Evidence
12 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-12).
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[1]research packet 921-packet.md (4 sources cited) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: MISMATCH — real identity: USS **SC-661** — **SC-497-class** submarine chaser (class asserted here: Wikipedia's SC-497-class page displays USS SC-661 as its lead photograph, directly tying hull 661 to that class).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-sc-661-sc661-pkt-921-packet-md
-
[2]Naval Historical Center, Online Library of Selected Images: 'USS SC-661, 1942-1945' (HyperWar/ibiblio mirror of NHC photo page; photos NH 96483 builder's photograph and NH 85415) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- Page narrative and photo captions NH 96483, NH 85415
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NHHC documents for this hull: 'a 95-ton 110-foot submarine chaser, was built at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and was commissioned in October 1942. SC-661 was loaned to Russia under Lend-Lease in May 1945 and served as BO-303 until 1954.' Photo caption NH 96483: 'Photographed by her builder, Burger Boat Co., Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on 6 October 1942.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 1941-1954 (entry coverage)
- Population
- Burger Boat construction trades (1941-42); crew (1942-45)
- Limitations
- Ship-specific history only; no asbestos or material content. '95-ton' is a light-displacement figure - NavSource's class specification block carries 148 t (see gaps). Page is the HyperWar/ibiblio verbatim mirror of the NHC photo page; verified live 200 on 2026-10-03.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-sc-661-sc661-01
-
[3]NavSource Online: Submarine Chaser Photo Archive, SC-661 (12/150661) - timeline, specifications, Soviet service [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 12/150661.htm capsule timeline and 'SC-497 Class Submarine Chaser' specification block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource timeline for this hull: 'Laid down 30 December 1941 by the Burger Boat Co., Manitowoc, Wisconsin; Launched 26 June 1942; Commissioned USS PC-661, 26 October 1942; Reclassified SC-661 in April 1943; Transferred to the Soviet Union 25 May 1945 and reclassified BO-303; Assigned to the Soviet Pacific Fleet 8 June 1945; Participated in the landing of troops in Rasin (Najin), North Korea on 12 August 1945 and Maoku (Kholmsk), Sakhalin Island, Japan on 20 August 1945; Awarded the Order of the Red Banner 25 September 1945; Placed out of service 1 February 1954 and scrapped.' Specification block: 148 t; 110'10"; 17' beam; 6'6" draft; 21 kts; complement 28; one 40mm mount, two .50 cal., two 'Y Gun' depth-charge projectors, two depth-charge racks; two 1,540 bhp GM (EMD) 16-184A diesels, two shafts. Page also states 'There is no DANFS history available for SC-661.'
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 1941-1954
- Population
- Burger Boat trades (1941-42); US crew (1942-45); Soviet crew (1945-54)
- Limitations
- Volunteer secondary compilation, not a primary registry - milestone dates generally track official records but its 'Commissioned USS PC-661' claim is contradicted by the ship's own commissioning muster roll (see ev-05 correction), its '25 May 1945' transfer date conflicts with the NHC table's '26 May' (see ev-03 and gaps), and the Soviet-service details (fleet assignment, landings, Order of the Red Banner) are uncorroborated by any primary source located. Page verified live via Firecrawl on 2026-10-03 (returns HTTP 406 to bare automated fetches). No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-sc-661-sc661-02
-
[4]Richard A. Russell, 'Project Hula: Secret Soviet-American Cooperation in the War Against Japan' (The U.S. Navy in the Modern World Series No. 4, Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy, Washington, 1997) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- Appendix table 'U.S. Navy Combatant Ships Transferred to the USSR Under Project HULA' (SC661 row, p. 39 of PDF); narrative pp. 12, 17-20, 35
