Evidence
8 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-8).
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[1]DANFS, 'Las Vegas Victory' (AK-229) - NHHC page captured by Internet Archive Wayback Machine 2024-02-26 (live NHHC URL returned 404 on 2026-09-21) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS entry, full text incl. specification block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Las Vegas Victory, a cargo ship, was launched 1944 by Permanente Metals Corp., Richmond, Calif.; sponsored by Mrs. E. W. Cragin; acquired by the Navy 25 October 1944 and commissioned the same day, Lt. Comdr. William P. Lally in command (DANFS text; NavSource CO roster gives 'William Francis Lally'). After west-coast shakedown she departed Astoria, Ore., 26 November 1944 and arrived Kossol Passage, Palau Islands, 31 December with 7,600 tons of ammunition. January-March 1945 she shuttled ammunition among the Caroline and Marshall Islands; departed Ulithi 25 March, arrived off Okinawa 31 March, and from 1 April 'under constant attack by Japanese suicide pilots' passed ammunition to battleships, carriers, destroyers and LCTs until late May. She reloaded at San Pedro, Leyte (10 June), sailed to Eniwetok (19 July), and was assigned to the Pacific Service Force. She departed Eniwetok 7 November, arrived Port Discovery, Wash., 19 November 1945; sailed for San Francisco 15 February 1946 and decommissioned there 8 April for redelivery to WSA, then entered the NDRF ('at present berthed at Puget Sound, Wash.' per DANFS). One battle star for World War II service. DANFS spec block: dp. 4,480; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 29'2"; s. 15.5 k.; cpl. 99; a. 1x5", 1x3", 8x20mm; cl. Boulder Victory.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1944-1946
- Population
- Commissioned-period Navy crew (99 officers and enlisted per spec block)
- Limitations
- Authoritative for identity, commissioning, wartime service, and decommissioning. Contains no asbestos, insulation-material, or hazardous-material statement. The 'berthed at Puget Sound' line reflects the DANFS writing date (mid-century) - the hull moved among four reserve fleets per MARAD cards. 'William P. Lally' conflicts with NavSource's 'William Francis Lally' (discrepancy logged). Does not establish or defeat any asbestos or exposure claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-las-vegas-victory-ak229-01
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[2]MARAD Vessel History Database, LAS VEGAS VICTORY (official no. 246657), Detail 2955 - milestones, typed Vessel Status Cards (forms MA-383/MA-385), handwritten movement cards, and Record of Ship Sales (form MA-20) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- Detail page milestones; status-card scans 2955_5497AF/AB/BF/CF/DF/EF, 2955_6006_AF, 4FX_01/4FX_02 (custody chain); movement-card PDFs 01-14 (MSTS voyages); MA-20 sale card
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- MARAD Vessel History Database record 2955 and digitized vessel status cards document the complete post-Navy custody chain of this government-owned hull: delivered by builders to USMC and placed to WSA at Richmond 1944-10-25; Navy custody 1944-10-25; American Foreign SS Co. (GAA) San Francisco 1946-04-08; United Fruit Co. (MC/BB) Baltimore 1947-01-15 and (GAA) New York 1947-09-28; James River Reserve Fleet, Lee Hall VA 1947-10-14; Korean-era activations - U.S. Lines (GAA) 1950-07-28, brief fleet return 1950-11-07, U.S. Lines (BB) 1951-01-10, Isthmian SS Co. (BB) Newport News 1951-06-01, Waterman SS Corp. (GAA) Mobile 1952-01-18; Hudson River Reserve Fleet 1952-05-22, withdrawn to Waterman (GAA-stripping) 1952-09-03, re-entered 1952-09-30; Marine Transport Lines (BB) 1957-01-16/17, deactivation (GAA) Seattle 1958-03-07; Olympia Reserve Fleet 1958-03-18; withdrawn 1966-06-03 to American Mail Line (GAA) for MSTS operation - activation drydock at Lockheed, Seattle (1966-06-13) then Todd's Seattle for topside activation, sea trials 1966-07-31/08-02, tendered to MSTS 1966-08-05; Vietnam-era ammunition shuttle voyages (voy. NSA 3 through NSA 14) loading at Bangor and NWS Concord for Subic Bay, Danang, Sattahip, Cat Lai and Yokohama; entered Suisun Bay fleet 1969-01-30 in reduced-operating status, withdrawn 1969-06-04 back to full-operating status under AML/MSTS; re-entered Suisun Bay 1970-02-04; withdrawn 1971-02-19 'out for deactivation' (Bethlehem Steel custody, Suisun Bay), returned 'in from D/D' 1971-03-08 into permanent lay-up; sale awarded to DJJ Maritrade 1993-11-01 (contract MA-12834, $341,400) under Section 510(i) of the Merchant Marine Act as amended by P.L. 101-595; departed Suisun Bay 1993-12-22.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1944-1993
