Evidence
10 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-10).
-
[1]research packet 742-packet.md [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-litchfield-county-lst901-pkt-742-packet-md
-
[2]DANFS, 'Litchfield County' named entry - construction, WWII/occupation service, Korean War, Passage to Freedom, 1955 naming/inactivation, 1966 reactivation and Vietnam narrative (live page verified) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS 'Litchfield County' entry, full narrative and header spec block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Documented for this hull: LST-901 laid down 29 October 1944 by Dravo Corp., Pittsburgh, Pa.; launched 9 December 1944; sponsored by Mrs. S. A. Evans; commissioned 11 January 1945, Lt. C. A. Henson in command. Shakedown off Florida; Pearl Harbor 27 March (1945); Saipan 12 June for resupply missions in the Marianas, Ryukyus, and Iwo Jima through the close of the war; mother ship for minesweepers around Truk; sailed for the States 28 November; decommissioned at Vancouver, Wash., 9 August 1946. Recommissioned 30 November 1951, Lt. James E. Houlihan in command; sailed San Diego 7 July 1952 arriving Inchon 5 September; logistic lifts, amphibious landing rehearsals, helicopter pad and control vessel for the Wonsan naval blockade; 3d Marines lift 1 August - 12 October. Third Far Eastern tour from 27 March 1954; 'Passage to Freedom' - seven trips to Haiphong 29 August - 7 November carrying troops and refugees to Da Nang and Saigon; returned San Diego 13 February 1955. Reported San Francisco for inactivation 1 July (1955); 'The following day she was named Litchfield County'; in commission in reserve 19 September; decommissioned Long Beach 20 December 1955. Towed to Portland, Oreg., for reactivation early 1966; recommissioned 5 March 1966, Lt. C. B. Bryant in command; home port Apra, Guam (arrived 30 June); Chu Lai from 9 July; Da Nang-Chu Lai shuttle and resupply tours through 1967 with survey duty in the western Carolines in July; Pacific survey and resupply missions through 1968 and into 1969. Header spec block: dp. 1,625; l. 328'; b. 50'; dr. 14'; s. 12 k.; cpl. 266; a. 8 40mm., 12 20mm.; cl. LST-511.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 1944-1969 (entry coverage)
- Population
- Dravo Neville Island construction trades (1944); crews across three commissionings (1945-46, 1951-55, 1966-69)
- Limitations
- Ship-specific history only; no asbestos or material content. Two internal DANFS details conflict with other sources: the named entry's 'the following day' (i.e., 2 July 1955) naming wording vs the 1 July 1955 date in the LST-901 DANFS entry and NavSource; and the header's 'cl. LST-511' class attribution vs the standard LST-542-class label (BuShips SDB v2 design group LST542-931). Complement 266 vs NavSource itemization - see gaps.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-litchfield-county-lst901-01
-
[3]DANFS, 'LST-901' entry - milestone summary incl. final decommissioning, sale, and awards (live page verified) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS 'LST-901' entry, closing paragraphs and awards line
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Documented for this hull: occupation duty in the Far East until early September 1945; decommissioned 9 August 1946 and assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet; recommissioned 30 November 1951; 'saw extensive service during the Korean War and the Vietnam War'; 'On 1 July 1955, she was redesignated Litchfield County (LST-901) (q.v.) after a county in northwestern Connecticut'; 'Decommissioned again on 6 December 1969, Litchfield County was sold to John S. Latsis, Inc., New York, N.Y., on 14 January 1977.' Awards: two battle stars for the Korean War; one Navy Unit Commendation, one Meritorious Unit Commendation, and six battle stars for Vietnam service.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 1945-1977
- Population
- Crew (1945-46, 1951-55, 1966-69); eventual buyers/shipbreakers (1977 chain)
- Limitations
- Ship-specific milestones only; no asbestos or material content. Conflicts logged in gaps: '6 December 1969' here vs NavSource's 7 December 1969 at Guam; sale 'to John S. Latsis, Inc., ... 14 January 1977' vs NavSource's DRMS sale 1 January 1977 plus a merchant (Petrola 132) chain to Aliaga demolition 1996. DANFS 'battle stars' vs NavSource 'campaign stars' wording for Vietnam - same six campaigns.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-litchfield-county-lst901-02
-
[4]NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive, USS Litchfield County (LST-901) 10/16/160901 - designation timeline, campaign tables, specifications, disposal and merchant history, NHHC-captioned photography (live page verified) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 10/16/160901.htm header timeline, campaign tables, specifications block, awards block, and photo captions (incl. NH 69282 series, overhaul 1968)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource timeline for this hull: LST-542 class; laid down 29 October 1944 at Dravo Corp., Pittsburgh, PA; launched 9 December 1944; commissioned USS LST-901, 11 January 1945, at Algiers, LA., Lt. C. A. Henson in command; WWII Asiatic-Pacific assignment LST Flotilla Thirty-One / Group Ninety-Three / Division One Hundred Eighty-Six; Far East occupation service 6-23 September 1945; decommissioned 9 August 1946 at Vancouver, WA., laid up Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group; recommissioned 30 November 1951; named USS Litchfield County (LST-901) 1 July 