Evidence
10 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-10).
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[1]research packet 662-packet.md [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-oceanus-lst328-pkt-662-packet-md
-
[2]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, 'Oceanus' entry, Naval History and Heritage Command (published 17 Aug 2015; live page 404 at research time - cited via Wayback Machine capture 2024-05-25) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- NHHC DANFS Oceanus entry, full text (archived capture); live URL https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/oceanus.html returned HTTP 404 on 2026-10-02
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS: Oceanus was laid down as LST-328, 12 November 1942, at the Navy Yard, Philadelphia; redesignated ARB-2, 25 January 1943; launched 11 February 1943; commissioned 22 May 1943, Lt. Comdr. W. B. Studley in command. Service: shakedown Chesapeake Bay; departed Norfolk 23 July 1943; Noumea, New Caledonia, 18 September 1943 (converting LCIs to shoal-draft gunboats, emergency repairs); Espiritu Santo 28 October; Florida Island 1944; departed Solomons in TG 31.4, 9 September 1944; Kossol Roads, Palaus, 20 September - repairing craft and vessels damaged in the Palau and Philippine assaults, often while underway; Guam, joined TG 51.5 for Iwo Jima, arrived 20 February 1945, remained to 17 March; Okinawa campaign at Kerama Retto, round-the-clock repairs to kamikaze- and bomb-damaged ships into mid-May; 14 May Hagushi anchorage for emergency repairs to New Mexico (BB-40); Kerama Retto 'Scrap Iron Row' 21 May to early June; Leyte, San Pedro Bay, 15 June 1945 through war's end; post-war Okinawa, then Shanghai (October into December) servicing landing and patrol craft of China Group; departed for the U.S. 25 December 1945; decommissioned as of January 1947; berthed San Diego, Pacific Reserve Fleet; struck from the Navy List 1 July 1961 'and scrapped.' Statistical line: (ARB-2: dp. 1,781; b. 50; dr. 11'2"; s. 12 k.; cpl. 286; a. 1 3", 8 40mm.; cl. Aristaeus).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1942-1961
- Limitations
- Establishes identity, construction dates, redesignation, and service history for this hull. DANFS 'and scrapped' framing conflicts with the documented post-1962 merchant barge conversion (see correction row). No asbestos or materials content; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-oceanus-lst328-01
-
[3]NavSource Online, Service Ship Photo Archive, USS Oceanus (ARB-2), archive 09/26/2602 (includes NHHC photo NH 83856 and a DANFS link; page updated 12 Jul 2024) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 09/26/2602 ship page - chronology, campaigns, specifications, commanding-officer table
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource USS Oceanus (ARB-2) page (live-verified 2026-10-02): laid down 12 November 1942 as LST-328 at Philadelphia Navy Yard; reclassified battle damage repair ship ARB-2, 25 January 1943; launched 11 February 1943; commissioned USS Oceanus (ARB-2) 22 May 1943, LCDR William B. Studley Jr., USNR. Asiatic-Pacific campaigns: Western Caroline Islands (Southern Palaus, 6 Sep-14 Oct 1944), Iwo Jima (20 Feb-16 Mar 1945), Okinawa Gunto (2 Apr-10 Jun 1945); three battle stars; Navy Occupation Service Medal and China Service Medal (extended), both 9 Sep-25 Dec 1945. Decommissioned January 1947, San Diego; Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group; struck 1 July 1961; registered 1967 by Alaska Barge & Transport, Inc., Vancouver, WA, as freight barge 630, homeport Seattle; final disposition unknown. Specifications: disp. 1,781 lt / 4,100 fl; 328' x 50' x 11'2"; 11.6 kt trial; complement 20 officers + 234 enlisted; armament 1 x 3"/50, 2 quad 40mm, 8 x 20mm; two GM 12-567A diesels, Falk reduction gears, two propellers, 1,800 shp; 4 x 100 kW 120/240 V DC + 2 x 100 kW 450 V AC generators; diesel fuel 4,480 bbl; largest boom 50 t.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1942-1967
- Limitations
- NavSource is a volunteer naval-history archive, not an official record - figures cross-checked against DANFS and shipscribe; campaign list documents three campaigns (three battle stars) contradicting the 'one battle star' in secondary summaries. No asbestos or materials content; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-oceanus-lst328-02
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[4]shipscribe.com, 'USS Aristaeus (ARB-1) Class' page, compiled by Stephen S. Roberts (2002-2007) from BuShips/OpNav records [other_primary]
- Locator
- ARB-1 class page: construction/disposition tables, class notes, ship note for ARB-2
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- shipscribe ARB-1 class compilation (from BuShips and OpNav records): all twelve Aristaeus-class ARBs were built under LST contracts and reclassified/fitted as ARBs before entering service. Conversion designation chain: SecNav approved ARL/ARB/AGP types and hull assignments 13 Jan 1943; on 25 Jan 1943 the LSTs designated to become ARB 1-2 and AGP-1 were renumbered from LST 326-328 to LST 328-330 to minimize unnecessary builder work - 25 Jan 43 is the BuShips reclassification date. Oceanus ship note: ex LST-328 (25 Jan 43), ex LST-327 (13 Jan 43); completed as LST 18 Feb 43; converted by Maryland Drydock, Baltimore (arrived from Philadelphia 24 Feb 43); final drydocking 9 Aug 46 San Pedro; decommissioned San Diego 24 Jan 47 'in interests of inactivation program,' 93% inactivated, inactive status 28 Jan 47; disposal sale 3 May 62, to buyer 6 Jun 62; merchant barge ZB-102F (1963). Class notes describe ARB vs LST differences: heavier armament, greater cargo-handling deck facilities, much longer superstructure deck, tank deck fitted with lathes/grinders/drills/metal cutters/welding machines and other shop equipment; bow doors welded shut; larger crew with specialized ship-repair ratings.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1942-1963
- Limitations
- Independently compiled from official records (BuShips/OpNav), not itself an official publication; resolves the LST-327/LST-328 renumbering and documents the Maryland Drydock conversion and 24 Jan 1947 decommissioning. No asbestos or materials content; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-oceanus-lst328-03
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[5]Consolidated era inference - NavSource/shipscribe machinery and conversion data for this hull + WWII shipbuilding-era practice [other_primary]
