USS Pickens (APA-190)

Evidence

10 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-10).

1. [1]Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, Vol. 3 (NAVSHIPS 250-012, 1945), auxiliaries - transports, attack (APA) tables, per-hull rows for PICKENS APA-190 (indexed 'Pickens (ex -M.C. V. Hull 658) APA 190', item 197 in the APA tables) (shipscribe.com scan of the official BuShips publication) [other_primary]

   Locator

   SDB1945v3 APA tables: dimensions row '197 PICKENS (ex-M.C.V. Hull 658) APA 190 ... 455 0 / 436 6 / 62 0 / 17.7 / 14,837' (printed p. 264); personnel row '12,450 / 24 0 / 56 / 480 / 87 / 1,475 / 35 PICKENS . 197' (printed p. 265); machinery row '197 PICKENS... APA190 2 A-C turb. 8,500 2 .do. 465 750' (printed p. 266); armament/cargo row '197 PICKENS . 1 5", 38 cal. (D.P.) 4 twin, 1 quad ... 150,000 -.do.-- 5,800 2,900' (printed p. 268); construction row 'Kaiser S. B. Co., Vancouver, Wash. / 19 Sept 44 / 1944 / 18 Sept 44 / PICKENS........ APA190 197' (printed p. 269); index entries 'M.C. V. Hull 658 (now Pickens) .. APA 190' and 'Pickens (ex -M.C. V. Hull 658) -- APA 190'

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Official BuShips Ships' Data 1945 Vol. 3 carries per-hull rows for PICKENS APA-190 (ex-M.C.V. Hull 658, item 197) across the APA tables: 455'0" overall / 436'6" on waterline; extreme beam 62'0"; trial speed 17.7 knots; 14,837 tons trial displacement; 12,450 tons limiting displacement, 24'0" limiting draft; ship's company 56 officers + 480 enlisted with troop accommodations 87 officers + 1,475 enlisted; largest boom 35 t; machinery 'A-C turb.' (Allis-Chalmers turbine - the APA 187-203 Kaiser Vancouver block fitted Allis-Chalmers per the shipscribe class table), 8,500 shp, 2 boilers '.do.' resolving to C.E. hdr. (Combustion Engineering header-type), steam conditions 465 psi / 750F; armament 1 x 5"/38 cal (D.P.) + 4 twin and 1 quad 40mm; cargo 150,000 cu ft non-refrigerated, deadweight 5,800/2,900 tons; builder Kaiser S. B. Co., Vancouver, Wash.; date acquired 19 Sept 44; year built 1944; date of first commission 18 Sept 44.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1945

   Limitations

   Authoritative wartime BuShips publication naming this hull - confirms identity, the Allis-Chalmers/Combustion Engineering machinery plant, manning, and key dates. Two print anomalies flagged in the correction row: the machinery table prints '2' in the number-of-propellers column for Pickens and the whole Kaiser Vancouver row-block, against the class's single-screw design (NavSource and the shipscribe class page print 1 screw); and the acquisition date (19 Sept 44) postdates the printed first-commission date (18 Sept 44). Contains no materials, insulation, or asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim. Rows verified against the page images (printed pp. 264, 266, 268-269), not the OCR text layer.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-pickens-apa190-01

2. [2]DANFS Vol. V (N-Q, GPO), 'Pickens' entry, printed p. 293 (Internet Archive scan dictionaryofamer05wash, djvu full text read word-for-word) + verbatim ibiblio HyperWar transcription (live NHHC page at /research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/p/pickens.html returns 404 - standing NHHC link rot, cf. BATCH-01; no Wayback capture exists for this page) [nhhc_danfs]

   Locator

   DANFS Vol. V (N-Q), 'Pickens' entry, printed p. 293 (archive.org item dictionaryofamer05wash, djvu text ~line 48128); verbatim transcription https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/dafs/APA/apa190.html

