Evidence
10 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-10).
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[1]research packet 668-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-371-lst371-pkt-668-packet-md
-
[2]DANFS, LST-371 (via Wayback capture 2024-05-27; live NHHC page returned 404 on 2026-10-02) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS LST-371 entry (NHHC page via Wayback capture 2024-05-27)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS for this hull: 'LST-371 was laid down on 29 October 1942 at Quincy, Mass., by the Bethlehem Steel Co., launched on 12 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. John E. Varney; and commissioned on 16 January 1943.' Assigned to the European theater; participated in the Sicilian occupation, the Salerno landings (September 1943), and the Invasion of Normandy (June 1944). 'On 17 November 1944, LST-371 was transferred to the United Kingdom. She was struck from the Navy list on 26 February 1946 and returned to United States Navy custody and decommissioned on 16 March 1946. The tank landing ship was sold to Bosey, Philippines, on 5 December 1947.' Earned three battle stars for World War II service.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1942-1948
- Population
- Bethlehem Steel Fore River construction trades (1942-43); USN crew (1943-44)
- Limitations
- Ship-specific history only; no asbestos or material content. DANFS itself orders events struck 26 Feb 1946 THEN returned/decommissioned 16 Mar 1946 - stricken while still in foreign custody, an unusual sequence carried as written (see gaps). Live NHHC URL 404s (standing link-rot defect); archived capture cited and labeled.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-371-01
-
[3]NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive, USS LST-371 (160371) - timeline, campaign dates, RN service summary, specifications, commanding officer, captioned photography (live page verified 2026-10-02) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 10/16/160371.htm header block, campaign table, Royal Navy History inset, specifications block, commanding-officer table, photo captions
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource timeline for this hull: laid down 29 October 1942 at Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy MA; launched 12 December 1942; commissioned 16 January 1943, LT. Adam W. Melohusky (Adam Walter), USN, in command (16 Jan 1943 - 17 Nov 1944). Europe-Africa-Middle East campaigns with date ranges: 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 17 November 1944. Royal Navy history per NavSource: as part of 'W' Task Force HM LST-371 worked down the Arakan coast of Burma and participated in the recapture of Rangoon, then the invasion of Malaya at Morib and Port Swettenham, and Singapore and Bangkok relief work repatriating ex-POWs; paid off Singapore and returned to US Navy custody at Subic Bay 16 March 1946. Struck from the Naval Register 26 February 1946; sold 5 December 1947 to Bosey, Philippines. Specs: 2 GM 12-567A 900hp diesels, single Falk main reduction gears, 3 diesel-drive 100kW 230V DC ship's service generators, 2 propellers 1,700 shp, twin rudders, 11.6 kts trial; complement 13 officers / 104 enlisted; troop accommodations 16 officers / 147 enlisted; call sign NCNU. Captioned photography: USS LST-371 off Slapton Sands, England transferring trucks/jeeps to an LCT, 14 February 1944 (National Archives Tape No. NPC-063-1456); HM LST-371 moored at Port Swettenham, Malaya, 1945.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1942-1947
- Population
- Fore River construction trades (1942-43); USN crew (1943-44); RN crew (1944-46)
- Limitations
- NavSource is a volunteer secondary compilation, not a primary registry - its milestone dates track DANFS and are corroborated here by DANFS and uboat.net. Contains no asbestos content. The Royal Navy service summary is unattributed on the page (consistent with uboat.net's HMS LST 371 record and the Port Swettenham photo caption).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-371-02
-
[4]NARA Catalog, RG 38 'World War II War Diaries, Other Operational Records and Histories' (series NAID 4697018): USS LST-371 Contact and Action Report, Gela, Sicily (NAID 78131239, file A16-3, dated 7/25/1943, micro serial 52635, Roll A454, 3 scanned images via Fold3); USS LST-371 Report of Operations 6/5-17/44, Invasion of Normandy, France (NAID 78601613, file A12-1, dated 7/6/1944, micro serial 84508, Roll A1122, 8 scanned images); plus eight war-diary file units spanning May 1943-June 1944 [other_primary]
- Locator
