Evidence
12 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-12).
-
[1]research packet 1032-packet.md [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-yms-133-yms133-pkt-1032-packet-md
-
[2]NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive, YMS-133 - construction milestones, specifications, loss (verified live) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 11/19133.htm header block and specifications block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- YMS-1 Class Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper: laid down 14 July 1941 by the Western Boat Building Co., Tacoma, WA; launched 18 December 1941; completed 21 July 1942; foundered and sunk 20 February 1943 off Coos Bay, OR ('Sank 20 February 1943'). Spec block: displacement 270 t.; length 136'; beam 24'6"; draft 8'; speed 15 kts.; complement 32; armament one 3"/50 dual-purpose mount, two 20mm mounts, two depth-charge projectors; propulsion two General Motors 8-268A diesel engines (listed '880bhp'), Snow and Knobstedt reduction gear, two shafts. Page states: 'There is no DANFS history available for YMS-133.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1941-1943
- Population
- Western Boat Building construction trades (1941-42); crew (Jul 1942-Feb 1943)
- Limitations
- NavSource is a volunteer secondary compilation, not a primary registry - milestones corroborated by the ship's own muster roll ('Comm. 7-21-42'), NHHC loss table, and contemporary press (see ev-02/-03/-04/-05). Contains no asbestos content. 'Completed' vs 'commissioned' terminology for YMS craft is loose across sources - see gaps.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-133-01
-
[3]NHHC, 'U.S. Navy at War: Final Official Report' (Navy Department Library online reading room) - vessel loss table (verified live) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- US Navy at War final report, vessel-loss table (YMS section)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Official Navy loss table entry: 'YMS 133 | Off Oregon Coast | 20 Feb. 1943' - the report notes 'the dates are those of the effective loss; that is, the date of the attack or damage which resulted in loss, rather than that of sinking.' Establishes the official Navy loss date of record as 20 February 1943.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1943
- Population
- Crew of 29 aboard at loss (per contemporary press)
- Limitations
- Loss-table row only - no circumstances, casualty count, or material content. NHHC's own 'Casualties: Navy and Coast Guard Ships' page carries 'foundered off Coos Bay, Oregon, 21 February 1943' - a one-day conflict between two official NHHC pages; the 20 Feb date is corroborated by contemporary press ('Saturday' = 20 Feb 1943) and NavSource; carried here, variant logged in gaps.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-133-02
-
[4]Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 23 February 1943, image 30 - '5 Dead, 13 Missing As Navy Minesweeper Capsizes in Heavy Sea / Only 11 of 29 Aboard Reached Shore Alive In Coos Bay Disaster' (Library of Congress, Chronicling America scan with OCR; verified live) [reputable_press]
- Locator
- Evening Star 1943-02-23 ed-1 seq-30; LOC Chronicling America resource sn83045462; article column text
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Contemporary wire-service account (Marshfield, Ore., Feb. 23) reporting the 13th Naval District's announcement: a Navy minesweeper (YMS-133 per accompanying photo caption) 'capsized in heavy seas off Coos Bay Saturday' (20 Feb 1943) with 5 dead and 13 missing; only 11 of 29 aboard reached shore alive. Sixteen were picked up by a Coast Guard surf boat and the fishing craft Five Brothers but could not land for about 24 hours; five of the rescued died of injuries and exposure during the night. The minesweeper's commander, Lt. Carl F. Leitz, was among the survivors. The vessel was returning from patrol off the Oregon coast to its base at Coos Bay at 4:45 p.m.; witnesses said it wallowed through mountainous waves to within a quarter mile of the harbor entrance, where a huge comber flipped it over. Navy planes from the Coos Bay section base searched and dropped medical supplies by parachute; rescue boats ultimately landed survivors at Port Orford on Sunday. The capsized craft righted itself before running aground and lay in breakers south of the harbor entrance; Comdr. W. R. Brust of the section base said an attempt would be made to search the hulk for bodies.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1943-02-20/23
- Population
- Crew of 29 at loss; Coast Guard rescue crews; fishing craft Five Brothers crew
- Limitations
- Contemporary press, published 3 days post-loss on initial official announcement - casualty figures (5 dead, 13 missing, 11 survivors of 29) are the announced figures, not a final roster; later official accounting may differ (not located). No asbestos content. Names of dead/missing were withheld pending next-of-kin notification.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-133-03
-
[5]The Tacoma Times, 20 December 1941, image 9 - 'Plenty of Rain and Ritual At Minesweeper Launchings: Festive Spirit Is Undampened as Four Naval Vessels Are Christened' (Library of Congress, Chronicling America scan with OCR; verified live) [reputable_press]
- Locator
