Evidence
12 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-12).
-
[1]research packet 652-packet.md (2 sources cited) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-lst-245-lst245-pkt-652-packet-md
-
[2]Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, Vol. II (NAVSHIPS 250-011, 15 April 1945), construction list: 'LST245 (ex-ATL245) ... Missouri Valley B. & I. Co., Evansville, Ind. ... 7 May 43 / 17 Jul 43 / 22 Aug 43' (keel laid / launched / first commission) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Ships' Data Vol. II, List of Naval Vessels construction table, LST section (p. 173 of scan); class characteristics table pp. 168-169
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Official BuShips construction-table entry names this hull: LST-245 (ex-ATL-245), built by Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Co., Evansville, Ind.; keel laid 7 May 1943; launched 17 July 1943; first commissioned 22 August 1943. The class design table for the LST1-490 block gives 328 ft oa, 50 ft beam, 2,366 t beaching / 4,080 t limiting-draft displacement, 11.6 kt trial speed, two G.M. 12-567A diesels at 1,700 shp total on two shafts with Falk reduction gears, three 100 kW 230 V DC diesel-driven ship's service generators, accommodations 13 officers / 106 enlisted, and design armament of 2 twin plus 4 single 40-mm AA mounts.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943
- Population
- Construction trades (Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron, Evansville, 1943)
- Limitations
- Primary BuShips publication confirms identity, builder, milestone dates, and the class design block (LST1-490). It contains no asbestos or insulation-material information; the design-table figures are block-level (LST1-490), not individually measured for this hull. 'ex-ATL-245' reflects the hull's pre-LST designation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-245-01
-
[3]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, LST-245 entry (verbatim transcription at historycentral.com, verified via Wayback capture 2026-05-20; live NHHC DANFS page returns 404 at both candidate URLs) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- Wayback capture 20260520040057 of historycentral.com/navy/patrol/15.html, 'LST - 245' entry; NHHC canonical URL 404 (standing NHHC link-rot defect, cf. BATCH-01)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS: LST-245 laid down 7 May 1943 at Evansville, Ind., by Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Co.; launched 17 July 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Conrad L. Walker; commissioned 22 August 1943, Lt. Matthew J. McCabe, USNR, in command. WWII service in the Asiatic-Pacific theater: Saidor occupation (January-February 1944); Bismarck Archipelago - Cape Gloucester (February 1944), Admiralty Islands landings (March 1944); Hollandia (April-May 1944); Western New Guinea - Toem-Wakde-Sarmi (May-June 1944), Biak (June 1944), Noemfoor (July 1944), Cape Sansapor (July-August 1944), Morotai (September 1944); Leyte landings (October-November 1944); Lingayen Gulf landing (January 1945); Mindanao landings (April 1945); Balikpapan (June-July 1945). Decommissioned 1 April 1946; struck from the Navy list 8 May 1946; transferred to the Maritime Administration for disposal 15 April 1948. Earned eight battle stars.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943-1948
- Population
- Ship's company (13 officers / ~104-106 enlisted) plus embarked troops
- Limitations
- DANFS text verified via archived transcription - the canonical NHHC URLs (history.navy.mil/research/... and .../content/history/nhhc/research/...) both return 404 and no Wayback capture of the NHHC page exists; cited URL is a Wayback capture of the historycentral.com transcription, corroborated by NavSource's milestone data and the BuShips construction table. Contains no asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-245-02
-
[4]NavSource Online Amphibious Photo Archive, USS LST-245 page (16/160245) - build/milestone data, unit assignments, campaign-date table, commanding-officer roster, awards display, specifications, photo captions [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 10/16/160245 - specifications block, awards, CO table, photo caption block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource: confirms milestones (laid 7 May 1943, Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron, Evansville; launched 17 July 1943; commissioned 22 August 1943, Lt. Matthew J. McCabe USNR). WWII assignment: LST Flotilla Seven (Capt. R. M. Scruggs), LST Group Nineteen (Cdr. James E. Van Zandt). Per-campaign date table; decommissioned 1 April 1946; struck 8 May 1946; transferred to MARAD 15 April 1948 for disposal; eight battle stars; final disposition 'fate unknown'. Awards display includes Navy Occupation Medal (Asia clasp), Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Philippine Liberation Medal (2). CO roster: McCabe (to 1944), Snodgrass (1944-45), Murdock (1945-28 Jan 1946), Cotter (28 Jan-1 Apr 1946). Specs: complement 13 officers / 104 enlisted; troops 16 officers / 147 enlisted; 2x GM 12-567A 900 hp diesels, Falk reduction gear, 3x 100 kW generators, 2 shafts, 1,700 shp.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943-1948
