USS Locator (AGR-6)

Evidence

23 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-23).

This record consolidates retired designation record uss-locator-yagr6 (redesignation of the same hull); entries carried over keep their original evidence ids and show the retired id as Source vessel.

1. [1]U.S. Maritime Commission, Instruction Manual for Operating and Maintaining 2500 H.P. Triple Expansion Marine Steam Engines, EC2-S-C1 Cargo Vessels (mirrored excerpt) [other_primary]

   Locator

   Mirrored excerpt, engine-cylinder insulation section

   Finding type

   asbestos_application

   Finding

   The USMC operating manual for the EC2-S-C1 plant describes cylinder insulation of magnesia under sheet-iron lagging; insulation products of this era were commonly manufactured with asbestos fiber, and period steam-system gaskets, packing, and insulation felts commonly contained asbestos. Liberty-type hulls were built to emergency USMC specifications during the period when the federal government had reserved asbestos supply for shipbuilding. Typical applications for the type: boiler and steam-drum insulation; steam-line lagging; valve and flange gaskets; machinery packing; insulation in accommodation spaces; brake linings on winches and windlass.

   Verification

   inferred

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-20

   Study period

   1945

   Population

   Construction trades (J. A. Jones 'Wainwright' yard, Panama City, 1945); merchant engine crew; Navy engineering crew (1956-65)

   Limitations

   Class/design documentation, not a hull record - the manual covers the EC2-S-C1 plant specifically; this hull is the Z-EC2-S-C5 boxed-aircraft variant, and machinery-plant equivalence with the C1 is inferred from the variant relationship, not documented in the cited source. The manual does not name this vessel and does not itself state 'asbestos' content. Does not establish quantity, present-day presence (hull sold for scrapping 1974-75), individual exposure, or causation.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-locator-agr6-01

2. [2]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 program under which this hull was built at J. A. Jones, Panama City (1945).

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-20

   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 or its type and does not establish that asbestos was or remained aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation. Covers the construction era; the 1955-56 naval conversion is outside the study period.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-locator-agr6-02

3. [3]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS), 'Locator' entry (YAGR-6 stat line) - canonical NHHC page https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/locator.html returned HTTP 404 on 2026-09-20; text retrieved from Wayback capture 2024-12-17 [nhhc_danfs]

   Locator

   Wayback capture 20241217213332 of NHHC DANFS 'Locator' page - full entry and stat line

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Laid down as SS Frank O. Peterson by J. A. Jones Construction Co., Panama City, Fla., 1945-02-09; launched 1945-03-23, sponsored by Mrs. Evelyn Flynn; acquired by the Navy 10 June 1955; renamed Locator 12 September 1955; converted to naval use and commissioned at Charleston, S.C., 21 January 1956 (LCDR Frank A. Wigner). Departed Charleston 21 February, transited the Panama Canal, arrived San Francisco 17 March; after repair and training assigned to a radar picket station off the west coast, coordinating operations with the Continental and North American Air Defense Commands. Reclassified AGR-6 on 28 September 1958; patrols alternated with in-port replenishment at San Francisco. Decommissioned at San Francisco 9 August 1965; name struck from the Naval Register 1 September 1965. Stat line: dp. 8,760 (lt.); l. 441'; b. 47'; dr. 27'; s. 12.5 k.; cpl. 151; a. 3 3"; cl. Guardian; T. EC2-S-C5.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-20

   Study period

   1945-1965

   Population

   Crew (stat-line cpl. 151) aboard during 1956-65 naval service

   Limitations

   DANFS text retrieved via Wayback capture (2024-12-17) of the canonical NHHC page, which currently returns HTTP 404 - the same NHHC link-rot condition logged in BATCH-01 and batch-750; the capture is the command's own hosted text. No asbestos content; supports identity/history only. Stat-line oddities: beam 'b. 47\'' conflicts with 56'11"-57' in every other source (apparent typo, not carried); armament '3 3-inch' conflicts with shipscribe's class fit of 2x3"/50. Acquisition date 10 June 1955 conflicts with the MARAD card's Navy custody entry 1955-06-09 and shipscribe's '9 Jun 1955' - noted in gaps. DANFS does not name the conversion shipyard (shipscribe and NavSource identify NSY Charleston).

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-locator-agr6-03

4. [4]MARAD Vessel History Database, FRANK O. PETERSON (O.N. 247502) - vessel status card (2JJ_01.png front + d813405c continuation) [marad_nrc]

   Locator

   vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov Detail/8116 status cards 2JJ_01.png + d813405c-58e1-4c80-8073-7afe915aaf32.png (read directly from card scans)

