Evidence
14 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-14).
-
[1]research packet p-packet.md (6 sources cited) [nhhc_danfs]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-kershaw-apa176-pkt-p-packet-md
-
[2]Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, Vol. 3 (NAVSHIPS 250-012, 1945), auxiliaries - transports, attack (APA) section, per-hull rows for KERSHAW APA-176 (sequence no. 137) - shipscribe.com scan of the official BuShips publication [other_primary]
- Locator
- SDB1945v3 pp. 252-257 (PDF pp. 271-276): dimensions row p.252, personnel row p.253, machinery row p.254, armament/cargo row p.256, construction row p.257; alphabetical index p.27 'APA 176 KERSHAW' - direct scan read, page-image verified
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Official BuShips Ships' Data 1945 Vol. 3 carries a per-hull row set for KERSHAW APA-176 (table sequence no. 137, ex-M.C.V. Hull 142): 455'0" overall / 436'6" on waterline; beam 62'0"; trial speed 17.7 knots; 14,837 tons (12,450 limiting displacement); machinery 1 Westinghouse geared turbine of 8,500 shp fed by 2 Babcock & Wilcox header-type boilers at 465 psi / 750F; three turbo-driven 300 kW 120/240 V DC ship's service generators; fuel 7,780 bbl NSFO + 970 bbl diesel; armament 1 x 5"/38 cal (D.P.) + 40mm mounts 4 twin and 1 quad; cargo 150,000 cu ft non-refrigerated / 2,900 tons; personnel row prints ship's company 99 officers + 593 enlisted and troop capacity 80 officers + 1,440 enlisted; builder Oregon S.B. Corp., Portland, Oreg.; date acquired and first commission both 2 Dec 44.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1945
- Limitations
- Authoritative wartime BuShips publication naming this hull - confirms identity, machinery plant (B&W boiler make, steam conditions), manning figures, builder, and key dates. The 99/593 ship's-company figure diverges from DANFS's complement 536 and NavSource's 56/593 (carried separately; flagged in gaps). Contains no materials, insulation, or asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kershaw-apa176-01
-
[3]DANFS, 'Kershaw (APA-176)' entry, Naval History and Heritage Command (published 28 Jul 2015; live NHHC URL returns 404 - verbatim text retrieved via Internet Archive Wayback capture 20251209184004); corroborated by the Naval Historical Center Online Library USS Kershaw page (ibiblio HyperWar mirror) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS entry body text + stat line (capture 20251209184004); NHC Online Library summary https://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/OnlineLibrary/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-k/apa176.htm (which supplies the 1982 disposal line)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NHHC records: named for a county in South Carolina; launched 12 Nov 1944 by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg.; sponsored by Miss Helen Molloy; commissioned 2 Dec 1944, Comdr. A. G. Davenport in command. Spec line: dp. 6,873; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5", 12 40mm., 10 20mm.; cl. Haskell; T. VC2-S-AP5. Service: cleared San Francisco 7 Feb 1945 with nurses and naval personnel, arrived Guam 23 Feb; moved to Saipan 27 Feb; loaded equipment and troops of the 2d Marine Division through March with amphibious exercises off Tinian; sailed for the assault area 27 Mar; troops landed on the southeastern shore of Okinawa 1 Apr and the transport stood by ten days; returned Saipan 14 Apr; sailed for the Solomons 5 Jun; stops at Tulagi, Espiritu Santo, Eniwetok; arrived Guam 14 Jul; short overhaul at San Francisco; cleared San Francisco 17 Aug; Tacloban, Leyte, 10 Sep; ferried occupation troops to Honshu; returned San Pedro 19 Oct; four additional 'Magic-Carpet' cruises to the Far East - on the third she delivered equipment to Bikini for the atomic tests, then embarked another 2,000 veterans at Samar for San Francisco (25 May [1946]); final cruise took on 2d Marines units at Sasebo, transited the Panama Canal, arrived Norfolk 8 Aug [1946]. Remained at Portsmouth, Va.; decommissioned 20 Dec 1946; Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Norfolk; struck from the Navy List 1 Oct 1958; joined the National Defense Reserve Fleet 19 Dec 1958, berthed James River, Va. One battle star for World War II service.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1944-1958 (entry text)
