USS Compass Island AG153

USS Compass Island (AG-153) was a specialized auxiliary ship of the United States Navy, commissioned in 1956. Originally constructed as a cargo vessel named SS Garden Mariner, she was converted to serve as a navigational research ship. Compass Island played a critical role in the development and testing of the Navy’s inertial navigation systems, which were vital for the emerging Polaris ballistic missile submarines during the Cold War. The ship served as a mobile platform for advanced electronic and navigational equipment until she was decommissioned in 1971.