Compass Island (AG 153) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 88 of the 1976 volume:

jMMS ' VV :jt.i.:jMVi t ) c nrfVA V ) y V ' Vjk ■v ' , - ir- ' ■• ' t USS COMPASS ISLAND (AG- 153) COMPASS ISLAND initially served in the mer- chant service as the S.S. GARDEN MARINER. Built as a fast cargo ship, the GARDEN MARI- NER made trips to North Africa and the Orient after her completion in 1953. The Navy acquired the ship from the U.S. Maritime Administration after a decision had been made that a ship of this type would make the best test vehicle for precision navigation equipment. The ship was converted by the New York Naval Shipyard and commissioned on 3 December 1956. The conversion included the installation of a sys- tem unique for a naval vessel — roll stabilizers. These stabilizers sense the ship ' s roll and adjust automatically to counteract it. While sister ships roll twenty degrees, COMPASS ISLAND, in the same seaway, rolls about two degrees. Automatic gyro steering is also installed to further assist han- dling characteristics. This provides the degree of steering accuracy necessary for the navigation sys- tems testing done by this ship. COMPASS island ' s primary mission is to advance the development of navigation systems for Polaris, Poseidon and Trident FBM Subma- rines through operational research and evaluation. COMPASS ISLAND is especially suited to this mission because she provides the space, facilities, speed, cruising radius, stability, and sea-worthi- ness needed for the efficient pursuit of such stud- ies. The COMPASS ISLAND program is conducted under the general direction of the Strategic Sys- tems Project Office, Naval Ships Systems Com- mand and the technical direction of Sperry Sys- tems Management Division of Sperry Rand Cor- poration, Great Neck, New York. Ck)se coopera- tion is maintained with vendors of navigational equipment and with other agencies, both private and governmental, which are actively contributing to the development of Polaris, Poseidon and Tri- dent navigational systems. This ship, the first U. S. Navy ship to bear the name COMPASS ISLAND, is named after an island in Penobscot Bay. Maine. COMPASS ISLAND is under the operational and administrative control of Commander, Sub- marine Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet and is assigned to Submarine Group SIX. The ship is homcported in Charleston, South Carolina, and is normally berthed at the Charleston Naval Statit)n, Charles- ton, S.C. COMPASS ISLAND pulled into Avomdale Shipyard in February 1977 for hull and engineering plant repairs. Selected as the yard best suited for COMPASS ISLAND from among the others on the east coast, we slipped into what is reputedly one of the world ' s largest floating drydocks. Ideally located at the foot of the Mississippi River, Avondale sits on the west bank just north of New Orleans, Louisiana. As always, being in the yards meant working around the clock in order to accomplish all scheduled jobs. But in New Orleans, there is a custom; a carnival of brilliant costumes and pagan lineage. A harbinger of the nigh-approaching spring, Mardi Gras is celebrated. So despite the long work day, poor and expensive transportation, we celebrated with the natives their world famous Mardi Gras. Caught up in the festive spirit prevailing throughout the city, we traveled the highways and byways of New Orleans, sampling the renowned Creole cuisine. When not roaming the side streets of the downtown, we watched a new generation of supertankers being built around us in the yards. Even the voyage home was memorable, as we ducked under the Huey P. Long Bridge, and then slalomed down the river through traffic and fog. Once in the Gulf of Mexico, we settled down into a normal underway routine and began an uneventful transit to Charleston. REFTRA, GTMO In October, 