USS Gilbert Islands was built by Todd-Pacifi c Shipyards in Tacoma, Washington, and
served the US Navy from 5 February 1945 to 1 June 1961. She served in World War
II, Korea as an Escort Carrier and then later in Vietnam after being reclassifi ed AGMR1 in 1963 and renamed USS
Annapolis. For much of that time she served around the Pacifi c, joined the Atlantic Fleet briefl y, then fi nally assigned
to Long Beach, California, as home port as the Annapolis.