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The official Naval Historical Center monograph tabulates this hull's transfer: appendix 'U.S. Navy Combatant Ships Transferred to the USSR Under Project HULA, May-September 1945' lists SC661 -> BO-303, transfer date '26 May' (ditto sequence under SC537), disposition '1954-mothballed'. Narrative documents that transfers occurred at Cold Bay, Alaska, administered by Navy Detachment 3294 - 'the unit created specifically for HULA' - which transferred 149 ships to the Soviet navy in 142 days; that submarine chasers unable to make a nonstop passage were convoyed under US Navy escort via Unimak Pass and coastwise along the Aleutians to Adak, then independently to Petropavlovsk; the first Cold Bay-Petropavlovsk convoys sailed 28 May, 30 May (six subchasers), 7 June (seven subchasers), and 11 June 1945; and that the subchaser program suffered hull-damage repairs at Dutch Harbor and an eight-day delay.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 1945 (program); disposition to 1954
- Population
- US transfer crews and Navy Detachment 3294 staff (May 1945); Soviet receiving crews
- Limitations
- Official US Navy history; the appendix's Soviet-side dispositions are as-reported at program close ('1954-mothballed' vs NavSource's '1 February 1954, scrapped' - unresolved variant, see gaps). The monograph does not name SC-661 in narrative text - ship-level linkage is via the appendix table. Transfer-date '26 May' is read from the table's ditto sequence (OCR-extraction confirmed against page image structure). No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-sc-661-sc661-03
-
[5]NARA, Record Group 24 (Bureau of Naval Personnel), series 'Muster Rolls of U.S. Navy Ships, Stations, and Other Naval Activities', file unit 'SC-661, 10/26/42-5/24/45', NAID 192209149 - 181 digitized images (Ancestry partnership scan) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NAID 192209149; image 00002 (31 Dec 1942 quarterly forwarding sheet carrying the 'Comm 10-26-42 to 5-24-45 Decomm' annotation), image 00003 (26 Oct 1942 commissioning-muster forwarding sheet), images ~00177-00180 (May 1945 Reports of Changes)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The ship's own muster rolls - primary personnel records spanning her entire US career (26 October 1942 to 24 May 1945). Directly read images establish: the commissioning-day muster of 26 October 1942 styles her 'U.S.S. SC 661' and is approved by Lt. Louis F. Loutrel, Jr., USNR, Commanding Officer (signature also reads Dick F. Barrett, Executive Officer); the quarterly forwarding sheet for the period ending 31 December 1942 likewise styles her 'U.S.S. SC 661', signed by Loutrel with Lt.(jg) Frederick C. Schumacher as Executive Officer, forwarded 4 January 1943 from 'U.S.S. SC 661, c/o Postmaster, New York, New York'; and the closing May 1945 Reports of Changes detach her crew 'To Nav Det #3294 FFT, RS, PSNY, Bremerton, Wash' (Navy Detachment 3294, the Project Hula administrative unit; for further transfer to Receiving Station, Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton) on 6, 12, and 24 May 1945, signed by final commanding officer William R. Loweth. A handwritten annotation on the 31 December 1942 forwarding sheet reads 'Comm 10-26-42 to 5-24-45 Decomm'.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 1942-1945
- Population
- SC-661 crew, 26 Oct 1942 - 24 May 1945 (commissioning CO Lt. Louis F. Loutrel, Jr.; final CO William R. Loweth)
- Limitations
- Personnel records only - muster rolls document crew, commanding officers, and detachment destinations, not operations, materials, or asbestos. The 'Decomm' annotation indicates end of US custody 24-26 May 1945 consistent with the transfer; it is a records-office annotation, not a formal decommissioning document. 181 images; a small sample (reel cover, commissioning muster, Dec 1942 quarterly sheet, closing Reports of Changes) was read directly.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-sc-661-sc661-04
-
[6]Designation cross-check: NARA RG 24 muster roll styling (primary) vs NavSource 'Commissioned USS PC-661... Reclassified SC-661 in April 1943' (secondary); NavSource SC-497 and SC-498 pages document the class-wide PC->SC reclassification pattern [other_primary]
- Locator
- NARA NAID 192209149 images 00003 and 00001-00002; NavSource 12/150661.htm, 12/150497.htm, 12/150498.htm capsule lines