- Population
- Crew and embarked troops (Okinawa lift, occupation duty, Magic Carpet repatriation), 1944-1946
- Limitations
- Primary Navy historical entry - authoritative for service history and identity; the entry text predates the 1982 disposal (ends at James River berthing). Gives no keel-laying date. Contains no asbestos or materials information; supports no asbestos claim. Live NHHC page 404s (standing link rot, cf. BATCH-01); the Wayback capture is the verbatim NHHC text.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kershaw-apa176-02
-
[4]NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive - USS Kershaw (APA/LPA-176), file 10/03/03176 [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 03176.htm - chronology block, specifications block, campaign/occupation tables, awards line, CO table
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource records: laid down (date unknown) as Maritime Commission type VC2-S-AP5 under MC contract (MC hull 142) at Oregon Shipbuilding Group, Portland, OR; launched 12 Nov 1944; acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission and commissioned 2 Dec 1944, CDR Allen G. Davenport USNR in command; wartime assignment TransRon Twenty-One (COMO J. R. Palmer) / TransDiv Sixty-Three (CAPT F. M. O'Leary); Asiatic-Pacific campaign - Okinawa Gunto operation, assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1-11 Apr 1945; Navy Occupation Service Medal periods 28 Sep-7 Oct 1945, 18-21 Nov 1945, 28 Jun-15 Jul 1946; decommissioned 20 Dec 1946 at Portsmouth, VA; Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Norfolk; struck from the Naval Register 1 Oct 1958; one battle star; returned to the Maritime Commission 19 Dec 1958 for NDRF James River, Lee Hall, VA; sold for scrapping 31 Aug 1982 to 'Union Metals & Alloys Corp.' Spec block: displacement 6,873 lt / 14,837 fl; 455' x 62'; 17.7 kts trial; complement 56 officers + 593 enlisted; troop accommodations 80 officers + 1,440 enlisted; largest boom 35 t.; cargo 2,900 DWT non-refrigerated 150,000 cu ft; boats 2 LCM + 1 open LCPL + 1 covered LCPL (captain's gig) + 2 LCPR + 18 LCVP; armament 1 x 5"/38 DP, 4 twin 40mm, 1 quad 40mm, 10 single 20mm; fuel NSFO 7,780 bbl + diesel 970 bbl; propulsion 1 Westinghouse geared turbine, 2 B&W header-type boilers 465psi/750F, double Westinghouse main reduction gears, three 300kW 120/240V DC turbo-drive generators, single propeller 8,500shp. CO table: CAPT Allen George Davenport USNR 2 Dec 1944-15 Jan 1946; CAPT Francis Joseph Grandfield USN (USNA 1924) 15 Jan-20 Dec 1946.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1944-1982
- Limitations
- Specialist secondary compilation - detailed but non-official; corroborated against DANFS, SDB, and the MARAD card where overlapping. Deviates from the card on the scrapping buyer's name ('Union Metals & Alloys' vs card 'Union Minerals & Alloys Corporation' - card adopted, flagged). Contains no asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kershaw-apa176-03
-
[5]U.S.S. Kershaw APA-176 ship's cruise book (1945 wartime cruise book, crew-published aboard: 'Flagship of Transport Division 44, Transport Squadron 15, Amphibious Group Five, Third Fleet') - privately hosted scan at historysoft.com (Lowndes sister-ships collection) [other_primary]
- Locator
- APA176.pdf - 'Season's Greetings' dedication, Captain's letter, Staff history, Highlights block p.15, 'Notes for a History' pp.19-22, rosters pp.29ff
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The ship-originated cruise book records: commissioned 2 Dec 1944 at Astoria, Oregon - accepted for the Navy and placed in commission by Capt. A. R. Ponto, USN, Commandant of Naval Station Astoria; Comdr. (later Capt.) A. G. Davenport, USNR assumed command; Lt. Comdr. Paul D. Rust Jr. executive officer; 85% of officers and crew had never been to sea; keel laid 29 Sep 1944, launched 12 Nov 1944, built by Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation at Portland; ten days loading at Astoria, then two months of shakedown and training from Seattle to Southern California (Coronado Beach landing exercises, gunnery, convoy tactics, speed trials, structural tests). As flagship of