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   MARAD vessel status card documents the custody chain: type Z-EC2-S-C5, hull no. 2347, built by J. A. Jones Constr. Co., Inc. at Panama City, Fla., completed 1945-04-06; D.W.T. 10,800, gross 7,176, net 4,380, speed 12.5. Delivered 1945-04-06 3:45 PM CWT at Panama City to International Freight. Corp. (GAA); laid-up fleet Lee Hall, Va. 1945-10-30; Grace Line, Inc. (GAA) out of Lee Hall 1947-02-07; Grace Line agreement change to MC/BB at Savannah, Ga. 1947-03-30; reverted to GAA 1947-09-18; to reserve fleet Wilmington, N.C. 1947-10-08; Navy Department custody at Wilmington 1955-06-09; card annotation 'Renamed "LOCATOR" 10-55 (AGR-6)'; Navy Department title as-is-where-is 1956-02-15; Maritime Administration custody Suisun Bay 1965-07-27 2:15 PM PDST; Maritime Administration permanent transfer Suisun Bay 1966-02-04; American Ship Dismantler (Nontransportation Use) purchase at Suisun Bay 1974-10-03, physically delivered 1975-01-04 16:00 PST.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-20

   Study period

   1945-1975

   Population

   Merchant crews under two successive general agents (International Freighting Corp., Grace Line); Navy crew 1956-65; reserve-fleet custody crews at Lee Hall, Wilmington, and Suisun Bay

   Limitations

   Primary custody record - documents operators, layups, transfers, and disposal sale, but contains no asbestos, material, or condition information. 'American Ship Dismantler ... Nontransportation Use' plus the reserve-fleet card's 'To be SCRAPPED' support scrapping as intended fate; actual breaking is not documented. Acquisition/custody date 1955-06-09 conflicts with DANFS 'acquired 10 June 1955' - the card is the contemporaneous record and is adopted; DANFS rename date 12 Sep 1955 conflicts with the card's '10-55' annotation - both carried in gaps. MARAD custody at Suisun Bay on 1965-07-27 precedes the DANFS decommissioning date (1965-08-09) - sequence flagged in gaps.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-locator-agr6-04

5. [5]MARAD Vessel History Database, LOCATOR (AGR-6) detail page + Reserve Fleet - Ship Particulars card (3039_5654AF.jpg) + Record of Ship Sales card (3039_AF.jpg) [marad_nrc]

   Locator

   vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov ShipHistory/Detail/3039 (particulars, milestones); cards 3039_5654AF.jpg (reserve-fleet particulars) and 3039_AF.jpg (record of ship sales)

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   MARAD detail page records: year built 1945; official number 247502; shipyard J. A. Jones Construction Company; type Z-EC2-S-C5; length 441.50 ft; beam 57.00 ft; gross 7,176 / net 4,380 tons; immersion/displacement 11,318 ld / 8,760 lt; fate 'Sold -NTU'; milestones Disposition and Withdrawal both 1/4/1975. Reserve-fleet particulars card (Form MA-383): fleet Suisun Bay, entered July 27, 1965 1415 PDST; ex-name FRANK O. PETERSON; category 'Mil. Aux. Radar Picket Ship'; builder field annotated '(Wainwright Yd.)'; hull MCE-2347, bldrs 88; service prior to lay-up 'Navy (DEW Line)'; title 'Marad Reimb. Navy'; draft 24'; ballast 1,097 concrete / 4,946 liquid tons; damages 'To be SCRAPPED'; reason 'Sold for NT use under PD-X-984, 10-3-74 to American Ship Dismantlers, Inc. for $178,787.21'; withdrawn 1-4-75 1600 PST. Record of Ship Sales card (Form MA-20): contract MA-7566; advertised under PD-X-970 (bid rejected), re-advertised PD-X-984 dated 8-16-74, opened 9-19-74 under two conditions (1) NTU (2) Scrap Hull; award under condition (1); vessel location 'Suisun Bay, Calif., Resflt.'

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-20

   Study period

   1965-1975

   Population

   Reserve-fleet maintenance/custody crews, Suisun Bay 1965-1975; ship-breaking crews (American Ship Dismantlers)

   Limitations

   Confirms identity, reserve-fleet custody at Suisun Bay (entered 1965-07-27 - before the DANFS decommissioning date, flagged in gaps), and disposal economics; 'Sold -NTU' plus 'To be SCRAPPED' supports scrapping as intended disposition while the breaking yard/location is undocumented. The sale card spells the name 'LOCATER' [sic]. 'Navy (DEW Line)' is the card's service annotation - DANFS describes west-coast picket duty under Continental/North American Air Defense Commands; the Pacific radar barrier ran Midway-to-Aleutians (shipscribe class notes), a sea-borne system distinct from the land-based Arctic DEW Line; wording kept to source. No asbestos or material-condition data on any card.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-locator-agr6-05

6. [6]Shipscribe U.S. Navy auxiliary ships data sheets, 'USS Guardian (YAGR/AGR 1, Z-EC2-S-C5) Class' page - construction/disposition tables, class notes (SCB Project 126), and per-ship notes compiled from Navy registers, BuShips/SCB design records, and MARAD files (Stephen S. Roberts, 2021) [other_primary]

   Locator

   shipscribe.com/usnaux2/AGR/AGR01.html - Guardian class construction/disposition tables, class notes, AGR-6 ship note

