Compass Island (AG 153) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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as if fi as Pi? 1? CQMMANI91 OFFIQER 5 Y IN 'Q at I 'L W 1 d ' 1 il 877- 'I qi . Q' QJ -'D' tu CQ .. SD te.- . al 3 f Ck 6 . east 9 'Q , .t:'a.f if 'Ritz-.-0 , P- I'---ig,,.,7gj.1J5?' .-.,,..', ,L E . L, 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., he was commissioned Ensign, U.S. Navy. Commander JOHNSON is married to the former Ida Cubero of New York, New York. They have one son, Scott Ronald. Subsequent to 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 VF-101-Detachment Alfa. Later assignments include duty as Operations Officer, USS CAVALLA QAGSS 24435 Navigator, USS JOHN MARSHALL QSSBN 611ig Navigator!Operations Officer, USS SEA OWL lSS 40553 Executive Officer, USS BLENNY lSS 324ig Director of Fleet Ballistic Missile Navigation at the U.S. Naval Guided Missile School, Dam Neck, Virginia, Student at the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterrey, California and Submarine Liaison Officer on the staff of the Commander Cruiser-destroyer Group THREE. In February 1967, Commander JOHNSON qualified for Command of Submarines and in December 1975, he obtained his Master of Science in Underwater Acoustics from the U.S. Naval Post Graduate School, Monterrey, California. Commander JOHNSON 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 QSSBN 6113. Commander Johnson took command of the USS COMPASS ISLAND lAG 1533 on 25 September 1976.