried by NavSource/Wikipedia. Contains no asbestos, materials, or condition-survey information; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-herkimer-ak188-04

5. [5]NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive, USNS Herkimer (T-AK-188) / USS Herkimer (AK-188) page (compiled reference incl. DANFS transcription, awards table, CO list, specifications, photo credits) [other_primary]

   Locator

   navsource.net/archives/09/13/130188.htm - full page incl. specifications block, commanding-officer table, awards, photo credit lines

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   NavSource Online (Service Ship Photo Archive, AK-188 page) records the same chronology as DANFS plus: call signs NENN (1944) / NHBC (1950); ribbon table American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal (Asia clasp), National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (1), United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Korea War Service Medal; CO table LT Carlton W. Crocker, Jr., USNR (1945-07-14 to 1946-02-01); specs - 2,382 t (lt) / 7,450 t (fl); 388'6" x 50' x 29'2" limiting draft; 12 kts; complement 8 officers + 61 enlisted; largest boom 30 t; cargo 3,945 DWT (227,730 cu ft non-refrigerated / 9,830 cu ft refrigerated); armament 1x3"/50 DP + 6x20mm AA; fuel 6,300 bbls diesel; propulsion one Nordberg Diesel TSM 6, two 250 kW 120/240 V DC diesel-drive ship's-service generators, single propeller, 1,750 shp. Photo credits: USNS Herkimer in the Trust Territories of the Pacific, 1955 (University of Hawaii Image Library reel 3449-01); off Nha Be, RVN, November 1971 (Richard Leonhardt); ex-Herkimer in Department of Interior service moored at Busan, South Korea, 1973 (UH reel 3448-01).

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-21

   Study period

   1944-1982

   Limitations

   NavSource is a privately compiled standard reference, not a government publication; its spec block presumably derives from standard compilations - not independently corroborated here except where the ship's own letter agrees (diesel plant, 8+61 complement, 12 kts). Three NavSource figures conflict with primary records and are NOT adopted: 'MCV hull 2118' (MARAD card: MC 2119), '388'6"' length (DANFS/MARAD: ~338'6"/338.7 ft - treated as a typo), and 'permanent transfer ... 31 April 1982' (MARAD card: 4/7/82 to the Government of the FSM - an impossible date corrected in the correction row). No asbestos content; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-herkimer-ak188-05

6. [6]shipscribe.com, USS Alamosa (AK-156) Class page - construction/disposition tables, class notes (Design AV history, Great Lakes transit), and the AK-188 ship note [other_primary]

   Locator

   shipscribe.com/usnaux/AK/AK156.html - construction table row 188, disposition table row 188, ship note for AK-188, Class Notes paragraphs (Design AV; Great Lakes transit pattern)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   shipscribe.com Alamosa-class page records for this hull (construction table): acquired 25 Jun 45; Walter Butler SB, Superior; keel 10 Apr 44; launch 2 Jul 44; commissioned 14 Jul 45 - all consistent with DANFS/MARAD. Disposition table: Decomm. 3 Oct 73; Strike 15 Jun 73; Disposal 3 Oct 73; Fate 'Trf.' The AK-188 ship note reads: 'Delivered to MC in Great Lakes 9 Dec 44 and arrived at New Orleans 27 Mar 45. Reassembled by Pendleton SY, New Orleans, and delivered to MC and Navy 25 Jun 45. Decomm. and to WSA/Army (SCAJAP) 1 Feb 46 as HERKIMER (V-203) at Yokohama, stk. 5 Jun 46. Title from Army to Navy (MSTS) and on Navy list 1 Jul 50. Reassigned from SCAJAP to MSTS 1 Apr 51. From MSTS to Interior Department 3 Oct 73, to Government of the Federated States of Micronesia 7 Apr 82.' Class notes document the C1-M-AV1 design history: MC 'Design AV' for 100 diesel coastal cargo ships (contracts approved 1943-09-02), diesel substituted for the requested reciprocating steam plant, and the reduced-condition Great Lakes-to-New Orleans transit pattern for lake-built hulls.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-21

