USS TRUXTUN (DD-229)

Evidence

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

1. [1]DANFS, Truxtun III (DD-229) (verbatim transcription - live NHHC page serves 404) [nhhc_danfs]

   Locator

   DANFS entry, specifications block + full service narrative

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   DANFS record for this hull (verbatim transcription; live NHHC page returns 404): laid down 3 December 1919 at Philadelphia, Pa., by William Cramp & Sons; launched 28 September 1920; sponsored by Miss Issueless Truxtun Brambly (name as transcribed - see gaps); commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard 16 February 1921, Lt. Comdr. Melville S. Brown in command. Atlantic Fleet service (Division 39, Squadron 3; then Division 43, Squadron 15) with Guantanamo exercises winter 1921-22. Departed Newport 22 June 1922 for the Asiatic Fleet, serving a decade alternating summer China cruises with winter Philippines maneuvers: Yellow Sea picket line for the 1924 Army global flight; Yangtze patrols September 1926-October 1927, March-April 1930, and January-March 1932. Departed Manila 18 April 1932 for the Battle Force, reaching Mare Island Navy Yard 13 May 1932; Pacific operations 1932-39 including one 1934 Atlantic excursion (New York City visit, 31 May). Departed San Diego 27 April 1939, reached Norfolk 15 May, joined Destroyer Division 27, Atlantic Squadron; neutrality patrols; Casablanca voyage May-June 1940; repairs at Norfolk December 1940-January 1941; Newport-based Destroyer Division 63, Squadron 31, with two Halifax voyages returning via the Washington Navy Yard. From 1941 escorted convoys via Argentia to Reykjavik: departed Boston 25 December 1941 screening Convoy HX-168, reached Reykjavik 13 January 1942, departed 19 January with ON-57. At 0415 on 18 February 1942, while escorting Pollux (AKS-2) into Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, ran aground (DANFS reads 'Ferryland Point' - see gaps), broke up almost immediately, and lost 110 crew despite rescue efforts by the local populace. Struck from the Navy list 25 March 1942.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-27

   Study period

   1919-1942

   Population

   William Cramp & Sons construction trades 1919-21; crew 1921-1942; 110 lost at wreck

   Limitations

   DANFS documents service history and loss, not materials or asbestos content. Its 'Ferryland Point' grounding location is inconsistent with its own 'Placentia Bay' clause and with all Canadian government sources (Chamber Cove) - carried in gaps. Transcription spells the escorted vessel 'Pollute' (read Pollux, AKS-2) and garbles the sponsor's name. Mirror transcription cited because the live NHHC DANFS page returns HTTP 404 (standing link-rot issue per BATCH-01).

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-truxtun-dd229-01

2. [2]HistoricPlaces.ca (Canadian Register of Historic Places), 'USS Truxtun and USS Pollux Historic Wreck Sites', NL-2473 [other_primary]

   Locator

   Register entry, Statement of Significance (Description, Heritage Value, Character-Defining Elements)

   Finding type

   regulatory

   Finding

   Canadian Register of Historic Places listing 'USS Truxtun and USS Pollux Historic Wreck Sites' (St. Lawrence, NL; Fed/Prov/Terr identifier NL-2473): the USS Truxtun DD-229 wreck (Borden number CfAu-01) lies in Chamber Cove at the headland known as Chamber Point, about 8 km west of the Town of St. Lawrence harbour; the USS Pollux AKS-2 wreck lies 30 m underwater off Lawn Head. Municipal heritage designation by the Town of St. Lawrence under the Municipalities Act, recognized 2005-07-19; listed on the Canadian Register 2005-08-22. The statement of significance records that Truxtun (commanded by Lieutenant Commander Ralph Hickox) 'hit the Chamber Cove rocks where it split in two, the stern sinking immediately'; 203 sailors perished across both wrecks, 186 were saved by residents of St. Lawrence and Lawn; artifacts recovered are held at the St. Lawrence Miner's Memorial Museum and in situ archaeological remnants are protected.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-27

   Study period

   1942 loss; designation 2005; site managed to present

   Population

   Crew at loss; wreck divers (site is protected; artifacts to remain intact/documented)

   Limitations

   Official heritage designation establishes legal protection, wreck location, and condition description, not a materials inventory; the register entry does not mention asbestos. Casualty figures are the combined two-ship count; hull-level survivors (46 by MUN/DND arithmetic) are not stated here.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-truxtun-dd229-02

3. [3]Department of National Defence (Canada), UXO Legacy Sites - 'USS Truxtun and USS Pollux' (page dated 2023-07-11) [other_primary]

   Locator

   DND UXO location page, introductory text + 'UXO at the USS Truxtun and USS Pollux' section

