USS Baseline AG 68

• USS Baseline (AG-68) was a miscellaneous auxiliary ship in the United States Navy during World War II. • The ship was originally laid down as YAG-68, part of a group of vessels designated for general auxiliary tasks. • USS Baseline was constructed at Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, a prolific builder for the Navy during WWII. • She was launched on 14 October 1944 and later commissioned into service on 7 June 1945. • The vessel's primary mission was to serve as a surveying ship, assisting with hydrographic surveys and charting operations crucial for naval navigation and amphibious landings. • Despite being commissioned near the end of World War II, USS Baseline played a role in the postwar occupation and reconstruction efforts in the Pacific theater. • She supported operations in Japan and the Far East, helping to update nautical charts and ensure the safety of Allied naval traffic in formerly hostile waters. • USS Baseline was a part of the Service Force, Pacific Fleet, a vital logistics and support command for U.S. operations in the Pacific. • The ship was decommissioned relatively quickly, on 23 June 1947, reflecting the rapid postwar downsizing of the Navy. • After decommissioning, the ship was transferred to the U.S. Maritime Commission and eventually sold for civilian use, ending her brief but important naval service.