Evidence
8 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-8).
-
[1]research packet 495-packet.md (2 sources cited) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-lcs-l-3-121-lcsl3121-pkt-495-packet-md
-
[2]NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive, USS LSSL-121 ex USS LCS(L)(3)-121 - milestone timeline, specifications block (sourced to Ships' Data U.S. Naval Vessels, NavShips 250-012, 15 April 1945, and George Lawley & Sons class instructions/plans), commanding officer, awards, disposal [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 10/05/050121.htm - header block, campaign table, timeline, specifications block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Documented for this hull: laid down 7 November 1944 at George Lawley & Sons Corp., Neponset, MA; launched 16 November 1944; commissioned USS LCS(L)(3)-121, 1 December 1944, Lt. W. C. Lewis USN in command. Assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater: LCS(L)(3) Flotilla Four (Cdr. N. Phillips), Group Ten (Lt. Cdr. J. A. Dodson), Division Twenty; participated in the Okinawa Gunto operation (assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 10 May - 30 June 1945). Occupation service in the Far East 2 September 1945 - 5 March 1946. Decommissioned 1 January 1947. Redesignated Landing Ship Support, Large - USS LSSL-121 - 28 February 1949. Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown. Earned one battle star for World War II service. Sold 14 December 1959 to Southwest Steel Corp., Memphis TN, for $6,941.16. Registered in 1954 [as printed] to Bert C. Pouncey, Jr. as the tugboat Sugar, homeported Memphis TN; operated in 1956 under the Venezuelan flag. Final disposition: fate unknown. Spec block: 250 t (lt) / 387 t (fl); 158' o.a.; beam 23'8"; complement 6 officers, 65 enlisted; propulsion '2 General Motors 6051 series 71 Diesel engines, BHP 1,600', single GM main reduction gear, 2 diesel-drive 60kW 450V A.C. generators, twin variable-pitch propellers. Armament: 1 x single 40mm bow gun, 2 x twin 40mm AA, 4 x single 20mm AA, 4 x .50 cal MG, 10 x Mk7 rocket launchers.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1944-1959
- Population
- Lawley construction trades (Nov-Dec 1944); crew (1944-47); merchant tug crews (1950s); scrappers (1950/1959 - disputed)
- Limitations
- NavSource is a volunteer secondary compilation, not a primary registry - but its spec block is explicitly sourced to NavShips 250-012 (15 April 1945) and Lawley builder documents, and its timeline tracks BuShips-era practice. The 'Registered in 1954' line precedes the 1959 sale in print order and likely contains a year error (see gaps); the 1959 sale conflicts with uboat.net/shipbuildinghistory '1950' disposal dates (see gaps). Contains no asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lcsl3-121-01
-
[3]NavSource Online: 'A Brief History of LCS (L) 121' by Marvin J. Bertoch, Executive Officer - firsthand service narrative (provided via the National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 10/05/050121h.htm - full narrative text
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Firsthand account by this hull's executive officer: since commissioning 1 December 1944 at Neponset the ship traveled approximately 20,000 miles. Shakedown at Solomons, MD; transit to San Diego via Norfolk, Key West, and the Panama Canal Zone, arriving 28 January 1945; two weeks maneuvers off Southern California; departed for Pearl Harbor 3 March 1945; departed Pearl Harbor 13 April for Okinawa via Eniwetok and Saipan (convoy attacked unsuccessfully by enemy submarines one day short of Okinawa). In the Okinawa area 10 May - 10 July 1945, chief assignment radar picket duty: 30 days on picket patrol, 56 general-quarters calls against air attacks; a near miss off the starboard quarter caused personnel casualties and minor damage; strafing by a diving kamikaze inflicted minor damage; the ship shot down two planes. Provided fire coverage for Scouts and Raiders on Kume Shima; escorted LSTs into Hagushi harbor; ran 'Flycatcher'/'Skunk' anti-suicide-boat patrols at night; laid fog-generator smoke coverage for cruisers and battleships during air attacks. Departed 10 July for Leyte for repairs and crew recreation; arrived Tokyo Bay 11 September 1945 for the occupation of Japan.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1944-1945
- Population
- Crew (Dec 1944 - Sep 1945)
- Limitations
- Firsthand but informal narrative (an officer's retrospective 'brief history' hosted on NavSource), not a deck log or action report - dates are close to but not identical with NavSource's campaign-table dates (Okinawa presence 10 May - 10 July per narrative vs. credited Okinawa Gunto operation 10 May - 30 June). Contains no asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lcsl3-121-02
-
[4]NHHC / National Museum of the U.S. Navy, official photograph captions for 80-G-325108 and 80-G-325109 (National Archives collection) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- 80-G-325108 and 80-G-325109 photo-detail pages, NHHC NMUSN WWII Pacific/Okinawa gallery
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Two official U.S. Navy photographs in the National Archives collection, published by NHHC, document this hull off Okinawa during the campaign: 80-G-325108 - 'USS LCS(L)(3)-121 is in the foreground, USS LCS(L)(3)-123, is in the background. Both are units of LCS Flotilla Four. The landing craft support (large)(mark 3) vessels were off Okinawa during this time. Photographed by Lieutenant R. Sutton and received on July 4, 1945'; 80-G-325109 - 'USS LCS(L)(3)-121, a landing craft support (large)(mark 3) vessel from LCS Flotilla Four, starboard view while off Okinawa', same photographer and receipt date. NHHC-verified physical presence off Okinawa, Flotilla Four assignment.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- April-June 1945
- Population
- Crew (1945)
- Limitations
- Photographic documentation of presence only - establishes the hull was off Okinawa April-June 1945 as a Flotilla Four unit; no asbestos or material content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lcsl3-121-03
-