1976, the COMPASS ISLAND journeyed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for Refresher Training. Upon our arrival in Cuba, Fleet Training Group per- sonnel held a pre-training inspection to point out deficiencies in damage control equip- ment and procedures, engineering casualty control, navigation, communication, deck, gunnery, and medical and first aid readiness. During REFTRA all Inport Emergency Details, Underway Repair Parties, Engineer- ing, Operations, Deck, and Medical person- nel were required to respond to various simu- lated emergencies. In each case. Fleet Train- ing Group personnel were on the scene to point out mistakes and to offer suggestions for correction. In the final phase of REFTRA all respon- ses to the emergencies were critically eval- uated. A substantial improvement in all fac- ets of damage and casualty control was noted by the inspectors, resulting in an over- all grade of excellent. All was not training and drilling beneath the hot Cuban sun. The crew was still able to find time for off-duty relaxation and enter- tainment. Many took advantage of the com- prehensive Special Services offered such as swimming, horseback riding, and softball, as well as the service clubs. Others toured the far reaches of the base where they witnessed the largest active mine field in the world in addition to the water distilling plant which utilizes sea water to make one million gallons of fresh water per day to provide for all the needs of the Naval Base. tfd i Commander Roland R. JOHNSON was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin on 19 August 1935. He attended Ripon College from September 1953 to June 1955. In June 1955 he entered the U. S. Naval Academy and upon graduation in 1959 with a B.S. attained, he was commissioned Ensign, U. S. Navy. Commander JOHNSON is married to the former Ida Cubero of New York, New York and they have one son, Scott Ronald. After commissioning. Commander JOHNSON taught Marine Engineering at the Naval Academy for two months prior to reporting to Flight Training at Pensacola, Florida. Commander JOHNSON was selected for Submarine duty in 1961 after a tour of duty in VFlOl — Detachment Alfa. Later assignments include duty as Operations Officer, USS CAVALLA (AGSS 244); Navi- gator, USS JOHN MARSHALL (SSBN 611); Navigator Operations Officer, USS SEA OWL (SS 405); Executive Officer, USS BLENNY (SS-324); Director of Fleet Ballistic Missile Navigation at the U. S. Naval Guided Missile School, Dam Neck, Virginia; Student at the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California and Submarine Liaison Officer on the Staff of Commander Cruiser- Destroyer Group THREE. In February 1967 Commander JOHNSON qualified for Command of Submarines and in December 1975 he attained his Mas- ter of Science (Underwater Acoustics) from the U. S. Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California. Commander JOHN- SON is authorized to wear the National Defense Service Medal and the SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia with one silver star for completing six successful patrols as Navigator of the USS JOHN MARSHALL (SSBN 611). Commander JOHNSON reported as Commanding Officer, USS COMPASS ISLAND (AG-153) on 25 September 1976. LCDR Robert R. CRONIN was bom in Boston, Massachu- setts on 15 November 1941 and was raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. A 1963 graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy, LCDR CRONIN ' s sea tours have included USS ENTER- PRISE (CVN-65), USS PROCYON (AF-61), USS FORREST SHERMAN (DD-931). and USS MONTICELLO (LSD-35). Other operational assignments have been with Boat Support Unit ONE, Officer-in-Charge of PCF-27, Officer-in-Charge of PTF-13, and Student at the U. S. Naval Destroyer School. LCDR CRONIN ' s shore billets have been with CINCLANT, CINCLANTFLT and