1955; decommissioned 20 December 1955 at Long Beach, CA.; recommissioned 5 March 1966; decommissioned 7 December 1969 at Guam, Marianas Islands; struck from the Naval Register 1 April 1975; two battle stars (Korea) and six campaign stars (Vietnam) with itemized campaign tables; sold for scrapping by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) 1 January 1977; merchant history - acquired by Aphrodite Shipping & Trading Corp. S.A., Panama, renamed MV Petrola 132, arrived in tow at Aliaga, Turkey for demolition by Seltas A.S., 5 April 1996. Specifications block: 1,625 t (lt) / 4,080 t (fl) / 2,366 t beaching; 328' oa; 50' beam; 11.6 kts trial; 24,000 mi @ 9 kts; 13 officers / 104 enlisted, troop accommodations 16 officers / 147 enlisted; 2 LCVP; propulsion two GM 12-567A 900hp diesels, single Falk main reduction gear, three diesel-drive 100 kW 230V DC ship's-service generators, two propellers 1,700 shp, twin rudders; fuel 4,300 bbls diesel. Awards line adds Combat Action Ribbon (24 Feb 68), Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, RVN Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (10), among listed ribbons. NHHC-captioned photos include NH 69266 (CNO McDonald breakfast in crews mess, Vietnam, 30 Oct 1966) and a 1968 overhaul/drydocking series (NH 69268/69281/69267/69303/69286/69282 - 'drydocked for overhaul in 1968, location unknown').
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 1944-1996
- Population
- Dravo construction trades (1944); crews (1945-46, 1951-55, 1966-69); unnamed overhaul yard trades (1968); DRMS handlers; Aliaga shipbreakers (1996)
- Limitations
- NavSource is a volunteer secondary compilation, not a primary registry - milestones here track DANFS/NVR but conflict with DANFS on the final decommission date (7 vs 6 December 1969) and disposal chain (DRMS 1 Jan 1977 + merchant Petrola 132 vs DANFS's sale to John S. Latsis, Inc. 14 Jan 1977). The 1968 overhaul caption gives no yard name. No asbestos content. The 1996 Aliaga scrapping predates EU ship-recycling regulation; no hazmat or material record for the breakup located.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-litchfield-county-lst901-03
-
[5]Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, Vol. 2 (Jan 1945), LST design table + builder roster (shipscribe.com scan, text layer; URL moved from legacy /styles/usnaux/sdb/ path - new /pubs/ path verified live 2026-10-03) [other_primary]
- Locator
- SDB1945v2 LST roster (Dravo Corp., Neville Island, Pitts block, LST901 line) and LST design table (LST542-931 rows)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Official BuShips roster entry for this hull: 'LST901' under builder block 'Dravo Corp., Neville Island, Pitts' with dates laid 29 Oct 44, launched 9 Dec 44, completed/commissioned 11 Jan 45 - matching DANFS and NavSource exactly, and primary-sourcing the Neville Island yard detail. The same volume's LST design table places hull 901 in design group LST542-931: 328' oa / 316' pp, 50' beam, 2,366 t light / 4,080 t, 11.6 kt, machinery line 'G.M. Diesel, 12-567A' x2 at 1,700 shp (the 12-278A engine-variant blocks were LST932-979 and LST1060-1080).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 1945 (publication); data 1942-1945
- Population
- Dravo Neville Island construction trades (1944)
- Limitations
- Primary machinery/registry documentation: the roster names this hull and its builder; the design table describes the LST542-931 group, not this individual hull's as-built fit. Contains no asbestos or materials statement - establishes propulsion type only. Scan is OCR-aided; the roster layout is staggered but the LST-901 line is legible.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-litchfield-county-lst901-04
-
[6]Era inference built on: BuShips SDB 1945 v2 design table (diesel LST542-931 plant); NavSource specifications; LST-1-class profile (class-f worktree, 2026-09-16) consolidating era amphibious-ship construction practice; GAO HRD-80-2 Navy asbestos-era window (see ev-07) [other_primary]
- Locator
- SDB1945v2 design table; NavSource specifications block; class profile lst-1-class ev-lst-1-class-03
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- A diesel-powered tank landing ship built 1944 sits inside the Navy's documented asbestos-use era; era-standard applications aboard a diesel amphibious ship of this type and period were engine-room and diesel-exhaust lagging, machinery gaskets and valve packing, thermal/acoustic bulkhead and accommodation insulation, deck coverings/tile, and winch brake linings. As a diesel ship she carried no boilers - the boiler/steam-line lagging pathway of steam vessels does not apply.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 1944-1996
- Population
- Dravo Neville Island construction trades (1944); crews across three commissionings; overhaul-yard trades (1968, yard unnamed); DRMS/commercial crews (1977-96); Aliaga shipbreakers (1996)
- Limitations
- Class/era inference only - no hull-specific insulation survey, material list, work package, or abatement record located for LST-901. Names era-standard applications, not confirmed installed materials. No quantity. Product names are normalized era terms; no manufacturer attribution for this hull. The diesel plant narrows but does not eliminate the pathway.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-litchfield-county-lst901-05
-
[7]National Archives Catalog, deck logs and war diaries for this hull: 'Litchfield County (LST-901)' monthly deck logs digitized through December 1969 (VA Navy Deck Log / Blue Water Navy project scans, e.g., February 1967 file unit naId 175061425, RG 24, NARA College Park) and 'USS LST-901' 1945 war diaries [other_primary]
