USS LST-276

Evidence

11 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-11).

1. [1]research packet 655-packet.md (3 sources cited) [museum_official]

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Evidence ID

   uss-lst-276-lst276-pkt-655-packet-md

2. [2]DANFS, LST-276 entry (NHHC, Naval History and Heritage Command) [nhhc_danfs]

   Locator

   LST-276 DANFS entry, full text

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   DANFS records that LST-276 was laid down 10 May 1943 at Ambridge, Pa., by the American Bridge Co.; launched 29 August 1943; sponsored by Mrs. J. S. Ragland; commissioned 11 October 1943; assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater with operations at Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls (Feb 1944), Hollandia (Apr 1944), Guam (Jul 1944), southern Palau Islands (Sep-Oct 1944), and the Lingayen Gulf landing (Jan 1945); redesignated LSTH-276 on 15 September 1945; performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-February 1946; returned to the United States and was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service on 31 March 1952 for service as LST-276 (T-LST-276); struck from the Navy list on 10 June 1973 and sold; earned five battle stars for World War II service.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-10-02

   Study period

   1943-1973

   Population

   LST-276 ship's company and embarked troops (1943-1946)

   Limitations

   Verified live 2026-10-02 via Firecrawl render (plain HTTP GET returned 404 to this fetcher - user-agent gating; Wayback capture of 2025-02-02 confirms identical text). Supports identity, milestones, campaigns, redesignation, disposal and battle stars. Contains no asbestos information; does not establish exposure, quantities, or causation.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-lst-276-lst276-01

3. [3]NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive, USNS T-LST-276 / USS LST(H)-276 / USS LST-276 [other_primary]

   Locator

   NavSource 10/16/160276.htm - header, campaign table, CO list, specifications block

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   NavSource Amphibious Photo Archive page for USNS T-LST-276 / ex-USS LST(H)-276 / USS LST-276 records: laid down 10 May 1943 at American Bridge Co., Ambridge PA; launched 29 August 1943; commissioned 11 October 1943 with LT. Philip J. Bergeaux USNR in command; wartime assignment to LST Flotilla Thirteen, LST Group Thirty-Eight, LST Division Seventy-Six; campaign table with date ranges (Kwajalein/Majuro 1-6 Feb 1944; Hollandia 21-28 Apr 1944; Guam 21-25 Jul 1944; southern Palaus 6 Sep-14 Oct 1944; Lingayen Gulf 9 Jan 1945); redesignated LST(H)-276 on 15 September 1945; Navy Occupation Service periods 1 Nov-10 Dec 1945 and 1 Jan-15 Feb 1946; decommissioned 1 March 1946; assigned to COMNAVFE Shipping Control Authority for Japan (SCAJAP), redesignated Q079; placed in service by MSTS as USNS T-LST-276 on 31 March 1952; placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register 10 June 1973; transferred to the Republic of Singapore in 1973; final disposition 'fate unknown.' Commanding officers listed: LT. Philip J. Bergeaux USNR (11 Oct 1943 - 9 Nov 1944) and LT. William Aaron Spalding Jr. USNR (9 Nov 1944 - 1 Mar 1946). Includes an Australian War Memorial photo of T-LST-276 tied up at Inchon, South Korea, circa 1953.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-10-02

   Study period

   1943-1973

   Population

   Ship's company under Bergeaux and Spalding; SCAJAP-era and MSTS-era civilian/Japanese crews (1946-1973)

   Limitations

   NavSource is a volunteer-maintained archive, not an official registry - dates corroborate DANFS and add the decommissioning date, SCAJAP Q-079 assignment, CO roster, unit assignments and the Singapore transfer, none of which appear in the DANFS entry. The specifications block (complement, machinery, dimensions) is the standard LST-1-class table, not hull-specific measurement. Contains no asbestos information.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-lst-276-lst276-02

4. [4]uboat.net Allied Warships, USS LST 276 (LST 276) - build data and WWII event log [other_primary]

