USS Tappahannock (AO-43)

Evidence

12 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-12).

1. [1]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, 'Tappahannock' (AO-43), Naval History and Heritage Command (live NHHC URL returned 404 on 2026-09-24; text read from 2025-12-09 Wayback capture of the NHHC page and cross-checked against the printed DANFS Volume VII entry) [nhhc_danfs]

   Locator

   Full entry text; canonical NHHC URL https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/t/tappahannock.html 404s (link rot); printed DANFS Vol. VII pp. 42-44 carry the identical entry

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   DANFS entry 'Tappahannock' (AO-43): Jorkay laid down under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 157) on 24 December 1941 at Chester, Pa., by Sun Shipbuilding Co.; renamed Tappahannock and designated AO-43 on 31 March 1942; launched 18 April 1942, sponsored by Mrs. George Jessup; acquired by the Navy from the War Shipping Administration 29 May 1942; converted for Navy service at Philadelphia Navy Yard 1 June-17 July 1942; commissioned 22 June 1942, Comdr. A. O. R. Bergensen. Spec block: dp. 7,004; l. 530'0"; b. 68'0"; dr. 30'0"; cpl. 213; a. 1x4", 4x3", 12x20mm; cl. Mattaponi. WWII: reported to Commander Service Force Atlantic 13 August 1942; carried 300 tons of stores and two PT boats for MTBRon 3 from Balboa 29 August; Noumea station tanker; San Pedro/San Diego December 1942; Dutch Harbor January 1943; Guadalcanal spring 1943 - 1 April J2F Duck (from Enterprise CV-6) crashed into mainmast; 7 April survived five Val dive-bomber attacks off Lunga Point during Yamamoto's final Solomons thrust (near misses, dished hull plates, topside damage repaired by Vestal AR-4 at Espiritu Santo); 24 May night bomb miss; Gilbert Islands invasion November-December 1943; supported occupations of Kwajalein, Majuro, Guam, Tinian, Southern Palaus, Luzon, Okinawa and fast-carrier raids on Bonins/Philippines/Formosa; 18 October 1944 refueled TG 58.3 retiring from Formosa strikes and embarked 185 enlisted + 12 officers from torpedoed Houston (CL-81); 20 November 1944 at Ulithi when Mississinewa (AO-59) was torpedoed - picked up 36 survivors; 1945 Eniwetok/Kerama Retto/Ulithi supporting 3d/5th Fleet; Tokyo Bay 26 August-22 November 1945; Tsingtao station tanker to 26 April 1946; China/Near East oil runs 1946. Postwar: Naval Transportation Service 1 July 1947, Yokohama base; Norfolk via Suez 10 January 1948; Bahrain/Persian Gulf, Mediterranean, northern Europe, Caribbean operations; transferred to MSTS en route to Manila, designated T-AO-43, October 1949; decommissioned San Diego 3 February 1950; towed by Cahokia (ATA-168) to San Francisco (arrived 14 December 1950), recommissioned, four years east-coast MSTS service; decommissioned January 1955; towed to Todd Shipyard San Pedro 27 November 1956, recommissioned 12 December 1956 (Comdr. O. O. Liebschner); decommissioned 18 November 1957 at Orange, Tex.; laid up eight years; 1966 towed to Naval Support Activity Algiers, La., fitted out, commissioned 31 May 1966 (Capt. Erman O. Proctor); San Diego home port 6 August 1966; three WestPac deployments supporting Yankee Station and Market Time operations (first cruise 15,000 miles, ~135,000 bbls delivered; second cruise March-September 1968: 30,305,196 gal fuel oil, 42,627 miles; third cruise from 6 March 1969: TF 71 after EC-121 shootdown, then TG 73.5 Market Time, ~10,000,000 gal oil and 50 tons mail in 138 underway replenishments); incidents - 13 June 1967 collision with Repose (AH-16) after its rudder failure during UNREP, 4 October 1967 two fueling booms lost in emergency breakaway from Ranger (CVA-61); returned Long Beach 21 September 1969; decommissioned San Diego 6 March 1970 to MARAD Suisun Bay; struck 15 July 1976; awaiting MARAD disposition October 1979. Nine WWII battle stars and nine Vietnam service battle stars.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-24

