USS Kochab (AKS-6)

Evidence

13 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-13).

1. [1]Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, Vol. 3 (NAVSHIPS 250-012, 1945), auxiliaries - general-stores issue ships (AKS) section, per-hull rows for KOCHAB/AKS6 [other_primary]

   Locator

   SDB 1945 Vol. 3, AKS tables pp. 142-147 (scan): dimensions/accommodations, machinery, armament/cargo, and construction rows - each carries the literal 'KOCHAB ... AKS6' line

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Bureau of Ships Ships' Data 1945 Vol. 3 (NAVSHIPS 250-012) carries per-hull rows naming KOCHAB (ex-M.C.E. Hull 2459), AKS6, across the AKS tables: dimensions 441'6" oa / 416'0" pp x 56'11", designed speed 12.5 kts, limiting displacement 14,350 t (characteristics table) / 14,550 t (limiting-displacement table), tons-per-inch 49, limiting draft 28'4", accommodations 17 officers + 176 enlisted, largest boom 37 t; machinery 1 screw, Iron Fireman vertical triple-expansion engine ('do.' to the Acubens/Cybele rows), 2,500 hp, 2 boilers 'B. & W. hdr.' (Babcock & Wilcox header-type) at 220 psi / 450 degF; ultimate authorized armament 1 x 5"/38 cal. (D.P.) + 1 x 3"/50 cal. (D.P.); cargo 220,166 cu ft non-refrigerated + 21,800 cu ft refrigerated (the AKS 5-6 figure; later ships 219,018/9,730); construction row: built by Delta S.B. Co., New Orleans, La., acquired 2 May 44, year built 1944, first commission 2 May 44.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-22

   Study period

   1944-1945

   Population

   Ship's company - accommodations 17 officers + 176 enlisted (1945 fit)

   Limitations

   Official BuShips per-hull data - authoritative for documented wartime characteristics. Contains no asbestos, insulation, or materials statement; supports no asbestos claim. The armament figure (1x3"/50, 'ultimate authorized') conflicts with the DANFS stats block and shipscribe class table (4x3"/50 early AKS 5-6 fit) - carried as a documented conflict, not merged. Keel/launch dates not in this source.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-kochab-aks6-01

2. [2]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, 'Kochab' entry (Naval Historical Center / history.navy.mil), via Internet Archive Wayback capture 2010-12-08 [nhhc_danfs]

   Locator

   Wayback capture of history.navy.mil/danfs/k5/kochab.htm; live NHHC URL https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/k/kochab.html returns 404 (standing NHHC link-rot issue noted in BATCH-01)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   DANFS establishes identity and service record: launched 30 March 1944 by Delta Shipbuilding Co., New Orleans, under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. Thomas J. Crane; acquired by the Navy and commissioned 2 May, Lt. Comdr. R. E. King in command; transferred to Mobile, Ala., and decommissioned 5 May; converted to a general stores supply ship by Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co.; recommissioned 4 November 1944. Pacific service: cleared Mobile Bay 17 November, shakedown in Chesapeake Bay, departed Norfolk 16 December; via the Marshalls to Ulithi; replenishment runs to Manus, Admiralties, 20 February-28 April; Marianas 13-15 May (cargo at Guam and Saipan); Kerama Retto 8-19 June under enemy air attack; then Okinawa and Ryukyus-Marianas replenishment for almost five months. Departed Okinawa 7 November as a 'Magic Carpet' unit, arriving San Francisco 3 December with 203 homebound passengers; operated out of San Francisco until 9 February 1946, then Pearl Harbor (arrived 18 February); decommissioned 17 April and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet; towed to the 12th Naval District 23 September 1947; turned over to the Maritime Commission 22 October and berthed at the Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay; sold for scrapping 14 January 1965 to Nicolas Joffe Corp., Beverly Hills. One battle star for WWII service. DANFS stats line: dp. 5,244; l. 441'6"; b. 56'11"; dr. 28'4"; s. 12 k.; cpl. 193; a. 1 5", 4 3", 8 20mm.; cl. Acubens; T. EC2-S-C1.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-22

   Study period

   1944-1965

   Population

   Ship's company ~193 (DANFS), commissioned service 1944-05 to 1946-04 (incl. 3-day ferry commission and conversion gap)

   Limitations

   Authoritative ship-specific service history and characteristics. Contains no asbestos, insulation, or materials statement; supports no asbestos claim. Armament '1 5", 4 3"' conflicts with the SDB 1945 per-hull row and NavSource spec (1x3"/50) - see gaps. Laid-down date not stated in DANFS; supplied by shipscribe/Delta tables. Tow date 23 Sep 1947 conflicts with NavSource's 28 Sep.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-kochab-aks6-02