Transport Division 63 with Capt. F. M. O'Leary's staff aboard, she carried the nursing staff of U.S. Naval Fleet Hospital 115; cleared San Francisco 7 Feb 1945, Eniwetok 19 Feb, Guam 25 Feb, disembarked 26 Feb, Saipan 27 Feb; TransRon 15's Okinawa task was demonstration feints on the southeastern shore 1-2 Apr ('light enemy aerial resistance... no casualties or damage to the Kershaw'), standing by ten days, then Saipan 14 Apr (FDR memorial service 15 Apr); transferred to TransDiv 44 as flagship while at Saipan (Capt. J. H. Seyfried's staff replacing O'Leary's after USS Hinsdale's kamikaze disablement; staff staged via USS Pickens 20 Apr); sailed 5 Jun - equator 10 Jun, Tulagi 12 Jun, Espiritu Santo stores load, departed 28 Jun, Eniwetok 3-11 Jul, Guam 14 Jul, then San Francisco arriving 2 Aug; 'placed in the Kaiser Yards, Richmond, for drydocking and minor repairs' during the August overhaul period (Davenport promoted to Captain; Seyfried relieved by Capt. Leonard B. Austin; Lt. Comdr. Rust detached, Lieut. Switzer to XO); departed 17 Aug via Eniwetok/Ulithi to Tacloban, Leyte 10 Sep (disembarked 12 Sep); Aomori occupation task group sailed 18 Sep, landing 25 Sep; Tokyo Bay off Yokosuka for homeward passengers; departed 7 Oct, San Pedro ETA 19 Oct. Highlights block: keel 29 Sep 44, launched 12 Nov 44, commissioned 2 Dec 44, maiden voyage 7 Feb 45, demonstration assault Okinawa 1 Apr 45, occupation landings Aomori 25 Sep 45, Magic Carpet duty Tokyo Bay 1 Oct 45. Includes the officer and enlisted rosters as of 1 Oct 1945 (ship's company plus TransDiv 63 and TransDiv 44 flag staffs).
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1944-1945 (publication coverage)
- Population
- Ship's company (roster as of 1 Oct 1945) plus TransDiv 63/44 flag staffs
- Limitations
- Ship-originated wartime publication scanned by a private collector site - a genuine crew artifact, not an official record; transcription/scan OCR-checked (no asbestos, insulation, or materials content anywhere in the text). Itinerary-level detail adopted where corroborated; deviates from DANFS on the Guam arrival date (25th vs DANFS 23rd) and frames the Okinawa southeastern-shore runs as feints where DANFS says troops landed (both flagged). The Kaiser Richmond drydock entry is a documented ship-specific yard event but no work scope is given.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kershaw-apa176-04
-
[6]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - KERSHAW (APA-176/LPA-176), Ship History Detail 2867, plus two digitized status-card images read directly (Form MA-383 reserve-fleet ship particulars; Form MC-714a U.S. Maritime Commission vessel status card) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- ShipHistory Detail 2867 page + card scans /cards/2867_5329AF.jpg and /cards/b669a7fc-6949-481d-8f2e-c81c2e4dc806.png (images read directly)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD registry: year built 1944; shipyard Oregon Shipbuilding Company; MARAD type VC2-S-AP5; gross 7,750 tons; fate 'Sold - Scrap'; milestones Entry/Acquisition 12/19/1958, Disposition/Withdrawal 8/31/1982 ('CUST 1958 NDRF 1958'). The digitized status cards document the custody chain directly: hull MCV-142 built by 'Oregon SB Corp.' at 'Portland, Oreg.', completed 11-30-44, D.W.T. 5,544, gross 7,750, speed 17; entered the James River reserve fleet 12-19-58 1:00pm EST as a permanent transfer, category 'Mil. Aux. Transport, Attack,' fleet James River; arrival draft 16'04" fwd / 15'06" aft; title 'Reimbursable' with other-data notes 'Reimbursable (Group 40 Transports) - Navy agrees to bear costs of retention at rate of $118. per ship per month until Fiscal Year 1960; Navy agrees to pay Marad for costs incurred for preservation performed during FY 1959 after transfer to Reserve Fleet in amount not to exceed $16,000. per ship. Navy letter June 13, 1958 - Marad reply June 20, 1958'; a handwritten damages line records a '25 KW motor generator to be removed by Navy' with an annotation dated 8-21-61 (partially legible - a documented equipment-stripping event during lay-up); withdrawn 8-31-82 1045 EDT - 'Withdrawn & delivered to Union Minerals & Alloys Corporation pursuant to Trade-In Exchange Contract No. MA-10875, dated 6-8-82. Ship to be scrapped.' The second card (Form MC-714a, Bureau of Government Aids) carries the same delivery rows: Reserve Fleet (Permanent Transfer) James River 12-19-58 1:00pm EST, and Union Minerals & Alloys Corp. (Scrapped) purchased James River 8/31/82 10:45AM EDT.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1944-1982