- Locator
- catalog.archives.gov search 'LST-901' - 631 hits; titled file units incl. 'Litchfield County (LST-901) - February 1967' (naId 175061425) through 'December 1969'; 'USS LST-901 - War Diary' 1945 series
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA catalog confirms digitized records for this hull: monthly deck-log file units for Litchfield County (LST-901) spanning the Vietnam-era commission through December 1969 (her final month), scanned under the VA Blue Water Navy deck-log digitization project; and 1945 war-diary units for USS LST-901 (e.g., 'War Diary, 10/1-31/45'). These are the open archival track for movement, availability, and anchorage detail; deck logs do not normally itemize insulation materials or abatement.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 1945; 1966-1969 (digitized coverage located)
- Population
- Crew logged in deck logs (1966-69 Vietnam era; 1945 war diaries)
- Limitations
- Archival lead only - deck-log content was not extracted line-by-line; the logs establish dates, movements, and named availabilities where annotated, not materials. Digitized coverage confirmed via catalog API hit count and itemized monthly units; log pages are image scans requiring page-level review for any availability/asbestos-relevant annotations.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-litchfield-county-lst901-06
-
[8]GAO, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure, HRD-80-2 (Oct 18, 1979) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO product page HRD-80-2 (full text blocked, HTTP 403)
- Finding type
- gov_survey
- Finding
- GAO documented that the Navy used asbestos insulation extensively aboard ships and did not begin substituting alternative insulation materials until the early 1970s - spanning this hull's 1944 construction and all three commissionings (1945-46, 1951-55, 1966-69).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 1979
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers; asbestos program review
- Limitations
- Program-level documentation; supports era context only, not any fact specific to this hull. Full text not retrieved (gao.gov blocks automated fetch, HTTP 403, confirmed 2026-10-03) - content via product-page description. Same standing access defect noted in BATCH-01 and BATCH-98.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-litchfield-county-lst901-07
-
[9]NHHC photograph NH 69282, 'USS LITCHFIELD COUNTY (LST-901) - Undergoing an overhaul, 1968' (plus companion drydocking frames NH 69267/69268/69281/69286/69303 cataloged via NavSource captions) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NHHC NH-69282 photo page (live verified via firecrawl; direct curl 404s - NHHC filters non-browser user agents); NavSource 10/16/160901 caption block
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NHHC-held photography documents this hull drydocked and 'undergoing an overhaul, 1968' during the Vietnam-era commission. An overhaul is the maintenance-disturbance pathway event for a ship of this era - but the caption names no yard, scope, or materials; it establishes that an availability occurred, nothing about what was disturbed.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 1968
- Population
- Overhaul-yard trades (1968, yard unidentified)
- Limitations
- Archival lead only: a photo caption establishes the overhaul event, not its location, work items, or any asbestos content. NavSource caption says 'location unknown'. Yard work records for this availability are the follow-on lead and were not located.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-litchfield-county-lst901-08
-
[10]Batch-7444 search ledger (this record): DANFS entries (x2, live); NavSource (live); BuShips SDB 1945 v2 (live at new /pubs/ path); NARA catalog API; NHHC photo page; GAO product page (403); MARAD ShipHistory (search endpoints error); CourtListener (blocked, daily quota); secondary web sweep [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-litchfield-county-lst901-01 through -10
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or verified litigation naming USS Litchfield County / LST-901 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). CAVEAT: CourtListener could not be queried this session - the fleet-authenticated helper reported the daily quota exhausted (~8.3 h to reset) on first request; logged as blocked in search_ledger, not as a negative result. MARAD ShipHistory public search returned error pages on every endpoint tried - also logged blocked. Secondary web sweeps surfaced no qualifying case; the only 'asbestos' material is law-firm marketing content (gorilaw.com landing-ship page and similar) asserting asbestos aboard WWII LSTs without primary sourcing - excluded by source policy. A prior class-level CourtListener sweep (LST-1-class profile, class-f worktree, 2026-09-16) surfaced only an incidental reunion-notice mention of 'USS LST 579' in Gitto v. A.W. Chesterton (S.D.N.Y. 1:07-cv-04771, ECF 17-20) - not this hull and not an exposure record.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 2026-10-03
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - and two repositories (CourtListener litigation index, MARAD custody cards) are genuine open gaps this session, not searched negatives. NARA deck logs and any DRMS disposal/Portland reactivation work packages are open archival leads. Does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-litchfield-county-lst901-09