3. [3]NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - USS Kochab (AKS-6), file 09/16/1606 (compiled from DANFS, BuShips data, and contributor records) [other_primary]

   Locator

   NavSource page 09/16/1606 - chronology bullets, campaign table, CO list, spec block, photo captions incl. NARA 80-G-702126

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   NavSource Online Service Ship Photo Archive (file 09/16/1606) supplies detail not in DANFS: radio call sign NBNZ; campaign table crediting the Okinawa Gunto operation (assault and capture, 8-30 June 1945) and Navy Occupation Service Medal (Asia clasp) service 14 October-8 November 1945; ribbon set (American Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific with one star, WWII Victory, Navy Occupation Asia clasp); commanding-officer list (LCDR Rosewell Edward King USNR 4 Nov 1944-18 Sep 1945; LT Raymond Walter Lamka USNR to 13 Dec 1945; LTjg Emmett C. Thurman Jr. USNR to 7 Jan 1946; CDR Earl Paul Gaither USNR to 17 Apr 1946); spec block (4,023 t lt / 14,550 t fl, 441'7" x 56'11" x 27'7", 12.5 kts trial, 17 officers + 176 enlisted, 37-t boom, 1x5"/38 + 1x3"/50 + 8x20mm, NSFO 13,475 bbls + diesel 695 bbls, Iron Fireman vert. triple-expansion engine, 2 B&W header-type boilers 220psi/450degF, two 150kW turbo-drive generators, 2,500 hp); the class 'Bikini assets' note; and the sale line '$61,538.32 (PD-X-682 dated 17 December 1964)'. The page also carries NARA photo 80-G-702126 (released 27 Feb 1946) showing Kochab at Pearl Harbor among Operation Crossroads prospective target and support ships.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-22

   Study period

   1944-1965

   Population

   Ship's company; NARA photo 80-G-702126 documents the hull at Pearl Harbor, Feb 1946

   Limitations

   Secondary compilation - every carried fact corroborated against DANFS/SDB/MARAD/shipscribe where overlapping. Page carries three internal errors, logged not propagated: launch '8 March 1944' (DANFS + Delta table: 30 March); ferry commission '2 to 5 May 1945' (should be 1944); 'Withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet, 2 March 1964' (should be 1965 - status card gives 3-2-65); and it conflates the strike date with the 22 Oct 1947 MC turnover (shipscribe gives 31 Oct 1947). Armament spec (1x3"/50) conflicts with DANFS's own 4x3" stats - logged. No asbestos content.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-kochab-aks6-03

4. [4]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - KOCHAB (AKS-6) Detail 2900, incl. digitized status cards 2900_5390AF.jpg, 2900_AF.jpg (Form MA-20), and 3XR_01.png [marad_nrc]

   Locator

   ShipHistory Detail/2900 milestones table; status-card scans at /cards/2900_5390AF.jpg, /cards/2900_AF.jpg, /cards/3XR_01.png

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   MARAD ShipHistory database confirms the hull's type and custody chain: KOCHAB (AKS-6), built 1944 by Delta Ship Building Company, MARAD type EC2-S-C1, naval auxiliary / AK cargo ship, 417.6 ft x 56.8 ft, gross 7,176 / net 4,380 tons, cargo capacity 500,000 sq ft; milestones Entry and Acquisition 1947-10-22, Disposition and Withdrawal 1965-03-02; fate 'Sold - Scrap'. Three digitized status-card faces are legible: (1) Reserve Fleet Division vessel-data card - fleet unit Suisun Bay K-34-N, entered 10-22-47 at 1100 hours, 963 bbls Bunker C aboard, 'Sold Scrap on PD-X-682 dated Dec. 17, 1964 - Awarded Jan. 12, 1965, to Nicolai Joffe Corp. $61,538.32', withdrawn/delivered to purchaser 'Mar. 2, 1965, 1000 hrs PST', and a ships-papers note 'Re storage bin installation. See SB memo 9-6-56. Filed "Gratia" SB'; (2) Form MA-20 Record of Ship Sales - awarded to Nicolai Joffe Corporation, date 1-14-65, $61,538.32, contract MA-3799, year built 4-30-44, dims 417'8" x 56'10" x 37'4", DWT 10,800, advertised under PD-X-682 12-17-64, opened 1-12-65, remark 'Dismantle Hull US...' (truncated); (3) vessel status card - 'Former Name' field blank, Hull No. 2459, built by Delta S.B. Co. Inc. at New Orleans, completed 4-30-44, 'Basis to U.S.M.C. 1-14-46 Navy Surplus', allocation rows Reserve Fleet Suisun Bay 10-22-47 and Nicolai Joffe Corp. (Scrap) purchased, delivered Suisun Bay 3-2-65 10:00 am PST.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-22

