Evidence
9 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-9).
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[1]Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, Vol. II (NAVSHIPS 250-011, 1945), mine vessels - per-hull index row and machinery-table row for SUPERIOR AM311 (shipscribe.com scan of the official BuShips publication) [other_primary]
- Locator
- SDB1945v2 mine-vessels section: AM index (SUPERIOR AM311 under 'AM 220 class'), AM characteristics table group row 'AM214-311', AM machinery table (SUPERIOR AM311 row), engine-manufacturer key at SCOUT AM295 ('C. B. GSB-8')
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Official BuShips Ships' Data 1945 Vol. II names this hull: SUPERIOR (AM311) is indexed under the 'AM 220 class' design group (the Admirable design) between SUCCESS AM310 and the canceled AM312-313. The AM machinery table carries AM311 in the Cooper-Bessemer group: engine entry 'C. B. GSB-8' (ditto chain from the AM295 SCOUT row group), 1,710 shaft horsepower, 'Nat. Sup.' (National Supply) reduction gear, ship's-service generator columns 100/60/20 kW. The characteristics table's group row 'AM214-311' covers this hull: 184'6" overall, 33' beam, 945 tons full load, 14.8 knots trial - consistent with NavSource. Confirms the plant is diesel-geared, not steam: no boilers or turbines.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1945
- Limitations
- Authoritative wartime BuShips publication naming this hull. OCR of the scanned tables is columnar and partially garbled; the construction-table date columns sit one row off the name column in OCR (Superior's DANFS dates 18 Feb 44 / 11 May 44 / 1 Nov 44 appear adjacent to the SUCCESS row), so per-hull build dates were taken from DANFS/NavSource rather than the garbled alignment. Contains no materials, insulation, or asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-superior-am311-01
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[2]DANFS, 'Superior' (AM-311) entry - verbatim transcription via Haze Gray & Underway mirror (the page NavSource links to as the DANFS entry), retrieved through Internet Archive Wayback capture 20240526124752; no NHHC-hosted page located (404 at /danfs/s/superior.html and /danfs/s/superior-ii.html; no Wayback capture of an NHHC-hosted URL exists) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS entry spec block + full narrative text (Wayback capture 20240526124752 of hazegray.org/danfs/mine/am311.htm)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS record for this hull (spec block: dp. 850; 184'6"; b. 33'; dr. 9'9"; s. 14.8k.; cpl. 104; a. 1 3", 4 40mm.; cl. Admirable): 'The second Superior (AM-311) was laid down on 18 February 1944 by Associated Shipbuilders, Seattle Wash., launched on 11 May 1944, sponsored by Mrs. L. H. Lyon; and commissioned on 1 November 1944, Lt. Norman R. Hanson, USNR, in command.' Fitting out at Seattle; shakedown San Pedro; sound training San Diego; returned to San Pedro 26 Dec 1944; sailed 3 Jan 1945 for Hawaii; Eniwetok 19 Jan as convoy escort; escorted convoy EUK-19 to Eniwetok. Departed Eniwetok 3 Mar for Ulithi; staged with Mine Group (MinGru) 2 for the Ryukyu operation; began sweeping off Kerama Retto 25 Mar; cleared mines and patrolled at Okinawa until 5 May; escorted an Okinawa-bound convoy arriving 27 May; operated from Kerama Retto sweeping the East China Sea. September: clearing Sasebo Bay and Tsushima Strait; October: Higashi Channel off Kyushu; cleared Sasebo 10 Dec 1945 for the U.S. via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor. San Diego 12 Jan 1946; Galveston 3 Feb; ordered inactivated; moved to Orange, Tex., 22 May, joining the 16th Fleet in commission, in reserve; February 1947 status changed to out of commission, in reserve; reclassified steel-hulled fleet minesweeper MSF-311 on 7 Feb 1955; struck from the Navy list 1 Jul 1972. Three battle stars for WWII service.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1944-1972
- Population
- Associated Shipbuilders construction workforce (1944); wartime crew (design complement 104)
- Limitations
- Primary Navy historical entry - authoritative for identity, build dates, service narrative, and administrative fate. Contains no asbestos or materials information; supports no asbestos claim. No live NHHC page for this entry was located; the hazegray mirror (itself currently unreachable) is cited via its Wayback capture.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-superior-am311-02
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[3]NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - Superior (MSF 311) ex-AM-311, file 11/02311 (accessed via Wayback capture 20240527235103; live navsource.org fetch failed this session) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 02311.htm (Wayback 20240527235103): chronology block, specifications block, commanding-officer table, photo captions
