Evidence
11 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-11).
-
[1]research packet zck-packet.md (3 sources cited) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-limestone-ix158-pkt-zck-packet-md
-
[2]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS), Limestone entry - canonical NHHC page, retrieved via Internet Archive Wayback capture of 2024-05-26 (live page returned 404 at access time, consistent with the standing NHHC link-rot gap noted in Batch-01); corroborated by NavSource IX-158 transcription via Wayback [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- NHHC DANFS 'Limestone' entry, paragraphs 1-2 and data block; Wayback capture https://web.archive.org/web/20240526184113/https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/limestone.html; NavSource mirror https://web.archive.org/web/20240527095006/http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/46/46158.htm; BBBO appendix https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/BBBO/BBBO-a.html
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS (verbatim): 'M. C. Hull 1338 was laid down 5 January 1944 by Barrett & Hilp, Belair Shipyard, South San Francisco, under a Maritime Commission contract; named Corundum (IX-164) 7 February 1944; launched 25 March 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Leo Heagerty; renamed and redesignated Limestone (IX-158) 23 May 1944; acquired by the Navy 14 October 1944; and placed in service the same day. Limestone, a non-self-propelled concrete barge, was towed to Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, for use as an Army and Marine Corps stores barge. Unheralded but necessary to the overall war effort, Limestone served near the advance bases in the Pacific until she returned to the United States in 1946. She was placed out of service 12 December 1946 at Seattle, and was sold to Foss Launch & Tug Co., 11 September 1947.' The same entry's first paragraph documents that MC hull 1332 had been named Limestone (IX-158) 7 February 1944 before being renamed Corundum (IX-164) 23 May 1944. DANFS data block: dp. 10,970; l. 366'4"; b. 54'; dr. 26'; cpl. 206; a. 1 40mm., 4 20mm.; cl. Trefoil; T. B7-D1-Barge. In-charge officer Lt. W. T. Bresnahan USNR per DANFS narrative; the BBBO appendix 'List of Commanding Officers' independently lists 'IX-158 Limestone Lt W.T. Bresnahan.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1943-1947
- Population
- Ship's company (complement figure disputed: 206 per DANFS block, 52 per NavSource) at Subic Bay and advanced bases, 1944-1946
- Limitations
- Narrative history only - contains no asbestos, insulation, or materials information and supports no asbestos claim. The live NHHC page returned 404 at access time; text retrieved from the Wayback capture (2024-05-26) and checked against the NavSource transcription. DANFS does not mention the Operation Crossroads assignment - documented separately by the JTF-1 report and NHHC composition roster (ev-04). DANFS 'cpl. 206' conflicts with NavSource's 52 and ShipScribe's 54 - flagged in the correction row and gaps.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-limestone-ix158-01
-
[3]U.S. Maritime Administration, Vessel History Database - LIMESTONE (IX-158), Ship History Detail 3025, including two digitized status-card images (MC card and Navy reserve-fleet card) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- ShipHistory Detail 3025; status card images /cards/3025_AF.jpg (MC card) and /cards/3025_5629AF.jpg (Navy reserve-fleet card); local copies research/limestone-card-3025_AF.jpg, research/limestone-card-3025_5629AF.jpg
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD/MC record for LIMESTONE (IX-158): type B7-D1 concrete barge; built 1944; dimensions 350' x 54' x 35'; gross 4,338 tons, DWT 5,687, displacement 10,970; war-built acquisition with construction cost $1,230,000; card header annotated '(Ex-CORUNDUM)'; database shipyard field 'Barrett and Hilp' (correct, unlike the misattribution on the Quartz card); milestones 'Entry' and 'Acquisition' both 2/6/1947; MC card 'Sold for operation to Foss Launch & Tug Co., under PDX-363 for $3,511'; owner line 'WSA DEC'L: LV#274 dated 3/24/47'; location 'Astoria, Oregon R. F.' The Navy reserve-fleet card reads hull no. 1338, 'DATE ENTERED FLEET 2-6-47 1:30 p.m.', 'SHIPS PAPERS: PD-X 363, 5/19/47', 'award 8/11/47', 'CUSTODIAN Foss Launch & Tug Co.', 'DATE WITHDRAWN FROM FLEET 9-11-47 12:00 noon', delivered to purchaser; red 'SOLD ... Withdrawn 9-11-47' overstamp. Database fate 'Sold - U.S. Operation'; vessel name history lists CORUNDUM (IX-164) and LIMESTONE (IX-158).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1944-1947
- Limitations