   Study period

   1944-1965

   Limitations

   Authoritative for government custody milestones and the disposal record; the two card faces reconcile the sale (PD-X-682 advertised 12-17-64, bids opened 1-12-65, awarded 1-14-65 - DANFS's 'sold 14 January 1965' is the award date). Registry dimensions are merchant-registry figures, not Navy data. Cards contain no asbestos, materials, or condition-survey information; the 'storage bin installation' memo reference is an alteration lead only. Supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-kochab-aks6-04

5. [5]shipscribe.com, 'USS Acubens (AKS-5) Class' data page (compiled U.S. Navy auxiliary vessel records, incl. NVR-derived dates and class program notes) [other_primary]

   Locator

   Class construction/disposition tables (AKS-6 rows), Ship Notes (AKS-6 note), and Class Notes sections

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   shipscribe compilation (S.S. Roberts, USN auxiliary data) supplies build/disposal detail and class context: KOCHAB = MC hull 2459, keel 18 Feb 44, launch 30 Mar 44, acquired 2 May 44, commissioned 4 Nov 44; ship note - 'Delivered incomplete 30 Apr 44, ferry comm. 2-5 May 44. Converted by Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co., Mobile, Ala. To buyer 2 Mar 65, scrapped by 5 May 65.' Disposition row: decomm 17 Apr 46, strike 31 Oct 47, MC disposal 22 Oct 47, MA sale 14 Jan 65. Class notes: AKS 5-6 were the first two EC2 hulls approved for transfer by the Maritime Commission 29 Sep 1943 (after the AVB/CNO deliberations over hull types); conversion per the AKS-12 history added two extra 'tween decks in holds 2-5 plus minor compartment alterations and standard Navy equipment incl. radar; the entire class was among 30 EC2 auxiliaries selected by CNO Nov 1945 for 'special explosive tests' (Operation Crossroads), ordered to Pearl Harbor to decommission, deleted from Crossroads plans Feb 1946, then moved West for disposal in 1947.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-22

   Study period

   1944-1965

   Population

   Construction trades (Delta, Feb-Apr 1944); conversion-yard trades (Alabama Dry Dock, Mobile, May-Nov 1944)

   Limitations

   Secondary compilation of official Navy/Maritime Commission data - keel date, strike date (31 Oct 47), incomplete-delivery detail, conversion yard, and scrapping-completion date are unique to this source among those reviewed and are corroborated where overlapping by DANFS and MARAD. The conversion-scope description is class-level (drawn from the AKS-12 history) applied here as context, not a hull-specific work package. Contains no asbestos content.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-kochab-aks6-05

6. [6]shipbuildinghistory.com, Delta Shipbuilding (New Orleans LA) production table (T. Colton compilation of USMC emergency-yard records) [other_primary]

   Locator

   Delta table, yard hull 108 row (MC 2459, Kochab)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   The Delta Shipbuilding production table documents the hull under its original contract name: Delta yard hull 108, 'Original Name' Kochab, type EC2-S-C1, MC hull 2459, way 8; keel laid 18-Feb-44, launched 30-Mar-44, delivered 30-Apr-44 - 41 days on the ways, 31 days in the water, 72 days total; disposition 'To US Navy as Kochab (AKS 6), to NDRF 1946, scrapped 1965'. This confirms both the 30 March launch date (against NavSource's 8 March) and the absence of any prior merchant name.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-22

   Study period

   1944

   Population

   Delta Shipbuilding construction trades, Feb-Apr 1944

   Limitations

   Secondary compilation of Maritime Commission construction records - keel/launch/delivery dates corroborated by shipscribe (keel, launch) and by the MARAD status card's 'completed 4-30-44' (delivery). 'To NDRF 1946' is shorthand - the detailed chain (Pacific Reserve Fleet 1946, 12th ND tow Sep 1947, MC turnover 22 Oct 1947) comes from DANFS/MARAD. No asbestos content.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-kochab-aks6-06

7. [7]U.S. Maritime Commission, Instruction Manual for Operating and Maintaining 2500 H.P. Triple Expansion Marine Steam Engines, EC2-S-C1 Cargo Vessels (mirrored excerpt) [other_primary]

   Locator

   Mirrored excerpt, engine-cylinder insulation section

   Finding type

   asbestos_application

   Finding

   The U.S. Maritime Commission instruction manual for the EC2-S-C1 plant - the verified design of this hull (MARAD type record; SDB machinery row) - describes cylinder insulation of magnesia under sheet-iron lagging; insulation products of this era were commonly manufactured with asbestos fiber, and period steam-system gaskets, packing, and insulation felts commonly contained asbestos. Liberty-type hulls were built to emergency USMC specifications during the period when the federal government had reserved asbestos supply for shipbuilding.