   Locator

   Ship data table; notable-events section (22 Apr 1944, Operations Reckless and Persecution)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   The uboat.net Allied Warships entry for USS LST 276 records: ordered 15 February 1942; built by American Bridge Co., Ambridge PA; laid down 10 May 1943; launched 29 August 1943; commissioned 11 October 1943; transferred to Singapore in 1973. Its event log places LST-276 (Lt. P.J. Bergeaux USNR) in Task Unit 77.4.2 (Central Unit, First Reinforcement Group, TG 77.4) for Operations Reckless and Persecution - the Hollandia/Aitape landings of 22 April 1944 - and lists the ship in Echelon R-2 of the Hollandia and Aitape Groups departing Cape Cretin.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-10-02

   Study period

   1942-1973

   Population

   Ship's company, Hollandia operation (Apr 1944)

   Limitations

   Secondary reference database, not an official Navy source - corroborates DANFS dates and adds the 15 Feb 1942 order date and task-organization detail consistent with the documented Hollandia campaign. Contains no asbestos information.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-lst-276-lst276-03

5. [5]Naval Marine Archive, Landing Ships Tank LST 1 thru LST 400 build/disposition table (Colton-derived) [other_primary]

   Locator

   LST part-1 table, row LST 276

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   The Naval Marine Archive LST build table (Colton-derived shipbuildinghistory data) lists the yard-production row for this hull: LST 276, American Bridge, Ambridge PA, FY1942, keel 10-May-43, launched 29-Aug-43, delivered 11-Oct-43 - 111 days on the ways, 43 days fitting out, 154 days total - with disposition 'To MSTS 1952, to Singapore 1974.'

   Verification

   partial

   Role

   archival_lead

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-10-02

   Study period

   1943; 1973-1974

   Population

   American Bridge Ambridge construction trades (1943); post-transfer commercial crew (1973-74 onward, if conversion to merchant use occurred)

   Limitations

   Secondary compilation, not an official registry - build days and the 'to Singapore 1974' disposition are single-source here (NavSource says transferred 1973; the one-year gap is unexplained, possibly sale-completion vs. transfer). No asbestos content. Useful as a lead for tracing post-sale disposition.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-lst-276-lst276-04

6. [6]Navypedia, ENDURANCE tank landing ships (1944/1971-1975) - Singapore project-history note [other_primary]

   Locator

   Endurance-class page, project-history paragraph

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   Navypedia's Endurance-class (Republic of Singapore Navy) page states: 'Three more ships, T-LST276, LST532 Chase County and T-LST117 were also transferred to Singapore but sold commercially before entering naval service.' This explains the disposition: T-LST-276 never became an RSN commissioned unit - she was sold commercially on or after transfer.

   Verification

   partial

   Role

   archival_lead

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-10-02

   Study period

   1973-1974

   Population

   Commercial crew and any conversion-yard trades, post-1973

   Limitations

   Single secondary source (Russian naval-reference site); the 'sold commercially' detail is uncorroborated by any official registry located - consistent with NavSource's 'fate unknown.' No asbestos content. Post-Navy commercial identity/registry would be the follow-up archival lead (Singapore flag registry, MARAD sales file).

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-lst-276-lst276-05

7. [7]Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org), James Baldrica WWII service profile / oral history [museum_official]

   Locator

   Baldrica story page, quoted recollection paragraphs

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   Veterans Memorial Hall oral-history profile of James Baldrica, who served as first lieutenant and executive officer of USS LST-276 in the Pacific: he recounts five landings (Eniwetok, Hollandia, Guam, Bougainville, Lingayen Gulf), a stateside refit at San Francisco converting the ship to a hospital ship for the planned invasion of Japan ('While we were in San Francisco, the A-bombs were dropped'), post-surrender orders to Truk to carry Japanese soldiers and civilians back to Yokohama, and orders 'to decommission our ship and give it to the Japanese' - consistent with the documented SCAJAP transfer.