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Shipscribe ship note for AGR-6: 'FY 1956. (ex-YAGR 6) (ex-FRANK O PETERSON, compl. 6 Apr 1945). Converted at NSY Charleston, S.C. Renamed 12 Sep 1955 as YAGR. Served in the North Pacific. To MA custody 27 Jul 1965. To buyer 4 Jan 1975.' Disposition table: decommissioned 9 Aug 1965; struck 1 Sep 1965; disposal 4 Feb 1966 (MA/T); MA sale 3 Oct 1974. Construction table: acquired 9 Jun 1955; keel 9 Feb 1945; launch 23 Mar 1945; commissioned 21 Jan 1956. Class notes document SCB Project 126 conversion of Z-EC2-S-C5 boxed aircraft transports; YAGR 5-8 names/designations approved effective 12 September 1955; permanent title transfer of the first eight hulls from MARAD to Navy 15 February 1956 (matching this hull's card); YAGR-to-AGR reclassification effective 28 September 1958 under SECNAV Instruction 5030.1A; Pacific barrier ships home-ported at Treasure Island, Cal. (RADRON 1, YAGRs 5-8 and 13-16).

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-20

   Study period

   1945-1975

   Population

   Navy crew, conversion-yard trades at Charleston NSY (1955-56)

   Limitations

   Shipscribe is a private researcher compilation built from Navy registers, BuShips/SCB design records, and MARAD files - secondary-source quality but consistently corroborated here by the MARAD cards and DANFS; conversion yard (NSY Charleston), North Pacific service, and MA-custody date 1965-07-27 all match the primary records. No asbestos content. Class-level complement figure (11 officers + 110 enlisted designed; accommodations 13 + 124) differs from DANFS stat-line cpl. 151 - figures kept separate, noted in gaps.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-locator-agr6-06

7. [7]Reserve-fleet location correction - MARAD status card (custody Suisun Bay 1965-07-27), reserve-fleet particulars card (fleet: Suisun Bay, entered July 27 1965), and Record of Ship Sales (location 'Suisun Bay, Calif., Resflt.') vs. NavSource's 'National Defense Reserve Fleet, Hudson River, N.Y.' (echoed by Wikipedia's 'Hudson River Reserve Fleet, Jones Point, New York, 1 September 1965') [marad_nrc]

   Locator

   MARAD cards 2JJ_01.png, 3039_5654AF.jpg, 3039_AF.jpg (Suisun Bay); NavSource navsource.net/archives/09/62/6206.htm and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Locator (Hudson River claim)

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   Secondary sources state the hull entered the Hudson River reserve fleet (Jones Point, N.Y.) after striking. Three MARAD primary records independently document Suisun Bay, California: custody entry 1965-07-27 1415 PDST (Pacific time zone on the card), reserve-fleet particulars card 'FLEET: Suisun Bay', and the ship-sale card's location 'Suisun Bay, Calif., Resflt.' - consistent with her Pacific service out of San Francisco. The Hudson River claim is treated as a secondary-source error and is not carried.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   correction

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-20

   Study period

   1965-1975

   Limitations

   Corrects a publication-level discrepancy in secondary sources; does not affect identity, service history, or any material finding. The correction concerns layup geography only - no asbestos content in any source on either side of the discrepancy. NavSource remains useful as a photo/CO-lead source but its fleet-location line for this hull is contradicted by the contemporaneous cards.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-locator-agr6-07

8. [8]Museum of Florida History (state museum), Wainwright Shipyard historical-site entry; corroborating yard table at usmm.org 'World War II Liberty Ships listed by Shipyard' - J. A. Jones Panama City row [museum_official]

   Locator

   museumoffloridahistory.com Wainwright Shipyard page; usmm.org/libyards.html - J. A. Jones Panama City row; MARAD card 3039_5654AF.jpg builder field

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   The Museum of Florida History documents that the U.S. Maritime Commission selected J. A. Jones Construction Co. to build and operate the Panama City Liberty-ship yard - the 'Wainwright Yard' (named for Gen. Jonathan Wainwright), whose five slipways produced 108 ships 1943-45 including aircraft/tank-transport variants, employing up to 15,000 workers. This explains the '(Wainwright Yd.)' annotation in the builder field of this hull's MARAD reserve-fleet card. The usmm.org yard table records J. A. Jones Panama City as producing 102 Liberty ships including 28 'Boxed Aircraft Carriers' (the Z-EC2-S-C5 variant) - the builder and variant of this hull.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-20

   Study period

   1943-1945

   Population

   Construction trades at the Wainwright yard, Panama City (peak ~15,000 workers)

   Limitations

   Yard-level context only - documents the builder and workforce scale at the hull's construction yard; contains no asbestos information and does not establish materials aboard this hull. usmm.org is a private merchant-marine memorial reference; the per-yard production totals are not separately corroborated, but the builder/variant attribution for this hull is independently confirmed by the MARAD record (shipyard + type fields).