   Finding type

   environmental_record

   Finding

   Department of National Defence (Canada) UXO Legacy Sites record: USS Truxtun (Clemson-class destroyer) and USS Pollux (Castor-class general stores ship) were lost in a winter storm 18 February 1942 off Chamber's Cove and Lawn Head, Newfoundland, en route to the US Naval Base at Argentia; 110 of Truxtun's crew and 93 of Pollux's perished (203 of 389 aboard both ships); 'Both of these wreck sites are considered war graves.' Because Truxtun was on an operational escort patrol she was 'fully provisioned with munitions.' Wreck locations are known and visited annually by recreational divers; in 2022 the DND UXO Legacy Sites Program became aware of potential unexploded ordnance at the sites through diver photographs, and the Canadian Armed Forces planned reconnaissance dives to assess risk to divers.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-27

   Study period

   1942 (loss); 2022-present (UXO assessment)

   Population

   Recreational and survey divers (present-day hazard population)

   Limitations

   Documents munitions/UXO hazard and war-grave status plus diver activity - a hazard record, not a materials or asbestos survey. No asbestos content; asbestos state of the wreck is unassessed by this source.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-truxtun-dd229-03

4. [4]Memorial University of Newfoundland, Maritime History Archive, 'Dead Reckoning: The Pollux-Truxtun Disaster' (chapters 1, 5, 10) [other_primary]

   Locator

   Dead Reckoning project, 'The Story' chapter 1, 'USS Truxtun: Crew' page, and chapter 10 (court of inquiry and burials)

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   Memorial University of Newfoundland Maritime History Archive 'Dead Reckoning: The Pollux-Truxtun Disaster' research project: Truxtun departed Boston 15 February 1942 as convoy escort with USS Wilkes (DD-441) for USS Pollux (AKS-2); grounded about 0410 on 18 February in Chambers Cove with 156 men aboard and split apart; the stern sank immediately. A U.S. Navy court of inquiry convened 20 February and closed 19 March 1942, finding the commanding officers and navigators responsible; charges were laid against the convoy senior officer and the commanding officers/navigators of Wilkes and Pollux - Truxtun's captain LCDR Ralph Hickox and navigator LT Arthur Newman died in the wreck - and all charges were eventually dropped. The inquiry praised the Newfoundland rescuers as 'primarily responsible for the saving of practically all the survivors.' The dead were initially buried at Argentia and St. Lawrence and exhumed for return to the United States after the war.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-27

   Study period

   1941-1942 (events); court of inquiry 1942

   Population

   Crew of 156 at loss; Truxtun survivors rescued by St. Lawrence residents

   Limitations

   University research archive synthesizing official records and local history; the underlying court-of-inquiry record is at NARA and was not retrieved. Crew figure (156 aboard) differs from the DANFS design complement (122) - wartime muster vs. design figure, not necessarily a conflict. No asbestos or materials content.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-truxtun-dd229-04

5. [5]United States Navy Memorial, Navy Log - 'PHILLIPS-LANIER' service record [museum_official]

   Locator

   Navy Log entry, duty-station list and service-memories narrative

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   U.S. Navy Memorial Navy Log entry for Lanier Phillips (USN October 1941 - October 1961) lists 'USS TRUXTUN DD-229' among his significant duty stations: a mess attendant aboard this hull, he was the sole Black survivor of the 18 February 1942 wreck, rescued by Newfoundland townspeople; in 1957 he became the U.S. Navy's first Black sonar technician, retiring in 1961; Lone Sailor Award recipient 2010.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-27

   Study period

   1941-1961

   Population

   Lanier Phillips (mess attendant, USS Truxtun 1941-42)

   Limitations

   Individual-service documentation confirming a named crew member's duty aboard this hull; contains no materials or asbestos information. Memorial narrative sources are The HistoryMakers, Memorial University, and Military.com.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-truxtun-dd229-05

6. [6]National Archives, Ship Plan Index, TRUXTUN DD-229 entries [other_primary]

   Locator

   TRUXTUN DD-229 entries, RG 19, Alphabetical Ship Drawings (NAID 53488697) and Microfilm (NAID 175670992)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   NARA's Ship Plan Index lists TRUXTUN, DD-229, in Record Group 19 under Alphabetical Ship Drawings (NAID 53488697) and Microfilm (NAID 175670992). These collections are leads for examining ship-specific plans, including any available insulation and piping drawings.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   archival_lead

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-27

   Study period

   1919-1921 (construction records)