- Population
- NDRF lay-up and maintenance crews (1958-1982); scrapping workers (1982)
- Limitations
- Authoritative MARAD custody file - the digitized status cards are primary custody records. Registry detail-page quirks: the name field adds an '(LPA-176)' annotation (the 1969 class-wide redesignation postdates the 1958 striking) and the General Type field prints 'Training (School)/Training Ship' though no training use is documented - both treated as registry artifacts, flagged in gaps. Contains no asbestos or materials information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kershaw-apa176-05
-
[7]shipscribe.com U.S. Navy Auxiliary Ships - Haskell (APA-117) class page, construction and fate tables (compiled from official sources) [other_primary]
- Locator
- shipscribe.com/usnaux/APA/APA117.html - construction table row 176, fate table row 176, notes field; class design history narrative
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The shipscribe Haskell-class construction table gives the per-hull row: APA-176 KERSHAW, acquired 2 Dec 44, builder Oregon SB, keel 29 Sep 44, launch 12 Nov 44, commission 2 Dec 44. The fate table records: decommissioned 20 Dec 46; stricken 1 Oct 58; to MA Reserve 19 Dec 58; disposal 8 Jun 82 (the exchange-contract date). The per-hull notes field reads 'In USN reserve 1946-58. To buyer 31 Aug 82' and records MCV hull 142 - unlike several sisters (Karnes, Kingsbury, Lander, et al.), Kershaw's row carries no 'repaired while inactive' note, consistent with the MARAD card's showing no repair-program withdrawal for this hull.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1944-1982
- Limitations
- Specialist secondary compilation consistent with NHHC/SDB/MARAD on checkable points; supplies the keel date (29 Sep 1944) that neither DANFS nor NavSource carries - corroborated by the ship's own cruise book. Contains no asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kershaw-apa176-06
-
[8]Cross-source reconciliation: NHHC DANFS (Wayback 20251209184004) and NHC Online Library page, BuShips SDB 1945 v3, NavSource 03176, shipscribe class tables, MARAD status cards, and the ship's 1945 cruise book [other_primary]
- Locator
- DANFS Wayback text vs ibiblio.org/hyperwar/OnlineLibrary/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-k/apa176.htm vs SDB1945v3 pp. 252-257 vs MARAD cards 2867_5329AF / b669a7fc vs historysoft APA176.pdf vs NavSource 03176.htm vs shipscribe APA117.html
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Source discrepancies resolved or flagged: (a) Builder location - the NHHC Online Library summary states Kershaw 'was built to a modified Victory ship design at Vancouver, Washington,' while DANFS itself, the MARAD status card ('Oregon SB Corp. at Portland, Oreg.'), shipscribe, and the ship's cruise book all record Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oregon - Portland adopted; the Online Library line is treated as an error (Oregon SB's St. Johns yard in Portland is distinct from the Kaiser Vancouver yard across the Columbia River). (b) Guam arrival February 1945 - DANFS 23 Feb vs cruise book 25 Feb - unresolved; both carried. (c) Okinawa southeastern-shore action - DANFS says 'troops from Kershaw landed on the southeastern shore'; the cruise book frames the 1-2 Apr runs as demonstration feints by the squadron with no casualties or damage - both wordings carried, flagged. (d) Complement - DANFS stat line 536 vs SDB per-hull row 99 officers + 593 enlisted vs NavSource 56 officers + 593 enlisted vs Wikipedia 56/480 - no adjudication; all carried. (e) Disposal chain - NHHC Online Library 'sold... in June 1982' is the MA-10875 contract date (6-8-82); the MARAD card and NavSource give withdrawal/delivery 31 Aug 1982 - reconciled as contract vs delivery. (f) Buyer name - MARAD card 'Union Minerals & Alloys Corporation' vs NavSource 'Union Metals & Alloys Corp.' - card adopted. (g) Keel date - DANFS and NavSource print 'date unknown'; shipscribe and the cruise book give 29 Sep 1944 - adopted. (h) LPA-176 annotation on the MARAD registry and card - the class-wide APA-to-LPA redesignation of 1969-01-01 postdates this hull's 1958-10-01 striking; treated as an administrative/registry annotation.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1944-1982