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-locator-agr6-08

9. [9]In re Joint Eastern and Southern Districts Asbestos Litigation (Robinson v. United States), 891 F.2d 31 (2d Cir. 1989) [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 operating structure (WSA control with general-agent operators) under which this hull served in 1945 and 1947. Claims against the government were barred on discretionary-function grounds.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-20

   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 merchant-fleet claims. Reporter citation confirmed: 891 F.2d 31.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-locator-agr6-09

10. [10]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 the Navy's asbestos-protection program: standing policy (1975) removed asbestos insulation only when damaged or required for repairs, modified 1979 to selective replacement in high-maintenance areas - meaning era insulation typically remained in place aboard ships for decades unless a yard period disturbed it.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    class_or_era

    Accessed

    2026-09-20

    Study period

    1979 (report); program era relevant to 1956-65 service

    Population

    Navy shipyard workers; asbestos program review

    Limitations

    Program-level documentation; GAO fieldwork was at Long Beach and Norfolk Naval Shipyards, not Charleston. Postdates this hull's naval service (1956-65) and disposal (1975) - carried only as era context that asbestos management during her service period allowed installed insulation to persist; establishes nothing about this hull. Full text not retrieved (gao.gov blocks automated fetch, HTTP 403) - description via product page.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-locator-agr6-10

11. [11]Batch-757 search ledger (this record): MARAD ShipHistory details 3039/8116 + status/reserve-fleet/sale cards; DANFS via Wayback capture of canonical NHHC page (live 404); shipscribe Guardian-class page; usmm.org yard table; Museum of Florida History Wainwright page; CourtListener ship-name and hull searches (API blocked); site-restricted litigation search [other_primary]

    Locator

    search_ledger rows sl-uss-locator-agr6-01 through sl-uss-locator-agr6-13

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming Locator (YAGR-6/AGR-6) or Frank O. Peterson was found in the public sources searched. CourtListener API returned HTTP 429 (125/day shared-IP rate limit) and was not retried per batch discipline; a site-restricted web search of courtlistener.com for the ship name and hull numbers surfaced only name collisions (USIC 'utility locator' FLSA dockets, a Locata LBS patent case, an unrelated 'AGR Field Services' docket) and no qualifying asbestos or vessel matter (see search_ledger).

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    negative_finding

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-09-20

    Study period

    2026-09-20

    Limitations

    Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1945 emergency-program hull with a 1955-56 naval-shipyard conversion is era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials, and scrapping records predate modern hazmat disclosure. 'Locator' is a high-collision search term (utility-location labor cases, mining-claim 'locators', store-locator software); the blocked CourtListener check means docketed litigation naming the hull cannot be ruled out - re-run when quota resets. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-locator-agr6-11

12. [12]NARA Guide to Federal Records: RG 178 (U.S. Maritime Commission), RG 248 (War Shipping Administration), RG 181 (naval shipyard records - Charleston Naval Shipyard records are held at NARA's Southeast region), RG 24 (Navy deck logs); NARA merchant-vessel logbook guidance (RG 26 regional distribution) [other_primary]

    Locator

    archives.gov record-group guides: RG 178, RG 248, RG 181, RG 24; merchant-vessel logbook guidance (RG 26)

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    Archival leads (not retrieved - requires research-room or reproduction order; no spend authorized): RG 178 Construction Division and regional Director for Construction files may hold J. A. Jones Panama City contract/hull records for MCE 2347 including outfitting specifications; RG 248 holds WSA vessel acquisition/operation files for the 1945 and 1947 general-agency periods (International Freighting Corp., Grace Line); RG 181 Charleston Naval Shipyard records (NARA Southeast, Morrow GA) may hold the 1955-56 YAGR-conversion work package - the most promising path to any hull-level material documentation; RG 24 Navy deck logs cover the 1956-65 commissioned period; merchant logbooks (RG 26) are distributed to regional NARA facilities by port of submission (Panama City delivery, Savannah agreement change).

    Verification

    unverified

    Role

    archival_lead

    Documentation level

    context_only

    Accessed

    2026-09-20

    Study period

    1945-1965 records

    Limitations

    Record-group mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for this hull is unknown until surveyed in person. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-locator-agr6-12

13. [13]research packet 1019-packet.md [other_primary]

    Finding type

    vessel_history

    Finding

    Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    supporting

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Evidence ID

    uss-locator-yagr6-pkt-1019-packet-md

    Source vessel

    uss-locator-yagr6

14. [14]DANFS, Locator (YAGR-6) - construction as SS Frank O. Peterson, Navy acquisition, renaming, commissioning, west-coast radar-picket service, 1958 redesignation, decommissioning and striking (live NHHC page) [nhhc_danfs]

    Locator

    DANFS Locator (YAGR-6) entry - narrative and spec block

    Finding type

    vessel_history

    Finding

    Documented for this hull: laid down as SS Frank O. Peterson by J. A. Jones Construction Co., Panama City, Fla., 9 February 1945; launched 23 March 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Evelyn Flynn; acquired by the Navy 10 June 1955; renamed Locator 12 September 1955; converted to naval use; commissioned at Charleston, S.C., 21 January 1956, Lt. Comdr. Frank A. Wigner in command. Departed Charleston 21 February, steamed through the Panama Canal, arrived San Francisco 17 March; after repair and training assigned to a radar picket station off the west coast; coordinating operations with the Continental and North American Air Defense Commands she detected, tracked, and reported all air contacts within her radar surveillance. Reclassified AGR-6 28 September 1958; continued picket service alternating with in-port replenishment at San Francisco; decommissioned at San Francisco 9 August 1965; name struck from the Naval Register 1 September 1965. Spec block: dp. 8,760 (lt.); l. 441'; b. 47'; dr. 27'; s. 12.5 k.; cpl. 151; a. 3 3"; cl. Guardian; T.EC2-S-C5.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-10-04