   Study period

   1941-1979

   Limitations

   Authoritative Navy ship history for identity and service. Entry coverage ends in October 1979 - it does not record the 1987 sale or 1988 scrapping (MARAD records cover those). Contains no asbestos, materials, or survey information; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-tappahannock-ao43-01

2. [2]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - TAPPAHANNOCK (AO-43), Ship History Detail 4766, incl. scanned Vessel Status Card (MC-7146a), JORKAY status card, two Reserve Fleet Ship Particulars cards (MA-383), and Record of Ship Sales (MA-20) [marad_nrc]

   Locator

   Detail 4766 milestone table and 22 imagery assets; card images read directly: MC-7146a custody card, JORKAY card (hull 226), Beaumont and Suisun Bay MA-383 particulars cards, MA-20 sale record and reverse scrapping annotation

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   MARAD ShipHistory database record plus five scanned custody documents for TAPPAHANNOCK (AO-43): official no. 241725; year built 1942; Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock, Chester PA; general type Naval Auxiliary / specific type AO Oiler; MARAD type T2; length 503 ft, beam 68 ft; net 6,086 tons, gross 10,300 tons; name history JORKAY then TAPPAHANNOCK (AO-43); milestones - NDRF entry 12/3/1957, acquisition 2/2/1987, withdrawal 9/16/1987. Vessel Status Card (Form MC-7146a): hull no. MC-157, type 'Tanker T-2', DWT 16,300, speed 16 1/2, completed 5-29-42; custody chain - Reserve Fleet berthing custody Beaumont TX 12-3-57 1:00pm CST; Reserve Fleet permanent transfer (title) Beaumont 12-10-58; permanent transfer to Department of Navy Beaumont 8-20-65 8:40am CST; Maritime Administration custody Suisun Bay 10-16-70 11:45am PDT; MARAD permanent transfer Suisun Bay 9-1-71; 'Out of Documentation (per call to Coast Guards 2/4/87)'; 'To be Scrapped' Suisun Bay 9-16-87 8:54am. Reserve Fleet Ship Particulars card (Form MA-383, Beaumont): entered 12-3-1957 1300 CST, withdrawn 8-20-1965 0840 CST, reason 'Navy P.T.' Reserve Fleet card (Suisun Bay): entered 10-16-70, withdrawn 9-16-87 reason 'To Be Scrapped'; LOA 503 ft, breadth 68 ft, gross 10,300, DWT 16,300, draft 30 ft; remark 'Sold for scrap, 11/18/86 to Hai Kwang Enterprises Corp., Taipei, Taiwan for $472,578.98.' Record of Ship Sales (Form MA-20): awarded to Hai Kwang Enterprises Corp., Taiwanese, 2/2/87, $472,578.98, contract MA-12048, solicitation EXC-8604, in connection with a 510(i) trade-in by United States Lines (S.A.) Inc. of MORMACDAWN; vessel location Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet. Reverse annotation: 'Vessel scrapped 1/8/88 in Taiwan. Bond released 3/16/88.' Earlier JORKAY status card: Sun yard hull no. 226, gross 10,300, net 6,086, completed 5-1942; basis to WSA 5/29/42 at Chester; allocated to Navy Dept by purchase, delivered Chester 5/29/42.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-24

   Study period

   1942-1988

   Limitations

   Primary custody/disposition documents read from scanned card images (handwritten entries partially legible). Card data carries internal date conflicts: particulars card prints 'Sold for scrap 11/18/86' while the MA-20 award date is 2/2/87, and the archive-index card shows 'Title x'fer to MARAD' at 2/2/1987 while the MC-7146a card prints a MARAD permanent transfer at 9-1-71 - both reported, sequence partially unresolved (see gaps). No asbestos, condition-survey, or materials content anywhere in the record; supports custody/disposition only.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-tappahannock-ao43-02