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   DANFS records: named for 'Counties in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina'; spec block '(APA-190: dp. 14,833 (f.); l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 28'1"; s. 17 k.; cpl. 501; trp. 1,562; a. 1 5", 12 40mm.; cl. Haskell; T. VC2-S-AP5)'. 'Pickens (APA-190), built under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 658), was laid down by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Co., Vancouver, Wash., 22 April 1944; launched 21 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Howard Denhart; delivered to the Navy and commissioned 18 September 1944, Comdr. John V. McElduff in command.' Service: shakedown, amphibious training in Hawaiian waters, then 27 January 1945 to the western Pacific with elements of the 4th Marine Division; unit of TransDiv 45, off Iwo Jima the morning of 19 February standing off the assault beach 0730-1800 landing troops and equipment, retiring at night and returning daily to offload cargo and take on casualties; departed 28 February for Saipan and Guam to disembark casualty passengers; a month of Operation 'Iceberg' rehearsals with 2nd Division Marines embarked; departed the Marianas 27 March and on 1 April joined the diversionary landings on Okinawa's southeastern coast, assuming TransDiv 44 commander duties after Hinsdale (APA-120) was kamikazed and rescuing survivors of that APA, LST-884, and LST-784; repeated the feint 2 April and remained in the stand-by area until the 9th; debarked troops at Saipan 14 April; sailed 4 June for Noumea, cargo to the Marianas, then San Francisco availability arriving 3 August; occupation-troop lifts and 'Magic Carpet' duty completed at San Francisco 7 January 1946; east coast inactivation; decommissioned at Norfolk 12 April 1946, redelivered to the Maritime Commission 18 April, stricken 1 May; 'Into 1970 she remains with the National Defense Reserve Fleet, laid up at the James River Berthing area.' 'Pickens earned two battle stars during World War II.'

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1944-1970 (entry print date)

   Limitations

   Authoritative Navy history text; contains no asbestos or materials information; supports no asbestos claim. Entry was current to its print era - the 1973 sale and scrapping postdate the entry's closing line ('Into 1970 she remains ...'). Transcription variants flagged in the correction row: the ibiblio transcription prints 'MeElduff' where the GPO scan prints 'McElduff', and 'LST-784' where the GPO OCR text layer reads 'LST-724' (LST-784 is the transcription-consistent reading and matches the documented 1 April kamikaze victims). Live NHHC page 404s and has no Wayback capture; text verified against the GPO scan and the ibiblio transcription.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-pickens-apa190-02

3. [3]NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive - USS Pickens (APA-190), file 10/03/03190 [other_primary]

   Locator

   NavSource 03190.htm - timeline, specifications block, awards table, commanding-officer list, photo captions (incl. NHHC NH 83487)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   NavSource timeline corroborates DANFS and adds detail: radio call sign NQKX; laid down 22 April 1944 as Maritime Commission type VC2-S-AP5 hull (MC hull MCV 658) at Kaiser Shipbuilding Corp, Vancouver, WA; launched 21 July 1944; acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission and commissioned 18 September 1944, CDR John V. McElduff in command; wartime assignment Asiatic-Pacific Theater, TransRon Fourteen (COMO D. L. Ryan USN) / TransDiv Forty-Two (CAPT A. R. Mack USN); campaigns: Iwo Jima operation - assault and occupation of Iwo Jima 19-28 February 1945, and Okinawa Gunto operation - assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto 1-11 April 1945; occupation service in the Far East 30 September - 1 November 1945; 'Decommissioned, 12 April 1946, at Norfolk, VA. Returned to the Maritime Commission, 18 April 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Lee Hall, VA. Struck from the Naval Register, 1 May 1946'; 'Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 9 April 1973, to Union Minerals & Alloys Corp., (PD-X-956, dated 5 March 1973) for $111,500.00., Delivered 7 September 1973'; two battle stars. Spec block: 6,873 t light / 14,837 t full; 455' x 62'; draft 24' (lim); 17.7 kts; 56 officers + 480 enlisted; troop accommodations 87 officers + 1,475 enlisted; largest boom 35 t; boats 2 LCMs, 1 open LCPL, 1 covered LCPL (captain's gig), 2 LCPRs, 18 LCVPs; armament 1 x 5"/38 DP, 1 quad + 4 twin 40mm, 10 single 20mm; cargo 150,000 cu ft / 2,900 DWT; fuel 7,780 bbl NSFO + 970 diesel; propulsion 1 Allis-Chalmers geared turbine, 2 Combustion Engineering header-type boilers 465 psi/750F, double Falk main reduction gears, three 300kW 120/240V DC ship's-service generators, one propeller 8,500 shp. CO list: CDR John Vincent McElduff USN (USNA 1919), 18 Sep 1944 - 12 Apr 1946. Photo captions: launch-ceremony photos credited Dale Hargrave (caption prints '21 May 1944' - flagged in the correction row); NHHC photo NH 83487, Pickens in Camouflage Measure 32 Design 4T during a Pacific amphibious operation probably first half of 1945 (US Naval Historical Center, courtesy Donald M. McPherson 1975).