- Authoritative for Maritime Commission custody milestones and hull data; status-card handwriting partially legible (read against both card images). The cards resolve the disposal chain into consistent milestones: reserve-fleet entry Astoria 6 Feb 47, WSA declaration 24 Mar 47, ship's papers 19 May 47, sale award 11 Aug 47, withdrawal/delivery to Foss 11 Sep 47. The reserve-fleet card's 'FLEET AND UNIT' field is handwritten 'OLYMPIA 9-0' (partially legible; possibly a berth/row code) while the MC card location line reads 'Astoria, Oregon R. F.' - reported as written. Contains no asbestos or materials information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-limestone-ix158-02
-
[4]Stephen S. Roberts, ShipScribe - USS Trefoil (IX-149) class page (B7-D1 design data, construction/disposition tables, class notes, ship notes), compiled from Navy and Maritime Commission records [other_primary]
- Locator
- IX-149 class page: design block, construction/disposition tables, class notes (FY 1943 program; IX 149-152 and IX 158-164 acquisition narratives), ship notes row for IX-158
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Class and program record: Barrett & Hilp contracted 30 Jun 42 for thirteen 366-foot B7-D1 non-self-propelled concrete barges designed to transport bauxite ore, plus thirteen more (4 Aug 42) reassigned from a cancelled MacDonald & Kahn order; the Belair Shipyard was purpose-built under MC contract; six of twenty-six cancelled, twenty built, thirteen acquired by the Navy as IX-149/150/151/152/153/154/158-164. For the IX-158-164 group: on 12 Jan 44 CinCPOA requested six more B7-D1s converted like IX 149-154 to carry and issue provisions, general stores, and spare parts at advance bases; on 18 Jan 44 CNO asked MC for MC hulls 1333-1338; the request grew to seven (all remaining barges on the Barrett & Hilp contract) and the Auxiliary Vessels Board recommended acquiring all seven. The initial Navy name list approved 7 Feb 44 replicated the MC names; on 23 May 44 CNO corrected assignments - IX-164 CORUNDUM to MC hull 1332 and IX-158 LIMESTONE to MC hull 1338 - 'in order to complete the first ship of the IX 158-164 group as a spare part barge for landing craft and vehicles in lieu of for use as a typical GSK issue barge.' Ship note for IX-158: 'Ex USS CORUNDUM (IX-164, ex merc. CORUNDUM) 23 May 44. Army and Marine Corps stores issue barge. To buyer (Foss Launch & Tug Co.) 11 Sep 47 for operation.' Disposition table: out of service 12 Dec 46, stricken 10 Jun 47, disposal 6 Feb 47 (MC/D), MA sale 11 Aug 47. Crews for the type: 16 (basic barge), 53 (GSK conversion), 61 (refrigerated conversion); class table complement 54 (1944).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1942-1948
- Population
- Construction trades at Belair Shipyard (wartime-only yard); crews of 13 Navy-acquired B7-D1 barges (class context)
- Limitations
- Expert reference compilation drawn from NAVSEA ship-history records - consistent with primary documents but not itself an official publication; used for class/program structure, the documented hull/name swap, and dates. Class complement of 54 conflicts with DANFS's 206 and NavSource's 52 - flagged in gaps. No asbestos or materials information in the class notes.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-limestone-ix158-03
-
[5]William A. Shurcliff, 'Bombs on Bikini: The Official Report of Operation Crossroads' (Wm. H. Wise & Co., 1947) - Joint Task Force One official report, Appendix 8 'Support Vessels' (atomicarchive.com reproduction); corroborated by NHHC 'Composition of Joint Task Force One' roster [other_primary]
- Locator
- Appendix 8, section (g) Service Group (Task Group 1.8), LIMESTONE (IX-158) line; NHHC composition page https://web.archive.org/web/20231031213723/https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/o/operation-crossroads/composition-of-joint-task-force-one.html (TU 1.8.1 list); NavSource IX-158 page
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The official JTF-1 report lists LIMESTONE (IX-158), Ens. I. H. Richter, under '(g) Service Group (Task Group 1.8, commanded by Captain G. H. Lyttle (Navy))' - ship-specific documentation of the hull's assignment to the Service Group for the Bikini atomic tests (Test Able 1 July and Test Baker 25 July 1946). The NHHC 'Composition of Joint Task Force One' roster places USS Limestone (IX-158) in Task Unit 1.8.1 (Repair and Service Unit) of TG 1.8, alongside sister barge USS Quartz (IX-150); NavSource likewise records assignment to 'Joint Task Force 1, Task Unit 1.8.1 Service Group - Repair and Service Unit.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1946-07
- Population
- Limestone crew (in charge Ens. I. H. Richter) in the Crossroads Service Group, July 1946
- Limitations
- Roster listings only - they confirm unit assignment and the in-charge officer but do not detail position relative to the detonations, onboard conditions, or post-test radiological monitoring results for this hull. Radiological, not materials, context - contains no asbestos information. Reproduction of the 1947 printed official report consulted via atomicarchive.com; NHHC roster retrieved via Wayback capture (live URL returned 404).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-limestone-ix158-04
