Evidence
6 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-6).
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[1]DANFS, Whale I (SS-239) - Mare Island construction; eleven war patrols; 1947 decommissioning and 1957-60 reserve/pierside-training phases (NHHC entry via Wayback capture; live page returned 404) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS service narrative and spec block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Documented for this hull: laid down 28 June 1941 at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, Calif.; launched 14 March 1942 (sponsor Mrs. A. D. Denny, wife of the shipyard commanding officer); commissioned 1 June 1942, Lt. Comdr. J. B. Azer in command. Eleven war patrols. Her first patrol planted the first American submarine minefield in Japanese home waters ('within spitting distance' of the beach; postwar records credited the field with five enemy ships). Severely depth-charged 30 October 1942 off southern Honshu (17-hour chase, patrol terminated); damaged again by 29 depth charges north of the Bonin Islands 8 June 1944. Postwar: Atlantic Reserve Fleet New London; partially activated November-December 1956 replacing Tarpon; pierside training ship at New Orleans from January 1957; struck 1 March 1960; sold for scrap at New Orleans 29 September 1960. Eleven battle stars.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- Ship-specific history only; no asbestos or material content. Yard-period asbestos disturbance is era inference, not a per-hull record.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-whale-ss239-01
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[2]NavSource Online Submarine Photo Archive, header 'as built' spec block and disposition line for this hull; corroborated by DANFS spec block (diesel-electric) and BuShips Ships' Data 1945 submarine machinery tables (via shipscribe.com, per Gato class profile) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource page header spec block for this hull (https://www.navsource.net/archives/08/08239.htm)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Machinery fit for this hull per NavSource 'as built' spec block: four GM diesel engines (5,400 hp), electric reduction gear with four main GE generator engines (2,740 shp), two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin screws. NO BOILERS and no steam plant - the asbestos-relevant machinery profile differs materially from steam classes (no boiler/furnace insulation, no steam-line lagging run-outs; exposure-relevant systems are diesel exhaust lagging, engine gaskets/packing, hull thermal/acoustic insulation, and auxiliary equipment).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- The NavSource spec block is a class-standard spec sheet, not a per-hull machinery survey - actual installed equipment is presumed class-typical and unverified for this specific hull. No hull-specific machinery or material list was located. Establishes propulsion type only, not fiber content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-whale-ss239-02
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[3]Gato class profile ev-gato-class-07 (era/design inference for diesel-electric fleet boats) built on navypedia member table and BuShips Ships' Data 1945; GAO HRD-80-2 for the Navy's era asbestos-use regime [other_primary]
- Locator
- class profile gato-class.class.json ev-07; GAO HRD-80-2 product page
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Class/era inference for diesel-electric fleet boats of this build period: era-standard applications likely included asbestos-containing diesel exhaust lagging, engine gaskets and packing, hull thermal and acoustic insulation, insulation around galley/refrigeration equipment, and electrical/battery materials.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- CLASS/ERA INFERENCE ONLY - no ship-specific material schedule, insulation survey, or asbestos product list was located for this hull. Names era-standard applications, not confirmed installed materials; no quantity. Does not establish exposure or eligibility for any individual.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-whale-ss239-03
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[4]CourtListener API v4 (opinions type=o, RECAP dockets type=r) exact-name and hull-number searches; site:courtlistener.com index sweep as throttling fallback [court_record]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows for this vessel
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Litigation sweep for this hull: CourtListener API queries were throttled at the daily cap (HTTP 429, 'expected available in 62981 seconds'), so the sweep ran on the site:courtlistener.com index fallback for "USS Whale" and "SS-239". The fallback surfaced only general Navy asbestos litigation (Portsmouth Naval Shipyard consolidated cases, a reactor-operator matter aboard USS Bluefish SSN-675/USS Sam Houston SSBN-609, multi-ship complaint vessel lists not including this hull) - nothing naming this hull. No qualifying asbestos litigation - and no litigation of any kind verified as naming this hull - was located.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- A negative result is bounded by the search mechanism: CourtListener coverage is not exhaustive for state-court pleadings, and the API throttle meant docket-text and opinion queries could not complete - the site:-index fallback is corroboration, not a substitute for docket search. Does not prove no litigation exists. A postwar namesake exists - USS Whale SSN-638 (Sturgeon class, 1968-1996); any postwar 'USS Whale' litigation hit must be resolved by hull number before attribution.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-whale-ss239-04
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[5]Negative finding: no qualifying non-litigation ship-specific asbestos record located across DANFS/NHHC (via hazegray/losthistory transcription and Wayback captures), NavSource, and ACM-survey/abatement/disposal sweeps [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows for this vessel
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No hull ACM survey, abatement contract, scrapping/disposal hazmat disclosure, or adjudicated exposure finding naming this vessel was located anywhere in the research sweep. The hull was scrapped in 1960; no hazmat record for the disposal was located.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- Absence of a located record is not proof no record exists. Does not establish that asbestos is or is not present aboard/within the hull, and does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-whale-ss239-05
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[6]U.S. Navy War Damage Report No. 58, Submarine Report (official BuShips damage compilation, HyperWar/ibiblio mirror) [other_primary]
- Locator
- WDR58-I.html entries Whale (SS239) 10/30/42 and 6/8/44
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Ship-specific battle-damage record, War Damage Report No. 58 (BuShips): 30 October 1942 off southern Honshu (33-34'N, 135-15'E) - depth charged by a Japanese Otori-class torpedo boat; induction, supply-ventilation and battery outboard exhaust piping topside flooded; inboard induction flapper valve distorted and leaked badly; 'motor room bilges flooded from excessive leakage through starboard shaft stern tube packing'; starboard shaft misalignment above 95 rpm; patrol terminated. 8 June 1944 north of the Bonin Islands (31-00'N, 143-55'E) - 29 depth charges from three or four escorts; gyro pots and after bodies flooded on three loaded torpedoes; ship remained on patrol.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 1942-1944
- Population
- Crew of USS Whale, 1942-44 damage events
- Limitations
- Ship-specific damage history only. The report names mechanical items (stern-tube packing, packing glands, gaskets, piping) but says nothing about material composition - no fiber content is established. Recorded as damage history, not asbestos evidence.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-whale-ss239-06