USS LCS(L)(3)-38

Evidence

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

1. [1]research packet 500-packet.md (1 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-3-38-lcsl338-pkt-500-packet-md

2. [2]NavSource Online, Amphibious Photo Archive, USS LSSL-38 ex USS LCS(L)(3)-38 (1944 - 1949) [other_primary]

   Locator

   page heading; service chronology; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign table; ribbons block

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   NavSource identifies this hull as USS LCS(L)(3)-38, later USS LSSL-38: laid down 11 September 1944 at Commercial Iron Works, Portland, Oregon; launched 1 October 1944; commissioned USS LCS(L)(3)-38 on 13 October 1944 with LT. Jack C. Smith, USNR, in command. Assigned in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater to LCS(L)(3) Flotilla Three (CAPT. T.C. Aylward, USN), LCS(L)(3) Group Nine (LT. B.A. Thiakield, USNR), and LCS(L)(3) Division Seventeen. The page credits two battle stars for World War II service and lists campaign participation in the Okinawa Gunto operation (27 March to 2 June 1945) and Minesweeping Operations Pacific at Tschibana Wan, Kyushu-Korea area (24 November to 4 December 1945).

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-30

   Study period

   1944-1946

   Population

   USS LCS(L)(3)-38 crew and ship history

   Limitations

   Ship-specific historical record and archival compilation; NavSource's official-primary-source status is not established, though its content here derives in part from the National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130 and US National Archives photography. It does not document asbestos, asbestos-containing products, individual exposure, quantities, abatement, or present condition. The campaign table prints '2 June May 1945', a typographical slip read here as 2 June 1945.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-lcs-l-3-38-lcsl338-01

3. [3]NavSource Online, 'A Brief History of U.S.S. LCS(L) 38' (history provided by the National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130) [other_primary]

   Locator

   full narrative page

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   The association-provided narrative records: departure from Portland for San Diego nine days after commissioning, shakedown to 15 November 1944, departure from the United States on 1 December with 33 other LCSs, arrival at Pearl Harbor ten days later, invasion maneuvers in the Hawaiian Islands to 25 January 1945, departure 3 February convoying 36 LCTs via Johnston Island, Majuro, and Eniwetok to Ulithi (arrived 6 March), then San Pedro Bay, Leyte (11 March). During the Okinawa assault from 1 April 1945 the ship fired on Japanese positions off Brown Beach, struck a coral reef damaging her screws, was repaired overnight in a floating dry dock, and returned to action; she rescued 29 survivors of USS LST-447 after it was hit by a kamikaze and sank, and assisted in destroying an enemy plane. She served 17 days on radar picket station three, shooting down one Zero and assisting on three others; from 27 April to 2 June she operated in Nakagusuku Wan (Buckner Bay) laying smoke and in anti-aircraft defense. After Saipan availability (to 14 September) she entered Tokyo Bay 16 September 1945, supported the 81st Infantry Division landings at Aomori, Honshu, then joined minesweeping forces at Sasebo, exploding about 70 cut mines 27 November to 5 December. LT(jg.) Corwyn L. Johnson relieved LT. Smith on 10 November 1945. She departed Sasebo 19 December 1945, transited the Panama Canal 25 February 1946, reached New Orleans 3 March 1946, and decommissioned at Green Cove Springs, Florida, on 27 June 1946.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-30

   Study period

   1944-1946

   Population

   USS LCS(L)(3)-38 crew, 1944-1946

   Limitations

   Veterans-association narrative, not an official record: it names no asbestos material and establishes no exposure, causation, or present condition. It contains transcription slips ('the 39', 'LCS 39') read here as LCS(L)(3)-38, styles the first commanding officer ENS where the main page says LT., and assigns the ship to 'LCS(L) Group Seven' where the main page lists Group Nine - see gaps.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-lcs-l-3-38-lcsl338-02

4. [4]NavSource Online, USS LSSL-38 ex USS LCS(L)(3)-38, specifications block [other_primary]

