Evidence
11 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-11).
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[1]research packet 1035-packet.md (2 sources cited) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-yms-165-yms165-pkt-1035-packet-md
-
[2]NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive, YMS-165 - construction milestones, specifications, striking, destruction, commanding officer (verified live 2026-10-04) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 11/19165.htm - vessel timeline, specifications block, commanding officers block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- YMS-1 Class Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper: laid down 25 May 1942 by the Daschel-Carter [sic - Dachel-Carter] Shipbuilding Corp., Benton Harbor, MI; launched 16 January 1943; completed 3 April 1943; struck from the Naval Register 2 February 1947; 'Destroyed in March 1948.' 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 880bhp General Motors 8-268A diesel engines, Snow and Knobstedt single reduction gear, two shafts. Call sign Nan-Yoke-George-Oboe. Commanding officer listed: LTJG I. J. Horstmann, USNR (1945). 'There is no DANFS History currently available for YMS-165'; no image of the vessel is held.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1942-1948
- Population
- Dachel-Carter construction workers (1942-43); crew (~32, 1943-47); disposal personnel (1947-48)
- Limitations
- NavSource is a volunteer secondary compilation tracking official milestone records, not a primary registry - no asbestos or material content. Uses 'Completed' rather than 'Commissioned' wording (see gaps); spells builder 'Daschel-Carter' (correct spelling Dachel-Carter - see ev-09). 'Destroyed in March 1948' gives no location or circumstances.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-165-01
-
[3]National Archives, Special List 44: List of Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships, Stations, and Miscellaneous Units, 1801-1947 - ship-number section (PDF) [other_primary]
- Locator
- sl-44-ship-number.pdf, page 115 (YMS block)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA Special List 44 records U.S. Navy deck logs for YMS-165 covering 29 April 1943 - 30 April 1945 (entry 'YMS-165 4/29/1943 4/30/1945'). This is log-coverage documentation: the logs exist in NARA custody (RG 24, Entry P118 / related series) but the coverage window is not itself a commissioning or decommissioning record, and the contents of the logs were not examined - they are an undigitized primary lead for this hull's movements, personnel, and work.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1943-1945 (coverage)
- Population
- Crew of YMS-165 (April 1943 - April 1945)
- Limitations
- Lists logbook coverage only - not an asbestos record, not proof of operating location, and not proof of commissioning/decommissioning dates. The 30 April 1945 coverage end means late-war operations (post-May 1945) and the disposal process are not covered by this listing. Logs themselves are not digitized in the public catalog - examination requires NARA College Park access or a digitization request.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-165-02
-
[4]NHHC Online Reading Room: 'United States Pacific Fleet Organization, 1 May 1945' - official wartime fleet organization document [other_primary]
- Locator
- MINECRAFT, PACIFIC FLEET section, YMS list block (page _--134--_ of transcription)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The official Pacific Fleet organization list of 1 May 1945 places YMS 165 under MINECRAFT, PACIFIC FLEET (Task Force 18, Commander Minecraft Pacific Fleet R. Adm. A. Sharp), in the block of unattached YMS vessels following Mine Squadron Twenty - commanded by 'Lt. (jg) I. J. Horstmann (USNR)'. This independently corroborates the NavSource commanding-officer listing and confirms the hull was an active Minecraft Pacific Fleet unit at that date, in the war's final months.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1945
- Population
- YMS-165 crew, Lt.(jg) I. J. Horstmann USNR commanding
- Limitations
- Assignment-level documentation only: confirms fleet component and commanding officer at 1 May 1945, not location or operations on that date - the list's marginal numeric flag ('94' beside YMS 165) is not decoded in the NHHC transcription and is not interpreted here. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-165-03
-
[5]The American Presidency Project: Jimmy Carter, 'Department of the Army Nomination of Walter B. LaBerge To Be Under Secretary' (White House press release, 1977); corroborated by National Academy of Engineering Memorial Tribute (nac.edu/nationalacademies.org, Memorial Tributes Vol. 21) [other_primary]
- Locator