- NARA Catalog search 'LST-371': NAIDs 78131239, 78601613, 134300589, 135989214, 78638091, and additional war-diary file units (Rolls A454, A459, A668, A1122, A1148)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Digitized primary records written by this hull exist: two action reports (Gela/Sicily; Normandy) and eight war-diary file units covering May 1943, June 1943 (NAID 134300589, Roll A459), July 1943, August 1943 (NAID 135989214, Roll A668), October 1943, November 1943, December 1943-February 1944, and May-June 1944 (NAID 78638091, Roll A1148). Catalog metadata independently corroborates the ship's Gela and Normandy participation; the underlying reports are the authoritative version of the operational detail secondary sources draw on.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943-1944 (records coverage)
- Population
- USN crew preparing/subject of these reports (1943-44)
- Limitations
- Archival lead only: catalog metadata was read, not the scanned report text - no claim is made about the contents beyond their existence, titles, and dates. War diaries/action reports are operational records; no asbestos content is expected or asserted. The catalog record page is JS-rendered (unfetchable directly); metadata verified via the NARA Catalog search API this session. Additional duplicate file units may exist for the same months.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-371-03
-
[5]uboat.net Allied Warships, HMS LST 371 (LST 371) - Royal Navy service record (verified live 2026-10-02) [other_primary]
- Locator
- uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/12278.html ship-data table and commands table
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Independent secondary corroboration of the Royal Navy chapter: HMS LST 371, pennant LST 371, built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. (Quincy), commissioned into the Royal Navy 17 November 1944, end service 16 March 1946 - 'Decommissioned and returned to the USN on 16 March 1946.' Commanding officer listed for the wartime period: Cyril Raymond Martin, RNVR, 13 November 1944 - late 1945.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1944-1946
- Population
- RN crew under Lt./Lt.Cdr. C. R. Martin RNVR (1944-45)
- Limitations
- Secondary compilation (Guomundur Helgason's Allied Warships database), consistent with NavSource and DANFS on both transfer dates. Contains no asbestos content. RN operational detail (Arakan, Rangoon, Malaya, Singapore) rests on NavSource's unattributed summary; uboat.net lists only the commanding officer.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-371-04
-
[6]Era inference built on: NavSource specifications block (2 GM 12-567A diesels, Falk reduction gears - no boilers); lst-1-class class profile (BuShips Ships' Data 1945 v2 design table - diesel plant, ~1,700 shp, 11.6 kt); shipyard-exposure-map documented asbestos product list for fore-river-shipyard; O'Connor v. Raymark trial finding (see ev-06) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource specifications block; class-f/lst-1-class.class.json (BuShips SDB 1945 v2 design table); shipyards.json fore-river-shipyard product list
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- A diesel-powered tank landing ship built Oct 1942-Jan 1943 at Bethlehem Steel's Fore River yard sits inside that yard's court-documented asbestos-use era. Era-standard asbestos applications aboard an LST of this type and period were: diesel-exhaust lagging and gaskets, engine-room thermal/acoustic insulation, deck coverings and tile, bulkhead and accommodation insulation, and winch/crane brake linings. As a diesel ship she carried no boiler or turbine plant - the steam-lagging pathway of steam vessels does not apply, concentrating the inference on engine-room, exhaust, gasket, and interior-material applications.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1942-1947
- Population
- Fore River construction trades (1942-43); USN crew (1943-44); RN crew (1944-46); post-sale shipbreakers/buyer workforce (1947-)
- Limitations
- Class/era inference only - no hull-specific insulation survey, material list, or work package located for LST-371. Names era-standard applications, not confirmed installed materials. No quantity. Product names are normalized era terms; no manufacturer attribution for this hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-371-05
-
[7]O'Connor v. Raymark Industries, Inc., 401 Mass. 586, 518 N.E.2d 510 (1988) - Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court [court_record]
- Locator