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1944-1973

   Limitations

   Specialist secondary compilation - detailed but non-official; consistent with DANFS, BuShips, and the MARAD cards on all checkable points except the printed sale price ($111,500 vs card $111,560 - flagged in the correction row) and the launch-photo caption date (21 May 1944 caption vs 21 July 1944 launch in every source - likely caption typo). Contains no asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-pickens-apa190-03

4. [4]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - PICKENS (APA-190), Ship History Detail 3871, incl. three digitized status-card scans read directly (5O7_01.png Vessel Status Card with operator/custody table; 3871_7157AF.jpg Reserve Fleet Division - Vessel Data; 3871_AF.jpg Record of Ship Sales, Form MA-20) [marad_nrc]

   Locator

   ShipHistory Detail 3871 registry block + status-card scans: 5O7_01.png (Vessel Status Card), 3871_7157AF.jpg (Reserve Fleet Division - Vessel Data), 3871_AF.jpg (Record of Ship Sales, Form MA-20)

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   MARAD primary custody record for this hull, read directly from the digitized cards: type VC2-S-AP5, fleet 'JR' (James River), hull no. MCV658, ownership WSA, built Kaiser Co., Inc., Vancouver, Wash., completed 9-18-44; Vessel Status Card records 'Basis to W.S.A. 9-19-44 9:30AM PWT @ Astoria, Ore. del. by Builders to USMC' and '4-18-46 9:50AM EST @ Lee Hall, Va. from Navy Dept.-Surplus'; operator table: Navy Dept. (del. by USMC) at Astoria 9-19-44; Reserve Fleet at Lee Hall 4-18-46; 'South Atlantic SS. Line, Inc. (Repair Program)' under GAA at James River 8-1-55 12:30pm EST; 'Reserve Fleet (Repair Program)' James River 10-7-55 1:15pm EST; 'Union Minerals & Alloys Corp. (Scrap)' purchase 4-9-73; 'Physical Delivery' 9/7/73 3:00PM EDT. Vessel Data card: date entered fleet 4-18-46; reason for lay-up 'High cost to convert for commercial use'; red-stamped 'Repair Program FY 1956 / Withdrawn Aug. 1, 1955-1230 hrs EST / GAA-South Atlantic SS' and 'Returned JR Oct. 7, 1955- 1315 hrs EST / GAA-South Atlantic SS'; fuel oil on entry 1,184 bbls Bunker C, 53 bbls diesel removed; termination port last voyage NORFOLK; 'Sold for scrap under PD-X-956, 4-9-73 to Union Minerals & Alloys Corp. for $111,560.'; withdrawn/delivered 1500 EDT 9-7-73. Record of Ship Sales (Form MA-20): PD-X-956; awarded to Union Minerals & Alloys Corp. 4-9-73 at $111,560.00; contract no. MA-6927; dimensions 436'6" x 62' x 38'; location James River, Va., Resflt.; remarks 'Advertised under PD-X-956 dated 3-5-73 opened 4-4-73 under two condition: (1) NTU (2) Scrap Hull - U. S. Award under condition (2) Scrap Hull - U. S. 24 months.' Registry fields: Year Built 1944; Shipyard 'Kaiser Company'; General Type 'Naval Auxiliary'; Specific Type 'AP/APA/LPA'; MARAD Type VC2-S-AP5; Ship Length 436.50 ft; Beam 62.00 ft; Fate 'Sold - Scrap'; milestones Disposition 9/7/1973 'CUST 1946REPAIR PRG' and Withdrawl 9/7/1973.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1946-1973

   Population

   NDRF caretakers, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA (1946-1973); South Atlantic Steamship Line repair workforce under the FY1956 repair program (Aug-Oct 1955); Union Minerals & Alloys shipbreaking workforce (1973)

   Limitations

   Authoritative government custody record - the primary source for the 27-year NDRF lay-up, the August-October 1955 repair-program withdrawal to South Atlantic Steamship Line under GAA (FY1956 program per the red stamp; shipscribe's hull note records it as 'Repaired while inactive 1 Aug 55-7 Oct 55'), and the 1973 sale chain including advertisement dates, contract number, award condition, and price. No asbestos, insulation, or hazmat annotation appears on any card scan - an absence of a record entry, not evidence nothing was abated; the scope of the FY1956 repair-program work is not recorded on the cards. Scrapping location not recorded.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-pickens-apa190-04