-
[6]NavSource Service Ship Photo Archive, Limestone (IX-158) specifications block (non-self-propelled storage barge; displacement 5,678 lt / 10,960 fl; machinery 'four Diesel-drive 60Kw 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generators'; fuel 610 bbl diesel; cargo 3,000 DWT non-refrigerated, 292,000 cu ft; armament 1x40mm + 4x20mm AA; call sign NAAO), corroborated by ShipScribe type data ('Non-self propelled') and the MARAD card dimensions [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource IX-158 Specifications block (Wayback capture); ShipScribe IX-149 class design block; MARAD Detail 3025
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Type-profile bound on asbestos-relevant systems: the B7-D1 ferrocement barge is non-self-propelled with no boilers and no steam plant; documented machinery is four diesel-drive 60 kW ship's-service generators; cargo holds were non-refrigerated for this hull (it was outfitted as an Army and Marine Corps stores issue barge - refrigerated fit-outs documented only for sisters Silica and Asphalt, with a shipyard history suggesting possibly two of the IX 158-164 group were refrigerated, not resolved to hulls). The asbestos-intensive systems typical of WWII steamships were therefore absent by design; residual era-typical applications aboard such craft were limited to generator exhaust lagging, gaskets/packing, electrical insulation, and interior finishes.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1944 design fit-out; WWII era
- Population
- Engineering/electrical ratings aboard, 1944-1946
- Limitations
- Design-boundary reasoning, not an asbestos finding: no source documents asbestos-containing materials aboard this hull, and no source documents their absence either. Specifications are type-documented; the absence of an asbestos record for these systems is noted rather than inferred content. navsource.org was not directly reachable from the research host at access time - specification text retrieved via the Wayback capture of 2024-05-27 and corroborated against ShipScribe and MARAD data. Minor spec discrepancies (NavSource 10,960 fl vs MARAD card 10,970; NavSource 'laid down October 1943' vs DANFS/ShipScribe 5 Jan 44) flagged in the correction row.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-limestone-ix158-05
-
[7]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 World War II - the program era in which this 1944 Maritime Commission concrete barge was built - and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization in ship construction.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1940s era documented; article 1987
- Population
- WWII shipyard workers and ship crews (era context)
- Limitations
- Program/era-level scholarly documentation of asbestos use in WWII shipbuilding generally; does not name this vessel or concrete barges, and does not establish that asbestos was or remains aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation. Concrete non-self-propelled barges lacked the boiler/steam systems where most shipboard asbestos concentrated.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-limestone-ix158-06
-
[8]The Crete Fleet (concrete-ships specialist reference), 'Limestone (IX-158) - Barrett & Hilp B7-D1 Barge of WWII' - as incorporated into the Wikipedia service-history paragraph (thecretefleet pages are JS-rendered and did not return body text to scripted fetch; content quoted via Wikipedia's citations) [other_primary]
- Locator
- thecretefleet.com Limestone page as cited in en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Limestone service-history section (references 3-4)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Post-Navy and tow details reported by the specialist secondary source: Limestone was towed to Eniwetok via Majuro by USS Ute (ATF-76), arriving 1 February 1945; after the 1947 Foss Launch & Tug purchase the hull was converted by Todd Shipyards into a floating dock and was in use as such at the Port of Anchorage, Alaska by July 1960, possibly as a joint venture of Foss Launch & Tug Company and Alaska Aggregate Corporation; the ship may have been demolished in place to build a permanent pier.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1945; 1947-1960
- Population
- Todd Shipyards conversion workforce (if conversion occurred); Anchorage dock workers 1960+ (unverified)
- Limitations
- Specialist-secondary claims not corroborated by a primary or official source at access time - DANFS documents only 'towed to Subic Bay' and the 1947 sale; the MARAD card ends at Foss delivery. The Ute tow is consistent with USS Ute's documented early-1945 Pacific operations but is not confirmed ship-specific. The Todd conversion yard is not identified by location (Todd operated Alameda/San Francisco and Seattle yards). Carried as flagged secondary detail, not verified history.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-limestone-ix158-07
-
