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USS Compass Island (AG-153)

U.S. Navy•15 members

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About this Unit

USS Compass Island (AG-153)

U.S. Navy

USS Compass Island (AG-153) was a United States Navy auxiliary vessel commissioned in 1956, originally converted from the Liberty ship SS Garden Mariner. Designed as a navigational research ship, she played a crucial role in developing and testing the shipboard inertial navigation systems that would later be used in the Navy’s ballistic missile submarine fleet. Compass Island was instrumental in supporting the Polaris missile program by providing a stable platform for cutting-edge navigation experiments. She was decommissioned in 1971, after making significant contributions to naval navigation and missile guidance technologies.

About USS Compass Island (AG-153)

About this Unit

Historical Facts

Unique Role: USS Compass Island (AG-153) was not a combat ship, but a technical research vessel for the U.S. Navy, primarily focused on navigation systems and electronic equipment testing.
Converted Liberty Ship: Originally built as the Liberty ship William H. Vernon in 1945, she was later converted for Navy use in 1953 and renamed Compass Island.
Polaris Missile Program: The ship played a pivotal role in the development and testing of navigation systems for the U.S. Navy’s Polaris ballistic missile submarines during the Cold War.
First Ship with SINS: USS Compass Island was the first vessel equipped with the Ship’s Inertial Navigation System (SINS), a crucial technology that allowed submarines to navigate accurately while submerged.
Homeport: Her operational base was New York City, and she was frequently seen at the Brooklyn Navy Yard throughout her service.
Space Race Connection: The inertial navigation technologies refined and tested aboard Compass Island contributed to later developments in the U.S. space program, including Apollo missions.
Unusual Assignment: Unlike most Navy ships, Compass Island rarely left the East Coast, as her missions were specialized and required proximity to research institutions and naval laboratories.
Crew Composition: Her crew included not just Navy sailors, but also civilian scientists and engineers from both the military and private sector contractors.
Decommissioning: After many years of technological contributions, USS Compass Island was decommissioned in 1971 and eventually scrapped in 2003.
Legacy: The technologies and techniques pioneered aboard Compass Island remain foundational in modern submarine navigation and inertial guidance systems.

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USS Compass Island (AG-153)

U.S. Navy•15 members

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About this Unit

USS Compass Island (AG-153)

U.S. Navy

Unit members

Joseph Hughes

U.S. Navy Veteran · 1967 - 1971

U.S. Navy Veteran

U.S. Navy Veteran · 1972 - 1972

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Unknown Member

U.S. Navy · 1972 - 1978

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Navy photos

Somewhere in Kuwait near the Iraqi border

Siezed Soviet/Iraqi Tank that was abandoned

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About USS Compass Island (AG-153)

About this Unit

Historical Facts

Unique Role: USS Compass Island (AG-153) was not a combat ship, but a technical research vessel for the U.S. Navy, primarily focused on navigation systems and electronic equipment testing.
Converted Liberty Ship: Originally built as the Liberty ship William H. Vernon in 1945, she was later converted for Navy use in 1953 and renamed Compass Island.
Polaris Missile Program: The ship played a pivotal role in the development and testing of navigation systems for the U.S. Navy’s Polaris ballistic missile submarines during the Cold War.
First Ship with SINS: USS Compass Island was the first vessel equipped with the Ship’s Inertial Navigation System (SINS), a crucial technology that allowed submarines to navigate accurately while submerged.
Homeport: Her operational base was New York City, and she was frequently seen at the Brooklyn Navy Yard throughout her service.
Space Race Connection: The inertial navigation technologies refined and tested aboard Compass Island contributed to later developments in the U.S. space program, including Apollo missions.
Unusual Assignment: Unlike most Navy ships, Compass Island rarely left the East Coast, as her missions were specialized and required proximity to research institutions and naval laboratories.
Crew Composition: Her crew included not just Navy sailors, but also civilian scientists and engineers from both the military and private sector contractors.
Decommissioning: After many years of technological contributions, USS Compass Island was decommissioned in 1971 and eventually scrapped in 2003.
Legacy: The technologies and techniques pioneered aboard Compass Island remain foundational in modern submarine navigation and inertial guidance systems.