   Verification

   partial

   Role

   archival_lead

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-10-02

   Study period

   1944-1946

   Population

   James Baldrica (XO); ship's company during San Francisco refit (mid-1945) and Truk repatriation runs (late 1945-early 1946)

   Limitations

   Participant recollection, not a ship's record - internally inconsistent on dates (he says 'January 1946' for the stateside hospital-ship refit but the atom-bomb reference fixes it at mid-1945; DANFS dates the LST(H) redesignation 15 Sep 1945), and his landing list includes Bougainville, which does not appear in the DANFS campaign list. Anchors a named officer (XO) to this hull and documents the San Francisco hospital-conversion refit and Truk repatriation runs. Contains no asbestos information.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-lst-276-lst276-06

8. [8]Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, Vol. 2 (January 1945), LST design table [other_primary]

   Locator

   SDB1945v2 LST design table and roster

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   Official Bureau of Ships design data for the LST group specifies two General Motors 12-567A diesels, approximately 1,700 shaft horsepower, about 11.6 knots, and accommodations of 13 officers and 106 enlisted. This supports the design description used for LST-276 (the NavSource spec block on this hull's page carries the same figures); it does not verify the hull's actual crew complement or any hull-specific material installation.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-10-02

   Study period

   1945

   Population

   LST-1-class design and operating personnel

   Limitations

   Class/era design data, not an LST-276 construction or crew record. Establishes the diesel configuration and design accommodations only; does not establish asbestos presence, quantity, condition, or exposure aboard this hull.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-lst-276-lst276-07

9. [9]Conservative synthesis from BuShips SDB-1945 v2 machinery data + era amphibious-ship construction practice; no hull-specific asbestos document located [other_primary]

   Locator

   LST design table; LST-1 class-profile era analysis (class-f/lst-1-class.class.json)

   Finding type

   asbestos_application

   Finding

   Era/design inference for a 1943 diesel-powered LST: the GM 12-567A diesel plant carries no boilers or steam plant, so the boiler/steam-lagging pathway does not apply. Era-standard asbestos-relevant applications for the type: diesel exhaust lagging and manifold gaskets; engine-room thermal and acoustic insulation; gaskets and packing throughout auxiliary machinery and piping; deck coverings and tile; bulkhead and accommodation insulation; brake linings on winches and windlass. The 1945 stateside LST(H) hospital conversion (documented redesignation 15 Sep 1945; San Francisco refit per the Baldrica account) added interior berthing and medical-space rework - an inference-level added insulation scope typical of wartime conversions.

   Verification

   inferred

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-10-02

   Study period

   1943-1973

   Population

   American Bridge Ambridge construction trades (1943); wartime ship's company (1943-1946); San Francisco conversion-yard trades (1945); SCAJAP/MSTS crews (1946-1973)

   Limitations

   Inference only: no cited source names asbestos aboard LST-276 or identifies a product installed on this hull. Does not establish presence, absence, quantity, condition, individual exposure, or causation. The conversion-yard identity for the LST(H) refit is undocumented.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-lst-276-lst276-08

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 to automated fetch)

    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 entire construction (1943) and Navy/SCAJAP/MSTS service era (1943-1973). Standing policy documented from 1975 removed asbestos insulation only when damaged or required for repairs, modified 1979 to selective replacement in high-maintenance areas.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    context_only

    Accessed

    2026-10-02

    Study period

    1979

    Population

    Navy shipyard workers; asbestos program review

    Limitations

    Program-level documentation, not ship-specific - supports era context only and establishes no fact about materials aboard this hull. Full text not retrieved (gao.gov blocks automated fetch, HTTP 403) - content via product-page description.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-lst-276-lst276-09

11. [11]Batch-6813 search ledger (this record): NHHC DANFS (live + Wayback), NavSource 160276 + hosted op-plan PDFs, uboat.net, Naval Marine Archive, Navypedia, Veterans Memorial Hall, NVR, CourtListener opinion and docket sweeps, secondary-web litigation sweep [other_primary]

    Locator

    search_ledger rows sl-uss-lst-276-lst276-01 through sl-uss-lst-276-lst276-14

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record was located in the public sources searched: no asbestos survey, material schedule, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, museum documentation, or qualifying litigation record naming USS LST-276, LST(H)-276, Q-079, or T-LST-276 was found (see search_ledger). The completed CourtListener opinion searches for "USS LST-276", "LST-276" and "LST 276" each returned zero hits.

    Verification

    partial

    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 - era-consistent materials aboard a 1943 amphibious hull are a reasonable inference, but no ship-proven record exists. CourtListener RECAP docket coverage was interrupted by the fleet-wide pacing limiter; the opinion-index negative is complete for the queries run but the docket negative is not exhaustive. 'No result located' is not a merits finding and does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility. Deck logs, SCAJAP records, and conversion work packages are undigitized archival leads.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-lst-276-lst276-10