Compass Island (EAG 153) - Naval Cruise Book

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T1 'v' . l COMPASS ISLAND was first placed in the merchant service as therSS .GARDEN STATE MARINER. The GARDEN STATE, a fast cargo ship, made trips to North Africa and the Orient after her completion in l953. The Navy acquired theship from the U.S. Maritime Administration when it was decided that a ship of this type would make the best test vehicle for precision navigation equipment.

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The ship. was converted by the New York Naval Shipyard and was commissioned on 3 December I956. Her primary mission isto advanceythe development of navigation .systems for Polaris Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines through operational research, development, and evaluation. COMPASS ISLAND provides the space, speed, cruising radius, stability, sea worthiness, and facilities needed for the efficient pursuit of such work. Her facilities, upon commissioning, included some firsts in the Navy. Roll stabilizers were installed which sense the ship's roll and counteract it. lWhile sister ships are rolling twenty degrees, COMPASS ISLAND, in the same seaway, will roll about two degrees - a 902 reductionl. Automatic steering was installed' to further improve handling characteristics. l The COMPASS ISLAND program is conducted under the general direction of the Special Proiects Office, Bureau of Weapons, and under the technical direction of the Naval Applied Science Laboratory, New York Naval Shipyard. The ship is under the operational control of Commander, Operational 'Test and Evaluation Force, and the administrative control of-Commander, Eastern Sea Frontier. Close cooperation is main- tained with vendors of navigational equipment and with their agencies, both private and governmental, who are actively contributing to the development of Polaris navi- gational systems. The navigational systems currently installed in our Polaris sub- marines were tested and evaluated on board COMPASS ISLAND, a shipgwhich has played and continuesto play a vital rolein the overall Fleet Ballistic Missile Program. Thus, together with representatives of the US Naval Applied Science Laboratory and representatives of defense contractors, the officers and men of COMPASS ISLAND fcdm a unique Navy development team. All hands on board contribute to the mission in one way or another, and each willingly pulls his weight, in the boat.'7 All are mindful of the importance of the job and press forward with dedication-and determination. Our almost unbelievably accurate navigational systems are evidence of our success. Wirhf out the work of COMPASS ISLAND, there would be no Polaris system.