- presidency.ucsb.edu doc 244022 (nomination text); NAE Memorial Tributes Vol. 21, LaBerge chapter; walterlaberge.com/Walt2.htm
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Walter B. LaBerge - later Under Secretary of the Army (1977-80), Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (R&D), and NATO Assistant Secretary General - served aboard this hull in World War II. The 1977 White House nomination announcement states: 'During World War II, LaBerge served as executive officer and then commander of the U.S. Navy Minesweeper YMS 165.' The NAE memorial tribute adds that he was assigned to YMS 165 after graduating Notre Dame in 1944 and 'deployed to the Western Pacific. By war's end, as only a lieutenant junior grade (LTJG), he had become the ship's captain.' His family memorial page places the vessel 'in the Palau Islands.' The tribute's awards block lists American Theater (1944) and Pacific Theater (1945) service.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1944-1946
- Population
- Lt.(jg) Walter B. LaBerge USN; YMS-165 crew, Palau/Western Pacific (1944-46)
- Limitations
- Vessel-history facts only - this record makes no exposure claim for LaBerge or any individual. Sources agree he was XO then CO by war's end; NavSource lists Horstmann as CO in 1945, consistent with a mid-1945 turnover (Horstmann is the officer on the 1 May 1945 fleet list). 'Promoted to Captain in 1946' wording in some secondary bios refers to becoming the vessel's commanding officer (captain), not the rank of Captain - he was an LTJG. The Palau basing rests on the family memorial biography.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-165-04
-
[6]Springfield (SD) Veterans recognition page, Merle Toyne biography - crew-member service account [other_primary]
- Locator
- springfieldsdveterans.com Merle Toyne profile, service chronology paragraphs
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- A named crew member's biography states: 'In April 1943, he was assigned to the mine sweeper USS YMS 165, patrolling and convoying the North Atlantic shipping lanes from the East Coast to Gibraltar. Toyne additionally served a brief period in South Atlantic waters between Recife, Brazil and Port of Spain Trinidad. By June 1943, he was reassigned...' This indicates the hull's first employment (April-June 1943, immediately after completion) was Atlantic convoy/patrol duty out of the East Coast - consistent with the NARA deck-log window opening 29 April 1943 - before her later Western Pacific service documented by the LaBerge biographies and the Pacific Fleet list.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1943
- Population
- Crew incl. Merle Toyne (April-June 1943); Atlantic convoy routes
- Limitations
- Single-source secondary account (community veterans memorial, not an official record): the Atlantic/Gibraltar/South Atlantic routing rests on this biography alone and is carried as corroborating context, not verified itinerary. No dates within the window are pinned beyond April-June 1943. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-165-05
-
[7]Shipbuilding History (Tim Colton), Yard Minesweepers (YMS and BYMS) production table + Dachel-Carter yard table (shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/small/dachelcarter.htm) [other_primary]
- Locator
- shipbuildinghistory.njscuba.net/us-navy-small/ym/ - class overview paragraph + YMS-165 row; shipbuildinghistory.com Dachel-Carter yard table row
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Production tables name this hull twice: the yard-minesweeper delivery table lists 'YMS-165 | Dachel-Carter Shipbuilding | Benton Harbor MI | 136 | 320 | 3 Apr 1943 | struck 1946' and the Dachel-Carter yard table lists 'YMS 165 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 278d | 135 | 3-Apr-43 | Scuttled 1948'. The class overview states that 35 boatyards turned out 561 wooden-hulled minesweepers of essentially one 136-foot design in 1942-45, and that the Mk. II subclass (YMS-135 through YMS-445, covering this hull) had one stack.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1942-1948
- Population
- Dachel-Carter Shipbuilding trades, Benton Harbor MI (1942-43)
- Limitations
- Secondary compilation (authoritative shipbuilding reference, not a primary registry). 'Struck 1946' in the YMS table conflicts with NavSource/uboat.net's 2 February 1947 striking - the NavSource date is carried and the variant logged in gaps. 'Scuttled 1948' in the yard table is the only source phrasing the March 1948 destruction as a scuttling; location and circumstances not given. Wooden-hull and Mk. II statements are class-level facts applied to this hull by its delivery row. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-165-06
-
[8]uboat.net Allied Warships of WWII, USS YMS-165 (YMS-165) page and YMS-class technical page [other_primary]