   Verification

   inferred

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-22

   Study period

   1944 construction/conversion; 1944-46 service

   Population

   Construction trades (Delta, New Orleans, Feb-Apr 1944; Alabama Dry Dock conversion, May-Nov 1944); ship's engineering crew

   Limitations

   Class/design documentation, not a hull record - the manual names the type, not this vessel, and does not itself state 'asbestos' content (magnesia lagging of the era was typically asbestos-fiber-reinforced, but the manual text is silent on fiber). The AKS conversion's added 'tween decks and Navy outfit are not covered by this document. Asbestos presence aboard this hull is design/era inference, not ship-proven. Does not establish quantity, condition, present-day presence (ship scrapped 1965), individual exposure, or causation.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-kochab-aks6-07

8. [8]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 shipbuilding program under which this EC2-S-C1 hull was built (Delta, 1944) and converted (Alabama Dry Dock, 1944) - and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization aboard merchant-type hulls.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-22

   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, class, or either yard and does not establish that asbestos was aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-kochab-aks6-08

9. [9]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

   2026-09-22

   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/conversion yard (whether Delta Shipbuilding or Alabama Dry Dock was among surveyed or comparable contract yards is unverified) 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-kochab-aks6-09

10. [10]Marcel v. Delta Shipbuilding Co., La. App. 4 Cir., 2010-08-04 (CourtListener opinion 2535769) [court_record]

    Locator

    CourtListener opinion 2535769, Facts and Proceedings Below section

    Finding type

    litigation_documented

    Finding

    Marcel v. Delta Shipbuilding Co. (La. App. 4 Cir. 2010): children of yard worker Henry Marcel alleged his mesothelioma resulted from asbestos exposure while working for Delta Shipbuilding Co. during 1942-1948 - the window covering this hull's construction (Feb-Apr 1944) at the same New Orleans yard. The appeal decided only a procedural question - whether a direct action could proceed against Continental as the dissolved corporation's former insurer (the trial court's no-right-of-action dismissal was reversed on that ground). Two further CourtListener hits under 'Delta Shipbuilding' + asbestos (Blow v. OneBeacon America Ins. Co., La. App. 2016; Mentz Constr. v. Poche, La. App. 2012) were not text-verified in this batch.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    class_or_era

    Accessed

    2026-09-22

    Study period

    1942-1948 alleged exposure; opinion 2010

    Population

    Delta Shipbuilding construction trades, 1942-1948 (pleaded window)

    Limitations

    Pleading-stage allegation only - the appellate disposition is purely procedural (insurer liability after corporate dissolution); the exposure allegation was never adjudicated on the merits. Names the builder yard, not this hull. Establishes that asbestos-exposure claims were pleaded against the builder for the construction era; establishes no exposure fact for this vessel. Companion hits (Blow, Mentz) unverified for content - carried as ledger notes only.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-kochab-aks6-10

11. [11]Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co. v. Director, OWCP, 804 F.2d 1558 (11th Cir. 1986), CourtListener opinion 479195; Cain v. Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (S.D. Ala., 1992-02-18), CourtListener opinion 2144189 [court_record]

    Locator

    CourtListener opinions 479195 (Pritchett claim history and 8(f) analysis) and 2144189 (consolidated-verdict remittitur opinion, ADDSCO-exposure statement)

    Finding type

    litigation_documented

    Finding

    Two records document adjudicated asbestos litigation against the conversion yard: (1) Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co. v. Director, OWCP, 804 F.2d 1558 (11th Cir. 1986) - ADDSCO worker Mack Pritchett filed an LHWCA claim for employment-related asbestosis; the ALJ awarded permanent total disability benefits; Pritchett died of mesothelioma 14 July 1983 during the proceedings; the Eleventh Circuit decided only the section 8(f) special-fund limitation and death-benefit mechanics, affirming the Benefits Review Board. (2) Cain v. Armstrong World Industries (S.D. Ala. 1992) - thirteen consolidated asbestos personal-injury/wrongful-death actions tried to jury verdicts for each plaintiff after a 15-day trial; the opinion states 'in the majority of cases, exposure allegedly occurred at Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding (ADDSCO)'; defendants' j.n.o.v. motion denied, damages reviewed on remittitur. A CourtListener 'Alabama Dry Dock' + asbestos sweep returned 14 opinion hits total.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    class_or_era

