Evidence
10 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-10).
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[1]research packet 1076-packet.md (1 sources cited) [museum_official]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-yms-68-yms68-pkt-1076-packet-md
-
[2]NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive, YMS-68 page - construction timeline, specifications, commanding officer, disposal, Subic Bay 1946 photograph, transcribed Orange Leader launch article [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 11/19068.htm - 'YMS-1 Class Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper' timeline block, specifications block, commanding-officers table, photo caption (6 May 1946 Olongapo), Orange Leader transcription
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource timeline for this hull: laid down 22 July 1941 by Weaver Brothers Shipyards, Orange, TX; launched 24 February 1942; completed 1 August 1942; struck from the Naval Register 3 July 1946; transferred to the State Department, Foreign Liquidation Commission in June 1947; 'fate unknown.' Specifications: 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. Commanding officer listed: LTJG John Howard, Jr., USNR, from 1 August 1942. Photograph places YMS-68 at Olongapo, Subic Bay, Luzon, P.I., 6 May 1946 (astern of YMS-196). Page states explicitly: 'There is no DANFS history available for YMS-68.' Transcribed Orange Leader article (25 Feb 1942) documents the launch: third of ten minesweepers under contract at the Weaver yard, sponsored by Mrs. John M.D. Knowles.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1941-1947
- Population
- Weaver construction trades (1941-42); crew (1942-46)
- Limitations
- NavSource is a volunteer secondary compilation, not a primary registry - milestone dates generally track Navy records but carry no document-level citation on the page. 'Completed' date may equate to in-service/commissioning for YMS-type craft. Contains no asbestos content. The post-striking disposal record ends at the Foreign Liquidation Commission; final disposition is undocumented.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-68-yms68-01
-
[3]NARA Catalog file unit 'YMS-68, 8/2/42-4/30/46' (NAID 192919899), RG 24 Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, series 'Muster Rolls of U.S. Navy Ships, Stations, and Other Naval Activities' (NAID 594996), microfilm Roll 8033, National Archives at College Park; 194 digital objects scanned under the NARA-Ancestry partnership [other_primary]
- Locator
- catalog.archives.gov NAID 192919899; Roll 8033; series NAID 594996; sampled images 32863_255070-00005 (8/2/42 commissioning report), -00060 (Q3 1943 recapitulation), -00150 (Q2 1945 recapitulation, O'Neil signature) and -00180 (Feb 1946 report of changes)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA holds this hull's muster rolls (ship's personnel rosters and monthly reports of changes) covering 2 August 1942 - 30 April 1946 - the near-complete commissioned life of the vessel. The file unit is fully digitized (194 page-images) and unrestricted. Sampled pages verify content: the opening report is the 'Report of Changes of U.S.S. YMS-68 - Upon Commissioning, day of August 2, 1942,' recording the first 15 plankowners received from U.S. Naval Receiving Station, New Orleans, La., on 8-2-42; quarterly recapitulation sheets show 28 aboard (operating allowance 28) at 30 September 1943 and 30 aboard (allowance 29) at 1 July 1945, the latter signed Gerald L. O'Neil, Lieut., USNR, Commanding Officer; a February 1946 report of changes is signed by an Ensign USNR as commanding officer, consistent with a reduced postwar crew state. Muster rolls name every crew member aboard by reporting period, documenting the population carried on this hull.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1942-1946
- Population
- All hands aboard YMS-68, 1942-1946 (roster documentation)
- Limitations
- Muster rolls are personnel rosters, not deck logs and not material records - they document who was aboard, not what materials the ship carried. The batch brief described NARA deck-log inventory for YMS-68 at 8/2/1942-6/30/1945; the catalog-verified file unit is muster rolls at 8/2/42-4/30/46 - a longer span and a different record type. The 8/2/42 start date agrees; the discrepancy is logged in gaps. A separate deck-log file unit for this hull was not located in catalog search.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-68-yms68-02
-
[4]NARA Catalog file unit 'USS YMS-68 - Rep of minesweeping opers in support of the assault landings in the Brunei Bay Area, Borneo, 6/7-13/45' (NAID 101754004), RG 38 Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, series 'World War II War Diaries, Other Operational Records and Histories' (NAID 4697018), microfilm Roll A1763, micro serial 133457, report serial 08-45 dated 24 June 1945; 2 digital objects scanned under the NARA-Fold3 partnership - full text read from scan [other_primary]
- Locator
- catalog.archives.gov NAID 101754004; Roll A1763 images 1127-1128; serial YMS68/A16-3 08-45