   Study period

   1944-1982

   Limitations

   shipscribe is a compiled reference (Tim Colton, coltoncompany lineage), not a primary document; the ship note is consistent with the MARAD status card on every overlapping event (9 Dec 44 MC delivery, 1 Feb 46 Army/SCAJAP, 5 Jun 46 strike, 1 Jul 50 Navy title, Sep/Oct 1973 Interior, 7 Apr 82 FSM). Its 'Strike 15 Jun 73' conflicts with NavSource's 15 Jul 73 - carried in the correction row; its 'reassigned from SCAJAP to MSTS 1 Apr 51' vs DANFS's 'assigned to MSTS 28 Feb 1951' likewise carried. No asbestos content; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-herkimer-ak188-06

7. [7]shipbuildinghistory.com - Walter Butler Shipbuilders, Superior WI yard page (compiled yard table and history) [other_primary]

   Locator

   Butler Superior page - yard history paragraph and row for yard hull 37 / MC 2119

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   Builder-yard context: Walter Butler Shipbuilders, Inc., Superior, WI, took over the Lake Superior Shipbuilding yard at North 1st and Hammond Avenue at the outset of the war. The yard table carries this hull as yard no. 37, AK 188 'Herkimer', original owner WSA, type C1-M-AV1, MC no. 2119, 3,805 LDT, delivered Dec-44, 'To the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 1973' - consistent with the MARAD card on hull number, tonnage, delivery month, and disposition direction.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   context_only

   Accessed

   2026-09-21

   Study period

   1942-1945

   Population

   Walter Butler Superior construction workforce (1943-44)

   Limitations

   Yard-level context for the builder of this hull; documents the facility (an acquired pre-existing yard in the emergency program) and corroborates hull identity, but contains no asbestos or materials information and establishes nothing about materials aboard this hull. Walter Butler Shipbuilders has no shipyards.json entry - carried in gaps.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-herkimer-ak188-07

8. [8]FSM National Union (official publication of the Federated States of Micronesia), Vol. 11 No. 7, 1990-08-15, 'Haglelgam signs 39 bills into law' - P.L. No. 6-85 (Congress Bill 6-264); corroborating index entry: PacLII FSM public laws index, P.L. 6-85 [other_primary]

   Locator

   National Union V11N7 PDF (comfsm.fm digital library), 'Haglelgam signs 39 bills into law' item, P.L. No. 6-85 line; PacLII index http://www.paclii.org/fm/indices/legis/public_laws_6.html (index text returned via web search; paclii.org blocks automated fetch - 403)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   FSM government publication records the hull's end of government service: 'Congress Bill No. 6-264, now P.L. No. 6-85, to appropriate $100,000 to provide funds to the maritime operations revolving fund in consideration of the revenues received by the National Government from the sale of the M.V. Herkimer' - the FSM National Union (official FSM publication), Vol. 11 No. 7, 1990-08-15, in a list of 39 bills signed by President John R. Haglelgam. The FSM therefore sold the vessel and had received the sale revenues before this enactment; buyer, sale date, and breakup location are not stated. The PacLII index of FSM public laws independently carries the same P.L. 6-85 title text ('in consideration of the funds received from the sale of the M.V. Herkimer'). A 2014 FSM Information Service posting corroborates FSM-era operation: a nominated official's service 'as Third and Second Officer aboard the Cargo Vessel Herkimer servicing the FSM.'

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-21

   Study period

   1982-1990

   Population

   FSM-flag civilian cargo crew (1982-c.1984+); unknown purchaser's workforce

   Limitations

   Authoritative for the fact that the FSM sold the vessel and received the proceeds before Aug 1990 - it does not state buyer, sale date, price beyond the $100,000 appropriation relationship, or whether the sale was for scrap. The circulating 'scrapped November 1984' remains unsourced; a 1984-era sale for scrap is consistent with but not established by this record. No asbestos content; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-herkimer-ak188-08

9. [9]University of Hawaii at Manoa Library, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Archives photograph descriptions (reels 3448, 3449) [other_primary]

   Locator

   libweb.hawaii.edu/digicoll/ttp/photodescript8.html - reel 3448 and 3449 description lines