[9]Source reconciliation: DANFS entry (Wayback capture) vs NavSource IX-158 page vs ShipScribe disposition table vs MARAD status card - laid-down date, strike date, and complement [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource IX-158 bullet list vs DANFS paragraphs; ShipScribe disposition table row 158 and ship note; shipbuildinghistory.com wwtwoconcrete.htm Barrett & Hilp table rows 14 and 20; HyperWar ships/IX/IX-158_Limestone.html
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Discrepancies reported verbatim, not forced: (a) Keel date - NavSource bullet reads 'Laid down in October 1943,' while DANFS and the ShipScribe table agree on 5 January 1944; adopted 1944-01-05. (b) Strike date - NavSource records 'Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown'; the ShipScribe disposition table gives 10 Jun 47; adopted 1947-06-10 with source noted. (c) Complement - DANFS data block and the HyperWar ship page give 206; NavSource specifications block gives 52; ShipScribe class table gives 54 (1944); the class notes document crews of 16 (basic barge), 53 (GSK conversion), 61 (refrigerated). All figures reported as sourced - the 206 may reflect combined Navy crew plus embarked Army/Marine stores-issue personnel (speculation not asserted). (d) The 23 May 44 CNO hull-swap - independently documented by DANFS (both paragraphs), the MARAD card '(Ex-CORUNDUM)' annotation and name history, ShipScribe class notes and ship notes, and the shipbuildinghistory hull list (hull 1332 'Limestone/Corundum' delivered Jul-44 'Later IX 164'; hull 1338 'Limestone' delivered Oct-44 'Later IX 158').
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1943-1947 records
- Limitations
- Resolves publication-level discrepancies in secondary transcriptions; does not affect identity or custody timeline materially. No asbestos content in any of these sources. The 206/52/54 complement spread is the largest in this class and is carried in gaps unresolved.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-limestone-ix158-08
-
[10]Batch-4728 search ledger (this record): DANFS via Wayback capture of canonical NHHC page + NavSource mirror; MARAD ShipHistory 3025 + status cards; ShipScribe IX-149 class file; shipbuildinghistory MC hull list; JTF-1 'Bombs on Bikini' App. 8 (atomicarchive) + NHHC composition roster; HyperWar ships-ix/IX-158 pages and BBBO appendix; NARA deck-log list; shipyards.json cross-check; CourtListener sweep attempted but blocked by fleet pacing (see ledger CL1) [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-limestone-ix158-01 through -10 and CL1-CL3
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming the Limestone (IX-158) hull was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). No materials survey of the hull has been published; the hull left government custody in 1947 and its post-Navy disposition (floating-dock conversion, possible demolition in place) is documented only in specialist-secondary sources.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 2026-09-29
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1944-built naval craft is era-consistent with retained asbestos-containing materials in habitability/machinery finishes, while its non-steam design bounds the likely scope. 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-limestone-ix158-10
-
[11]NARA record-group mapping: RG 24 'Logbooks of the U.S. Navy Ships and Stations' series and Special List 44; RG 178 (Records of the U.S. Maritime Commission) construction/contract files; Operation Crossroads records (RG 374, Defense Nuclear Agency/JTF-1) - leads only, no box-level retrieval [other_primary]
- Locator
- archives.gov/research/military/logbooks/navy + /logbooks/navy-online (L section checked - no Limestone entry); /research/guide-fed-records/groups/178.html
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads not retrieved (no spend authorized): (a) IX-158 deck logs 1944-1946 within the RG 24 logbook series - the NARA 'Navy Deck Logs Available in the National Archives Catalog' list was checked and contains no Limestone/IX-158 entry (logs not digitized at access time; textual copies would be at Archives II, College Park); (b) RG 178 MC Construction Division records may hold the B7-D1 contract specification and hull 1338 outfitting documentation (the likeliest surviving materials/insulation spec for the type); (c) JTF-1/Operation Crossroads records (radiological monitoring after Test Baker) may contain hull-specific survey data - radiological, not materials, content expected.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1944-1947 records
- Limitations
- Record-group mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for hull 1338 is unknown until surveyed in person. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding. The NARA catalog API returns a scripted-access shell, so the digitized-holdings list page was checked directly.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-limestone-ix158-11