- Limitations
- Reconciles secondary/official conflicts item by item; every adopted value names its source. None of the compared sources contains asbestos information; this row supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kershaw-apa176-07
-
[9]Consolidated era/design inference - BuShips SDB 1945 v3 machinery row for this hull + VC2-S-AP5 type data [other_primary]
- Locator
- SDB1945v3 machinery table row 137 (p.254); cruise book (Richmond drydock); MARAD card 2867_5329AF (1961 generator-removal note; 1982 disposal)
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Era/design inference: this hull carried a single-screw geared-steam plant (one Westinghouse turbine, 8,500 shp, two Babcock & Wilcox header-type boilers at 465 psi / 750F superheat) built at the peak of WWII asbestos usage - the machinery configuration for which boiler and fireroom insulation, main and auxiliary steam-line lagging, turbine lagging, valve and flange gaskets, machinery packing, and accommodation joiner insulation of the period were commonly asbestos-containing. Flag-ship accommodation scope (she carried TransDiv 63 and later TransDiv 44 staffs) and troop-space outfitting (capacity ~1,520 by the SDB row) added interior insulation scope. Documented ship-specific disturbance-phase events whose materials scope is undocumented: August 1945 drydocking and minor repairs at the Kaiser yards, Richmond, CA (cruise book); a 25 kW motor generator removed by the Navy during NDRF lay-up (status-card annotation 1961); and breaking after sale to Union Minerals & Alloys Corp. (1982). None of these events is documented to involve asbestos.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1944-1982
- Population
- Construction trades at Oregon Shipbuilding, Portland (1944); wartime crew and embarked troops; Kaiser Richmond yard workers (Aug 1945); NDRF lay-up crews (1958-1982); 1982 scrapping workers
- Limitations
- Inference from the documented machinery plant, construction era, and custody events - NOT a hull record. No survey, specification, or material schedule naming APA-176 was located; establishes no asbestos content, quantity, location, individual exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kershaw-apa176-08
-
[10]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 construction program under which this VC2-S-AP5 attack transport was mass-produced - and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization in shipbuilding.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- 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 class and does not establish that asbestos was aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kershaw-apa176-09
-
[11]Fleischer, W.E., Viles, F.J. Jr., Gade, R.L., and Drinker, P., 'A health survey of pipe covering operations in constructing naval vessels,' J Ind Hyg Toxicol 28(1):9-16 (Jan 1946), PMID 21016030 [other_primary]
- Locator
- PubMed record PMID 21016030; article pp. 9-16 (pipe covering material section)
- Finding type
- gov_survey
- Finding
- The U.S. Maritime Commission-commissioned industrial-hygiene survey of WWII pipe-covering operations at two Navy yards and two Navy contract yards documented that 'an important ingredient of pipe covering material used on U.S. Navy vessels is amosite' - i.e., asbestos insulation was standard material in wartime naval-vessel construction of exactly this hull's era and type.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- survey ~1944-45; published 1946
- Population
- WWII pipe coverers and insulators at Navy and contract yards (era context)
- Limitations
- Era-level documentation of asbestos use in naval construction generally; does not name this vessel, class, or builder yard and establishes nothing about this hull's materials, condition, or any individual exposure. (The study's exculpatory 'not a dangerous occupation' conclusion has since been heavily criticized - see the 2026 critique at DOI 10.1177/10482911261446696.)