- Population
- Ship's company plus embarked troops; amphibious-beach work parties
- Limitations
- NavSource is the canonical per-hull photographic/historical archive (volunteer-curated); consistent with DANFS and the BuShips construction table on all shared fields. Contains no asbestos information. CO transition dates differ from uboat.net secondary listing (see gaps).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-245-03
-
[5]MARAD Vessel History Database, LST-245 (Ship History Detail 9308), incl. digitized vessel status card image 45K_01.png [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov Detail 9308; status card https://vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/cards/45K_01.png
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD record: fate field 'Sold - No Further Info'; no milestones or narrative. The digitized MARAD vessel status card for 'LST 245' shows the Navy-surplus hull with Operator 'Bethlehem Steel Company', form of agreement 'Pur.' (purchase, over a struck-through entry), and date delivered handwritten '4/15/48' - i.e., sold to Bethlehem Steel Company and delivered 15 April 1948, the same date as the Navy-to-MARAD transfer in DANFS/NavSource. A partially legible notation 'SP act 1936' appears in the allocation column (statutory basis, reading uncertain).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1948
- Population
- Shipbreaking/disposal workforce (Bethlehem Steel, 1948)
- Limitations
- Resolves NavSource's 'fate unknown' only partially: purchaser (Bethlehem Steel Co.) and delivery date are documented, but the card does not state scrapping explicitly and no post-sale history is recorded; Bethlehem Steel purchased surplus hulls for scrapping, but that is pattern knowledge, not stated on the card. Secondary table at navalmarinearchive.com asserts 'Scrapped 1947', conflicting with the dated 1948 MARAD transfer - carried in gaps, not asserted here.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-245-04
-
[6]Consolidated era inference - BuShips Ships' Data 1945 Vol. II machinery table (LST1-490 block: diesel plant, no boilers) + documented WWII-era naval construction practice [other_primary]
- Locator
- SDB 1945 Vol. II, LST1-490 machinery block (pp. 168-169 of scan)
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Era/design inference for this diesel-powered LST-1-class hull (LST1-490 block): no boilers, so no boiler/turbine steam-lagging pathway; asbestos-relevant applications typical of the type are GM 12-567A engine exhaust lagging and gaskets, machinery-space thermal and acoustic insulation, deck coverings and tile, bulkhead and accommodation insulation, and winch/windlass brake linings. Wartime LST construction was mass-produced to BuShips standard designs during the period when federal asbestos supply was reserved for shipbuilding.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943-1946
- Population
- Construction trades (Evansville yard, 1943); engine-room crew
- Limitations
- Class/design-level inference - no hull record names these materials aboard LST-245; the SDB machinery table does not state insulation materials. Does not establish quantity, location, condition, individual exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-245-05
-
[7]Woolsey v. Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Co., 88 N.E.2d 54, 119 Ind. App. 391 (Ind. App. 1949) [court_record]
- Locator
- 88 N.E.2d 54; 119 Ind. App. 391; decided 17 October 1949
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- An Indiana Court of Appeals decision documents an occupational-disease claim against this hull's builder during the LST production era: the estate of pipe fitter Elbert Woolsey, who worked 'in the compartment of ships' at Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron from 21 June to 11 November 1944 and died 29 October 1945, alleged death from inhaling fumes and gases from welding galvanized metal; the Industrial Board found no occupational disease and its denial was affirmed on appeal (17 October 1949).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1944-1949
- Population
- Shipyard construction workforce (Evansville, 1944)
- Limitations
- NOT asbestos litigation and does not name this hull - the claimed agent was metal fumes, the claim failed, and the decision is builder-level context only. It demonstrates that wartime occupational-disease claims against the Evansville yard exist in the appellate record; it establishes nothing about asbestos aboard LST-245. Reporter citation via secondary index (hallapproved.com is a banned source class - official reporter text verified for citation, no free full-text URL carried).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-245-06
-
[8]National Park Service, 'Evansville, Indiana' (American World War II Heritage City) [nps]
- Locator
- nps.gov article page, Evansville WWII Heritage City profile
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NPS documents the builder yard: in February 1942 the Department of the Navy constructed the Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Co. Shipyard (the 'Evansville Shipyard'), a 40-acre plant on the Ohio River producing 167 LSTs by February 1945 at a wartime rate of one ship every four days in 1944 - the 'largest inland producer of oceangoing ships'; regional wartime employment rose from 18,000 (1940) to ~60,000.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1942-1945