- Locator
- uboat.net ship/9585.html data table; class/477.html technical information block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- uboat.net's warship record for this hull: ordered 14 March 1942; laid down 25 May 1942 by Dachel-Carter Shipbuilding Corp. (Benton Harbor, Michigan); launched 16 January 1943; commissioned 3 April 1943; stricken 2 February 1947. The class page gives: displacement 270 BRT, length 136 ft, complement 32 men, armament 1 3" AA gun + 2 20mm AA, max speed 15 knots, diesel engines on 2 shafts, 2000 HP.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1942-1947
- Limitations
- Volunteer-compiled secondary database; milestone dates match NavSource except the 'commissioned' wording (NavSource says 'Completed') and engine power (2000 HP class figure vs NavSource's two 880bhp = 1760 bhp; Wikipedia class article gives 2 x 440bhp) - conflicts logged in gaps. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-165-07
-
[9]GAO, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure, HRD-80-2 (Oct 18, 1979) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO product page HRD-80-2 description block
- Finding type
- gov_survey
- Finding
- GAO documented that the Navy used asbestos insulation extensively aboard ships and only moved to remove/replace asbestos insulation under a 1975 policy (damaged or repair-disturbed insulation) expanded selectively in 1979 - the entire construction (1942-43) and service life (1943-48) of this hull fell inside the unrestricted-use era.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1979 (report); era context covering 1942-48
- 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 direct fetch; content via product-page description, confirmed this session).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-165-08
-
[10]Era inference built on: NavSource specification block (two GM 8-268A diesels, 2 shafts); shipbuildinghistory YMS class overview (561 wooden-hulled minesweepers, 136-ft design); GAO HRD-80-2 (Navy asbestos-use era) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource spec block; shipbuildinghistory YMS overview; GAO HRD-80-2 product page
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- A wooden-hulled diesel-powered motor minesweeper completed April 1943 sits inside the Navy's documented asbestos-use era; era-standard applications aboard a small diesel vessel of this type were diesel exhaust lagging, machinery-space thermal insulation, gaskets, valve packing, and electrical insulation. With no steam plant, the boiler/turbine lagging pathway of steam vessels does not apply; the wooden hull removes any hull-structural application but leaves the machinery and outfit pathways.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 1942-1948
- Population
- Dachel-Carter construction trades (1942-43); crew (1943-47); any repair-yard trades during service; 1948 disposal personnel
- Limitations
- Class/era inference only - no hull-specific insulation survey, material list, work package, or deck-log content located for YMS-165. Names era-standard applications, not confirmed installed materials. No quantity. Product names are normalized era terms; no manufacturer attribution for this hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-165-09
-
[11]Batch-8833 search ledger (this record): NavSource; NARA Special List 44 PDF; NHHC Pacific Fleet organization list; American Presidency Project (White House nomination); NAE Memorial Tribute; uboat.net; shipbuildinghistory; GAO product page; CourtListener authenticated API (partial - paced); secondary web litigation sweep [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-yms-165-01 through -14
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or verified litigation naming USS YMS-165 was found in the public sources searched. Both completed CourtListener opinion base queries ("USS YMS-165" and "YMS-165", limit 20) returned zero results; the two docket base queries were fleet-paced all session (six spaced attempts, stand-down each time) - logged blocked, not a negative result. Secondary web sweeps surfaced no qualifying case and no ship-specific asbestos content of any kind beyond generic class-level marketing listicles (excluded sources). No DANFS entry exists for this hull (NavSource and NHHC confirmed).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-04
- Study period
- 2026-10-04
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard. The deck logs exist at NARA (4/29/1943-4/30/1945) but are undigitized and unexamined - they are the primary open lead for hull-specific work and material records. Disposal circumstances of the March 1948 destruction are undocumented - whether the hull was scuttled intact, burned, or broken up (and where) is unknown. Does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-165-10