   Locator

   Specifications section; Specifications Sources note

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   NavSource lists 250 tons light and 387 tons full-load displacement, 158 feet overall length, 23 feet 8 inches beam, complement of 6 officers and 65 enlisted, and propulsion by two quad packs of four General Motors 6051 series 71 diesel engines per shaft rated 1,600 BHP with single GM main reduction gears and twin variable-pitch propellers. Armament: one single 40mm bow mount, two twin 40mm AA mounts, four single 20mm AA mounts, four .50 caliber machine guns, ten MK7 rocket launchers; 10-lb STS splinter shields on gun mounts, pilot house, and conning tower. Specification sources cited are Baker's Allied Landing Craft of World War II and George Lawley & Sons Corporation's Instructions for LCS(L)(3) Class and Original Plans of LCS(L)(3).

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-30

   Study period

   1944

   Population

   USS LCS(L)(3)-38 machinery spaces and crew

   Limitations

   Propulsion and outfit data are not asbestos evidence: the page does not identify insulation, packing, gaskets, deck covering, or any other asbestos-containing product aboard this hull. The Lawley instruction manual and plans cited as spec sources were not located online in this batch.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-lcs-l-3-38-lcsl338-03

5. [5]NavSource Online, USS LSSL-38 ex USS LCS(L)(3)-38, disposition chronology [other_primary]

   Locator

   service chronology under LCS(L)(3)-1 Class Landing Craft Support

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   NavSource records decommissioning on 27 June 1946, lay-up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Green Cove Springs, Florida, redesignation as Landing Ship Support Large USS LSSL-38 on 28 February 1949, transfer to Italy on 25 July 1951 under the name Bracco (L-9852), striking from the Naval Register on an unknown date, and final disposition as scrapped by the Italian Navy in 1983.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-30

   Study period

   1946-1983

   Population

   USS LCS(L)(3)-38/LSSL-38 and Marina Militare custody

   Limitations

   The US Naval Register strike date is unknown in this source. A NavSource photo caption styles the Italian pennant 'L-9853' while the page heading and body give L-9852; the Italian Navy's own page confirms L 9852 - the caption value is not adopted. No asbestos content.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-lcs-l-3-38-lcsl338-04

6. [6]Marina Militare (Italian Navy), Ministero della Difesa, 'Bracco - Cannoniera d'appoggio, ex LSSL-38 ex LCS(L)(3)-38' [other_primary]

   Locator

   Bracco page, characteristics table and historical narrative paragraphs

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   The Italian Navy's official historical-ships page records Bracco, classified cannoniera d'appoggio (support gunboat), as ex LSSL-38 ex LCS(L)(3)-38, built by Commercial Iron Works, Portland, Oregon; laid down 11 September 1944, launched 1 October 1944, in US Navy service 13 October 1944, in Marina Militare service '21 o 25.7.1951', redesignated LSSL-38 on 28 February 1949, transferred to Italy under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program on 25 July 1951 with pennant identifier first BR then L 9852, stricken (radiata) 31 July 1974, and demolished in 1983. The page's narrative independently confirms the Okinawa service, Brown Beach grounding and floating-drydock repair, rescue of 29 LST-447 survivors, radar picket duty, Nakagusuku Wan smoke/AA operations, the Tokyo Bay/Aomori occupation period, the November-December 1945 minesweeping support, and the return voyage via the Panama Canal to Green Cove Springs, giving US decommissioning as '26 o 27 giugno 1946'.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-30

   Study period

   1944-1983

   Population

   Marina Militare crew of Bracco, 1951-1974

   Limitations

   Official foreign-government source. It contains no asbestos information and establishes no exposure, causation, or material condition. It preserves its own uncertainty on two dates (21 or 25 July 1951 entry into Italian service; 26 or 27 June 1946 US decommissioning) and lists a 76mm/50 bow gun 'secondo altre fonti 1 x 40 mm' reflecting probable Italian-service armament change.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-lcs-l-3-38-lcsl338-05