- Locator
- Class/era inference synthesis; no underlying hull-level material schedule located
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Class/era inference for this hull: a 1942-43 Philadelphia Navy Yard-built LST hull converted to a battle damage repair ship at Maryland Drydock, Baltimore, in 1943 - construction and conversion both inside the documented wartime window of heavy asbestos use in U.S. shipbuilding. The diesel plant (two GM 12-567A, no boilers) narrows the steam-lagging pathway; era-typical asbestos-relevant applications for this hull type are engine-exhaust and machinery lagging, gaskets, valve packing, thermal/acoustic insulation in accommodation spaces, deck coverings, and the conversion's newly fitted shop spaces and extended superstructure.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1942-1947 (active service); 1947-1961 (reserve)
- Population
- Construction trades (Philadelphia Navy Yard, 1942-43); conversion-yard workers (Maryland Drydock, Baltimore, 1943); ship's company incl. specialized ship-repair ratings; crews of alongside vessels under repair
- Limitations
- Era/design inference only - no ship-level material schedule, survey, or abatement record located. Establishes no quantity, no present-day presence, and no exposure for any individual; does not prove asbestos was or is aboard this hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-oceanus-lst328-04
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[6]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
- DOI landing verified 2026-10-02 (redirects to Wiley); AJIM 11(3):359-373
- 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 program and era under which this hull was built (1942-43) and converted (1943).
- 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 scholarly documentation of asbestos use in WWII shipbuilding generally; does not name this vessel and does not establish that asbestos was or remains aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-oceanus-lst328-05
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[7]GAO, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure, HRD-80-2 (18 Oct 1979) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO product page HRD-80-2 (full text returns HTTP 403 to automated fetch; content via product-page description)
- 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 - meaning original-era insulation typically remained in place aboard ships of this vintage for decades unless disturbed.
- 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- or class-specific; this hull left Navy custody in 1962, before the documented policy window - included only as Navy asbestos-policy context. Full text not retrieved (gao.gov 403).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-oceanus-lst328-06
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[8]Cross-source reconciliation: DANFS (archived NHHC) + NavSource 09/26/2602 + shipscribe ARB-1 class page; secondary Wikipedia summary cited only as the discrepancy's origin [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource campaign table and final-disposition block; shipscribe ship note ARB-2; DANFS closing line
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Source discrepancies documented: (a) Decommission - DANFS 'as of January 1947' and a '15 January 1947' figure in Wikipedia-derived secondary text vs shipscribe's record-based 24 Jan 1947 decommissioning (inactive status 28 Jan 1947); month agreed, exact day unresolved. (b) Battle stars - NavSource documents three Asiatic-Pacific campaigns (Western Carolines, Iwo Jima, Okinawa) and three battle stars vs 'one battle star' in secondary summaries; NavSource's campaign-table count adopted. (c) Fate - DANFS 'struck ... 1 July 1961 and scrapped' / secondary 'sold for scrapping 3 May 1962 to Zidell Exploration' vs documented merchant conversion: disposal sale 3 May 1962, delivery to buyer 6 Jun 1962, barge ZB-102F (1963), Alaska Barge & Transport freight barge 630, Seattle (registered 1967), final fate unknown - 'scrapped' is unsupported simplification.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1945-1967
- Limitations
- Resolves publication-level discrepancies in secondary framings; DANFS 'scrapped' and Wikipedia 'one battle star'/'15 January 1947' are not adopted. None of the sources contains asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-oceanus-lst328-07
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[9]Batch-6865 search ledger (this record): archived NHHC DANFS page; NavSource 09/26/2602; shipscribe ARB-1 class page; MARAD ShipHistory search; NARA catalog API; CourtListener attempts [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-oceanus-lst328-01 through sl-uss-oceanus-lst328-08
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming Oceanus/ARB-2/LST-328 was found in the public sources searched - DANFS, NavSource, and shipscribe pages contain no asbestos or insulation-material statement; CourtListener name/hull searches could not be completed this session (fleet pacing stand-down - logged as blocked, not a negative result; see search_ledger).
- 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 1942-43 hull with a 1943 conversion is era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility. Litigation-database coverage is incomplete this session (blocked, not negative).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-oceanus-lst328-08
-
[10]NARA Guide to Federal Records: RG 24 (Bureau of Naval Personnel - deck logs) and RG 19 (Bureau of Ships) [other_primary]
- Locator
- RG 24 deck-log guidance; RG 19 BuShips records; catalog.archives.gov API returned no JSON response 2026-10-02
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - require research-room or reproduction request): NARA RG 24 deck logs for USS Oceanus (ARB-2), 1943-1947, cover machinery spaces, repair operations, and alongside-work detail that could indicate material disturbance; RG 19 (Bureau of Ships) conversion and contract files document the Maryland Drydock ARB conversion scope including insulation work; Philadelphia Navy Yard construction records document the 1942-43 build; Record Group holdings mapped but box-level contents unverified - NARA catalog API did not return JSON results this session.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1942-1962 records
- Limitations
- Record-group mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for this hull is unknown until surveyed in person. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-oceanus-lst328-09