COMNAVINTCOM — all as a proven subspecialist in intelligence. LCDR CRONIN is authorized to wear the Joint Service Commendation, SECNAV Commen- dation, Navy Achievement, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Citation, National Defense, Vietnam Campaign, Vietnam Civic Action and Viet- nam Service Medals. LCDR CRONIN is married to Julianne Starck of San Pedro, California; the CRONINs have three daughters — Andrea, Mireille and Tasha and currently reside in North Charleston, SC. LCDR CRONIN reported to USS COMPASS ISLAND for duty as Executive Officer in January 1977. Congratulations to LCDR CRONIN for his recent selec- tion to Commander. xo •t - ' i r i H, ' ' .■ i 1 r u rii ' ' i- r T%-i| ' ' ■ s ; ? ' 5 • - ■ ■ ' ' - - i r r ' - :u: ■ - Mi EC Ic 4 ' ! a, - ■ t% D 3 ? - ' t •: t - . 1 ■ 5 3 ICI - i ,-. z f 3 -. r- I C K N : t ' ' Ai S ' A.w : I vV T f. ■ % ' ' it ' i I ' 4 ; f : 1,. ! . . . 1 ,i 1 r I •- 1 i: {111 1 = 6. :i I ! 1 .,! 17 . 4;r: ' %fr-- i J ' ■ zm m •H rrrn •v ' ■ w • m V ' : a 4 !Jk 1 % wtt :i - 4 ■ . ' y u . . ' ' :. V ( -:iV : llll!iS;ini . y. t t r ,4 tt :- Bienvenidos San Juan y La Guaira In order to further test the prototype Polaris Poseidon Trident navigational systems, we traveled south and were able to schedule stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico and La Guaira, Venezuela. As we first sailed into Bania de San Juan under the walls of El Morro, we were welcomed by pleasant weather and friendly people. A commonwealth of the United States, the island is dif- ferent, yet not quite so foreign. As we hit the beach at liberty call, we flushed at the cacophony of sights and sounds before us: El Morro and Old San Juan, New San Juan and the Night Clubs and Casinos, Cock Fights, the Rain Forest, the Black Angus. Many sailors had a taste of what it is like to pay for your Caribbean cruise as they sat in the lounges of the Carla C and the other cruise liners around our berth. We arrived at La Guaira and were anxious to get out and sample the local wares. So we exchanged our hard earned gringo dollars for the local Boli- vars and quickly began sampling a few cold cervesas. The Atlantic Fleet Soft- ball Champions were invited to play a pick-up team from Venezuelan Naval Training Center, let ' s just say it was a good thing the title was not on the line. The crew hosted a beach party where we and a few local seiioritas listened to the ship ' s band come across with some hot licks. Many took the ship ' s vans across the mountains to Caracas, the capitol of Venezuela. From Simon Bolivar Plaza you could just walk around town or take a taxi to the cable car and visit the Humboldt Hotel, atop the mountain. The CI left La Guaira and returned to San Juan where many of us again tried our hands at besting Lady Luck at the Casinos, all to no avail. By now sat- urated with sight-seeing and pina-cola- das, we were not too sorry to leave San Juan behind us as we were homeward bound. N L| r . n I . . Vl H EflB H H BM t , « I hM| J r H -r f J m- 9ft r s=: ■ ■ ■T.- ' t- ' Ir : IJ - ' 1 1 m iiiffiiiii«MiiiniiitBiiilKmMn(M MiW RT an •MV ■ fl 11 I I 11 HI u_ ir ' V ■ ' s I f 1 ■ ::: t ' - - - l ' ,__ ' z ■ •- ' r ' i : K - J iSl? ' ' ' dfr iM««Mfli4RMriP9 i ,:;..;i-. -.- P |fi JSS ife 1 1 Bb ' « = : BF : • •:; ' ? - KUBF ii ! -- - ' ' - si SHI -ij? iTj liU-- ' 1 1 u Nassau ■ « t , I iA ' WSnP r A port we enjoy pulling into and one which we see often is Port Canav- eral, Florida. Not much to offer by itself, Canaveral is close to many of Florida ' s resort areas, such as Cocoa Beach and Orlando. Cocoa Beach and Cocoa City are popular ports-of-call for our sailors. The COMPASS ISLAND is well known by the towns- people and everyone is friendly. If you enjoy touring the area, either alone or in groups, there is Disney World and the Kennedy Space Center available. For those