    Study period

    1945-1965 (entry coverage)

    Population

    J.A. Jones construction trades (1945); WSA/operator crews (1945-47); Navy crew and Charleston Naval Shipyard conversion trades (1955-56); crew (1956-65)

    Limitations

    Ship-specific history only; no asbestos or material content. The spec block's beam '47'' conflicts with MARAD and NavSource (57') - treated as a DANFS typo-class conflict (see gaps); armament '3 3-inch' conflicts with NavSource 'two 3"/50' (see gaps). Entry is silent on disposal after the 1965 striking. Live NHHC page verified 2026-10-04.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-locator-yagr6-01

    Source vessel

    uss-locator-yagr6

15. [15]MARAD Vessel History Database, LOCATOR (AGR-6) Detail 3039 + FRANK O. PETERSON Detail 8116 - official number, MARAD type, builder, fate; vessel status card (2JJ_01.png); Reserve Fleet Ship Particulars card, Form MA-383 (3039_5654AF.jpg); Record of Ship Sales, Form MA-20 (3039_AF.jpg); allocation card (d813405c) [marad_nrc]

    Locator

    ShipHistory Detail 3039/8116 property fields; cards 2JJ_01.png (status card), 3039_5654AF.jpg (MA-383 particulars), 3039_AF.jpg (MA-20 sale record), d813405c-58e1-4c80-8073-7afe915aaf32.png (allocation card)

    Finding type

    vessel_history

    Finding

    Primary custody record for this hull (Official No. 247,502; type Z-EC2-S-C5; J.A. Jones Constr. Co. 'Wainwright Yd.', Panama City; hull 2347 / bldrs 88; completed 4-6-45; gross 7,176 / net 4,380 / DWT 10,800; speed 12.5). Custody chain from the status card: delivered 4-6-45 3:45 PM CWT at Panama City to WSA operator International Freighting Corp. (GAA); laid up Lee Hall, Va. (James River fleet) 10-30-45; withdrawn to Grace Line, Inc. 2-7-47 (GAA, Lee Hall), then 3-30-47 (MC/BB bareboat, Savannah, Ga.), back to GAA 9-18-47; entered reserve fleet at Wilmington, N.C. 10-8-47; Navy Department custody at Wilmington 6-9-55; 'Renamed "LOCATOR" 10-55 (AGR-6)'; Navy title as-is-where-is 2-15-56; Maritime Administration custody at Suisun Bay 7-27-65 2:15 PM PDST; Maritime Administration permanent transfer at Suisun Bay 2-4-66. Reserve-fleet particulars card (MA-383): entered Suisun Bay fleet 27 July 1965 1415 PDST, category 'Mil. Aux. Radar Picket Ship', service prior to lay-up 'Navy (DEW Line)', title 'Marad / Reimb. Navy', draft 24', ballast '1097 Concrete / 4,946 Liquid T', damages 'To be SCRAPPED', displ Ld 11,318 / Lt 8,760. MA-20 sale record + allocation card: sold for nontransportation use under PD-X-984 (first advertised under PD-X-970, bid rejected; re-advertised 8-16-74, opened 9-19-74; award under condition (1) NTU) to American Ship Dismantlers, Inc., contract MA-7566, awarded 10-3-74 at $178,787.21; physically delivered at Suisun Bay 1-4-75 4:00 PM PST.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-10-04

    Study period

    1945-1975

    Population

    WSA/International Freighting Corp. and Grace Line crews (1945-47); NDRF preservation crews, Lee Hall/Wilmington N.C./Suisun Bay fleets (1945-55, 1965-75); Navy conversion and crew (1955-65); American Ship Dismantlers shipbreakers (1974-75)

    Limitations

    Primary government custody documentation - the strongest record for this hull's identity, merchant-era operators, lay-up fleet, and disposal; contains no asbestos, materials, or condition information. Handwritten card entries read in-session (image scans). 'Renamed LOCATOR 10-55' is MARAD's record-entry month - DANFS gives the operative renaming date 12 September 1955. Custody transfer to MARAD at Suisun Bay (7-27-65) precedes the formal decommissioning (8-9-65) - administrative sequence anomaly, see gaps. Establishes custody events, not what work was performed during the 1947 Grace Line reactivation or lay-ups.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-locator-yagr6-02

    Source vessel

    uss-locator-yagr6

16. [16]NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive, USS Locator (AGR-6) ex (YAGR-6), page 09/62/6206 - designation timeline, specifications, awards, commanding-officer roster, City of Vancouver Archives photographs, Z-EC2-S-C5 type note [other_primary]