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kershaw-apa176-10
-
[12]Pruitt v. Air & Liquid Systems Corp., C.A. No. 18-1101-MN-SRF (D. Del., In re Asbestos Litigation / MDL-875 track) - Report and Recommendation (2020-07-30) and Memorandum Opinion, verified via ded.uscourts.gov opinion PDFs [court_record]
- Locator
- Report & Recommendation, Facts section (plaintiff's ship assignments); https://www.ded.uscourts.gov/sites/ded/files/opinions/18-1101_1.pdf
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- The located attack-transport asbestos docket resolves to another class: plaintiff John W. Pruitt Sr. alleged mesothelioma from asbestos exposure as a machinist mate stationed in 1958 on 'the USS Bayfield, an attack transport' (APA-33, Bayfield class) and in 1959 on USS Tolovana (AO-64, Cimarron-class oiler). CourtListener sweeps for this hull are logged in the search ledger.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- opinions 2020; service 1958-1963
- Population
- Navy veterans of APA-type auxiliaries (type context)
- Limitations
- Different hull and class - carried only to document that the APA-type litigation surface exists while no Kershaw-specific docket was found. Deposition-stage exposure descriptions are allegations, not findings.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kershaw-apa176-11
-
[13]Batch-2250 search ledger (this record): NHHC/DANFS via Wayback; NHC Online Library via ibiblio; NavSource 03176; MARAD ShipHistory Detail 2867 + two status-card scans; BuShips SDB 1945 v3; shipscribe class tables; ship's 1945 cruise book (historysoft scan); NARA Special List #44; CourtListener authenticated sweeps; indexed-web litigation checks [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-kershaw-apa176-01 through sl-uss-kershaw-apa176-19
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, material schedule, hazmat disclosure, court finding, or docketed asbestos case naming USS Kershaw / APA-176 / LPA-176 / M.C.V. Hull 142 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 2026-09-25
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1944 geared-steam transport is era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials, and her ~24 years in NDRF custody, documented August 1945 Kaiser Richmond drydocking, documented 1961 equipment removal, and 1982 breaking are disturbance phases whose materials scope is undocumented. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-kershaw-apa176-12
-
[14]NARA 'Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives' research page + Special List #44 named-vessel index (which DOES list Kershaw APA-176, coverage 1944-12-02 to 1945-06-30); NARA Guide to Federal Records: RG 24 (Navy deck logs), RG 38 (WWII war diaries and ship-submitted narrative histories), RG 19 (Bureau of Ships), RG 178 (U.S. Maritime Commission), RG 357 (Maritime Administration) [other_primary]
- Locator
- https://www.archives.gov/research/military/logbooks/navy ; Special List #44 named list (Kershaw entry confirmed 2026-09-25); https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/024.html ; /038.html ; /019.html ; /178.html ; /357.html
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - requires research-room or reproduction order; no spend authorized): Navy deck logs for USS Kershaw 2 Dec 1944 - 30 Jun 1945 are a CONFIRMED holding by index entry - NARA Special List #44 named-vessel list carries 'Kershaw (APA-176), 12/2/1944 to 6/30/1945' (RG 24, NARA College Park; the digitized ship-number index omits the APA series, so the named list is the operative index - coverage stops June 1945, postwar logs not indexed there). Ship-submitted narrative history and war-diary originals, if any, sit in RG 38 (the 1945 cruise book located is a crew-published derivative, not the official history). BuShips construction/inspection records incl. VC2-S-AP5 contract plans and any Booklet of General Plans for M.C.V. Hull 142 (RG 19; no APA-176 booklet was located in the digitized maritime.org collection, which holds sister Gosper's APA-170 booklet only). USMC construction-contract records for M.C.V. Hull 142 at Oregon Shipbuilding (RG 178). MARAD/NDRF custody file for the 1958-1982 lay-up and the MA-10875 trade-in exchange contract file (RG 357).
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-25
- Study period
- 1944-1982 records
- Limitations
- Record-group mapping plus one confirmed index-level hit (SL-44 deck logs) - 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-kershaw-apa176-13