7. [7]Jane's Fighting Ships 1962-63, Italy - 'Alano' class (ex-US Landing Ships, Support/Large) entry (Internet Archive full text) [other_primary]

   Locator

   Internet Archive full text, Italy section, '(Ex-U.S. Landing Ships, Support/Large) 6 "Alano" Class'

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Jane's Fighting Ships 1962-63 lists six ex-US LSSLs in Italian service as the 'Alano' class: Alano (ex-LSSL 34), Mastino (ex-LSSL 62), Segugio (ex-LSSL 64), Bracco (ex-LSSL 38), Molosso (ex-LSSL 63), and Spinone (ex-LSSL 118), transferred from the USA on 25 July 1951 under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program and 'distinguished by NATO pennant numbers L 9851 to L 9856 respectively.' It gives Italian-service particulars including 8 Gray Marine diesels at 900 BHP and complement 73.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-30

   Study period

   1951-1962 edition

   Population

   Alano-class gunboats, Marina Militare

   Limitations

   Contemporaneous authoritative reference work, but secondary: its machinery figures (Gray Marine diesels, 900 BHP) and complement (73) differ from NavSource and the Marina Militare page (GM diesels, 1,600 BHP/SHP; 6 officers and 65 enlisted), and the 'respectively' pennant mapping is ambiguous in the OCR text. No asbestos information; the two asbestos mentions elsewhere in the volume concern Canadian St. Laurent/Mackenzie-class escorts and the Indian carrier Vikrant, not this hull or class.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-lcs-l-3-38-lcsl338-06

8. [8]National Archives, Special List #44 (Ships' Logs and Muster Rolls index), by Ship Numbers [other_primary]

   Locator

   PDF p. 33, lines for LCS(L)(3)-38

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   The National Archives ship-number index lists LCS(L)(3)-38 twice, covering deck-log periods 13 October 1944 to 31 December 1944 and 1 February 1945 to 30 June 1945 - the NARA-held log coverage for this hull's commissioned service through the Okinawa campaign period.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   archival_lead

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-30

   Study period

   1944-1945

   Population

   USS LCS(L)(3)-38

   Limitations

   Index-level record only: it establishes that NARA holds logs for these periods, not their contents. No log entry was retrieved, and the index shows no January 1945 coverage for this hull. Contains no asbestos information.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-lcs-l-3-38-lcsl338-07

9. [9]NavSource LCS(L)(3) / LSSL class index [other_primary]

   Locator

   Class overview paragraph

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   The class index states that 130 LCS(L)(3)s were built during World War II; the class was developed by the George Lawley Company, Neponset, Massachusetts, and produced there and by Albina Engine and Machine Works and Commercial Iron Works of Portland, Oregon; LCS(L)(3)s served only in the Pacific campaign; survivors in the US Navy inventory were redesignated LSSL in 1949; and 53 LSSLs were transferred to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in 1952 with numerous others to allied nations.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-30

   Study period

   1944-1952

   Population

   LCS(L)(3) class

   Limitations

   Class-level background only; it does not establish construction materials, asbestos content, or exposure aboard LCS(L)(3)-38 specifically.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-lcs-l-3-38-lcsl338-08

10. [10]National Archives, 'Researching Asbestos aboard US Naval Vessel up through 1961,' RG 19 research guide [other_primary]

    Locator

    Cartographic Branch section, 'Hull Series' and Ship Material Group discussion

    Finding type

    asbestos_application

    Finding

    NARA identifies Navy engineering drawings and specifications relevant to ship-specific asbestos research: the RG 19 'Hull Series' of ship engineering drawings is arranged by hull number under Ship Material Group codes, with S39 'Insulation and Lagging' and S48 'Piping' among the most frequently reviewed, and a more detailed microfilm drawing series for 1945-1955. These records are an archival lead for LCS(L)(3)-38, not evidence that asbestos was aboard this hull.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    archival_lead