    Locator

    NavSource 09/62/6206.htm - header block, Guardian Class timeline, specifications, awards strip, CO table, photo captions

    Finding type

    vessel_history

    Finding

    NavSource timeline for this hull: laid down 9 February 1945 as SS Frank O. Peterson, Maritime Commission type (Z-EC2-S-C5) hull, MCE hull 2347, at J.A. Jones Construction Co. Inc., Panama City, FL; launched 23 March 1945; delivered 6 April 1945 to be operated under a WSA contract; returned to the Maritime Commission 8 October 1947 for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet; acquired by the US Navy 10 June 1955 for conversion to a radar picket ship at Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, S.C.; commissioned USS Locator (YAGR-6) 21 January 1956, LCDR Frank A. Wigner USN in command; redesignated AGR-6 28 September 1958; decommissioned 9 August 1965; struck from the Naval Register, 'date unknown'; transferred to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the NDRF 'Hudson River, N.Y.' [sic - MARAD cards record Suisun Bay, Calif.; see ev-10]; final disposition 'sold for scrapping, 4 January 1975' [= physical delivery date]. Awards: National Defense Service Medal. Specifications: 10,760 t.(fl), 441'6" x 56'11" x 24', 11 kts, 13 officers + 138 enlisted, two 3"/50 guns; propulsion two 220-psi boilers, one 3-cylinder triple-expansion reciprocating engine, two ship's service generators, one 4-blade 18'6" propeller, 2,500 shp. Call sign NZRW; JANAP tactical voice call 'Retain (W)hiskey'. Commanding-officer roster 1956-65 (7 officers). Photographic record: under way off the Pacific coast (photo taken from sister USS Watchman AGR-16); moored pierside Vancouver, B.C., 12 July 1960 and 5 August 1964 (City of Vancouver Archives, Walter E. Frost photos CVA 447-5728 / 447-5728.1).

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-10-04

    Study period

    1945-1975

    Population

    Navy crew (1956-65); Charleston Naval Shipyard conversion trades (1955-56); San Francisco homeport population

    Limitations

    NavSource is a volunteer secondary compilation - its milestone dates track DANFS/MARAD but the page carries two errors vs primary sources: the Hudson River lay-up claim (MARAD particulars card: Suisun Bay) and 'Struck... date unknown' (DANFS: 1 September 1965) - see correction row ev-10. Contains no asbestos content. Page verified live on navsource.net 2026-10-04.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-locator-yagr6-03

    Source vessel

    uss-locator-yagr6

17. [17]ALL HANDS (official U.S. Navy magazine), September 1956, 'YAGRs Stand Ocean Sentry Duty,' pp. 25-26 - names this hull and documents class conversion scope (scanned copy hosted by the YAGRs veterans association) [other_primary]

    Locator

    ALL HANDS September 1956, pp. 25-26, 'YAGRs Stand Ocean Sentry Duty' (yagrs.org mirror PDF)

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    Contemporaneous official Navy publication names this hull: 'At present there are eight YAGRs in service. The latest are: USS Scanner (YAGR 5), Locator (YAGR 6), Picket (YAGR 7) and Intercept[or] (YAGR 8) operating out of San Francisco' - corroborating the San Francisco operating base from commissioning year. On the class mission: 'YAGRs - Ocean Radar Station Ships... converted for off-shore screening and advance warning duties,' extending the Continental Air Defense System seaward; on station they are 'under the operational control of the Commander Naval Forces, Continental Air Defense Command' and otherwise under the Eastern or Western Sea Frontier Commander. On the class conversion: ex-Liberty hulls 'were converted solely for radar picket duties and are no longer capable of being utilized as merchantmen'; 'former storage spaces became enlarged CICs, air and surface radar masts replaced cargo booms, overhead lighting gave way to indirect fluorescent fixtures, air conditioning and additional communications equipment were added'; messing compartments rebuilt 'with four-man tables and colorful inlaid linoleum,' staterooms for officers and CPOs, aluminum bunks and lockers, hobby shops with a photographic darkroom, permanent motion-picture theaters, former holds converted to gymnasium use, 6,000 gallons of water sealed in the double bottoms for stability, and enlarged distilling systems - a wholesale interior reconstruction of the hull.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-10-04

    Study period

    1954-1956

    Population

    Charleston Naval Shipyard conversion trades (1955-56); San Francisco-based YAGR crews (1956)

    Limitations

    Describes the class conversion scope as a program, not a per-hull work package - the hull is individually named only for operating base; every interior-rebuild detail applies to the class as described. Official Navy magazine scanned and hosted on a veterans-association site (OCR text layer). Contains no asbestos or materials content - the rebuild scope is an exposure-pathway context fact, not a materials record.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-locator-yagr6-04

    Source vessel

    uss-locator-yagr6

18. [18]YAGRs (Radar Picket Ships) Association, USS Locator AGR-6 page - milestone table consistent with primary sources [other_primary]

    Locator

    yagrs.org/locator.htm milestone table

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    The class veterans association records for this hull: built by J.A. Jones Const. Co., Panama City, FL; keel laid 9 February 1945 (MCE hull 2347); launched 23 March 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Evelyn Flynn; placed in service 6 April 1945; reserve fleet 8 October 1947; converted 10 June 1955 at Charleston, SC; commissioned 21 January 1956 as YAGR-6 at Charleston; homeport San Francisco, CA from 17 March 1956; reclassified 28 September 1958 as AGR-6; decommissioned 9 August 1965; status 'Scrapped 4 January 1975' [= the MARAD physical-delivery date].