3. [3]NavSource Naval History, Service Ship Photo Archive, USS Tappahannock (AO-43) page (09/19/19043 series) [other_primary]

   Locator

   Full page: chronology bullets, WWII/Vietnam campaign tables, specification block, disposition

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   NavSource Service Ship Photo Archive page for USS Tappahannock (AO-43): 'Mattaponi Class Fleet Oiler'; laid down 24 December 1941 for Keystone Tankship Corp. as SS Jorkay, Maritime Commission type T2-A tanker hull (MC hull 157) at Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Chester PA; launched 18 April 1942; delivered to Maritime Commission 29 May 1942; commissioned 22 June 1942 at Norfolk, VA, CDR Alf O. R. Bergensen. Chronology: NTS 1 July 1947; MSTS October 1949; decommissioned 3 February 1950 San Diego; recommissioned December 1950 San Francisco; decommissioned 'January 1953' San Diego (apparent typographical error for DANFS's January 1955); recommissioned 12 December 1956 Todd Shipbuilding, San Pedro; decommissioned 18 November 1957 Orange, TX; NDRF Beaumont 3 December 1957; withdrawn 20 August 1965, towed to NSA Algiers LA arriving 23 August 1965; commissioned 31 May 1966 at NSA Algiers, CAPT Erman O. Proctor; decommissioned 6 March 1970 San Diego; struck 15 July 1976; transferred to MARAD 16 October 1970; final disposition 'sold for scrapping 16 September 1987' (the fleet-withdrawal date); nine WWII battle stars and seven Vietnam campaign stars listed. Specifications: displacement 7,004 t light / 22,325 t full; 520 ft x 68 ft x 30 ft 6 in; 18 kt trial; complement 18 officers + 214 enlisted; armament 5"/38 DP, 3"/50 DP, twin 40mm and twin 20mm (later fit); propulsion one Westinghouse geared turbine / turbo-electric drive, two Babcock & Wilcox header-type boilers 450 psi 742 deg F, single propeller 12,800 shp. Vietnam campaign table lists Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phases II/III/V, Tet Counteroffensive, Tet/69 Counteroffensive, Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-24

   Study period

   1941-1987

   Limitations

   Volunteer-compiled archival photo index drawing on official sources (Navy photos, DANFS, MARAD links) - detailed but not itself an official publication. Contains documented conflicts with primary sources: 'January 1953' decommissioning vs DANFS January 1955; seven Vietnam campaign stars vs DANFS nine; 520 ft length vs DANFS 530 ft vs MARAD card 503 ft; 'sold for scrapping 16 September 1987' conflates the withdrawal date with the earlier 2/2/87 sale award and the 1/8/88 scrapping annotation on the MARAD cards. Contains no asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-tappahannock-ao43-03

4. [4]Shipscribe.com, 'U.S. Navy Auxiliary Ships: Mattaponi (AO-41) class' data page (compiled from Navy and Maritime Commission records by Tim Colton's shipbuilding-history project) [other_primary]

   Locator

   AO-41 class page, AO-43 ship row and ship note

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Shipscribe U.S. Navy auxiliary ship data page for the Mattaponi class (AO-41): class design listed as Maritime Commission T2-A tanker built by Sun Shipbuilding; class dimensions 520 ft overall x 68 ft beam x 30.75 ft limiting draft; 17.5 kt; 12,800 hp, one screw, Westinghouse or GE turbine; complement 217 (1944). AO-43 Tappahannock row: builder Sun SB & DD; keel 24 December 1941; launched 18 April 1942; acquired 29 May 1942; commissioned 22 June 1942; decommissioned 6 March 1970; struck 15 July 1976; MA sale 2 February 1987. Ship note for AO-43: ex-merchant Jorkay, MC 157; conversion completed 28 June 1942 by Philadelphia Navy Yard; NTS to MSTS as 'Commissioned Naval Vessel' 1 October 1949; reserve periods and recommissionings; decommissioned 18 November 1957; to NDRF 3 December 1957; from MARAD 20 August 1965; recommissioned 31 May 1966; to NDRF 16 October 1970.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-24