    Documentation level

    context_only

    Accessed

    2026-09-30

    Study period

    1874-1976 holdings; accessed 2026

    Population

    Researchers seeking Navy vessel material records

    Limitations

    This research guide does not name LCS(L)(3)-38 and does not establish any product, quantity, location, condition, or exposure aboard it. The hull-specific RG 19 drawings were not retrieved in this batch.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-lcs-l-3-38-lcsl338-09

11. [11]U.S. Government Accountability Office, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure, HRD-80-2 (1979) [gao]

    Locator

    GAO product page highlights, 'use of asbestos in Navy ships' and replacement policy

    Finding type

    asbestos_application

    Finding

    GAO reviewed Navy ship asbestos use, removal costs, and worker-protection policy, describing asbestos insulation in Navy ships and a 1979 policy of selectively replacing damaged or repair-obstructing asbestos insulation. This establishes Navy-wide era context relevant to a 1944-built vessel but does not identify LCS(L)(3)-38.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    class_or_era

    Accessed

    2026-09-30

    Study period

    1975-1979 policy and review period

    Population

    Navy shipyard workers and Navy ships in the GAO review

    Limitations

    Program-level evidence only: GAO's review concerned Long Beach and Norfolk Naval Shipyards and does not document this hull, its builder, its materials, or any person's exposure. gao.gov returned HTTP 403 to automated fetch in this session; the product-page description is used per standing practice and no ship-specific asbestos conclusion is drawn.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-lcs-l-3-38-lcsl338-10

12. [12]CourtListener authenticated API v4 search [court_record]

    Locator

    authenticated helper output: type=r "LCS(L)(3)-38" count 0; type=o "USS LCS(L)(3)-38" count 0

    Finding type

    litigation_documented

    Finding

    Authenticated CourtListener searches completed: the docket search for the exact hull-number query "LCS(L)(3)-38" and the opinion search for the exact name "USS LCS(L)(3)-38" each returned zero results (count 0, HTTP 200). No qualifying asbestos-litigation record naming this hull was returned in the completed authenticated searches.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    negative_finding

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-09-30

    Study period

    searched 2026-09-30

    Population

    CourtListener indexed opinions and RECAP dockets

    Limitations

    This is a bounded negative search result, not proof that no litigation exists. The remaining required queries - exact name "USS LCS(L)(3)-38" docket, "LCS(L)(3)-38" opinion, and alias "LSSL-38" (opinion and docket) - could not be completed: the authenticated helper reported the fleet-wide pacing budget as spent. No anonymous or v3 requests were made.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-lcs-l-3-38-lcsl338-11

13. [13]Research sweep negative finding [other_primary]

    Locator

    search_ledger rows sl-uss-lcs-l-3-38-lcsl338-01 through -13

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    No qualifying ship-specific asbestos survey, abatement record, hazmat disclosure, environmental record, or asbestos product identification naming USS LCS(L)(3)-38 / LSSL-38 / Bracco was located in the accessible authoritative sources reviewed (NavSource, NARA SL-44 and asbestos research guide, Marina Militare, Jane's 1962-63 full text, NHHC/DANFS search, NVR probe).

    Verification

    partial

    Role

    negative_finding

    Documentation level

    context_only

    Accessed

    2026-09-30

    Study period

    1944-2026

    Population

    USS LCS(L)(3)-38 / LSSL-38 / Bracco

    Limitations

    This is a bounded research result, not proof that asbestos was absent: the hull's 1944 construction predates documented Navy asbestos phase-out, and only direct RG 19/S39 drawing pulls or builder records could establish materials. Law-firm and marketing asbestos claims for the class and for Commercial Iron Works were excluded by source policy. CourtListener opinion coverage is incomplete (pacing-blocked) and NARA's JS-rendered catalog was not fully traversable.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-lcs-l-3-38-lcsl338-12