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   Archival holding documenting this hull's TTPI/DOI-era presence: the University of Hawaii Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Archives photograph index lists reel 3448 'HERKIMER AT CHARLIE DOCK, SAIPAN (B/W PHOTOS) WITH NEGATIVES. POLAROIDS IN PUSAN, 1973' and reel 3449 'USNS/HERKIMER. 1955' - the same two reels credited on the NavSource photo captions for this hull.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   archival_lead

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-21

   Study period

   1955; 1973

   Limitations

   Index-level verification that photographs of this hull exist in the TTPI archives; the reels themselves were not pulled and their content beyond the index descriptions is unverified. No asbestos content; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-herkimer-ak188-09

10. [10]Batch-864 search ledger (this record): DANFS Wayback mirror; MARAD ShipHistory 8480 + status card 33F_01.png; NavSource AK-188 page + hosted war-diary/history-letter scan; shipscribe AK-156 class page; shipbuildinghistory Butler Superior; NVR hull check; CourtListener (API throttle status recorded; Google-indexed check); web-wide litigation search; EPA Superfund name-collision check [other_primary]

    Locator

    search_ledger rows sl-uss-herkimer-ak188-01 through sl-uss-herkimer-ak188-13

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming USS Herkimer / USNS Herkimer / USAT Herkimer / AK-188 / T-AK-188 / MC hull 2119 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). The hull left U.S. custody by permanent transfer to the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia in 1982 - before no U.S.-regulated abatement record would be expected post-transfer, and no pre-1973 survey or abatement record was located for the Navy/MSTS period. The ship appears on bulk law-firm marketing lists of Navy hulls (e.g., mesotheliomasymptoms.com, freeasbestostesting.com, duboselawfirm.com) that enumerate every Navy ship and carry no ship-specific evidence - classified non-qualifying and not cited.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    negative_finding

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-09-21

    Study period

    2026-09-21

    Limitations

    Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1944 diesel cargo ship with refrigerated capacity, two documented post-commissioning yard availabilities, and a documented 1950-51 refit is era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials aboard. The authenticated CourtListener sweep is partial: exact-name '"USS Herkimer"' opinions query completed clean (count 0); the related-designation and hull-number queries were throttled by the shared account quota (details in the ledger row) and stand unrun, not clean. The Google-indexed check found only Herkimer County NY collisions and a 1920s-30s NY canal steamer of the same name - no hull-naming opinion. Does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-herkimer-ak188-10

11. [11]Cross-source reconciliation: DANFS (Wayback mirror of NHHC page); NavSource AK-188 page; MARAD ShipHistory Detail 8480 status card 33F_01.png; shipscribe AK-156 class page (tables + ship note); shipbuildinghistory Butler Superior yard table; the ship's own war diary and 1945-10-28 history letter (NavSource-hosted NARA scan) [other_primary]

    Locator

    Per-item: NavSource specs/chronology vs MARAD card custody rows and shipscribe ship note; DANFS stat line; ship letter serial 79; shipbuildinghistory row 37/2119; Wikipedia/NavSource '31 April 1982' and 'scrapped November 1984' vs MARAD '4/7/82 ... Federated States of Micronesia'