5. [5]Source cross-check - DANFS Vol. V GPO scan (archive.org dictionaryofamer05wash) vs ibiblio transcription vs NavSource 03190 vs MARAD status cards (Detail 3871) vs BuShips SDB 1945 v3 per-hull rows (item 197) vs shipscribe.com U.S. Navy Auxiliary Ships HASKELL (APA-117) class page [other_primary]

   Locator

   DANFS Vol. V Pickens entry (printed p. 293) vs ibiblio apa190.html vs NavSource 03190 vs MARAD card scans (5O7_01.png, 3871_7157AF.jpg, 3871_AF.jpg) vs SDB1945v3 rows (item 197, printed pp. 264-269, verified against page images) vs shipscribe.com/usnaux/APA/APA117.html (APA-190 construction row, disposal row, hull note)

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   Source discrepancies resolved or flagged: (a) Propeller count - the BuShips SDB 1945 v3 machinery table prints '2' in the number-of-propellers column for PICKENS and for every Kaiser Vancouver hull row on the page (OCONTO APA-187 through PONDERA APA-191); the shipscribe class page machinery line and class data carry '1 screw', and NavSource prints 'one propeller' for this hull - unresolved whether a per-block design difference or a systematic misprint; carried as single screw on the weight of the design-level record, flagged here. (b) Complement - DANFS spec block prints cpl. 501 while the BuShips personnel row and NavSource print 56 officers + 480 enlisted (536); carried as 536 per two concordant sources, flagged. (c) Acquisition vs commission - the MARAD card records builders' delivery to USMC at Astoria, Ore. 9-19-44 9:30AM PWT and BuShips prints 'date acquired' 19 Sept 44, while DANFS/NavSource print delivered and commissioned 18 September; carried as commissioned 18 Sep with the 19 Sep USMC delivery noted - different handoffs, not a true conflict. (d) Draft - DANFS spec block prints dr. 28'1" while BuShips prints 24'0" limiting and NavSource 24' (lim); different measures/conditions, carried as printed per source. (e) Displacement - DANFS prints 14,833 (f.) vs BuShips/NavSource 14,837 trial - minor print difference, carried per source. (f) Sale price - NavSource/Wikipedia print $111,500; the MARAD card and Record of Ship Sales print $111,560.00 - carried $111,560 per the primary card. (g) CO name - the ibiblio transcription prints 'MeElduff' where the GPO scan and NavSource print 'McElduff' - transcription typo, McElduff carried. (h) Rescuee hull - ibiblio/NavSource print 'LST-884 and LST-784' where the GPO OCR layer reads 'LST-724'; LST-784 is consistent with the documented 1 April feint casualties (Hinsdale APA-120, LST-884, LST-784) - carried 784, flagged. (i) Launch-photo caption - NavSource contributor caption dates the launching ceremony '21 May 1944' while every source prints launch 21 July 1944 - treated as a caption typo. (j) MCV hull - the OCR text layer of the BuShips dimensions page misreads 'Hull 668'; the page image and both index entries print Hull 658, consistent with DANFS/MARAD - 658 carried. (k) shipscribe construction row '190 PICKENS 18 Sep 44 / Kaiser, Vancouver / 22 Apr 44 / 21 Jul 44 / 18 Sep 44' and disposal row '190 PICKENS 12 Apr 46 / 1 May 46 / 18 Apr 46 / MC/R / 9 Apr 73' concur with DANFS/MARAD; hull note '190 PICK 658 Repaired while inactive 1 Aug 55-7 Oct 55. To buyer 7 Sep 73.' independently corroborates the MARAD card's FY1956 repair withdrawal and the 7 Sep 73 delivery.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   correction

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1944-1973 (sources 1945-2026)

   Limitations

   Resolves publication-level conflicts across official and secondary sources; none of the compared sources contains asbestos information; this row supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-pickens-apa190-05

6. [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); machinery data per BuShips SDB 1945 v3 per-hull row for APA-190 and NavSource ship-data sheet [other_primary]

   Locator

   SDB1945v3 machinery table (PICKENS row, item 197, printed p. 266); NavSource 03190 spec block; MARAD status cards (1955 repair withdrawals, 1973 sale); haskell-class.class.json (class-f worktree) for class context; AJIM 11(3):359-373

