Evidence
9 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-9).
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[1]DANFS, Nimble I (AM-266) (builder, dates, service narrative, spec block, battle stars; verbatim DANFS text via Wayback capture of the hazegray transcription, 2024-05-26 - the live NHHC page returns 404 and hazegray.org no longer resolves; verbatim match confirmed against the losthistory.net/hazegray mirror) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS entry 'Nimble' (AM-266), specifications block + service narrative (Wayback capture of hazegray.org/danfs/mine/am266.htm, 2024-05-26; mirror losthistory.net/hazegray/danfs/mine/am266.htm)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS record for this hull: laid down 2 August 1943 by the American Ship Building Co., Lorain, Ohio; launched 24 December 1943; commissioned 15 September 1944, Lt. F. R. Kitchell, Jr., in command. Departed Cleveland 21 September 1944 via the St. Lawrence; shakedown at Little Creek/Chesapeake Bay; ASW training at Key West; schoolship duty at Naval Training Center Miami from 20 December 1944; detached 10 March 1945 to Philadelphia for repairs and alterations; underway 1 April for the Panama Canal Zone (transited 11 April); via San Diego, Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and Guam to Nakagusuku Wan, Okinawa, arriving 28 June 1945. Mine clearance: operation 'Juneau' (East China Sea, from Kerama Retto, late June), operation 'Skagway' (East China Sea/Ryukyus, mid-August), operation 'Arcadia' (Yellow Sea; cleared approaches to Jinsen harbor 2-7 September 1945 for the 7th Amphibious Force entry into Korea), then Sasebo-Nagasaki area off Kyushu from 9 September. Remained in the Far East opening sea-lanes until September 1946; reported to Commander, Philippine Sea Frontier 15 September for inactivation; decommissioned at Subic Bay 10 October 1946; transferred to the Republic of China 30 June 1948; struck from the U.S. Navy List 13 July 1948; served the ROC Navy 'until stripped and decommissioned late in 1950.' Three battle stars for World War II service. Spec block: dp. 625; l. 184'6"; b. 33'; dr. 9'9"; s. 15 k.; cpl. 104; a. 1 3", 4 40mm.; cl. Admirable.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1943-1950
- Population
- American Ship Building (Lorain) construction trades 1943-44; wartime crew (design complement 104); ROC Navy crew 1948-c.1950
- Limitations
- DANFS documents service history and specifications, not materials or asbestos content. DANFS does not print the launch sponsor or the vessel's Republic of China Navy name. The transcription's 'stripped and decommissioned late in 1950' conflicts with NavSource/uboat.net's 'late 1950s' - carried in gaps. Live NHHC page 404s and hazegray.org no longer resolves (standing link-rot defects); text verified verbatim across the Wayback hazegray capture and the losthistory.net mirror.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-nimble-am266-01
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[2]Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data U.S. Naval Vessels, Vol. II: Mine Vessels (less DM and CM), Patrol Vessels, Landing Ships and Craft, NAVSHIPS 250-011, 13 April 1945 (GPO 1945; scan via shipscribe.com) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NAVSHIPS 250-011, Mine Vessels - Mine Sweepers (AM) tables: AM214-311 class characteristics block (pp. 26-27), propulsion/generator table (NIMBLE AM266 row, p. 34 of the section), builder/date table (p. 35)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The official 1945 BuShips register names NIMBLE, official number AM266, in the mine-sweeper tables: builder American Shipbuilding Co.; keel laid 2 August 1943; launched 24 December 1943; date of first commission 15 September 1944; engine manufacturer/model row dittoes the block's 'C. B. GSB-8' (Cooper-Bessemer GSB-8), shaft horsepower 1,710, 'Nat. Sup.' (National Supply Co.) single reduction gear. The AM214-311 class characteristics block prints: 2 propellers, geared 'Diesel' drive with single reduction gears (the register distinguishes this from 'Diesel elec.'); length 184'6" o.a. / 180'0" w.l.; extreme beam 33'0"; limiting-draft displacement 945 tons; trial displacement 850 tons; trial speed 14.8 knots; limiting draft 9'9"; total accommodations 11 officers + 93 enlisted; armament 1 x 3"/50 cal. D.P. and 2 twin 40mm A.A. mounts (footnote excepts AM214/AM215 only).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1943-1945 (register data as of 13 April 1945)
- Population
- American Ship Building (Lorain) construction trades 1943-44; wartime crew
- Limitations
- Contemporaneous official register - establishes identity, builder, construction dates, and propulsion for this hull; contains no materials or asbestos information. The class block prints geared 'Diesel' drive for AM214-311 - this class carried no boilers. The 1,710 figure is the class-table shaft-horsepower entry and is not labeled per-engine or aggregate. Secondary compilations conflict: Wikipedia/en-academic print 'ALCO 539 / Farrel-Birmingham' (class-generic boilerplate true of the earlier AM136-165 group, not this hull) and the HyperWar compiled card prints 'diesel-electric, 1,800 h.p.' - both contradicted by this official register; the register row is carried.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-nimble-am266-02
