Evidence
11 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-11).
-
[1]research packet 664-packet.md [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-lst-346-lst346-pkt-664-packet-md
-
[2]DANFS, LST-346 entry (NHHC; archived Wayback capture 2020-11-02 - live page returned 404 on 2026-10-02; identical text also captured 2010-12-08 at the legacy URL history.navy.mil/danfs/l15/lst-346.htm) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS LST-346 entry, full text
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS (verbatim): 'LST-346 was laid down on 17 October 1942 at the Norfolk Navy Yard; launched on 15 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Felix X. Gygax, Jr.; and commissioned on 25 January 1943.' Assigned to the European theater; operations: Sicilian occupation (July 1943), Salerno landings (September 1943), Invasion of Normandy (June 1944). 'On 20 November 1944, she was transferred to the United Kingdom and returned to United States Navy custody on 2 May 1946. She was decommissioned on 4 May 1946 and struck from the Navy list on 19 June 1946. LST-346 was sold to Bosey, Philippines, on 5 December 1947. LST-346 earned three battle stars for World War II service.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1942-1947
- Population
- Norfolk Navy Yard construction trades (1942-43); USN crew (1943-44); RN crew (1944-46)
- Limitations
- Ship-specific history only; no asbestos or material content. Live NHHC page 404s (standing NHHC link-rot defect, also noted in BATCH-01/98) - citation is to the archived capture, labeled accordingly. DANFS wording is ambiguous on decommissioning: it dates the UK transfer 20 Nov 1944 but separately dates 'decommissioned' 4 May 1946 (see gaps). DANFS gives return-to-USN custody as 2 May 1946 vs NavSource's 4 May 1946 at Subic Bay (see gaps).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-346-lst346-01
-
[3]NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive, Tank Landing Ship LST-346 (10/16/160346) - designation timeline, specifications, RN service, commanding officer, disposal (verified live 2026-10-02) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 10/16/160346.htm header block, campaign table, spec block, photo captions, CO list
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource record for this hull: laid down 17 October 1942 at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA; launched 15 December 1942; commissioned USS LST-346 25 January 1943, LT Joshua Z. Howell, USNR, in command (sole listed USN CO, to 20 November 1944). Campaigns with dates: Sicilian occupation 9-15 July 1943; Salerno landings 9-21 September 1943; Invasion of Normandy 6-25 June 1944. Decommissioned and transferred to the United Kingdom 20 November 1944; commissioned into the Royal Navy as HM LST-346 the same day; refit at Leith, Scotland; assigned to the Pacific Theater and participated in the Invasion of Malaya; paid off and returned to US Navy custody at Subic Bay, Philippines, 4 May 1946. Struck from the Naval Register 19 June 1946; sold to Bosey, Philippines, 5 December 1947. Three battle stars. Spec block: 1,625 t light / 4,080 t full; 328 ft oa; 50 ft beam; 11.6 kt; complement 13 officers / 104 enlisted; troops 16 officers / 147 enlisted; 2 x GM 12-567A 900 hp diesels, single Falk main reduction gear, 3 x diesel-drive 100 kW 230V DC generators, 2 shafts / 1,700 shp. Photo captions document the hull loading an M-10 tank destroyer at Piers 5, Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation, Newport News, VA, 22 April 1943 (US Army Signal Corps via The Library of Virginia) and HM LST-346 docking at Morotai, New Guinea, 23 November 1945 carrying 7th Division volunteers for the Japanese Occupation Force (Australian War Memorial).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1942-1947
- Population
- Norfolk Navy Yard construction trades (1942-43); USN crew (1943-44); RN crew (1944-46); Philippine purchaser/shipbreakers (1947+)
- Limitations
- NavSource is a volunteer secondary compilation, not a primary registry - its milestone dates generally track DANFS/NVR. Contains no asbestos content. RN-era operational detail (Leith refit, Malaya) is compilation-level; UK National Archives convoy record (ev-03) is the only located UK primary document.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-346-lst346-02
-
[4]The National Archives (UK), ADM 199/2190/98 - Admiralty War History Cases and Papers, WWII Convoy Lists: convoy MKS 31, Mediterranean to UK (slow, military), sailed 22 November 1943, arrived 4 December 1943 [other_primary]
- Locator
- TNA Discovery record C10244307, piece ADM 199/2190/98