   Finding type

   asbestos_application

   Finding

   Era/design inference: this hull carried a geared-steam plant (Allis-Chalmers turbine machinery, two Combustion Engineering header-type boilers at 465 psi/750F, 8,500 shp) built and fitted out at peak WWII asbestos usage - the machinery configuration for which boiler and fireroom insulation, main and auxiliary steam-line lagging, turbine lagging, valve and flange gaskets, machinery packing, and accommodation joiner insulation of the period were commonly asbestos-containing. Troop-space outfitting (accommodations for ~1,562) added interior insulation scope. Documented ship-level disturbance/repair phases for this hull: construction at Kaiser Shipbuilding, Vancouver (Apr-Sep 1944); a single commission period (Sep 1944 - Apr 1946) including amphibious-landing, casualty-evacuation, occupation-lift, and Magic-Carpet service; the August-October 1955 repair-program withdrawal to South Atlantic Steamship Line (FY1956, unrecorded scope); and the 1973 breaking after sale to Union Minerals & Alloys.

   Verification

   inferred

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1944-1973

   Population

   Construction trades at Kaiser Shipbuilding, Vancouver (1944); wartime crew (~536) and embarked troops (up to ~1,562, incl. elements of the 4th Marine Division at Iwo Jima and 2nd Division Marines for Operation Iceberg); NDRF lay-up/repair workforces (1946-1973); Union Minerals & Alloys shipbreakers (1973)

   Limitations

   Inference from the documented machinery plant and construction era - NOT a hull record. No survey, specification, or material schedule naming APA-190 was located; establishes no asbestos content, quantity, location, individual exposure, or causation.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-pickens-apa190-06

7. [7]Fleischer, W.E., Viles, F.J. Jr., Gade, R.L., and Drinker, P., 'A health survey of pipe covering operations in constructing naval vessels,' J Ind Hyg Toxicol 28(1):9-16 (Jan 1946), PMID 21016030 [other_primary]

   Locator

   J Ind Hyg Toxicol 28(1):9-16; PubMed PMID 21016030

   Finding type

   gov_survey

   Finding

   The U.S. Maritime Commission-commissioned industrial-hygiene survey of WWII pipe-covering operations at two Navy yards and two Navy contract yards documented that 'an important ingredient of pipe covering material used on U.S. Navy vessels is amosite' - i.e., asbestos insulation was standard material in wartime naval-vessel construction of exactly this hull's era and type.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1944-1945 survey; published 1946

   Population

   WWII pipe coverers and naval-vessel construction trades (era context)

   Limitations

   Era-level documentation of asbestos use in naval construction generally; does not name this vessel, class, or builder yard and establishes nothing about this hull's materials, condition, or any individual exposure.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-pickens-apa190-07

8. [8]CourtListener API v4 authenticated opinion/docket sweeps, 2026-09-25 (via fleet-paced cl-auth-search.py) [court_record]

   Locator

   CourtListener sweeps sl-uss-pickens-apa190-07 through sl-uss-pickens-apa190-11

   Finding type

   litigation_documented

   Finding

   Authenticated CourtListener sweeps returned no qualifying case for this hull: 'USS Pickens' opinions count=0 and dockets count=0; 'APA-190' opinions count=4 - all name collisions in Delaware corporate dockets (Sofregen Medical, Inc. v. Allergan Sales, LLC, Del. Super. N20C-03-319; John D. Arwood v. AW Site Services, LLC, Del. Ch. C.A. 2019-0904-JRS, three filings) where 'APA-190' matches exhibit/purchasing tokens, not a vessel; 'APA-190' dockets count=17 - all collisions (Administrative Procedure Act agency suits incl. Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. USDA and California v. EPA; contract cases with suitNature '190'; Allied Pilots Association labor litigation; criminal dockets) with no vessel reference; '"Pickens" asbestos' dockets count=1,444 - screened top results are asbestos plaintiffs surnamed Pickens (Pickens v. American Standard, E.D. Pa. MDL-875 dockets 2:06-cv-60512 and 2:07-cv-65804; Pickens v. American Standard, E.D. Va. 2:97-cv-01048; Pickens v. AC&S Inc., E.D. Tex. 1:88-cv-00818 - the 'Oliver Pickens' Beaumont seaman asbestos case per E.D. Tex. General Order 91-09) and Pickens County government litigation - no hull naming; '"Pickens" asbestos' opinions count=47 - screened results are all name collisions (asbestos plaintiffs surnamed Pickens, e.g., Karatia Pickens v. Liberty Mutual, N.D. Ala.; Pickens Roofing & Sheet Metals as a construction defendant; Pickens County SC references inside South Carolina asbestos opinions incl. Murphy v. Owens-Corning and Braswell v. AC&S) - no hull naming.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   negative_finding