   Study period

   1941-1987

   Limitations

   Secondary compilation from official records - used as a cross-check, not as primary evidence. Its per-ship dates agree with DANFS and the MARAD cards except minor completion/conversion details (conversion completed 28 June 1942 vs DANFS's 1 June-17 July window; MSTS designation 1 October 1949 vs DANFS 'while en route to the Philippines' October 1949). Complement 217 conflicts with DANFS 213 - DANFS figure carried. Contains no asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-tappahannock-ao43-04

5. [5]Latiolais v. Huntington Ingalls, Inc., 951 F.3d 286 (5th Cir. 2020) (en banc), No. 18-30652; panel opinion reported at 918 F.3d 406 (5th Cir. 2019) [court_record]

   Locator

   En banc opinion pp. 2-3 (Background and Procedure) and pp. 15-16 (colorable federal defense analysis); CourtListener clusters 4729521 (en banc) and 4598522 (panel)

   Finding type

   litigation_documented

   Finding

   Published en banc Fifth Circuit opinion names this hull in an asbestos exposure case: 'The Plaintiff-Appellee, James Latiolais, then a machinist aboard the USS Tappahannock, was exposed to asbestos while his ship underwent refurbishing at Avondale for several months. In 2017, Latiolais was diagnosed with mesothelioma. He died in October 2017.' The court recites that during the 1960s-1970s the Navy contracted with Avondale to build and refurbish naval vessels and that 'most of the contracts in the 1960s required asbestos for thermal insulation.' On the colorable-defense element the court notes Avondale submitted an affidavit and deposition testimony 'alleging that the Navy required installation of asbestos on the Tappahannock,' plus a second affidavit alleging the Navy generally required Avondale to install asbestos, and that 'Latiolais himself testified that Avondale used asbestos in refurbishing the Tappahannock.' Procedural posture: Latiolais sued Avondale in Louisiana state court alleging negligent failure to warn about asbestos hazards and failure to provide adequate safety equipment; Avondale removed under 28 U.S.C. 1442(a)(1); the Eastern District of Louisiana granted remand under the circuit's 'causal nexus' test; a panel reversed (918 F.3d 406); the en banc court VACATED the remand judgment and REMANDED for further proceedings in federal court, holding post-2011 1442(a) requires only a 'connection or association' with acts under color of federal office. The opinion decides removal jurisdiction only - it is not a merits adjudication of exposure, causation, or damages.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-24

   Study period

   exposure during a months-long Avondale refurbishment (1960s-era contract context); suit filed 2017; en banc decision 2020-02-24

   Population

   James Latiolais (machinist aboard USS Tappahannock during the Avondale refurbishment); other crew present during that availability are not individually documented

   Limitations

   Litigation record, staged at its actual procedural level: an appellate decision on federal-officer removal jurisdiction. The asbestos statements are the pleaded factual predicate plus party testimony and defense affidavits recited by the court - the court uses 'allegedly' for the installation claim and decides only that removal was proper. No trial finding, verdict, or judgment on exposure or causation was located; post-remand proceedings in the Eastern District of Louisiana were not located in public sources. The opinion does not date the refurbishment beyond the 1960s-1970s Navy-Avondale contract era and does not identify asbestos product types beyond 'thermal insulation.' Establishes that asbestos exposure aboard this hull was litigated and described under oath - not that any particular exposure or disease outcome was adjudicated.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-tappahannock-ao43-05

6. [6]Lilley v. Johns-Manville Corp., 408 Pa. Super. 83, 596 A.2d 203 (1991) [court_record]

   Locator

   Pa. Super. opinion, as indexed in the project shipyards dataset (yard_id sun-shipbuilding-chester, evidence row ev-sun-shipbuilding-chester-lilley-1991)