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- A UK Admiralty convoy list names this hull: 'LST 346' appears in the ship list for convoy MKS 31, Mediterranean to UK, sailing 22 November 1943 and arriving 4 December 1943, alongside LSTs 371, 380, 382, 400, 338, 370, 345, 344, 312, 311, 308. This documents the hull's post-Salerno movement from the Mediterranean to UK waters ahead of the Normandy invasion - consistent with her June 1944 Normandy campaign credit.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943
- Population
- USN crew (Nov-Dec 1943 passage)
- Limitations
- Primary archival catalog record (catalogue level: item; closure status O/open). Establishes the hull's presence in a specific convoy; it is a movement record, not a manning, material, or exposure record. No asbestos content. Discovery detail page is JS-rendered; metadata verified via the TNA Discovery search API on 2026-10-02.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-346-lst346-03
-
[5]The Mariners' Museum and Park online catalog, object ARI139921 - 'LST-345 and LST-346 being loaded with cargo'; corroborating caption via NavSource (US Army Signal Corps photograph, The Library of Virginia collection) [museum_official]
- Locator
- Mariners' Museum object ARI139921; NavSource 10/16/160346.htm photo caption row 1
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Museum-held photograph(s) document this hull loading cargo - LST-345 and LST-346 docked between Piers 4 and 5, with LCT-450 aboard LST-345 (Mariners' Museum catalog description). The NavSource-captioned companion image fixes place and date: LST-346 loading an M-10 tank destroyer at Piers 5, Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation, Newport News, VA, 22 April 1943 (US Army Signal Corps photograph via The Library of Virginia).
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943
- Population
- USN crew and HRPE loading personnel (April 1943)
- Limitations
- Physical-presence documentation only - a loading photograph is not a material or exposure record. Mariners' Museum catalog page is JS-rendered and could not be fully extracted; object description verified via search-index record; the April 1943 Newport News dating comes from the NavSource caption. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-346-lst346-04
-
[6]USS LST-327 memorial site (landingship.com), 'The End' - transcription of an entry from the deck log of USS LST-346, 27 August 1944 [other_primary]
- Locator
- landingship.com/327/the-end.htm, 'In the log of the USS LST 346' passage
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- This hull's own deck log documents a rescue event: on 27 August 1944 in the English Channel, LST-346 was approximately 200 yards ahead of LST-327 when the latter detonated a mine; the LST-346 log records: '2010: muffled explosion heard off our starboard quarter, concussion felt aboard ship, assumed to be an exploding mine. We were approximately 200 yards ahead. Smoke seen rising from the stern of LST 327. Visual and radio message from LST 327 that she had struck a mine. This vessel swinging to port and proceeding to render assistance to LST 327. Port and starboard running boats lowered into water with rescue parties. Nets rigged over side.' Her boats picked up survivors and the damaged LST-327 was towed toward the Needles.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1944
- Population
- USN crew (August 1944); LST-327 survivors taken aboard
- Limitations
- Deck-log transcription published by a veterans' memorial website for the rescued ship - the primary record is the LST-346 deck log itself (NARA RG 24), which is not publicly digitized; the transcription is unverified against the original. A wartime-event record only - no asbestos or material content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-346-lst346-05
-
[7]Consolidated era inference built on: Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data U.S. Naval Vessels Vol. 2 (Jan 1945), LST design table (shipscribe.com scan); NavSource LST-346 spec block; Atlas class profile lst-1-class asbestos inference [other_primary]
- Locator
- BuShips SDB-1945 v2 LST design table; NavSource 160346 spec block
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- A diesel-powered LST-1-class tank landing ship built Oct 1942 - Jan 1943 sits inside the Navy's documented asbestos era. Era-standard asbestos-relevant applications aboard a ship of this type and period: diesel exhaust lagging and gaskets, engine-room thermal/acoustic insulation, deck coverings/tile, bulkhead and accommodation insulation, valve packing, and winch/crane 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
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1942-1947
- Population
- Norfolk Navy Yard construction trades (1942-43); USN crew (1943-44); RN crew incl. Leith refit trades (1944-46); purchaser/scrappers (1947+)