   Documentation level

   context_only

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   sweeps run 2026-09-25

   Limitations

   Zero qualifying hits at any litigation stage for exact-name and hull-number queries; every hit is a name collision ('Pickens' as surname/county/company; 'APA' as Administrative Procedure Act, suit-nature code, or association initialism). RECAP text-index matches were screened by case name - filings that mention the hull without naming it in the caption would not surface. A name match is not a finding: no complaint, discovery record, trial finding, or judgment names this hull.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-pickens-apa190-08

9. [9]Batch-2260 search ledger (this record): DANFS Vol. V GPO scan via archive.org + verbatim ibiblio transcription; NHHC live DANFS URL (404, no Wayback capture); NavSource 03190; MARAD ShipHistory Detail 3871 + three status-card scans read directly; BuShips SDB 1945 v3 per-hull rows (item 197, page images verified); shipscribe APA-117 class page; CourtListener authenticated opinion/docket sweeps; NVR; NARA catalog (war-diary series digitized via Fold3); VA BVA index [other_primary]

   Locator

   search_ledger rows sl-uss-pickens-apa190-01 through sl-uss-pickens-apa190-14

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, repair-scope record, hazmat disclosure, court finding, or docketed asbestos case naming USS Pickens / APA-190 / M.C.V. Hull 658 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger).

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   negative_finding

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   2026-09-25

   Limitations

   Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1944 geared-steam attack transport is era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials, and her 27 years in NDRF custody, the August-October 1955 repair-program withdrawal to South Atlantic Steamship Line, and the 1973 sale and breaking are documented or implied disturbance phases of unrecorded scope. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-pickens-apa190-09

10. [10]NARA catalog search for USS Pickens / APA-190 (catalog.archives.gov proxy API) + NARA Guide to Federal Records: RG 24 (Navy deck logs), RG 19 (Records of the Bureau of Ships), RG 38 (Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations - WWII war diaries/action reports), RG 178 (Records of the U.S. Maritime Commission), RG 357 (Records of the Maritime Administration) [other_primary]

    Locator

    catalog.archives.gov record search 'USS PICKENS' (361 file-unit hits incl. the war-diary series); https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/024.html ; /groups/019.html ; /groups/038.html ; /groups/178.html ; /groups/357.html ; NavSource 03190 photo captions (NHHC NH 83487)

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    Archival leads, partially digitized: the NARA catalog indexes a complete USS Pickens war-diary series - monthly diaries September 1944 through December 1945 plus a consolidated 'USS PICKENS - War History' - digitized via the Fold3 partner program (WWII war-diaries series, catalog naIds 77681624, 134365852, 139799374, 139847134, 139984503, 633399385, 139905133, 140020955, 101714611, 101759971, 77593566, 140084715, 83559005; e.g., fold3.com/image/302076460), alongside TransDiv 45 and TransRon/Division diaries relevant to her service; records are operational (movements, not materials). Unretrieved: Navy deck logs Sep 1944 - Apr 1946 (RG 24, NARA College Park; WWII deck logs are also digitized via the NARA catalog partner program); BuShips records incl. VC2-S-AP5 contract plans and Booklets of General Plans (RG 19); USMC construction-contract records for M.C.V. Hull 658 covering the Kaiser Vancouver build (RG 178); and MARAD/NDRF custody files covering the 1946-1973 lay-up, the FY1956 'Repair Program' contract with South Atlantic Steamship Line (GAA), and the PD-X-956 / MA-6927 sale file (RG 357). Non-NARA leads: NHHC photo catalog item NH 83487 (Pickens in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 4T, probably first half of 1945, courtesy Donald M. McPherson 1975 - live NHHC pages currently 404).

    Verification

    unverified

    Role

    archival_lead

    Documentation level

    context_only

    Accessed

    2026-09-25

    Study period

    1944-1973 records

    Limitations

    Record-group and catalog-level mapping - the Fold3 scans were identified in the catalog but not opened at document level (partner-site access; no spend authorized); 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-pickens-apa190-10