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- YMS-68's own action report (CONFIDENTIAL, signed Gerald L. O'Neil, Lieut., USNR, Commanding Officer): departed Morotai 2 June 1945 with Task Unit 78.1.5 (Task Group 78.1, Commander Amphibious Group SIX; Task Force 78, Seventh Amphibious Force; Seventh Fleet). Arrived Brunei Bay area 7 June leading Sweep Unit Two alongside AM-298; cut a mine in area 'Piccolo' at approx. 5-08N, 115-00E. Swept areas Saxophone, Triangle, Trombone, Alto, Banjo and Chimes 7-13 June; fouled and lost 'O'-type sweep gear on underwater obstructions 8 and 12 June, damaging both 'A' frames. On 11 June, Unit Two - YMS-68(F) (unit flagship), YMS-73, YMS-51, YMS-363 - cut 19 mines plus 6 more on check sweep (25 that day; 30 total for area Banjo). Refueled alongside LST-473 on 10 June.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1945-06-02 to 1945-06-13
- Population
- YMS-68 crew (~32 complement); Sweep Unit Two crews (YMS-51, -73, -363)
- Limitations
- Primary operational record establishing this hull's June 1945 presence and sweep-unit flagship role at Brunei Bay (Operation Oboe VI); contains no asbestos or material content. Mine counts are the unit's, not solely YMS-68's, except where the report states her own gear actions. Digitized via Fold3; catalog page is JS-rendered but the two report page-images are direct-downloadable.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-68-yms68-03
-
[5]NARA Catalog file unit 'USS YMS-68 - Rep of minesweeping opers in support of the assault landing at Miri, Borneo, 6/15-21/45' (NAID 101754954), RG 38, series 'World War II War Diaries, Other Operational Records and Histories' (NAID 4697018), microfilm Roll A1764, micro serial 133512, report serial 010-45 dated 25 June 1945; 2 digital objects scanned under the NARA-Fold3 partnership - full text read from scan [other_primary]
- Locator
- catalog.archives.gov NAID 101754954; Roll A1764 images 0956-0957; serial YMS68/A16-3 010-45
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- YMS-68's own action report (CONFIDENTIAL, signed Gerald L. O'Neil, Lieut., USNR): proceeded from Brunei Bay to Miri 14 June 1945; swept areas Barley, Plough and Flax off Lobang/Lutong Point 15-19 June, streaming 'O'-type gear at depths to 80 ft. Cut two mines 18 June at approx. 4-25N, 113-50E plus a third and fourth the same afternoon; on 19 June one mine exploded in her sweep gear (loss of float and otter) and another fouled the gear on recovery - day total two cut, one exploded, one fouled. Proceeded to transport area 20 June; alongside USS Caldwell (DD-605) for minor repairs 21 June; refueled from LST-607; rejoined convoy and arrived Brunei Bay 22 June.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1945-06-14 to 1945-06-22
- Population
- YMS-68 crew; USS Caldwell (DD-605) repair personnel alongside
- Limitations
- Primary operational record establishing this hull's June 1945 sweeping at Miri-Lutong (Borneo operation) and repair alongside USS Caldwell; contains no asbestos or material content. Digitized via Fold3; catalog page is JS-rendered but the two report page-images are direct-downloadable.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-68-yms68-04
-
[6]uboat.net Allied Warships, USS YMS-68 (ship/9488) - order-of-battle transcription from the underlying NARA action reports (COMTASKGR 74.3 Cebu report; CTG 78.1 Oboe I and Oboe VI reports; CTU 76.20.50 Lutong report) [other_primary]
- Locator
- uboat.net ship/9488.html - 'Notable events involving YMS-68' (24 Mar 1945, 1 May 1945, 10 Jun 1945, 20 Jun 1945 entries and order-of-battle lists); cited source list at page foot
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Secondary compilation (built from the same NARA action-report series) places YMS-68 in the 1945 Philippines/Borneo amphibious sweeps: Operation Victor II (Cebu landings, 24-28 March 1945) - YMS-68 in Task Unit 78.2.9 minesweeping unit, Lt. G.L. O'Neil USNR also commanding the minesweeping group (with YMS-9, -46, -52, -313, -339, -340, -481); Cebu-area sweeps south of Mactan Island reported negative results. Operation Oboe I (Tarakan, assault 1 May 1945) - YMS-68 in Task Group 78.1.5 minesweeping unit (USS Cofer plus eleven YMS); departed Leyte 22 April, on objective 27 April; 5 May she was among the YMS escorting LCI units back to Morotai, arriving 8 May. Construction dates on the page (ordered 1 Apr 1941; laid down 22 Jul 1941; launched 24 Feb 1942; commissioned 1 Aug 1942; stricken 3 Jul 1946) match the NavSource timeline.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1945-03 to 1945-06
- Population
- YMS-68 crew; sweep-group crews
- Limitations
- uboat.net is a secondary compilation - but its event entries transcribe the same RG 38 action-report series held at NARA, and the June 1945 entries are independently verified by this hull's own digitized reports (ev-03, ev-04). Cebu and Tarakan participation is carried as an archival lead pending direct read of the CTG 78.2 / CTG 78.1 reports in the same NARA series. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-68-yms68-05
-
[7]Shipbuilding History (Tim Colton), Weaver Shipyards, Orange TX - yard history and hull table [other_primary]
- Locator
