Evidence
7 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-7).
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[1]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS), 'Kanawha IV (AOG-31)' entry - NHHC page retrieved via Wayback Machine capture 2024-12-15 (live NHHC URL returns 404, standing link rot) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS 'Kanawha IV (AOG-31)' entry, paragraphs 'IV' + statistics line (Wayback capture 2024-12-15 of history.navy.mil DANFS page)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS documents this hull's timeline: the fourth Kanawha (AOG-31) laid down 30 Aug 1944 by East Coast Shipyard, Inc., Bayonne, N.J., under a Maritime Commission contract; launched 18 Oct 1944; sponsored by Mrs. May T. Norton; transferred to the Navy 13 Nov; commissioned 23 Nov 1944, Lt. C. J. Byrne, USCGR, in command. Shakedown in Chesapeake Bay; cleared Norfolk 15 Jan 1945 to load oil at Aruba; San Pedro 13 Feb; Pearl Harbor 20 Mar; departed 6 Apr with lube-oil cargo, Eniwetok ~20 Apr; fueling services in the Marshalls and Marianas; departed Ulithi 7 Jun for the Philippines, Leyte 11 Jun; operated in the Philippines for the rest of the war; similar duties at Okinawa from 6 Oct; sailed for America 14 Nov, Mare Island 14 Dec via Pearl Harbor; decommissioned 23 Mar 1946; transferred to WSA Aug 1946; entered NDRF Suisun Bay 4 Sep; sold for scrapping 2 Mar 1964. DANFS statistics line: dp. 2,270; l. 220'6"; b. 37'; dr. 13'1"; s. 10 k.; cpl. 62; a. 1 3", 2 40mm., 3 20mm.; cl. Sequatchie; T. T1-M-A2.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-24
- Study period
- 1944-1946
- Population
- Ship's complement (~62 per DANFS; USCG-manned), 1944-46
- Limitations
- Official ship-history narrative; contains no asbestos information and does not report a stricken date. Live NHHC DANFS page returned 404 on 2026-09-24 (standing link rot); entry text verified via the archived NHHC page and cross-checked against the NavSource transcription.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kanawha-aog31-01
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[2]MARAD Vessel History Database, KANAWHA (AOG-31) Detail/2836, including scanned status cards: NDRF Reserve Fleet Division vessel-data card (2836_5275AF.jpg) and WSA vessel status card (3UG_01.png) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- Status card images 2836_5275AF.jpg (NDRF data card), 3UG_01.png (WSA status card), 2836_5275AB.jpg; milestones Entry/Acquisition 9-4-1946, Disposition/Withdrawal 3-2-1964
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD's own cards document the hull's casualty and custody history: 'Recommended for Scrap. Grounded in typhoon. Navy estimated in Jan. 1948 that it would cost $425,000 to put ship in operable condition' (ref. Gorman memo 12/21/51); 'Repair damage over $100,000 per Navy AD - Navy Planning Group Sept. 23, 1953.' Built by East Coast SY, Inc. at Bayonne NJ, completed 11-13-44, hull no. 1528, type T1-M-A2; 'Basis to W.S.A. 9-4-46 Noon PST @ Suisun Bay, Cal. from Navy Dept. - Surplus'; fleet unit Sui. S2-02A; termination port last voyage San Francisco. Repeated failed disposals: PD-X-475 (9-20-48), PD-X-480 (12-15-48), PD-X-488 (4-8-49, no bids), PD-X-500 (5-8-50, no bids); 'Bids rejected - to be readvertised.' Sold under PDX-657 dated Jan. 14, 1964; award Feb. 7, 1964 to National Metal & Steel Corp., sale price $13,560.55; withdrawn from fleet March 2, 1964, 1320 hrs PST and delivered to purchaser at Suisun Bay 1:20 pm PST.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-24
- Study period
- 1946-1964
- Population
- NDRF custody workforce; National Metal & Steel shipbreakers, 1964
- Limitations
- Primary federal custody record; contains no asbestos information. Documents storm grounding and unrepaired damage as the reason for lay-up and scrap recommendation - repair/grounding events are relevant to material-disturbance questions but the card does not describe insulation or hazmat conditions. Sale price on card reads $13,560.55; NavSource transcribes $13,560.44 - conflict carried in gaps.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kanawha-aog31-02
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[3]Shipscribe.com (Stephen S. Roberts), 'USS Sakatonchee (AOG-19) Class' compilation - construction/disposition table and class notes for AOG 19-46, 60-63 (MC type T1-M-A2) [other_primary]
- Locator
- AOG-19 class page, construction/disposition table row 31 (KANAWHA, hull 1528); class design notes (MC ordered 24 more T1-M-A1 hulls Dec 1942, twelve - MC 1520-31 - from East Coast Shipyards, Bayonne)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Shipscribe's class table entry for AOG-31 (MC hull 1528) supplies the grounding date and disposal outcome: 'Advertised by MC three times ca. 1947, no bids. (Had been blown on reef at Okinawa during typhoon 9 Oct 45 but remained afloat and water tight.) To buyer 2 Mar 64, scrapped by 8 May 64.' The 9 Oct 1945 event is Typhoon Louise at Buckner Bay, Okinawa - consistent with DANFS placing the ship on station at Okinawa from 6 Oct 1945.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-24
- Study period
- 1945-1964
- Population
- Ship's complement during grounding (Oct 1945); MC/NDRF disposal chain
- Limitations
- Expert compilation from BuShips/NVR/MC records, not itself a primary document; no asbestos content. 'Remained afloat and water tight' qualifies the grounding severity but post-storm repair scope (and any insulation disturbance) is not documented here. Typhoon identification is by date/place correspondence, not by the source naming the storm.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kanawha-aog31-03