- Population
- Evansville shipyard workforce (~19,000 peak per local-history sources)
- Limitations
- Builder-yard context only - does not name LST-245 and contains no asbestos or materials information. Production count conflicts with secondary sources citing 171 LSTs (see gaps).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-245-07
-
[9]NARA and USCG photographic record as captioned at NavSource: US National Archives photos III-SC 271518 and III-SC 271519 (LSTs incl. LST-245 beached at Cape Sudest, New Guinea, 12 March 1944, loading for Los Negros), SC 261042 (LST-462, LST-245, LST-458 at Morotai, 15 September 1944), USCG Historian's Office photo 4334 (LST-245 at Manila after securing), US Navy photo (LST-18, LST-245, LST-202, LST-467 on the Leyte beach, D-Day 20 October 1944) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 10/16/160245 photo caption block; NARA RG 24 deck-log program page (archives.gov/research/military/logbooks/navy-online)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Identified archival imagery places LST-245 at Cape Sudest (12 March 1944), Morotai (15 September 1944), Leyte (20 October 1944), and Manila. RG 24 'Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships and Stations, 1941-1983' should hold LST-245 WWII deck logs, and RG 38 WWII war-diaries series may hold LST-245 operational records; the NARA catalog is JS-rendered and not directly queryable in this session, and WWII-era deck logs are not in the digitized Blue Water Navy (Vietnam-era) batches.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1944-1945 (photos); deck logs 1943-1946
- Limitations
- Photo captions transcribed at NavSource; catalog identifiers not re-verified at catalog.archives.gov (JS-rendered). Deck-log/war-diary existence for this specific hull is inferred from series coverage, not confirmed - treat as leads for on-site or archival request, not holdings confirmed.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-245-08
-
[10]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
- AJIM 11(3):359-373, abstract and article
- 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 program under which this hull was mass-produced at an emergency inland yard.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1940s era documented; article 1987
- Population
- WWII shipyard workers and ship crews (era context)
- Limitations
- Program/era-level scholarship; does not name this vessel or the LST program specifically and establishes no hull-level fact (presence, quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation). DOI resolves to the correct Wiley article page; automated fetch returns a 403 bot-wall, so verification is via DOI resolution and prior-batch use.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-245-09
-
[11]GAO, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure, HRD-80-2 (18 October 1979) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO HRD-80-2 product page
- 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 - establishing that asbestos insulation was extensively installed in WWII-era naval vessels and typically remained in place for decades on retained hulls.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- report issued 1979; Navy program 1970s
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers (program context)
- Limitations
- Program-level context only - the documented management policies post-date this hull's 1948 disposal and never applied to it; the row supports the era-level proposition that WWII naval construction used asbestos extensively, not that asbestos was or is aboard this hull. gao.gov returns HTTP 403 to automated fetches (standing defect); product-page metadata verified via prior batches.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-245-10
-
[12]Batch-6792 search ledger (this record): NavSource, DANFS (archived transcription), BuShips SDB-1945 v2, MARAD Vessel History + status card, NPS, NARA catalog/logbook program, CourtListener API v4 (opinion index), NVR [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-lst-245-01 through sl-uss-lst-245-11
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, museum-condition report, or docketed case naming LST-245 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). NVR carries no record (ships disposed before 1987 are not in the register). CourtListener opinion searches for 'LST-245', 'LST 245', and 'USS LST-245' all returned zero hits (count: 0); the docket (type=r) index was subject to fleet pacing limits this session - logged blocked in the ledger, not a negative result.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 2026-10-02
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1943 mass-production hull is era-consistent with asbestos-containing insulation, and the 1948 disposal predates hazmat documentation practice. Does not establish that asbestos was or was not present; does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-245-11