- shipbuildinghistory.com Weaver yard table - YMS 68 row (278 GT, delivered 1-Aug-42, struck 1946)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Builder corroboration: Weaver Shipyards (founded 1897 as Joseph Weaver and Son; renamed Weaver Shipyards 1941) was primarily a repair yard until WWII contracts 'to construct wooden mine sweepers and sub chasers were awarded in 1941 and 1942.' The yard's hull table lists YMS-66 through YMS-75 (ten minesweepers - matching the Orange Leader's 'third of the 10 minesweepers under contract'), then YMS-247-258 and YMS-371-374; YMS-68 is listed at 278 GT, delivered 1-Aug-42, 'Struck 1946.' Confirms wooden-hull construction for this contract block.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1941-1942
- Population
- Weaver construction trades (1941-42)
- Limitations
- Secondary compiler source (Colton's Shipbuilding History) - consistent with NavSource and the contemporaneous newspaper account. 'Wooden mine sweepers' describes the yard's product, corroborating the wood-hulled YMS-1 design for this hull. No asbestos or material content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-68-yms68-06
-
[8]NavSource Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper (YMS) index - class characteristics block; corroborated by Wikipedia YMS-1-class article (secondary) and Ships of the U.S. Navy 1940-1945 YMS spec block (HyperWar) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 11/19idx.htm class block ('The wood-hulled YMS...', 481 ships, GM 8-268A diesels); NavSource 11/19068.htm spec block; GAO HRD-80-2 product page
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Era inference: the wood-hulled YMS-1 class (481 built at 35 small yacht yards) was diesel-propelled - two GM 8-268A diesel engines, twin screws - with no steam plant, so the boiler/turbine lagging pathway does not apply. Era-standard asbestos applications aboard small diesel combatants of the early 1940s were diesel-exhaust lagging, machinery gaskets and packing, electrical wiring/cable insulation, and switchboard/instrument insulation. GAO documented Navy-wide asbestos insulation use through the early 1970s, spanning this hull's entire construction and service period.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1941-1947
- Population
- Weaver construction trades (1941-42); crew (1942-46); any repair personnel (e.g., USS Caldwell alongside work, June 1945)
- Limitations
- Class/era inference only - no hull-specific insulation schedule, material list, or work package located for YMS-68. Wood-hulled diesel construction materially narrows the plausible asbestos scope versus steam vessels, but does not eliminate it. Names era-standard applications, not confirmed installed materials; no quantity; no manufacturer attribution.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-68-yms68-07
-
[9]GAO, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure, HRD-80-2 (Oct 18, 1979) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO product page HRD-80-2 (full text blocked, HTTP 403)
- 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 construction (1941-42) and entire service life (1942-46).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- 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 returned HTTP 403 to automated fetch, confirmed 2026-10-05) - content via product-page description.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-68-yms68-08
-
[10]Batch-9149 search ledger (this record): NavSource ship and class pages; NARA Catalog (muster rolls NAID 192919899; action reports NAIDs 101754004, 101754954); Shipbuilding History Weaver yard table; uboat.net compilation; NHHC DANFS index check; CourtListener base queries; secondary web litigation sweep [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-yms-68-yms68-01 through -14
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or material list naming YMS-68 in the public sources searched. Litigation sweep COMPLETE (2026-10-05, all via the fleet pacing helper): four mandated base queries plus two overflow-justified asbestos variants produced zero qualifying cases - 'USS YMS-68' opinions returned 4 name collisions (one is a YMS-12 sister-hull admiralty collision case, not asbestos; three are OCR noise), dockets 1,723 tokenized noise; 'YMS-68' opinions 129 collisions, dockets 12,427 noise; 'YMS-68 asbestos' opinions 9 noise, dockets 1,281 (the asbestos-docket corpus matched on tokenized terms - MDL-875, Grace, Motors Liquidation et al. - none naming this hull). The only 'asbestos aboard' material for YMS-type craft online is law-firm marketing content (asbestos-ships.com and similar listicles) asserting asbestos without primary sourcing - excluded by source policy.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 2026-10-05
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard. The digitized muster rolls and both action reports contain no material/maintenance detail of the kind that would document insulation. Undigitized leads: full deck logs (NARA College Park), BuShips work packages, and the Foreign Liquidation Commission disposal file. Does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-yms-68-yms68-09