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource timeline corroborates DANFS and adds disposal detail: laid down 18 Feb 1944 by Associated Shipbuilders, Seattle; launched 11 May 1944; commissioned USS Superior (AM 311) 1 Nov 1944; decommissioned February 1947 at Orange, TX (with the note that the Naval Vessel Register of 1 Jan 1949 lists the plan for decommissioning and placing in reserve as December 1945); reclassified Fleet Minesweeper (Steel Hull) MSF-311, 7 Feb 1955; struck from the Naval Register 1 Jul 1972; sold 26 Jun 1975 to Offshore Services for $55,250 - the buyer planned to convert her to a tug but failed; scrapped. Call sign November-Quebec-Whiskey-Xray. Spec block: 945 t fl; 184'6" x 33' x 9'9"; 14.8 kts; complement 104; armament 1 x 3"/50 DP, 1 twin 40mm, 6 single 20mm, 1 hedgehog, 4 K-guns, 2 depth-charge tracks; propulsion two 1,710 shp Cooper Bessemer GSB-8 diesel engines, National Supply Co. single reduction gear, two shafts. CO table: LT Norman Robert Hanson USNR (1 Nov 1944); LTJG John Francis Jennings USNR (9 Mar 1946); LT Joseph Kirby Maxwell USN (15 Dec 1946 - 26 Feb 1947). Photo records include NARA photo 19-LCM-AM311-1 (camouflage 32/22D near Seattle, 27 Oct 1944), a commissioning-booklet scan, and a c. September 1974 image of the ship as an engineless hulk in a Neches River backwater south of Beaumont, TX.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1944-1975
- Population
- Associated Shipbuilders workforce (1944); wartime crew; Orange, TX reserve-fleet caretakers (1947-1975); 1975+ breaking-yard workers
- Limitations
- Specialist secondary compilation - detailed but non-official; consistent with DANFS on all overlapping points. The 1975 sale specifics (date, buyer, price, failed tug conversion) are not verified against the underlying disposal record (DRMO/DSA sale file not located). Contains no asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-superior-am311-03
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[4]Naval Cover Museum wiki, 'SUPERIOR MSF 311' ship page - designation history, namesake, battle-star note [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavalCoverMuseum wiki page 'SUPERIOR MSF 311', Ship Name and Designation History + Other Information sections
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Naval Cover Museum designation history for this hull: 'USS SUPERIOR AM-311 Commissioned November 1 1944 - Decommissioned February 26 1947; Reclassified Fleet Minesweeper (Steel Hull) (MSF) February 7 1955, While in reserve; Struck from Naval Register July 1 1972; Sold for scrap.' Confirms the February 1947 decommissioning to day precision (26 Feb 1947 - the same date LT Joseph K. Maxwell's command ends in the NavSource CO table). Namesake note: the largest and northernmost of the Great Lakes; two U.S. Navy ships have been named Superior (the 1814 frigate and AM-311/MSF-311). Three battle stars for WWII service.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1944-1975
- Limitations
- Philatelic-museum secondary compilation - non-official, but the 26 Feb 1947 date is independently corroborated by the NavSource CO table; carried as the decommissioning day. Contains no asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-superior-am311-04
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[5]Consolidated era/design inference - BuShips SDB 1945 v2 machinery row for this hull (diesel-geared plant) + NavSource spec block + era literature (Fleischer et al. 1946; Corn & Starr 1987) [other_primary]
- Locator
- SDB1945v2 AM machinery table (SUPERIOR AM311 row); NavSource 02311 spec block; PMID 21016030; DOI 10.1002/ajim.4700110311
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Era/design inference: this hull was built in 1944 at peak WWII Navy asbestos usage, but her documented plant is diesel-geared (2 Cooper-Bessemer GSB-8 diesels, National Supply reduction gear - no boilers, no steam turbines), so the dominant boiler/fireroom and steam-line lagging pathway documented for steam hulls does not apply. Period-typical asbestos applications for a steel minesweeper of this configuration concentrate in diesel exhaust and uptake lagging, machinery gaskets and packing, electrical cable insulation, bulkhead fireproofing and acoustic insulation, deck coverings, winch and windlass brake linings, and paints/cements. Documented disturbance-phase events for this hull: 1944 construction at Associated Shipbuilders Seattle; wartime minesweeping service; ~25 years in reserve at Orange, TX (1947-1972), photographed already engineless in Sept 1974; and post-sale breaking after the 26 Jun 1975 sale to Offshore Services.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1944-1975
- Population
- Associated Shipbuilders construction trades (1944); wartime crew (complement 104); Orange reserve-fleet maintenance/caretaker personnel (1947-1975); tug-conversion yard workers and breaking crew (1975+)
- Limitations
- Inference from the documented machinery plant and construction era - NOT a hull record. No survey, specification, or material schedule naming AM-311 was located; establishes no asbestos content, quantity, location, individual exposure, or causation. Whether a diesel minesweeper carried less asbestos than a steam ship of the era is itself undocumented at hull level.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-superior-am311-05