- Tacoma Times 1941-12-20 ed-1 seq-9; LOC Chronicling America resource sn88085187
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Contemporary local account of the 18 December 1941 launch ceremony: four Navy minesweepers - YMS-133, YMS-125, YMS-129, and YMS-130 - were launched at half-hour intervals at three Tacoma yards (Western Boatbuilding Co., J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma Boatbuilding Co.). YMS-133 was launched at the Western yard, sponsored by Sandra Justice, 3-year-old daughter of Lieut. Comdr. David Justice, USN, who christened the hull with champagne 'to start the trim gray warship down the ways.' Mayor Harry P. Cain was master of ceremonies; a Martinac-yard sign quoted Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox: 'We are at war - all of us.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1941-12-18
- Population
- Western Boat Building yard workers; launch attendees
- Limitations
- Contemporary press documenting the launch event only - no construction materials detail and no asbestos content. Confirms builder (Western Boatbuilding Co., Tacoma) and launch date independently of NavSource.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-133-04
-
[6]NARA, Muster Rolls of U.S. Navy Ships, Stations, and Other Naval Activities (RG 24, series NAID 594996), file unit 'YMS-133, 7/21/42-1/31/43' (NAID 193043950) - 36 images digitized via Ancestry partnership; microfilm roll 7942 (verified live; forwarding sheet examined) [other_primary]
- Locator
- catalog.archives.gov/id/193043950; forwarding sheet at media index 00002 (image 3); N. Nav. 5 form
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The ship's own muster roll is digitized and online: forwarding sheet for the quarterly crew roll of 'U.S.S. YMS-133' ending 30 September 1942 carries the handwritten notation 'Comm. 7-21-42 to 1-31-43' - primary confirmation of the commissioning date. Certified by E. Y. Haynes, Lt.(j.g.), USNR, Executive Officer; approved 1 October 1942 by W. J. Carlson, Lieut., USNR, Commanding Officer; forwarded 1 October 1942 'From Port Townsend, Washington' - establishing the hull's presence/base at Port Townsend in fall 1942. The roll names every enlisted man attached to the vessel for the quarter (roster pages in the image set).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1942-07-21 to 1943-01-31 (roll coverage); roll certified 1942-10-01
- Population
- YMS-133 crew, Q3 1942 (roll roster); Lt. W. J. Carlson USNR (CO); Lt.(j.g.) E. Y. Haynes USNR (XO)
- Limitations
- Establishes crew population, command, and station - NOT an exposure or material record; contains no asbestos content. Forwarding sheet read directly (image 3 of 36); individual roster pages not transcribed for this record. Carlson was CO in Oct 1942; Lt. Carl F. Leitz was CO at the Feb 1943 loss (per press) - command changed during the interval.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-133-05
-
[7]NARA Special List 44, 'List of Logbooks of US Navy Ships, Stations, and Miscellaneous Units, 1801-1947' (by ship number), p. 115 (verified live; PDF text extracted) [other_primary]
- Locator
- sl-44-ship-number.pdf p. 115, YMS-133 row; digitized-logs status via archives.gov/research/military/logbooks/navy-online
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA holdings list records deck logs for YMS-133 covering 8/1/1942 - 1/31/1943 (entry line: 'YMS-133 8/1/1942 1/31/1943'). Logs are physically held in RG 24 at Archives II, College Park, but YMS-133 does not appear on NARA's list of deck logs digitized in the online catalog - holdings not digitized as of access date.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1942-08-01 to 1943-01-31
- Population
- Crew of record for the logged period
- Limitations
- Establishes existence and coverage of logbooks only - contents not examined. Coverage ends 1/31/1943, ~3 weeks before the 2/20/1943 loss; whether logs for the final weeks were lost with the ship or survive elsewhere is undocumented (final-month logs were often forwarded monthly - the gap is consistent with loss but unproven). No asbestos content expected from deck logs in any case.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-133-06
-
[8]NARA, WWII War Diaries (microfilm publication) - 'COMNOWESTSEAFRON - War Diary, 2/1-28/43' (NAID 134180220), 200 images digitized via Fold3; plus 'Section Base Coos Bay Empire Oregon (Supplemental Training Station), 11/4/41-11/30/43' (NAID 185100906), 125 images digitized via Ancestry (both verified live) [other_primary]
- Locator
- catalog.archives.gov/id/134180220 (200 images); catalog.archives.gov/id/185100906 (125 images)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Both digitized NARA file units match a catalog full-text search for 'YMS-133' - the February 1943 Commander, Northwest Sea Frontier war diary (the operational-level record for the district during the loss month) and the logbook of Section Base Coos Bay (Empire, OR), the vessel's own base, covering 11/4/41-11/30/43 including the loss window. These are the likeliest surviving official operational records of the foundering and rescue.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1941-11 to 1943-11 (base log); 1943-02 (war diary)
- Population
- YMS-133 crew; Section Base Coos Bay personnel; COMNOWESTSEAFRON staff
- Limitations