- 401 Mass. 586 at 587-589 (special questions, jury answers, recited facts)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Affirmed jury finding of asbestos-product exposure at this hull's construction yard in its construction era: Richard O'Connor was a welder at the Bethlehem Steel (Fore River) Shipyard 'in the 1940's,' covering himself with Raybestos-Manhattan asbestos welding blankets for protection from sparks; the blankets 'gave off asbestos dust that O'Connor inhaled,' and he 'was exposed to numerous other asbestos products at the shipyard.' On special questions the jury found O'Connor WAS exposed to asbestos-containing Raymark products at the shipyard (Q1 yes) but that the exposure did not cause or substantially contribute to his mesothelioma and death (Q2 no); judgment entered for defendant and affirmed by the SJC.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1940s exposure; tried 1980s; affirmed 1988
- Population
- Fore River Shipyard welders and co-workers, 1940s
- Limitations
- Yard-level litigation record, not a hull record - LST-371 is not named. Litigation stage reported exactly: the exposure finding is a jury finding that survived appeal (affirmed judgment); the causation finding was adverse to this plaintiff. Establishes asbestos products in use at the Fore River yard during the decade covering this hull's construction, not aboard any specific vessel. Does not establish individual exposure or quantity.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-371-06
-
[8]Thayer v. Pittsburgh-Corning Corp., 45 Mass. App. Ct. 435, 698 N.E.2d 1279 (1998) - Appeals Court of Massachusetts [court_record]
- Locator
- 45 Mass. App. Ct. 435 at 435-437 (recited facts, verdict, reversal)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Asbestos exposure recited in litigation over ship construction at the same yard five-to-nine years after this hull was built: Richard Thayer 'was exposed to asbestos between 1948 and 1952, while working as a machinist helper on the U.S.S. Des Moines and the U.S.S. Salem, two ships under construction at the Fore River Shipyard, and while serving on the U.S.S. Salem during its overhaul and subsequent naval exercises'; diagnosed with mesothelioma 1992. A Superior Court jury awarded $242,000 to Thayer on a breach-of-warranty theory; the Appeals Court reversed on state-of-the-art evidentiary grounds (Vassallo) and ordered a new trial.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1948-1952 exposure; decided 1998
- Population
- Fore River Shipyard construction trades and ship crews, 1948-52
- Limitations
- Yard-level litigation record, not a hull record - LST-371 is not named, and the exposure window (1948-52) post-dates her construction by five-to-nine years. Litigation stage reported exactly: the jury verdict for plaintiffs was VACATED on appeal (state-of-art evidence exclusion), so the exposure narrative remains at the trial-record/allegation level, not an affirmed finding. No asbestos content specific to this hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-371-07
-
[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 and service era (1942-47).
- 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, confirmed 2026-10-02) - content via product-page description.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-371-08
-
[10]Batch-6911 search ledger (this record): DANFS (Wayback); NavSource live; NARA Catalog API; uboat.net RN record; NVR; masscasesarchive O'Connor and Thayer; GAO product page; CourtListener (opinion search no result; docket search blocked - fleet pacing); secondary web litigation sweep [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-lst-371-01 through sl-uss-lst-371-13
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or verified litigation naming USS LST-371 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). CourtListener opinion searches 'LST-371' and 'USS LST-371' each returned zero hits; the docket search and remaining query variants ('LST 371', 'HM LST-371') could not be completed - fleet-wide pacing budget spent (helper exit 2 on six spaced attempts across the session) - logged as blocked, not as a negative result. A prior class-level CourtListener sweep ('USS LST' asbestos) surfaced only an incidental reunion-notice mention of a different hull (LST 579 in Gitto v. A.W. Chesterton, S.D.N.Y.). Secondary web sweeps surfaced no qualifying case naming this hull; the only 'asbestos aboard' material is law-firm marketing content - 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 hull was built inside its yard's court-documented asbestos era, and the CourtListener docket repository is a genuine open gap (paced, not fully searched). NARA war diaries are operational records unlikely to address materials; RG 24 deck logs for this hull are not located in the digitized catalog. Does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-371-09