   Finding type

   litigation_product_id

   Finding

   The builder's yard, Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. (Chester, PA), is documented in a published appellate opinion as a worksite where asbestos products were in use - pipefitter Fred Lilley identified asbestos product brands by label at Sun Ship, including Unibestos, Caltemp/Caltherm, Careytemp, Kaylo, Manville, Portasite, Garlock, and Flexitallic, and testified that workers' clothing and bodies were covered with asbestos fibers (Lilley v. Johns-Manville Corp., 408 Pa. Super. 83, 596 A.2d 203 (1991)). The opinion's documented exposure window is 1959-1976, post-dating this hull's 1941-1942 construction.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   context_only

   Accessed

   2026-09-24

   Study period

   1959-1976 exposure period; opinion 1991

   Population

   Sun Shipbuilding yard workers 1959-1976 (documented window)

   Limitations

   Yard-level finding, not a hull finding: the documented window (1959-1976) postdates AO-43's construction by nearly two decades and establishes asbestos products at the yard in that window only - not aboard this or any specific hull. Appellate opinion reviewing a merits-level worker claim. Does not establish exposure of AO-43's crew or builders.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-tappahannock-ao43-06

7. [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

   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 program under which this Maritime Commission T2-A hull was built - and that federal wartime policy reserved asbestos supply for shipbuilding while driving unprecedented utilization aboard government and merchant-type hulls.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-24

   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 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-tappahannock-ao43-07

8. [8]Fleischer WE, Viles FJ, et al., 'A health survey of pipe covering operations in constructing naval vessels,' J Ind Hyg Toxicol 28:9-16 (1946); citation and characterization confirmed via 2026 critical review, Annals of Work Exposures and Health (doi:10.1177/10482911261446696) [other_primary]

   Locator

   1946 study as cited and described in the 2026 review article

   Finding type

   gov_survey

   Finding

   A 1946 Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology study, 'A Health Survey of Pipe Covering Operations in Constructing Naval Vessels' (Fleischer, Viles, et al.), surveyed pipe-covering operations in naval-vessel construction during the wartime program under which this ship was built and documented the asbestos-insulation work practices of that era; its conclusion that the work was 'not a dangerous occupation' is documented in the industrial-hygiene literature as a consequential error that left shipyard insulation workers unprotected for decades.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-24

   Study period

   wartime survey period, published 1946

   Population

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

   Limitations

   Era-level occupational-health literature: surveys wartime pipe-covering work across naval-vessel construction generally. Does not name this vessel or this yard, does not establish asbestos was or remains aboard this hull, and provides no quantity, exposure, or causation finding for AO-43.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-tappahannock-ao43-08

9. [9]NARA History Hub answer, 'Seeking deck logs of USS Tappahannock' (RG 24 logbooks series); NARA catalog identifier 139729257 via Digital Public Library of America item record [other_primary]

   Locator

   historyhub.history.gov military-records forum thread 26782; NARA NAID 139729257 / DPLA item; archives.gov/research/military/logbooks/navy

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   Archival leads (not retrieved - no reproduction order or site visit performed): (a) NARA RG 24, 'Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships and Stations, 1941-1983' - NARA staff confirmed via History Hub that deck logs for USS Tappahannock exist from her 31 May 1966 recommissioning through 31 December 1967, with no logs for 1965 through 30 May 1966 because the ship was not commissioned; logs for her WWII and 1950s commissions were not separately confirmed. (b) A digitized USS Tappahannock war diary covering 1-30 April 1943 (the Guadalcanal/Lunga Point combat period documented by DANFS) is cataloged in the National Archives (identifier 139729257; Micro Serial 49068) and indexed through DPLA.

   Verification

   unverified

   Role

   archival_lead

   Documentation level

   context_only

   Accessed

   2026-09-24

   Study period

   records covering 1943 and 1966-1967 confirmed; other periods unconfirmed

   Limitations

   Record-group and catalog-level mapping only - deck logs and the war diary were not retrieved or read; their existence is documented but no asbestos-relevant content is established. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-tappahannock-ao43-09

10. [10]Philadelphia Area Archives finding aid ISM_84.76, Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company records, Independence Seaport Museum [museum_official]

    Locator

    ISM_84.76 finding aid, plans/technical drawings series

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    Archival lead (not retrieved): Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, holds the Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company records, 1916-1998 (finding aid ISM_84.76), including ship plans and technical drawing series - the likeliest surviving source for this hull's builder/MC-157 outfitting specifications and any insulation material schedule.

