uss observation island

USS Observation Island (EAG-154) was originally built as a Mariner-class cargo ship and launched in 1953. In 1958, she was converted into a missile range instrumentation ship by the United States Navy, playing a key role in the development and testing of the Polaris submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). Observation Island served as the platform for the first successful at-sea launch of a Polaris missile in 1960, marking a significant milestone in U.S. strategic deterrence. She continued to provide vital missile tracking and telemetry support for various missile programs throughout the Cold War before being decommissioned in 1994.