- Limitations
- Class/era inference only - no hull-specific insulation survey, material schedule, or work package located for LST-346. Names era-standard applications, not confirmed installed materials; no quantity; no manufacturer attribution for this hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-346-lst346-06
-
[8]Atlas shipyards.json record for norfolk-naval-shipyard (EPA Superfund site VA1170024813, listed 1999): NAVFAC official site descriptions document asbestos among wastes disposed at the yard; yard product list includes pipe insulation and lagging, boiler and turbine insulation, gaskets, packing materials, electrical cable insulation, deck coverings and flooring, bulkhead fire barriers (NAVFAC / EPA records) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NAVFAC Norfolk NSY Site Descriptions page; EPA site VA1170024813; shipyards.json norfolk-naval-shipyard asbestos_products_documented
- Finding type
- environmental_record
- Finding
- The yard that built this hull (Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA - today Norfolk Naval Shipyard) is a documented asbestos-use site: NAVFAC environmental-restoration site descriptions record that 'wastes disposed of at the site reportedly included various solid wastes generated by NNSY, salvage waste, abrasive blast material (ABM), fly ash, and asbestos,' and the yard was EPA Superfund-listed in 1999. The Atlas yard record documents an extensive asbestos product inventory for the yard, including pipe insulation/lagging, gaskets, packing, electrical cable insulation, deck coverings, and bulkhead fire barriers.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1942-1999 (documentation window)
- Population
- Norfolk Navy Yard construction and shop trades (1942-43 build window)
- Limitations
- Yard-level documentation, not a hull record - establishes that the builder yard handled and disposed of asbestos materials during and after the era in which this hull was built; it does not establish which materials were installed aboard LST-346. WWII-era new construction is not the same documented pathway as the yard's better-documented repair/overhaul asbestos work. No individual exposure, quantity, or present-day material claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-346-lst346-07
-
[9]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 entire construction era (1942-43) and both USN and RN service periods.
- 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; supports era context only, not any fact specific to this hull. Full text not retrieved (gao.gov blocks automated fetch, HTTP 403 - standing defect from Batch 01/98); content via product-page description.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-346-lst346-08
-
[10]CourtListener API v4 search (authenticated), exact-match queries for this hull number across the opinion (type=o) and RECAP docket (type=r) indexes [court_record]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-lst-346-lst346-04 through -06
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- No litigation located naming this hull: queries '"LST-346"' and '"LST 346"' each returned zero hits on both the opinion index (type=o) and the RECAP docket index (type=r) on 2026-10-02. No qualifying asbestos case, no other litigation, no name collision surfaced for the hull designation in either spelling.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 2026-10-02
- Limitations
- Coverage caveat: a zero index result is not proof that no case exists - deposition or brief text naming the ship may sit inside docket-level PDFs not indexed by case name, and state-court dockets are outside CourtListener coverage. Negative finding within the searched indexes only.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-346-lst346-09
-
[11]Batch-6885 search ledger (this record): archived DANFS entry; NavSource 10/16/160346; UK National Archives ADM 199/2190/98; Mariners' Museum ARI139921; landingship.com log transcription; CourtListener opinion+docket sweeps; NVR; NARA; general web sweep [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-lst-346-lst346-01 through -12
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming USS LST-346 / HM LST-346 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). The only 'asbestos aboard' content for LST-type vessels found in the general sweep was law-firm marketing listicles - excluded by source policy.
- 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 - the 1942-43 build at a documented asbestos yard makes era materials plausible but unproven for this hull. Deck logs (NARA RG 24), Norfolk Navy Yard build/work records, the Leith refit record, and the 1947 sale/disposal file are undigitized leads. Does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-346-lst346-10