    Accessed

    2026-09-22

    Study period

    employment-era exposure; opinions 1986 and 1992

    Population

    Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding (ADDSCO) trades, incl. the May-Nov 1944 AKS-6 conversion workforce (window unestablished in these opinions)

    Limitations

    Yard-level records, not hull records - neither case names this vessel. Pritchett's employment dates at ADDSCO are not stated in the appellate text reviewed (his forced retirement date was 1 Apr 1981); whether his exposure window covered this hull's May-Nov 1944 conversion is unestablished. The Cain exposure statement is the court's summary of the pleaded/proved predicate at trial stage - verdicts were returned but individual exposure-to-a-specific-hull findings were not the appellate question. Establishes that asbestos disease was litigated against the conversion yard; establishes no exposure fact for this vessel.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-kochab-aks6-11

12. [12]Batch-1128 search ledger (this record): DANFS (Wayback), BuShips SDB 1945 v3, MARAD ShipHistory 2900 + three status-card faces, shipscribe AKS-5 class page, NavSource 1606, shipbuildinghistory Delta table, CourtListener API v4 name/hull sweeps + yard sweeps, NVR detail check, VA BVA endpoint attempt, NARA record-group mapping [other_primary]

    Locator

    search_ledger rows sl-uss-kochab-aks6-01 through sl-uss-kochab-aks6-12

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, or hazmat disclosure exists for a hull scrapped in 1965 (pre-survey era); no docketed case names USS Kochab, AKS-6, or MCE hull 2459 - CourtListener authenticated sweeps (2026-09-22) returned zero opinion hits for 'USS Kochab', 'Kochab' (bare token, count 0), and 'Kochab' + asbestos; the two 'AKS-6' opinion hits are name collisions (State v. Lawson, Wash. App. 2014 - 'AKS' is a victim's initials; U.S. ex rel. Freedman v. Suarez-Hoyos, M.D. Fla. 2011 - 'AKS' is the Anti-Kickback Statute); the three RECAP 'Kochab' docket hits are a bankruptcy debtor (Barbara Marie Kochab, W.D. Mo. 1998) and surname/party-name collisions (U.S. v. Montgomery, M.D. Fla. 2013; Chaffon v. AAA Tech Support, N.D. Cal. 2010). An indexed-web check surfaced no law-firm asbestos list naming the hull. No survey/abatement documentation exists because none would have been produced for a 1965 scrapping.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    negative_finding

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-09-22

    Study period

    2026-09-22

    Limitations

    Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1944 EC2 hull built and Navy-converted in wartime yards is era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials in machinery spaces and outfit, and both yards carry documented asbestos-litigation records (ev-10, ev-11). Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-kochab-aks6-12

13. [13]NARA Guide to Federal Records: RG 24 (Navy logbooks), RG 19 (Bureau of Ships), RG 181 (Naval Districts), RG 178 (U.S. Maritime Commission); MARAD status-card cross-references on this record [other_primary]

    Locator

    archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/024.html, /019.html, /181.html, /178.html

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    Archival leads (not retrieved - require research-room or reproduction orders; no spend authorized): NARA RG 24 (Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships and Stations) holds WWII-era deck logs for AKS-6 covering Nov 1944-Apr 1946 plus the 2-5 May 1944 ferry-commission run New Orleans-Mobile, at NARA II, College Park - digitization status unverified. RG 19 (Bureau of Ships) may hold AKS conversion work packages/specifications and the EC2-S-C1 Booklet of General Plans. RG 181 (naval district records; New Orleans and Mobile both lay in the 8th Naval District) may hold conversion-period correspondence. RG 178 (U.S. Maritime Commission) Construction Division records may hold the MCE-2459 contract file and outfitting specifications. RG 357 / MARAD-NDRF Suisun Bay custody file and the PD-X-682 sale file (sale contract MA-3799) are the most promising disposal-era leads; the status card's 'storage bin installation' reference (SB memo 9-6-56, noted as filed under 'Gratia' SB) may carry post-lay-up alteration detail.

    Verification

    unverified

    Role

    archival_lead

    Documentation level

    context_only

    Accessed

    2026-09-22

    Study period

    1944-1965 records

    Limitations

    Record-group mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for MCE hull 2459 or the Alabama Dry Dock conversion is unknown until surveyed in person. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-kochab-aks6-13