- Population
- Shipyard trades at documented events (Lockheed and Todd's Seattle 1966; deactivation drydock 1971); MSTS-era civilian mariners; NDRF caretakers
- Limitations
- Primary government custody and movement record; documents operators, reserve-fleet periods, activation/deactivation drydock events (Lockheed and Todd's, Seattle, 1966; Bethlehem Steel custody 1971), and the 1993 scrap sale. The cards contain no asbestos, insulation, or hazardous-material statement - they establish where and when work happened, not what material was disturbed. The June 1969-February 1970 MSTS stint is documented by typed custody entries only; its movement cards are not in the scanned set.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-las-vegas-victory-ak229-02
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[3]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 Maritime Commission program under which this VC2-S-AP2 hull was built at a Kaiser-managed yard - and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization aboard merchant-type hulls. Typical applications for a twin-boiler, geared-turbine steam cargo ship of this design and era: boiler and turbine insulation, steam-line lagging, valve and flange gaskets, machinery packing, accommodation insulation, and winch/windlass brake linings.
- Verification
- inferred
- 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 and does not establish that asbestos was or remained aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation. The application list is design/era inference, not a hull survey.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-las-vegas-victory-ak229-03
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[4]In re Joint Eastern and Southern Districts Asbestos Litigation (Robinson v. United States), 891 F.2d 31 (2d Cir. 1989); CourtListener opinion 533004 [court_record]
- Locator
- Opinion, 891 F.2d 31 (No. 1547, docket 89-6109)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Second Circuit ruling addressing mesothelioma claims by a mariner aboard War Shipping Administration vessels; the court considered jurisdiction over a personal-injury claim against the United States for asbestos exposure aboard the WWII government merchant fleet - the same government-owner framework (USMC hull, WSA delivery, government-owned throughout) that applied to this ship. Claims against the government were barred on discretionary-function grounds.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1989 (opinion); wartime exposure period
- Population
- WWII merchant mariners (class context)
- Limitations
- Fleet-level jurisdictional ruling; does not name this hull, does not find asbestos conditions aboard any specific vessel, and establishes only the litigation posture for WWII government-fleet claims. Reporter citation and CourtListener ID verified in prior batch work (2026-09-14); not re-verified today - CourtListener API throttled.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-las-vegas-victory-ak229-04
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[5]In re American President Lines, Ltd., and 102 Other Shipowner-Defendants in the Ohio Asbestos Litigation (MARDOC), 929 F.2d 226 (6th Cir. 1991); CourtListener opinion 558063 [court_record]
- Locator
- MARDOC 929 F.2d 226 (6th Cir. 1991)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Operator-level asbestos litigation context for the government-owned merchant fleet: MARDOC consolidated maritime asbestos claims against 103 shipowner/operators. Merchant-ship asbestos litigation proceeded under owner/operator names, not hull names - material here because this hull was operated postwar under agency/bareboat agreements by at least seven different commercial operators (American Foreign SS, United Fruit, U.S. Lines, Isthmian, Waterman, Marine Transport Lines, American Mail Line; MARAD cards, ev-02). Ship-name searches therefore structurally undercount the litigation surface for vessels like this one.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1991 (opinion); 1946-1970 operator window
- Population
- Merchant mariners on government-owned vessels (class context)
- Limitations