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[4]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS), 'Narraguagas (AOG-32)' entry - live NHHC page [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS 'Narraguagas (AOG-32)' entry, service-history paragraphs (live NHHC page, accessed 2026-09-24)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- A sister ship's DANFS entry documents this hull directly: on 6 Apr 1945 Narraguagas sailed for Eniwetok in Task Unit 16.8.1 'comprising Kanawha (AOG-31), her commanding officer, Lt. Gordon T. Frost, USCG, serving as commander of the task unit (CTU), fuel barge YO-173, Narraguagas, and two submarine chasers, SC-769 and SC-994'; the unit hove to off Johnston Island; Kanawha lowered her ensign to half-mast on 13 Apr on news of President Roosevelt's death and held a memorial service 16 Apr.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-24
- Study period
- 1945
- Population
- Ship's complement (USCG), Apr 1945
- Limitations
- Official ship-history narrative for a sister hull that names this vessel operationally; contains no asbestos information. Confirms USCG officer complement and the Apr 1945 Pearl Harbor-Eniwetok run from the task-unit commander's side.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kanawha-aog31-04
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[5]Kicinski v. Constable Hook Shipyard, Inc., 168 F.2d 404 (3d Cir. 1948) - CourtListener opinion 7000286 [court_record]
- Locator
- Opinion text at 168 F.2d 404, 405-407 (CourtListener 7000286)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Third Circuit opinion (veteran-reemployment dispute, non-asbestos) documenting the builder yard's wartime reorganization: Marine Maintenance Corp.'s contracts at Constable Hook, Bayonne were cancelled about 14 Feb 1943; government condemnation of the premises began 18 Feb 1943; Marine entered Chapter X bankruptcy; East Coast Shipyards, Inc. was placed in possession - the corporate succession under which this hull (MC 1528, laid down Aug 1944) was ordered and built by East Coast.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-24
- Study period
- 1943 (events); 1948 (opinion)
- Population
- Bayonne (Constable Hook) yard workforce, 1943-44
- Limitations
- Classified as OTHER LITIGATION, not qualifying asbestos litigation: a Selective Training and Service Act reemployment case with no asbestos content and no named vessels. Used only to corroborate builder identity and the 1943 yard reorganization that preceded this hull's construction; the hull link is by builder identity and MC hull series, not by the opinion naming the ship.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kanawha-aog31-05
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[6]Fleischer WE, Viles FJ Jr, Gade RL, Drinker P. 'A health survey of pipe covering operations in constructing naval vessels.' J Ind Hyg Toxicol. 1946 Jan;28:9-16 (PMID 21016030) - U.S. Public Health Service wartime survey [other_primary]
- Locator
- J Ind Hyg Toxicol 28:9-16 (1946); PubMed record PMID 21016030
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- The USPHS wartime survey of pipe coverers at two government navy yards and two Navy contract yards documents amosite asbestos as 'an important ingredient of pipe covering material used on U.S. Navy vessels,' with asbestos cloth and asbestos cement likewise used, and dust-count/asbestosis findings in the trades installing it during wartime naval construction - the era and program under which this 1944-built Navy auxiliary was constructed.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-24
- Study period
- 1943-1946 (survey era)
- Population
- Pipe coverers and shipyard workers in wartime Navy vessel construction
- Limitations
- Era/yard-program documentation, not a hull record: yards are anonymized (A-D) and no vessel or type is named. Kanawha was a diesel-driven tanker with no boilers or steam plant, so the pipe-covering applications this source documents were less extensive aboard her than aboard steam combatants; the source supports era-consistent possibility of asbestos applications (gaskets, packing, paneling, insulation where fitted), not ship-proven presence, quantity, or individual exposure.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kanawha-aog31-06
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[7]Batch-1976 search ledger (this record): NHHC/DANFS; MARAD Vessel History Database Detail/2836 + status cards; NavSource AOG-31 page; Shipscribe AOG-19 class page; CourtListener opinion and docket searches (name, hull number, builder, breaker); NARA catalog/DPLA check [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-kanawha-aog31-01 through sl-uss-kanawha-aog31-13
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming USS Kanawha (AOG-31) was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). CourtListener name and hull-number searches returned only name collisions (Kanawha County/Valley/River, WV litigation) and unrelated docket-number matches.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-24
- Study period
- 2026-09-24
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - the hull was scrapped in 1964, before routine hazmat documentation, and wartime auxiliaries of this type were rarely surveyed. Does not establish that asbestos is or is not present; does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kanawha-aog31-07