    Verification

    unverified

    Role

    archival_lead

    Documentation level

    context_only

    Accessed

    2026-09-24

    Study period

    collection covers 1916-1998

    Limitations

    Finding-aid-level mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; whether an insulation/material schedule for hull 226 / MC-157 survives in the collection is unknown until surveyed. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-tappahannock-ao43-10

11. [11]Batch-1889 search ledger (this record): archived NHHC DANFS entry, MARAD ShipHistory Detail 4766 + five scanned custody documents, NavSource 09/19/19043, Shipscribe AO-41 page, Fifth Circuit en banc opinion, CourtListener opinion search, NARA History Hub and catalog, yard dataset [other_primary]

    Locator

    search_ledger rows sl-uss-tappahannock-ao43-01 through sl-uss-tappahannock-ao43-10

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    No ship-specific asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or materials schedule located: no document establishing the original 1942 insulation inventory, the scope of the Avondale refurbishment beyond the litigation description, or asbestos handling during the 1957-1965 and 1970-1987 NDRF layups or the 1987-1988 Taiwan scrapping was found in the public sources searched. The only ship-specific asbestos documentation is the Latiolais litigation record (ev-05). CourtListener authenticated searches: '"Tappahannock"' returned 65 opinions - 2 qualifying asbestos-litigation clusters (Latiolais panel + en banc) and the remainder Tappahannock, Virginia place-name collisions or citing references; '"AO-43"' returned 1 opinion (a 1951 Texas Attorney General opinion on census figures - name collision, no vessel connection). MARAD records contain no asbestos content. Law-firm marketing pages listing AO-43 generically are excluded per source rules.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    negative_finding

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-09-24

    Study period

    2026-09-24

    Limitations

    Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1942 steam-plant hull is era-consistent with original asbestos-containing materials, and the litigation record independently describes asbestos installation during a 1960s refurbishment. Does not establish presence or absence beyond the cited litigation; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-tappahannock-ao43-11

12. [12]DANFS AO-43 entry ('cl. Mattaponi'); MARAD status card (type T-2) and archive card (T2-A, CLASS_NO AO 41); NavSource AO-43 page; project class profile t2-se-a1-tanker.class.json (type-mismatch documentation); CourtListener '"Tappahannock"' result set [other_primary]

    Locator

    DANFS spec block; MARAD card headers; class-f/t2-se-a1-tanker.class.json; CourtListener opinion search classifications

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    Class-taxonomy and name-collision reconciliation: DANFS gives 'cl. Mattaponi' and NavSource 'Mattaponi Class Fleet Oiler'; MARAD cards print type 'Tanker T-2' and archive-designation 'T2-A' with CLASS_NO 'AO 41'. Secondary sources variously file the Mattaponi five (AO-41 Mattaponi, AO-42 Monongahela, AO-43 Tappahannock, AO-44 Patuxent, AO-47 Neches) under a broader Kennebec-class family - a subclass-vs-class framing difference; Navy-official DANFS 'Mattaponi' and MARAD 'T2-A' are adopted. The project class profile t2-se-a1-tanker describes the T2-SE-A1 turbo-electric design (e.g., the Suamico/Escambia pattern) and does NOT match this hull's documented T2-A design - it was consulted as background only and no class rows were copied. Search-collision note: 'Tappahannock' in legal databases overwhelmingly resolves to Tappahannock, Virginia (Essex County seat) - local courts, businesses (e.g., Tappahannock Ford), attorneys, and Tidewater Memorial Hospital matters - none involving the vessel.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    correction

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-09-24

    Study period

    1941-1988

    Limitations

    Documents a terminology variance, a class-profile type mismatch, and a name-collision risk - not new hull facts. The T2-SE-A1 class profile's machinery notes (turbo-electric plant, lagging, gaskets) were not imported because this hull is documented as T2-A; era overlap makes some inference plausible but none is asserted as ship-specific.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-tappahannock-ao43-12