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- CORRECTION: secondary sources carry this hull as 'ex-PC-661', commissioned USS PC-661 on 26 October 1942 and reclassified SC-661 in April 1943 (NavSource). The class pattern is real - lead boats SC-497 and SC-498 were commissioned under PC designations and reclassified to SC in April 1943 (NavSource class pages). For this hull, however, the primary record contradicts a commissioned PC identity: her commissioning muster of 26 October 1942 styles her 'U.S.S. SC 661', and her 31 December 1942 quarterly muster sheet - inside the window NavSource claims she was still PC-661 - likewise styles her 'U.S.S. SC 661'. She never operated as a PC-461-class patrol craft: no PC-461 hull ever wore number 661, and 'PC-661' was at most a pre-commissioning administrative/paper designation that the ship's own records did not use. Consistent with the batch re-scope determination that PC-661 never existed as a PC vessel.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 1941-1943 (designation window)
- Limitations
- Resolves the vessel's identity claim, not a formal-designation timeline: the April 1943 blanket PC->SC reclassification is documented for the class in secondary sources, and whether a paperwork PC designation formally survived for this specific hull until then - unused by the ship herself - is undetermined (no SECNAV/BUSHIPS reclassification directive for hull 661 was located). Primary usage evidence (ship's own rolls) favored over secondary compilation per litigation-stage discipline.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-sc-661-sc661-05
-
[7]uboat.net Allied Warships, USS SC-661 (SC-661) - construction dates and the 28 August 1944 Gulf of Panama exercise record [other_primary]
- Locator
- uboat.net ship page 8878, specification table and 'Notable events' section
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- uboat.net records for this hull: ordered 18 September 1941; laid down 30 December 1941; launched 26 June 1942; commissioned 26 October 1942; end service 26 May 1945 ('Transferred to the USSR on 26 May 1945'); built by Burger Boat Co., Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Notable event: 28 August 1944, exercises in the Gulf of Panama with USS Jallao (SS-368), USS John D. Edwards (DD-216), USS Mallard (AM-44), and USS SC-654 - SC-661's commanding officer listed as Lt.(jg) R. D. Holsclaw, USNR.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 1941-1945
- Population
- Crew under Lt.(jg) R. D. Holsclaw (Aug 1944); Burger Boat trades (1941-42)
- Limitations
- Specialist secondary compilation; the 18 September 1941 order date and the Holsclaw command attribution are uncorroborated by primary sources located. Its 26 May 1945 transfer date agrees with the official NHC table (ev-03). No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-sc-661-sc661-06
-
[8]shipbuildinghistory.njscuba.net, 'Sub Chasers Built During WWII' construction table - SC-661 row [other_primary]
- Locator
- SC-series construction table, SC-661 row
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Construction-table corroboration: 'SC-661 | Burger boat | Manitowoc WI | 148 | 110 | 26 Oct 1942 | to the USSR 1945 as BO-303' - confirms builder, tonnage (148 t), length (110 ft), commission/delivery date 26 October 1942, and the BO-303 Soviet designation.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 1941-1945
- Population
- Burger Boat construction trades (1941-42)
- Limitations
- Secondary shipbuilding compilation; corroborates (does not originate) builder and designation data already carried on official/primary rows. Page verified live via Firecrawl on 2026-10-03 (returns HTTP 406 to bare automated fetches). No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-sc-661-sc661-07
-
[9]NARA, Record Group 38 (Office of the CNO), series 'World War II War Diaries, Other Operational Records and Histories' - catalog search 'SC-661' returns this hull inside digitized Naval Operating Base Key West war diaries (e.g., NAID 134047891, 'NOB KEY WEST - War Diary, 12/1-31/42 (Enc. A)', 52 images, Fold3 scan) and additional 1943-44 Key West file units [other_primary]
- Locator
- catalog.archives.gov 'SC-661' search (215 results; RG 38 NOB Key West war-diary file units, Dec 1942-1944)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The National Archives catalog indexes 'SC-661' inside multiple digitized NOB Key West war diaries spanning December 1942 through 1944 (RG 38; NAIDs include 134047891 Dec 1942 Enc A, plus 1943-44 monthly file units) - placing this hull in the Key West / Gulf-Caribbean operating area during her US career, consistent with the August 1944 Gulf of Panama exercise record (ev-06). Open archival lead for reconstructing her operational timeline.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 1942-1944