    Verification

    partial

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-10-04

    Study period

    1945-1975

    Population

    Conversion trades and crew (1955-56); San Francisco homeport population (1956-65)

    Limitations

    Veterans-association secondary source - every milestone here is corroborated by DANFS, NavSource, or the MARAD cards; unlike sister Lookout, no uncorroborated YAG-number is claimed for this hull. 'Scrapped 4 January 1975' is the delivery date to the scrapper, not a demolition date. Contains no asbestos content.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-locator-yagr6-05

    Source vessel

    uss-locator-yagr6

19. [19]Era inference built on: U.S. Maritime Commission, Instruction Manual for Operating and Maintaining 2500 H.P. Triple Expansion Marine Steam Engines, EC2-S-C1 Cargo Vessels (mirrored excerpt); NavSource propulsion specifications for this hull (same 2,500-shp triple-expansion plant); shipyard-exposure-map documented asbestos product list for charleston-naval-shipyard [other_primary]

    Locator

    USMC operating-manual mirrored excerpt (engine-cylinder insulation section); NavSource 09/62/6206 specifications; shipyards.json asbestos_products_documented for charleston-naval-shipyard

    Finding type

    asbestos_application

    Finding

    This hull carried the standard Liberty-type steam plant - two 220-psi boilers and a 3-cylinder triple-expansion engine of 2,500 shp, the machinery family for which the USMC operating manual describes magnesia cylinder insulation under sheet-iron lagging; insulation products of this era were commonly manufactured with asbestos fiber, and period steam-system gaskets, packing, and insulation felts commonly contained asbestos. Her 1955-56 radar-picket conversion at Charleston Naval Shipyard falls inside that yard's documented asbestos-products era (magnesia pipe insulation; pipe insulation containing 5-50% asbestos; boiler external coatings at 15% asbestos; spray-on insulation for walls and ship interiors; asbestos gaskets; packing; electrical insulation). Era-standard applications aboard a converted steam auxiliary of this type and period: boiler and steam-drum insulation; steam-line lagging; valve and flange gaskets; machinery packing; spray-applied fireproofing and insulation in reworked compartments; electrical insulation.

    Verification

    inferred

    Role

    supporting

    Documentation level

    class_or_era

    Accessed

    2026-10-04

    Study period

    1945-1975

    Population

    J.A. Jones construction trades (1945); Charleston Naval Shipyard conversion trades (1955-56); engine-room and maintenance crew (1956-65); NDRF preservation and shipbreaking crews (1965-75)

    Limitations

    Class/era and yard-level inference only - no hull-specific insulation survey, material list, or conversion work package located for YAGR-6/AGR-6. The USMC manual names the EC2-S-C1 type (this hull is the Z-EC2-S-C5 variant sharing the same machinery specification); the manual does not itself state 'asbestos' content. Charleston yard documentation is yard-level, not hull-level. Names era-standard applications, not confirmed installed materials. No quantity.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-locator-yagr6-06

    Source vessel

    uss-locator-yagr6

20. [20]shipyard-exposure-map yard record for charleston-naval-shipyard (Atlas shipyards.json): documented product list incl. magnesia pipe insulation, asbestos cement products, pipe insulation containing 5-50% asbestos, boiler external coatings with 15% asbestos, spray-on insulation for walls and ship interiors, asbestos gaskets in pumps and valves, packing, thermal insulation for steam systems, fireproofing in living quarters, electrical insulation; OSHA Inspection 100361849 (1988 health-complaint inspection, Commander Charleston Naval Shipyard Code 106; one 'Other' citation under asbestos standard 29 CFR 1910.1001 D07 I; closed 2 May 1990); documented verdicts incl. Whalen v. John Crane (2014) and Twidwell v. Aerco (2018) [other_primary]

    Locator

    shipyards.json row charleston-naval-shipyard (evidence items incl. ev-...-osha-1988-100361849); OSHA inspection detail https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=100361849 (not live-verified 2026-10-04)

    Finding type

    gov_survey

    Finding

    The yard that converted this hull in 1955-56 has yard-level asbestos documentation: OSHA's 1988 health-complaint inspection at Charleston Naval Shipyard produced an asbestos-standard citation, and the Atlas yard dataset documents an era product list spanning magnesia pipe insulation, mid-percent-asbestos pipe insulation and boiler coatings, spray-on ship-interior insulation, gaskets, packing, and electrical insulation - plus later yard-level litigation (Whalen 2014; Twidwell 2018).