- Procedural ruling naming operators and the government-fleet litigation posture, not hulls; no opinion located making an asbestos finding aboard this or any VC2 hull. Membership of this hull's specific operators in the MARDOC defendant list is not asserted (not verified). Citation and CourtListener ID verified in prior batch work (2026-09-15/17); not re-verified today - CourtListener API throttled.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-las-vegas-victory-ak229-05
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[6]Batch-899 search ledger (this record): NHHC DANFS (archived); MARAD Vessel History DB incl. full status-card series and MA-20 sale card; NavSource (lead only); litigation web check; class profile vc2-s-ap2-victory; CourtListener attempt (throttled) [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-las-vegas-victory-ak229-01 through -08
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming Las Vegas Victory or AK-229 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). The complete MARAD custody-card series - including activation, deactivation, and scrapping events - contains no asbestos or hazardous-material statement. Law-firm marketing pages making blanket exposure claims about this hull were located and excluded as sources (see BATCH-899-REPORT.md exclusions).
- 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 steam hull is era-consistent with installed ACM. Litigation coverage is partial: the authenticated CourtListener daily quota was exhausted mid-batch and name/hull docket searches could not be completed; the operator-name pathway (ev-05) means hull-name searches undercount regardless. Does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-las-vegas-victory-ak229-06
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[7]MARAD Record of Ship Sales (MA-20) card 2955_6006_AF and typed fleet cards vs. NavSource vessel page (secondary lead only) and DANFS text [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- MA-20 card; 4FX_01/02 custody cards; Suisun fleet card 2955_5497AF; navsource.org/archives/09/13/130229.htm (secondary)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Source discrepancies resolved: (a) scrap-sale price - NavSource states $341,100; the MARAD Record of Ship Sales (form MA-20) states $341,400.00; the MARAD card controls and $341,400 is carried. (b) Commanding officer - DANFS text gives 'William P. Lally'; the NavSource commanding-officer roster gives 'William Francis Lally'; probable DANFS middle-initial typo, flagged rather than silently corrected. (c) 'Scrapped, 22 December 1993' (secondary sources) - 1993-12-22 is the MARAD disposition/withdrawal date (departure from Suisun Bay under the sale), not a documented breaking date; the actual scrapping location and date are not established in located sources. (d) Movement-card years - the handwritten MSTS movement cards place the final Vietnam voyage's return at Suisun Bay 1-30-69, matching the typed fleet card; ROS ended 1969-06-03/04 and she returned to AML/MSTS service before final re-entry 1970-02-04.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1944-1993
- Limitations
- Minor discrepancies between official cards and secondary sources are logged, not silently resolved; none affects identity or the service record. NavSource is used only as a comparison lead, not carried as a citation-type source.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-las-vegas-victory-ak229-07
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[8]NARA record-group mapping (RG 24/26/178/248); NavSource archival link for AK-229 war diary; MARAD sale-file reference in milestone record [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource AK-229 additional-resources list; NARA Guide to Federal Records RG 178/248; MARAD milestone 'See memo' note
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved): the AK-229 war diary Oct 1944-Nov 1945 with history and action reports is referenced from the NavSource page (digitized copy, provenance unverified); NARA paths mapped - deck logs and muster rolls (RG 24), USMC/WSA construction and operating records (RG 178/RG 248), merchant documentation (RG 26); MARAD sale file MA-12834 including the 'memo' referenced in the disposition milestone; Lockheed and Todd's Seattle work packages for the 1966 activation and the 1971 deactivation drydock are the likeliest primary sources for any material-disturbance detail.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1944-1993 records
- Limitations
- Record-group and document mapping only - no retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for this hull is unknown until surveyed. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-las-vegas-victory-ak229-08