Compass Island (AG 153) - Naval Cruise Book

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BIOGRAPHY COMPASS ISLAND WAS BUILT BY NEW YORK SHIPBUILDING CORPORATION, CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY AND LAUNCHED 24 OCTOBER 1953 AS THE GARDEN MARINER IYAG-561. SHE WAS ACQUIRED BY THE NAVY 29 MARCH 1956, CONVERTED BY NEW YORK NAVAL SHIPY COMMISSIONED ON NAMED AFTER AN BAY, MAINE, FIRST U.S. NAVY SHE IS UNDER SUBMARINE AND SHIP'S CHARACTERISTICS LENGTH: BREADTH: DRAFT: TONNAGE: SPEED: HULL: PROPULSION: 563 FEET, 7 INCHES 76 FEET 29.5 FEET 17,645 TONS 21 KNOTS C-4-5-IA IMARINERI 19,250 SINGLE-SHAFT HORSEPOWER: 1 I ICOMPLEMENT: 1,7 OFFICERS, 245 EN LISTED ,I 'I 4 ' I I I I 1 I I 1 I --I fi 4 4 Li ,.'1'!Lg . - A .' --If :fl

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DEDICATION THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE CREW OF USS COMPASS ISLAND AG 153. FOR THEY HAVE FELT THE SADNESS OF LEAVING LOVED ONES BEHIND AND THE LONELINESS IN FOREIGN LANDS FAR AWAY. THEY HAVE KNOWN FEAR IN THE FACE OF AWESOME, TUMULTUOUS SEAS AND HAVE POSSESSED THE SKILL AND COURAGE TO OVERCOME THEM. THEY HAVE TAKEN SOLACE IN THE CALM AFTER A RAGING STORM AND THE TRANQUIL PEACE OF A GOLDEN, GLIMMERING SUNSET. THEY HAVE SHOWN PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING IN TIMES OF STRESS AND HAVE CONSISTENTLY EXPENDED THE EFFORT NECESSARY TO MAKE THIS CRUISE A SUCCESS. THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED JOY IN BEING REUNITED WITH THOSE THEY LOVE AND HAPPINESS IN THE SHARING OF THEIR ADVENTURES WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. LET THIS BOOK SERVE AS A PERPETUAL TESTIMONY OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND AS A PERMANENT RECORD OF THEIR COLLECTIVE ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY. 411' ff

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MISSION COMPASS ISLAND S primary mission is to serve as a dynamic at sea platform for the test and evaluation of extremely accurate navigation systems employed by Fleet Ballistic Missile submarines COMPASS ISLAND plays a significant role in preserving the invulnerability of our country s number one deterrent force and principal defense system by advancing the state of the art of precise navigation on the oceans of the world inertial navigation equipment used aboard USS NAUTILUS allowing her to perfected aboard COMPASS ISLAND The basic concept of Fleet Ballistic Missile System navigation and the feasibility of attaining the position accuracy required for a weapons system of this type was proven by COMPASS ISLAND COMPASS ISLAND was the first ship To employ an inertial navigation system with electrostatically supported gyros To determine its position using Satellite Navigation To make surface gravity measurements at sea using a stabilized platform To track second magnitude stars in broad daylight To navigate at sea with the Poseidon Phase Shift and Trident Navigation Systems Bluenose Cruise 1978 was made to continue the numerous advances needed to increase the accuracy and reliability of precise navigation systems greatly exceeding those primatuve levels first attained in 1956 The successful completion of this cruise brings to a close one more chapter in the life of a proud and productive ship The results of this cruise have been added to the long list of COMPASS ISLAND achievements contributing to the preservation of peace I I I I I I I l' I I I l I I I I I I I I. I I I I l l I I I I I I I I I I. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 'I I I I I l I x x 1 l. x x l 1 ' l l 1 I l x I I I l x I I make the first submerged transit of the North Pole had been previously ggggggggxxxlllll II lxluln 1 I