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    Source discrepancies logged, not merged: (a) MC hull number - NavSource carries 'MCV hull 2118'; the MARAD status card and shipbuildinghistory yard table carry MC 2119; shipscribe agrees 2119 - 2119 adopted, '2118' treated as transcription error. (b) Permanent transfer - MARAD status card records 'Permanent Transfer to the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia 4/7/82' and shipscribe records 'to Government of the Federated States of Micronesia 7 Apr 82' (consistent, US date format); NavSource and Wikipedia-derived sources carry 'permanent transfer ... 31 April 1982' to DOI/TTPI - an impossible date and a less precise transferee; corrected. (c) Second strike date - shipscribe disposition table '15 Jun 73' vs NavSource/Wikipedia '15 Jul 1973' - unresolved; both carried. (d) Interior custody date - MARAD card 'Department of the Interior / Loaned / 9/_ /73' and MARAD permanent-title row '9/_ /73' vs shipscribe 'From MSTS to Interior Department 3 Oct 73' - September vs 3 October; both carried. (e) Navy allocation date on the card - the 'Navy Department / LB / Superior' row shows a struck-and-overwritten delivery date reading 12-9-44 over a struck entry; DANFS dates Navy acquisition 1945-06-25 and commissioning 1945-07-14 - the overwritten card entry treated as a clerical allocation note, DANFS adopted for the event dates. (f) MSTS assignment - DANFS 'assigned to MSTS 28 February 1951' vs shipscribe 'Reassigned from SCAJAP to MSTS 1 Apr 51' - both carried. (g) Complement - DANFS cpl. 85 vs the ship's own history letter 8 officers + 61 enlisted (69) vs NavSource 8+61 vs shipscribe class table 69 vs Design AV intent 75 - ship's letter is the most contemporaneous source; DANFS figure also presented. (h) Dimensions/tonnage - length 338'6" (DANFS) / 338.70 ft (MARAD) / 338.5' oa, 320.0' wl (shipscribe) / 388'6" (NavSource - treated as a typo); draft 21'1" (DANFS) vs 29'2" limiting (NavSource); light displacement 2,382 (DANFS/NavSource/MARAD) vs 2,474 (shipscribe class); full-load 7,450 (all agree); DWT 3,945 (NavSource/MARAD 'cargo capacity') vs 6,000 design intent (shipscribe class notes); speed 11.5 kts (DANFS/shipscribe) vs 12 kts (NavSource and the ship's own letter); power 1,750 shp (NavSource/shipscribe). (i) Final fate - the FSM National Union (official FSM publication) records P.L. No. 6-85 appropriating $100,000 'in consideration of the revenues received by the National Government from the sale of the M.V. Herkimer' (signed by President Haglelgam, reported 1990-08-15) - the documented endpoint is an FSM sale, not a stated scrapping; NavSource 'fate unknown'; MARAD 'Transferred - Foreign'; Wikipedia-derived 'scrapped November 1984' remains unsourced and is carried in gaps. (j) Post-commissioning Navy Dock naming - war diary says 'Navy Dock, Westwego, La.' vs DANFS 'commissioned at New Orleans' - consistent (Westwego is across the river from New Orleans); noted, not a defect.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    correction

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-09-21

    Study period

    1944-1984 (dates reconciled 2026-09-21)

    Limitations

    Resolves nothing by fiat - records which source says what so downstream consumers inherit the conflicts honestly. Where a primary record and a compiled reference disagree, the primary record (MARAD card, DANFS, the ship's own letter) is adopted and the variant disclosed. No asbestos content in any reconciled source.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-herkimer-ak188-11

12. [12]NARA record-group guidance: Navy deck logs (post-1941 at Archives II, College Park); RG 178 (U.S. Maritime Commission) Construction Division records; NARA WWII war diaries; University of Hawaii TTPI Archives [other_primary]

    Locator

    archives.gov/research/military/logbooks (post-1941 Navy deck logs at College Park); archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/178.html; libweb.hawaii.edu/digicoll/ttp/photodescript8.html; catalog.archives.gov not separately queried for this hull

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    Archival leads (not retrieved - require research-room or reproduction orders; no spend authorized): (a) NARA WWII deck logs for AK-188's commissioned period (Jul 1945-Feb 1946) and any MSTS-era logs - post-1941 Navy deck logs are at Archives II, College Park; (b) NARA RG 178 (U.S. Maritime Commission) Construction Division records may hold the MC hull 2119 contract and C1-M-AV1 outfitting specifications for Walter Butler yard hull 37; (c) BuShips/8th Naval District records for the Pendleton Shipyard reassembly (Mar-Jun 1945) and the 1950-51 post-Army refit - the likeliest surviving sources identifying materials installed or disturbed in those availabilities; (d) the original NARA-held war diary and history letter (the scan used here is NavSource-hosted; the NARA original carries the register number N-5642); (e) University of Hawaii TTPI Archives reels 3448/3449 and any TTPI/FSM vessel records for the 1973-1984 period - the only plausible repository for post-transfer condition or disposal documentation.

    Verification

    unverified

    Role

    archival_lead

    Documentation level

    context_only

    Accessed

    2026-09-21

    Study period

    1944-1984 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-herkimer-ak188-12