- Population
- SC-661 crew during Key West-area operations (1942-44)
- Limitations
- Archival lead only: the catalog search hit establishes that SC-661 appears in the diary text; the specific diary entries (dates, movements) were not pinpointed within the image sets, and a catalog-term match does not itself document any particular operation. War diaries are operational records - no asbestos or material content expected.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-sc-661-sc661-08
-
[10]Era inference built on: NavSource SC-497-class specification block for this hull (two GM EMD 16-184A diesels, wooden hull, 148 t); NHHC description ('110-foot submarine chaser'); SC-497-class documentation (wooden-hulled 'splinter fleet'); GAO HRD-80-2 Navy asbestos-era context (ev-10) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 12/150661.htm specification block; NHHC photo page; GAO HRD-80-2 product page (ev-10)
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- A wooden-hulled diesel-powered submarine chaser built in the 1941-42 wartime program sits inside the Navy's documented asbestos-use era; era-standard applications aboard a patrol craft of this type and period were engine and exhaust-system lagging, gaskets, valve packing, and electrical insulation. As a diesel vessel with a wooden hull she carried no steam plant and far less thermal insulation than steam combatants - the boiler/steam-line lagging pathway does not apply, though the confined-space exposure dynamic of a 28-man, 110-foot craft applies to what material was present.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 1941-c.1954
- Population
- Burger Boat construction trades (1941-42); US crew (1942-45); Soviet crew (1945-54); Soviet scrapping workforce (post-1954)
- Limitations
- Class/era inference only - no hull-specific insulation survey, material list, work package, or product identification located for SC-661. Names era-standard applications, not confirmed installed materials. No quantity. Wooden-hulled construction means the era-inference basis is materially narrower than for steel steam vessels; presence aboard this hull is reasonable but unproven.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-sc-661-sc661-09
-
[11]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 US construction and service era (1941-45).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 1979 (review of WWII-70s era)
- 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 returns HTTP 403 to automated fetch, confirmed 2026-10-03) - content via product-page description. A WWII-era wooden diesel patrol craft sits at the low end of the asbestos-application spectrum documented.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-sc-661-sc661-10
-
[12]Batch-8035 search ledger (this record): NHC/NHHC photo page (ibiblio mirror); official NHC Project Hula monograph (full PDF); NARA RG 24 muster rolls read directly; NARA RG 38 war-diary catalog search; NavSource; uboat.net; shipbuildinghistory; NVR; DANFS (none exists); GAO product page; CourtListener (fleet-paced - see ledger); secondary web litigation sweep [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-sc-661-sc661-01 through -14
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, donation-condition record, or verified litigation naming USS SC-661, PC-661, or BO-303 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). CAVEAT: the CourtListener base queries could not be completed this session - the authenticated helper reported the fleet-wide request budget momentarily spent (paced ~58/hr against the shared 1,400/day quota) on repeated attempts; logged as blocked/pending in the search_ledger, not as a negative result. Secondary web sweeps surfaced no qualifying case; no 'asbestos aboard SC-661' marketing claims were even located (unlike larger hulls, this small wooden chaser is absent from law-firm listicles checked).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-03
- Study period
- 2026-10-03
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - and the litigation repository search is a genuine open gap (quota-paced, not run). The hull spent 1945-1954 in Soviet service and was scrapped in the USSR; Soviet-era material records are effectively inaccessible. Deck logs and builder work packages are undigitized leads (RG 24 deck logs for this hull not located in the catalog; muster rolls are digitized). Does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-sc-661-sc661-11