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[3]NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive, Nimble (AM 266) (photo/data archive page; read via Wayback capture 2025-01-25 - live host blocks automated fetch) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource AM-266 archive page, ship history block + specifications block + CO roster + photo captions (Wayback capture 2025-01-25)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource archive record for this hull: laid down 2 August 1943 by the American Shipbuilding Co., Lorain, OH; launched 24 December 1943; commissioned USS Nimble (AM 266) 15 September 1944; decommissioned 10 October 1946 at Subic Bay, Philippines; transferred to the Republic of China 30 June 1948; struck from the Naval Register 13 July 1948; 'stripped and decommissioned in late 1950s'; fate unknown. Call sign Nan-Peter-Queen-Sugar. Commanding-officer roster prints LT Francis Robert Kitchell, Jr., USNR, from 15 September 1944. Photo captions include NHHC photo NH 89284 (Nimble in a nest of nine minesweepers and LCIs with Phantom (AM-273) and Pivot (AM-276), San Diego, circa 1945) and a builder-yard image credited to theshipyards.com. Spec block (945 t. full load; 184'6" x 33' x 9'9"; 14.8 kts; complement 104; 1 x 3"/50 DP, one twin 40mm, six 20mm, hedgehog, four K-guns, two depth-charge tracks; two 1,710 shp Cooper Bessemer GSB-8 diesels, National Supply Co. single reduction gear, two shafts) is consistent with the official NAVSHIPS table where they overlap.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1943-1950s (compiled)
- Population
- Construction trades 1943-44; wartime crew; ROC Navy crew 1948-c.1950s
- Limitations
- Private photo/data archive, not an official source: dates agree with DANFS/NAVSHIPS where they overlap, but the 'late 1950s' ROC disposal reading conflicts with the DANFS text's 'late in 1950' (carried in gaps), and no Republic of China Navy service name is printed. Propulsion entries agree with the official register (Cooper-Bessemer GSB-8 / National Supply), contra the ALCO 539 / Farrel-Birmingham boilerplate in Wikipedia-class summaries. No materials or asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-nimble-am266-03
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[4]United Nations Treaty Series, vol. 70 (1950), No. 895: Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of China concerning the transfer of naval vessels and equipment pursuant to United States Public Law 512, 79th Congress (with exchange of notes), signed at Nanking 8 December 1947, in force on signature; registered with the UN Secretariat 1950 [other_primary]
- Locator
- UNTS vol. 70, Agreement No. 895, Schedule 'A' part 2 (treaty-series p. 20; PDF pp. ~20-21 of the scan)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Schedule 'A' to the 8 December 1947 U.S.-Republic of China naval-transfer agreement lists 'AM 266' under part 2, 'vessels now earmarked and recommended for transfer to China under Public Law 512, 79th Congress, 2nd Session, and provisions of Executive Order No. 9843 of April 25, 1947,' with the location column reading 'Philippines' - the official bilateral instrument under which this hull, then in decommissioned status at Subic Bay, passed to the Republic of China (transfer consummated 30 June 1948 per DANFS/NavSource).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1947-1948
- Limitations
- Documents the legal transfer pathway for this specific hull number - an earmarking schedule, not a condition or materials record: it says nothing about asbestos, survey status, or the vessel's material condition at handover, and does not print the ROC service name. The December 1947 schedule lists vessels 'earmarked and recommended'; DANFS dates the actual transfer 30 June 1948.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-nimble-am266-04
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[5]Fleischer WE, Viles FJ Jr, et al., 'A health survey of pipe covering operations in constructing naval vessels,' J Ind Hyg Toxicol 1946 Jan;28:9-16 (PMID 21016030) [other_primary]
- Locator
- PubMed citation record PMID 21016030; J Ind Hyg Toxicol 1946;28:9-16
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- The wartime federal industrial-hygiene survey of pipe-covering operations in naval vessel construction (conducted during WWII naval shipbuilding, published January 1946) documents that insulation work on ships under construction used asbestos-containing materials - the standard practice environment in which this hull was built at American Ship Building's Lorain yard in 1943-44.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1944-1946 (survey/publication)
- Population
- WWII naval-vessel pipe coverers and insulators (class context)
- Limitations
- Industry-wide wartime survey, not a hull record - does not name this vessel, the American Ship Building yard, or the Admirable class; its reassuring conclusion ('not a dangerous occupation') is itself now criticized as deeply flawed (Kelly, New Solut 2026;36:138-150, PMID 42307414). Establishes era context only - that asbestos insulation work was performed in WWII naval vessel construction - not materials aboard AM-266.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-nimble-am266-05
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[6]Marr WT, 'Asbestos exposure during naval vessel overhaul,' Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1964 May-Jun;25:264-8 (PMID 14168424) [other_primary]
- Locator