who find it diffi- cult to leave the ship prior to 1900, you can sit on the fantail and often catch a missile launch from the Space Center. In Julv. 77 COMPASS ISLAND was the support ship for the HMS RESOLUTION and her DASO Launch. One of four nuclear powered. Polaris submarines in the Royal Navy. the RESOLUTION successfully launched a Polaris A-3 mis- sile. Hard work goes into the preparation for a DASO for both the SSBN and her support ship. COMPASS ISLAND set her- self to welcome aboard high rankmg American and British dignitaries, launch-associated equipment and personnel, the press, and dependent guests. Easily equalmg the number of crew, the 300 or so guests made themselves at home, picnick- ing, and being entertained by the ship ' s band . . . and the crew carried out the daily routine! rr xtgia 1 , .1 , X DIVISION (TOP ROW) LTJG J. A. JOHNSON. MAC H. KENDRICK, ETI M. ROBY. HMI R. HOLLINQUIST. HM3 R. BEALE. YNI C. W.SMITH, PCI R.NICHOLS. SMI J. DILLARD. LCDR R. R. CRONIN (EXECUTIVE OFFICER) (SECOND ROW) FA M. SCOTT. SA R. WELLER. SN H. CHANEY, PC3 H. GILBERTSON. PN3 D. ESPEJO. MSI T. ENCARNACION N DIVISION: SN REILLY, QM3 CRONEN. QM3 BUTTS. QM3 BLACK- BURN. QMC OWENS OR DIVISION: RMC MITCHELL. SMSA YOUNG. RM3 SARPY, RM3 MACKEY. SM2 MC CULLOUGH, LTJG CLITHERO. RMSA WENN. SMI DISHAROON. RM3 SCOTT. RM3TABB OI OE DIVISION: ETR2 MUNCHBACH. ETNSN HANER, OSI MAR- TIN. OSSA LEY. ETN3 MABRY. ETR2 DAVIS. LTJG VAN BELLE. OS3 HOSEY. OS3 RATIGAN. OS3 CHILDERS. OS2 PESSELATO OPS 1 H ' m W 1 • 1 H h ' ttur IN DIVISION: CW02 BOWEN, ETN3 MILEY, ETI WARD, ETN2 PHEISTER. ETl JONES, ETN2 DEKEMPER. ETl REICHMAN. ETCS KING, ETN3 HOEFT, ETN3 WALL, ETN2 SCHRAMM, ETN2 BAKER. ETN2 WILLIAMS NA DIVISION: CW02 HICKERSON. SKI ENZOR, ETN3 BOWMAN, ETN3 HELTON, ETI GARDENER, YN3 DE JESUS, SKI HOFFMAN, PH2 HOLZHAUER, ETI MAST, ETC BROWN V , ■: Ti -ml SUPPORT DIVISION: ETCS GREWE, ETN2 ATHERTON, ETN3 SEWARD, ETI HAWTHORNE, ETI ROBBINS, ETN3 KIRLEY, ETN2 PERULLO, ETN3 LEWIS 2nd DIVISION: ENS SALISBURY, SN NORTON, SR STONE, BM3 BRYANT, SN LANIER, SN KALTEUX, SA DEWOLF, BM3 SWOPES, GMG2 BEASLEY, BM2 DAVIS. BM3 DRAKE, SA TYLER. GMG2 FELTUS, SR NORRIS, SA HUTCHERSON, SA PICKETT, SA DOVER, BMI SMITH, SR FRANKE. BM3 WHITE. BM3 SHEPPERSON, GMGSN SPILLANE, GMG3 ELLISON, SN SHORT, BM3 CONNEY, SN PURVIS, SA NUNEZ, SA HESLET, GMG I WHITE, LCDR J. L. DODD PT isl«J x 1st DIVISION: BMI LlNDi;, BM3 MILSOM, SN WILCOX. BM3 ALLF.NBACH. SN WARREN. SN FLETCHER. SA CHAMBERS. SN WEI- DAUER, SN STEWARD, BM.1 l.ACNY. BM.3 DONMOYER. BMC HUGHES. BM2 CARRICO. SR HODGE. SR BAKER. SA RITCH. SA PRINGLE. SA DERAMO. SN TRUEMAN, BM3 SNAPP ENGINEERING R DIVISION: LTJG GOULET. HTFN HARE, HT3 PHELPS. HTI CALHOUN, HT2 BROOKS, HTl CLICK, HT3 MARTINEZ, HT3 ROB- ERTSON. HTFN KELLY. HT2 ALSTON. HT3 IRELAND E DIVISION: EMC HIX. FN SIMMONS. IC3 BROWN. IC3 GROSS, EMFN RAMOS, EM2 TURNAGE, FA PATE. IC3 PEARSON, EMFN AZCANO, EM3 JOHNSON. EM3 MILLER. IC3 FORBES, FN CABINIAN, EM 1 LOVETT -■™ ' MP 1 II jf — 1 B DIVISION: BTC HENDERSON, FN STEINOCHER, FA PORTER, FA RICHARDS, FA MC NAMEE. BT3 TANKERSLY, BTl KINNEY. FA MOFFET, BTCS CROSBY, BT3 SCANLON, BTFA SORG, BTFN VALENCIA, FA HARRELL, FA ARNOLD, BT2 ARNOLD, FA SNY- DER A DIVISION: EN3 PRATER. ENFN BUNN. ENl COX. MRI KRIMM. FN COLLINS. MMI GAUGHAN. MM2 KOZIELECKI. MMFN THOMPSON, MR2 CRUZ. FR DAVIS. YNSN COBB. EN3 WENZEL M DIVISION: MMl MAYNARD, MM3 UTSEY. MM3 ZIMMERLINK. MMFN SUDDENDORF, MMFN DEPAULI, FN HEFLIN, FN BORCHLEWICZ. MMFN MORRIS, MMFA MC GRIFF, MM3 VAN DEUSEN, MMZ MACKALL, MM2 DEVANE. MMFN MOORE, FR EDWARDS, FR SMELSER J - j ' ' yi - k ►-weal . f ,f v ? ' ? ' - -7 ■ S-1 DIVISION: SKC DILLON, SH3 BARLOW, SKSN SOBSZAK. SKSN WATERS, SK3 ACKEE, SH2 STANLEY, SHSA ARNOLD, DKI VIGIL, SHSA BAYS. ENS BURGE, LT MARQUEZ, SK3 STANLEY, DK3 MORRIS, SHI HOLT, SH2 AQUINO. SHSN GROSSMAN, SKI STAFFEN, SH3 KRINSKY :in:f r 4 i S-2 DIVISION: LT SCHMITT, MSC ARCALAS, MSC CABALES, MS3 LEE, MS3 MORGAN, MS3 RINGO, MS3 JOHNSON. MSSN RIEN- DEAU, MSI TESSEN, MSI VAN CAMP, MS3 MACKIN, MSC MIZE, MSSA GUDREAU, MS2 GUMIN, MS3 ORTIZ, MS3 ERRAZO, MS3 HERNAEZ, MSSA MITTELSTADT 5 U P P L y i SI .f- -f tf-m. ' 1 y ' 111 m _ j f 1 r t,• y ' A V . , Wi i 1 - ft % CHANNEL FEVER (f f m f 5 M K f UMfml p u 1 RH{) H K 1 Pi JJ wB JH| 9 9 1 I 1 J - - I y - l|- %y 1 s .Li£S:« J£. Vi nn 1 1 1 1 rm rrj 1 1 ■ I I ■ I I ( ;3 S- ' ■N «r. -., c. iN 1- « . 