[5]NHHC H-Gram 048-2, 'Naval Battle of Okinawa (Continued)' - Director's Corner historical publication [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- H-gram H-048-2, Kikusui No. 7 section (23-25 May 1945)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NHHC names this hull in its official Okinawa history: during mass kamikaze attack Kikusui No. 7 (23-25 May 1945), 'Radar Pickett Station No. 15, northwest of Okinawa, came under seven hours of intermittent attack, but only LCS(L)-121 suffered damage - minor - from a near-miss bomb.' Corroborates the executive officer's account of near-miss damage and personnel casualties during picket duty, and fixes the station assignment (RP Station No. 15).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1945-05-23/25
- Population
- Crew on radar picket duty (May 1945)
- Limitations
- Combat-history documentation only; no asbestos or material content. 'Minor' damage is NHHC's characterization; the XO narrative records personnel casualties from the near miss - consistent but different emphasis.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lcsl3-121-04
-
[6]Era inference built on: NavSource spec block (diesel propulsion, NavShips 250-012-sourced); Wikipedia 'Landing Craft Support' class article (158 ft LCI-derived hull; eight Gray Marine/GM diesels, 1,600 hp, twin variable-pitch screws; smoke generator; fire-fighting manifold); shipbuildinghistory LCS(L) build table (130 hulls, three yards) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource spec block; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_Craft_Support class article; shipbuildinghistory.njscuba.net/us-navy-small/lcsl/ build table
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- A diesel-powered 250-ton amphibious gunfire-support ship built November-December 1944 sits inside the Navy's documented asbestos-use era (see ev-06). Era-standard applications aboard a vessel of this type and period were thermal insulation, machinery and diesel-exhaust lagging, gaskets, valve packing, and electrical insulation - in a 158-foot hull where the entire crew lived and worked within feet of machinery. As a diesel ship she carried no steam plant - the boiler/turbine lagging pathway of steam vessels does not apply - but the small-ship confined-space exposure dynamic applies: the LCS(L)(3) was built at production speed (class sources describe hulls produced in as little as 10 days) to standard plans, so insulation and gasket materials would follow Navy-standard specification rather than yard improvisation.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1944-1959
- Population
- Lawley construction trades (Nov-Dec 1944); crew (1944-47); merchant tug crews (1950s); scrappers (disputed year)
- Limitations
- Class/era inference only - no hull-specific insulation survey, material list, or work package located for LCS(L)(3)-121. Names era-standard applications, not confirmed installed materials. No quantity. The builder's own documents cited by NavSource - 'Instructions for LCS(L)(3) Class' and 'Original Plans of LCS(L)(3)' (George Lawley & Sons) - are unretrieved archival leads that may carry material specifications.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lcsl3-121-05
-
[7]GAO, Navy's Efforts to Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure, HRD-80-2 (Oct 18, 1979) - full text retrieved via firecrawl (https://www.gao.gov/assets/hrd-80-2.pdf) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO HRD-80-2, transmittal letter and 'Navy's Policy on Use of Asbestos' section
- Finding type
- gov_survey
- Finding
- GAO documented that 'all ships contain some asbestos in such components as clutches and electric cables,' that thermal insulation 'was the Navy's major use of asbestos aboard ships,' that product specifications for thermal insulation were changed in 1973 to specify asbestos-free materials (with asbestos materials already purchased and in some cases installed in ships under construction), and that the Navy policy to eliminate asbestos use was issued in October 1975. This hull's entire construction (November 1944) and service era (1944-47) precede the substitution era - Navy-standard insulation of her construction period is documented as asbestos-bearing at the program level.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1979 (report); era reviewed spans this hull's 1944 construction
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers; asbestos program review
- Limitations
- Program-level documentation; supports era context only, not any fact specific to this hull. GAO fieldwork yards were Long Beach and Norfolk Naval Shipyards - not this hull's builder. Does not establish materials aboard this hull, individual exposure, quantity, or present-day presence.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lcsl3-121-06
-
[8]Batch-5671 search ledger (this record): NavSource main + history pages; NHHC NMUSN photo pages (80-G-325108, 80-G-325109); NHHC H-gram H-048-2; DANFS index check; NVR LSSL-121 check; CourtListener API v4 (opinion type); shipbuildinghistory build table; uboat.net warship page; GAO HRD-80-2 full text; secondary web litigation sweep [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-lcsl3-121-01 through -12
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or verified litigation naming LCS(L)(3)-121 / LSSL-121 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). CourtListener opinion search: exact-alias queries 'LSSL-121' and 'LCS(L)-121' returned zero results; the loose query LCS(L)(3)-121 returned thousands of name collisions (LCS Services, LCS Corrections, and similar corporate names) with no vessel reference among top-ranked results.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 2026-09-30
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1944 hull built to Navy-standard plans sits squarely inside the documented asbestos-use era; this is a reasonable inference, not a ship-proven fact. Deck logs (RG 24), any war diary (RG 38), and Lawley builder documents ('Instructions for LCS(L)(3) Class', original plans) are undigitized leads. Does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lcsl3-121-07