   Population

   William Cramp & Sons construction trades 1919-21

   Limitations

   The index establishes holdings, not the contents of individual drawings. No Truxtun drawing or material schedule was retrieved or reviewed; the index is not evidence of asbestos aboard.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-truxtun-dd229-06

7. [7]National Archives, 'Researching Asbestos aboard US Naval Vessel up through 1961' [other_primary]

   Locator

   Beginning Research; General Information Books; Cartographic Branch; Other Records and their usefulness

   Finding type

   asbestos_application

   Finding

   NARA's research guide describes potential asbestos-relevant Navy record groups for the period, including RG 19 destroyer General Information Books and S39 insulation/lagging and S48 piping drawings. It states that deck logs and muster rolls do not directly show asbestos aboard ships.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-27

   Limitations

   This is a research guide, not a Truxtun material record. It establishes where to search and why service records are insufficient; it does not show that a Truxtun GIB exists or that this ship contained asbestos. The guide's stated scope (Navy materiel 1941-1961) only partially covers this hull, which was built 1919-21 and lost February 1942.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-truxtun-dd229-07

8. [8]U.S. GAO, HRD-80-2, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure (1979) [gao]

   Locator

   Highlights, paragraphs 1-2

   Finding type

   asbestos_application

   Finding

   The 1979 GAO review documents asbestos insulation policy and exposure concerns across Navy shipbuilding and repair, with fieldwork at Long Beach and Norfolk Naval Shipyards. This is program-level context only.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   context_only

   Accessed

   2026-09-27

   Study period

   1941-1979 (GAO review period)

   Limitations

   GAO studied policy decades after Truxtun's 1942 loss and did not examine this hull. It cannot establish this ship's materials, exposures, or repair work.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-truxtun-dd229-08

9. [9]Negative result from DANFS, Canadian Register of Historic Places, DND UXO record, NARA Ship Plan Index, NARA asbestos research guide, GAO HRD-80-2, NavSource, and U.S. Navy Memorial review; see search_ledger [other_primary]

   Locator

   Search ledger sl-uss-truxtun-dd229-01 through sl-uss-truxtun-dd229-10

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   The official sources, heritage records, and catalog entries reviewed for this record did not yield a ship-specific asbestos survey, product schedule, abatement record, or material finding for Truxtun. Asbestos presence aboard DD-229 remains unknown.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   negative_finding

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-27

   Limitations

   This is a bounded search result, not proof that asbestos was absent. Underlying NARA plans, General Information Books, Norfolk repair records, and the 1942 court-of-inquiry file were not obtained. A 1919-21 steam-powered destroyer is consistent with era-standard insulation practices, but no ship-specific material identification is made. The wreck is a protected war grave in Canadian waters; any remaining insulation state is unassessed.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-truxtun-dd229-09

10. [10]CourtListener authenticated API v4 search via cl-auth-search.py fleet helper [court_record]

    Locator

    Search counts 0/0/0/20-collisions (opinions) and 2 same-case criminal docket records (United States v. Butler, S.D. Fla. 9:25-cr-80093); search ledger sl-uss-truxtun-dd229-11 through sl-uss-truxtun-dd229-15

    Finding type

    litigation_documented

    Finding

    Authenticated CourtListener API v4 searches (via the fleet pacing helper) on 2026-09-27: 'USS Truxtun' opinions count 0; 'DD-229' opinions count 0; 'Truxtun' + asbestos opinions count 0; bare 'Truxtun' opinions count 20 - all surname/place-name collisions (e.g., Truxtun Hare/Beale-era estate and civil cases, none naming a vessel); 'USS Truxtun' dockets count 2 - both RECAP index records for the same criminal case, United States v. Butler, 9:25-cr-80093-DMM (S.D. Fla., filed 2025-06-11, terminated 2026-04-08), where 'USS Truxtun' appears inside indexed filing text unrelated to asbestos (a 2025 criminal matter - name collision / other litigation, not qualifying). No qualifying asbestos litigation naming this hull was located.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    negative_finding

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-09-27

    Study period

    2026-09-27 (sweep date)

    Limitations

    Zero counts apply to CourtListener's opinion and RECAP indexes for the queries run, not to PACER-only dockets, state courts, or unindexed filings. Two further caveats: (1) litigation-era 'USS Truxtun' references presumptively name DLGN-35/CGN-35 (in service 1967-1995) or DDG-103 (2009-), not this hull lost in 1942 - the bare 'Truxtun' opinion sweep surfaced only surname/place-name collisions and no vessel hit of any kind, consistent with that expectation; (2) the Butler criminal docket's Truxtun reference is a text-level match inside filings - it is not exposure evidence. Litigation absence for DD-229 is a bounded result, not proof none exists.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-truxtun-dd229-10