Evidence
5 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-5).
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[1]research packet ch-packet.md (1 sources cited) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED — real identity: USS Heron (AMS-18), later MSC(O)-18; ex-YMS-369
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-heron-ams18-pkt-ch-packet-md
-
[2]Naval History and Heritage Command, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Heron II (YMS-369) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS entry, identity paragraph and service-history paragraphs
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Heron II (YMS-369) was launched 24 July 1943 by Wheeler Shipbuilding Corporation, Whitestone, New York, and commissioned 9 October 1943. NHHC/DANFS records World War II minesweeping around the Japanese home islands, decommissioning 2 March 1946, renaming and reclassification as Heron (AMS-18), recommissioning 15 July 1949, Korean War minesweeping and surveillance, reclassification as MSC(O)-18, transfer to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, return to U.S. custody, striking on 31 March 1967, and use as a fire target.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1943-1969
- Population
- USS Heron/YMS-369 crew and shipyard personnel
- Limitations
- Supports identity, dates, designations, operations, transfer, striking, and target-use history. It does not document asbestos, individual exposure, quantity, condition, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-heron-ams18-01
-
[3]NavSource Online, Heron (MSC[O] 18), ex-AMS-18, ex-YMS-369 [other_primary]
- Locator
- Ship chronology and specifications sections
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The NavSource archival page identifies the same hull as ex-YMS-369 and ex-AMS-18, and lists a 13 January 1943 keel date, 24 July 1943 launch, 9 October 1943 commissioning, 17 February 1947 AMS-18 reclassification, 15 July 1949 recommissioning, 7 February 1955 MSC(O)-18 reclassification, 21 March 1955 decommissioning and transfer to Japan, 31 March 1967 return/striking, and 1 August 1969 target sinking. It lists 270 tons displacement, 136 feet length, 24 feet 6 inches beam, 13-knot speed, complement 50, and two 880-bhp General Motors 8-268A diesels on two shafts.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1943-1969
- Limitations
- Useful archival corroboration and specification source, but not an official Navy record. NavSource conflicts with NHHC/DANFS on the day/month of the 1947 and 1955 reclassification dates and on the target-sinking date; those discrepancies are retained in the report rather than silently reconciled. It contains no asbestos statement.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-heron-ams18-02
-
[4]OPNAVINST 5100.19F, Chapter 3, Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center copy [other_primary]
- Locator
- Chapter 3, applicability and pre-1980 ship rule
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Current Navy asbestos-control guidance states that ships whose keels were laid before 1980 are treated as containing friable asbestos thermal-systems insulation unless ship-specific documentation establishes otherwise, and describes asbestos-control requirements for U.S. ships. This is an era/policy context applicable to research prioritization, not a finding that asbestos was aboard USS Heron.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 2019 guidance concerning pre-1980 ships
- Population
- Pre-1980 U.S. Navy ships and personnel performing shipboard work
- Limitations
- Navy-wide policy and presumptive work rule, not a Heron survey or construction record. It does not identify a product, location, quantity, remaining material, exposure, or causation for this hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-heron-ams18-03
-
[5]Batch-1690 source review of NHHC/DANFS, NavSource, and Navy asbestos-control guidance [other_primary]
- Locator
- Source-review ledger rows sl-uss-heron-ams18-01 through sl-uss-heron-ams18-12
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record was located in the authoritative sources reviewed: the NHHC/DANFS history, NavSource archival record, and the Navy asbestos-control guidance do not provide an asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, asbestos product identification, or hull-specific exposure finding for USS Heron/YMS-369/AMS-18. The authenticated CourtListener sweep (four base queries plus four asbestos-qualified variants; ledger rows sl-uss-heron-ams18-04 through sl-uss-heron-ams18-11) located no qualifying asbestos litigation naming this hull or its designations.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 2026-10-05
- Limitations
- A failure to locate a public record does not prove that asbestos was absent. The negative finding does not establish or defeat an exposure claim, legal eligibility, quantity, condition, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-heron-ams18-04