- PubMed citation record PMID 14168424; Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1964;25:264-8
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Published industrial-hygiene study documenting asbestos exposure during naval vessel overhauls - the era pathway relevant to shipyard-side repair and inactivation work generally.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1964 (publication)
- Population
- Naval shipyard insulation workers (class context)
- Limitations
- Study period (early 1960s) post-dates this hull's entire U.S. service (commissioned September 1944, decommissioned October 1946) by nearly two decades and does not name AM-266. This hull did have one documented stateside repair-and-alteration availability (Philadelphia, March 1945, per DANFS) - the facility is not identified in the source - plus inactivation work at Subic Bay in 1946. Documents the era overhaul-exposure pathway only, not work on or materials aboard this hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-nimble-am266-06
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[7]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 and its 1975/1979 insulation-removal policies covering the WWII-built fleet - program-level confirmation that Navy ship construction of Nimble's era incorporated asbestos insulation and that the material was managed as a known hazard aboard Navy vessels.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1979
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers; asbestos program review
- Limitations
- Program-level documentation, not hull-specific; establishes era context for WWII Navy construction, not materials aboard AM-266 - which was decommissioned in 1946 and left U.S. custody in 1948, decades before the Navy's documented asbestos-management program existed. Does not establish individual exposure, quantities, or presence at any time. Full text not retrieved (gao.gov blocks automated fetch, HTTP 403) - content via product-page description.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-nimble-am266-07
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[8]Cates v. United States, 451 F.2d 411 (5th Cir. 1971) (Brown, C.J.); district court judgment 308 F. Supp. 199 [court_record]
- Locator
- 451 F.2d 411, 413-414 (5th Cir. 1971) (Palomares/ALUMINAUT factual recital); opinion text via OpenJurist mirror
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- The only published opinion located naming a 'USS NIMBLE' is a name collision, not a hit on this hull: Cates v. United States, 451 F.2d 411 (5th Cir. 1971), is an admiralty personal-injury action (seaman's fall into a whaleboat during debarkation) arising from the January 1966 Palomares, Spain, B-52/thermonuclear-weapon recovery, in which 'the USS NIMBLE' was assigned to tow the deep-diving submersible ALUMINAUT. The Nimble at Palomares in 1966 was the second ship of the name, MSO-459 (ex-AM-459, Higgins Inc., commissioned 1955, stricken 1976) - this record's hull, AM-266, had left U.S. custody in 1948 and was out of service by 1950. The case is not asbestos litigation and does not concern AM-266.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1966 (incident); 1971 (opinion)
- Population
- Frank W. Cates (civilian mariner aboard MSO-459, 1966) - different hull; no asbestos issue
- Limitations
- Logged to prevent misattribution: a CourtListener/web-index 'USS Nimble' hit of this vintage and posture is MSO-459. Cates contains no asbestos allegations and no findings about any vessel's materials; it resolves seamen's-release and unseaworthiness questions only. Does not establish or defeat anything about AM-266.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-nimble-am266-08
-
[9]Batch-1238 search ledger (this record): NHHC DANFS (live + Wayback/mirror captures), NAVSHIPS 250-011 Ships' Data 1945, Naval Vessel Register, NavSource archive, UNTS vol. 70 Agreement No. 895, MARAD ship-history resources, CourtListener opinion/docket indexes, Google Scholar case-law index, NARA catalog, NPS NRHP/NHL (class exemplar USS Hazard 79003712), PubMed, shipyard dataset (shipyards.json), general web index [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-nimble-am266-01 through sl-uss-nimble-am266-16
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming USS Nimble (AM-266) was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). CourtListener authenticated API sweep could not be completed on 2026-09-22 (shared 2,800/day quota exhausted, HTTP 429 across four attempts over ~80 minutes; at quota-window reset the freed capacity was re-consumed within seconds by parallel batch workers - 'expected available ~38,700s' at final check); Google Scholar case-law returned 403 to automated fetch; web-index spot checks surfaced only marketing listicles naming the vessel without evidence, plus one name-collision opinion on the other hull (MSO-459 - see ev-08).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 2026-09-22
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - the hull was built 1943-44 in a wartime commercial yard and its post-1946 life was foreign transfer and reported foreign stripping/disposal, for which no survey or disposal record was located. Does not establish that asbestos is or was not present; does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility. CourtListener sweep remains open - logged as a gap, not a clean negative.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-nimble-am266-09