- Archival leads: the records match 'YMS-133' in catalog extracted text but individual image contents were not read for this record - specific mention pages unverified. War-diary/section-base records document operations and the casualty event; no asbestos or material content expected.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-133-07
-
[9]NavSource Online, Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper (YMS) index - class description (verified live) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 11/19idx.htm class narrative
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Class context: the YMS type was 'wood-hulled' - 'the first wooden minesweeper of this class' (YMS-1) was designed by the Henry B. Nevins yard, City Island, NY; 481 built for the U.S. Navy at 35 yacht yards (12 East Coast, 19 West Coast, 4 Great Lakes); YMS-1 through YMS-134 (including YMS-133) were the two-stack subgroup. Surviving YMSs were reclassified AMS and given names in 1947 - YMS-133, lost in 1943, never received a name or redesignation.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1941-1969 (class narrative)
- Population
- Class-wide
- Limitations
- Secondary compilation used for class-level design/material context (wooden hull) only - not a ship-specific record. 'Wood-hulled' is the material fact relevant to bounding asbestos inference. No asbestos content on the page.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-133-08
-
[10]Era inference built on: NavSource class index (wood-hulled YMS-1 class; two GM 8-268A diesels, 2 shafts - no steam plant); NavSource YMS-133 spec block; wartime Navy Yearbook (archive.org) class summary ('YMS boats are large wooden, Diesel powered minesweepers... Two Diesels, 1,200 HP') [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 11/19idx.htm + 11/19133.htm spec blocks; archive.org/stream/navyyearbook01unse YMS class summary
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- A wood-hulled, diesel-powered auxiliary minesweeper built 1941-42 carries a materially narrower asbestos-relevant scope than steam vessels: no boilers, turbines, or steam piping - so no boiler/steam lagging pathway. Era-standard applications aboard a small diesel craft of the period were limited to: thermal insulation on engine exhaust runs, machinery/exhaust lagging, gaskets (engine and piping flanges), valve packing, and electrical insulation; small galley/domestic and firefighting fittings of the era could also contain asbestos components. Asbestos use aboard this hull is a reasonable era-consistent inference, not ship-proven.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1941-1943
- Population
- Western Boat Building construction trades (1941-42); crew Jul 1942-Feb 1943; Coast Guard rescue crews and any hulk-search/salvage parties (Feb 1943)
- Limitations
- Class/era inference only - no hull-specific insulation schedule, material list, work package, or survey exists or was located (vessel lost 1943 after 7 months in service). Names era-standard applications, not confirmed installed materials; no quantity; no manufacturer attribution. Wooden hull further bounds scope vs steel combatants.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-133-09
-
[11]GAO, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure, HRD-80-2 (Oct 18, 1979) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO product page HRD-80-2
- 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 existence (built 1941-42, lost 1943).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1979
- 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) - content via product-page description, same standing limitation as prior batches.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-133-10
-
[12]Batch-8812 search ledger (this record): NavSource hull + class pages; NHHC loss table + casualties page; LOC Chronicling America (Evening Star, Tacoma Times); NARA catalog (muster roll, war diary, base log, SL44); NARA deck-log digitization list; NVR; uboat.net; secondary web sweep; CourtListener [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-yms-133-01 through -17
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed asbestos litigation naming USS YMS-133 / YMS-133 was found in the sources searched (see search_ledger). Given the hull's loss in February 1943 - seven months after completion - no such record is expected to exist. CourtListener base queries '"USS YMS-133"' opinion, '"USS YMS-133"' docket, and '"YMS-133"' opinion each returned zero results (authenticated); the '"YMS-133"' docket query was deferred by fleet pacing and could not be completed (see ledger). Secondary sweeps surfaced only law-firm listicles (mesothelioma.com minesweepers page et al.) - excluded by source policy.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 2026-10-04
- Limitations
- Absence of a located record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1941-42 Navy build sits inside the documented asbestos era even for wood-hulled diesel craft. CourtListener coverage was incomplete at write time (3 of 4 base queries run, all zero; hull-number docket blocked by fleet pacing) - residual risk is minimal: '"YMS-133"' opinion returned 0 and '"USS YMS-133"' docket returned 0 - a hull-string hit in RECAP dockets cannot be ruled out but is unlikely for this low-collision token.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-133-11