    Verification

    partial

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    class_or_era

    Accessed

    2026-10-04

    Study period

    1955-1956 (this hull's conversion); 1988-1990 (OSHA record)

    Population

    Charleston Naval Shipyard trades (1955-56 conversion era for this hull; 1988 inspection era for the citation)

    Limitations

    Yard-level documentation, not a hull record - the OSHA inspection is 1988, three decades after this conversion, and names the yard establishment, not YAGR-6; the yard product list is era documentation, not a work package for this hull. The OSHA inspection-detail page could not be fetched live this session (all firecrawl engines failed on osha.gov) - the inspection number and citation content rest on the Atlas yard dataset. Does not establish materials aboard this hull, individual exposure, or quantity.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-locator-yagr6-07

    Source vessel

    uss-locator-yagr6

21. [21]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 under which this hull was built (1945) as an emergency-program Maritime Commission hull, with wartime demand driving unprecedented asbestos utilization aboard merchant-type hulls.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    class_or_era

    Accessed

    2026-10-04

    Study period

    1940s era documented; article 1987

    Population

    WWII shipyard workers and ship crews (class context)

    Limitations

    Program/era-level scholarly documentation of WWII shipbuilding generally; does not name this hull or the Z-EC2-S-C5 type and does not establish that asbestos was or remains aboard, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-locator-yagr6-08

    Source vessel

    uss-locator-yagr6

22. [22]Batch-8721 search ledger (this record): live NHHC DANFS; NavSource 09/62/6206 + AGR index; MARAD ShipHistory Details 3039/8116 incl. status cards and MA-20 sale record; ALL HANDS Sept 1956; NVR policy check; yagrs.org; Charleston yard dataset; secondary web litigation sweep; CourtListener (see ledger for per-query status) [other_primary]

    Locator

    search_ledger rows sl-uss-locator-yagr6-01 through -11

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or verified litigation naming USS Locator (YAGR-6/AGR-6) or SS Frank O. Peterson was found in the public sources searched. The only 'asbestos aboard' material located is law-firm marketing content (asbestos-ships.com ship page) asserting asbestos exposure without primary sourcing - excluded by source policy. NVR check: AGR-6 has no entry - the Naval Vessel Register excludes ships disposed prior to 1987 (hull disposed 1975). NARA deck-log series for 1956-65 is not digitized (open archival lead). CourtListener per-query status is in the search_ledger; the two completed opinion base queries returned 697 ('USS Locator') and 4,919 ('AGR-6') results, all name collisions in the returned pages ('USS' corporate entities, unrelated ship names, 'locator' and 'agr' as legal/insurance terms) with no qualifying asbestos litigation.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    negative_finding

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-10-04

    Study period

    2026-10-04

    Limitations

    Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1945 steam-hull Liberty variant rebuilt at a documented-asbestos-era yard in 1955-56 is era-consistent with installed asbestos-containing materials, and the 1975 domestic scrapping predates modern ACM-handling documentation. CourtListener search status is recorded in the search_ledger (see ledger rows for blocked queries); undigitized deck logs, the 1955-56 Charleston NSY conversion work package, and any scrapping-contract records remain open leads. Does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-locator-yagr6-09

    Source vessel

    uss-locator-yagr6

23. [23]Milestone cross-check: MARAD ShipHistory cards (status card 2JJ_01, particulars card 3039_5654AF, MA-20 sale card 3039_AF, allocation card d813405c) vs NavSource 09/62/6206 and Wikipedia USS_Locator vs DANFS locator.html vs MARAD Detail 3039/8116 database fields [other_primary]

    Locator

    MARAD cards vs NavSource 6206.htm vs en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Locator vs DANFS locator.html vs MARAD Detail 3039/8116

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    CORRECTION: (1) NavSource and Wikipedia record post-Navy lay-up in the 'Hudson River, N.Y.' reserve fleet - wrong fleet: the MARAD particulars card and sale record place her at Suisun Bay, Calif. (entered 27 July 1965; withdrawn 4 January 1975), consistent with a Pacific-based ship. (2) NavSource 'Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown' - DANFS supplies the date, 1 September 1965. (3) The MARAD LOCATOR (AGR-6) database record labels the type 'EC2-S-C1' - the FRANK O. PETERSON record, the vessel status card, and DANFS all give the Z-EC2-S-C5 boxed-aircraft-transport variant. (4) 'Sold for scrapping 4 January 1975' (NavSource, yagrs.org) is the physical-delivery date - the MA-20 record shows the sale awarded 3 October 1974 under PD-X-984/MA-7566 to American Ship Dismantlers, Inc. for $178,787.21 nontransportation use; actual demolition date/place is not on the card.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    correction

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-10-04

    Study period

    1945-1975 (milestone window)

    Limitations

    Corrects circulating milestone errors, not a material or asbestos claim. Related minor conflicts logged in gaps: DANFS beam 47' vs 57' (MARAD/NavSource); DANFS '3 3-inch' vs NavSource 'two 3"/50'; MARAD custody 7-27-65 predating decommissioning 8-9-65; 'LOCATER' misspelling on the MA-20 card. No asbestos content.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-locator-yagr6-10

    Source vessel

    uss-locator-yagr6