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[6]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
- PubMed record PMID 21016030; article pp. 9-16 (pipe covering material section)
- 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.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- survey ~1944-45; published 1946
- Population
- WWII pipe coverers and insulators at Navy and contract yards (era context)
- Limitations
- Era-level documentation of asbestos use in naval construction generally; does not name this vessel, class, or builder yard (whether Associated Shipbuilders Seattle was among the surveyed contract yards is unverified) and establishes nothing about this hull's materials, condition, or any individual exposure. The study's exculpatory 'not a dangerous occupation' conclusion has since been heavily criticized.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-superior-am311-06
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[7]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
- Abstract and article, 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 era and construction program under which this Admirable-class minesweeper was built - and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization in shipbuilding.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1940s era documented; article 1987
- Population
- WWII shipyard workers and ship crews (class context)
- Limitations
- Program/era-level scholarly documentation of asbestos use in WWII shipbuilding generally; does not name this vessel or class 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-superior-am311-07
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[8]Batch-1284 search ledger (this record): BuShips SDB 1945 v2; DANFS via hazegray/Wayback; NavSource 02311 via Wayback; NavalCoverMuseum; CourtListener (blocked); indexed-web litigation checks; VA BVA index; NVR; MARAD ShipHistory; NARA record-group guides [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-superior-am311-01 through sl-uss-superior-am311-11
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, court finding, or docketed asbestos case naming USS Superior / AM-311 / MSF-311 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). 'Superior' is a high-collision name (Superior Court, Lake Superior, Superior Wis., Superior Shipbuilding Co.) - all litigation-adjacent hits were classified non-qualifying collisions, not this hull. Law-firm marketing pages (mesothelioma.com minesweeper table row 'USS Superior AM-311 Admirable 11/1/1944 Scrapped'; mesotheliomahelp.org and mesotheliomaveterans.org generic minesweeper lists) name the hull without primary support - excluded as a source per the no-law-firm-sources rule and logged in the batch report.
- Verification
- partial
- 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 - a 1944-built naval vessel is era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials, and her ~25-year reserve lay-up and post-1975 breaking are undocumented disturbance phases. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility. Litigation coverage is incomplete this session: the CourtListener API returned HTTP 429 (2,800/day shared quota exhausted by prior batch work; expected available ~34,865 s) and the web UI returned 403 - the negative litigation finding rests on indexed-web checking only, and the mandated exact-name + hull-number CourtListener sweep is logged as blocked, not as a completed negative.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-superior-am311-08
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[9]NARA Guide to Federal Records: RG 24 (Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel - Navy deck logs), RG 19 (Records of the Bureau of Ships - ship plans, Booklets of General Plans, General Information Books); NARA already indexes the 27 Oct 1944 camouflage photograph of this hull (19-LCM-AM311-1) cited by NavSource [other_primary]
- Locator
- https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/024.html ; /groups/019.html ; NARA ship-plan index (archives.gov/research/cartographic/ship-plans)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - requires research-room or reproduction order; no spend authorized): Navy deck logs for USS Superior 1944-1947 (RG 24, NARA College Park); BuShips records for the 'AM 220 class' design incl. the Booklet of General Plans and General Information Books (RG 19) - the GIB material-specification entries are the most promising hull-level insulation/materials lead; Naval Vessel Register 1949 (the 1 Jan 1949 NVR note on planned Dec 1945 inactivation referenced by NavSource); and the DRMO/DSA disposal file for the 26 Jun 1975 sale to Offshore Services - the sale/survey file is the most promising disposal-era materials lead, since the planned tug conversion would have required hull condition documentation.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1944-1975 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-superior-am311-09