1 % m W «v -i ■ ft) M irf I 1 1 1 F i teM. ' K i .— —  vr ■ ■ r V 1 •1 itfi s ■ ;aA|M|H 1 • ■ i, _ - - ' ] lf B SB si 2Eli2S .f BOS mL M i 4 - f , l t •• ■■■■■ r] -■■■ i I HfjIt [ta K B H J F y - .:; ' .l:l iX • h M t f] T , ] ' ■ ' 1 1 a j l Fu fl WKi f jM§ M M i li ■----fc r ' ; 1 B n y wf ■ i r Mm 1 tm sLSj 1 ■r Jf--. m K lrv 1 X ' i V- V t?|v?twi ♦W - ' : ■THE JUST MAN. THOUGH HE DIE EARLY. SHALL BE AT REST: FOR THE AGE THAT IS HONORABLE COMES NOT WITH THE PASSING OFTIME . A MEMORIAL SERVICE IN HONOR OF BTFN JOE E BUCHER. USN Aboard the USS COM PASS ISLAND (AG- 153) at sea Sunday. I August 1976 ORDEROFSERVICE 1 Hvmn (All) Eiernal Father. Strong lo Save (The Naw Hymn) Eternal Father, strong to save, whose arms hath bound the restless wave, who bidd ' st the mightv ocean deep its own appomtcd limits keep. O hear u . when we cr to thee for those in peril on the sea! Amen 2. Invocation BTCS William CROSBY (DniMon Officer) Gram -.our Eternal Light lo shine on our brother. O Lord, that He m3 be with ou forever, for ou are rich in mercv and love Give him Eternal Rest. O Lord and mav vour peace be with Him always Amen 3. A Readinf( from Sacred Scripture (Executive Officer) Lieuten- ant Commander Russell MADISON IThessalonians4:l3-l7 4. Prayer: LTJG Richard GOULET (Lay Leader) Let us pray: O heavenly Father. God of all mercy and love, receive our brother into your Eternal Kingdom of Peace. Be not a harsh judge, but a forgiving Father to Him, Remember his accomplishments and not his faults. Give strength to his familv anu friends who loved him so much and who miss him so dearly. Be close to them now m their valley of tears. Do not let us anguish and sorrow as men without hope, but rather be nforted by your Blessed Assurance that our brother I. forever rise from the dead a and ever. Amen. 5 A Message from the Commanding Officer Commander James MACE 6 {AW) Psalm :3 The Lord is Mv Shepherd The Lord is my Shepherd. 1 shall not want. He makelh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreih my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name sake. Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou pre- paresi a table before me in the presence of m Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup r Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all tl hfe: a ' nd 1 will dwell in the house of the Lord fort Hvmn: (All) Blessed Assurance Blessed assurance. Jesus is mine ' O what a foretaste of glory divine ' Heir of salvation, purchase of God. Born of his Spirit, washed in his blood This Praising r .this I ong. all the day long. iis IS my song. Praising mv Savior all the dav long. Amen, 8, WordsofHope LT Ted PARSONS (Lay Leader) O Death, where is vour Victory (I Corinthians 15:55) 9. (All) The Lord ' s Prayer Our Father who ari in heaven, hallowed be thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive u we forgive those who trespass against us. temptation, but deliver us from evil, for ihi the power and glory forever and ever. Ame 10. Hvmn (All) America the Beautiful O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber purple mountain majesties, above the fruited plai America! God shed his grace on thee. And crov with brotherhood from sea to shining sea! II Taps 12, Presentation of the National Ensign to the C Officer Lead i es of gram, for i! America, n thy giKxi 80