USS Colonial (LSD-18)
Landing ship dock. "Casa Grande" class

Used as balloon launch platform during a campaign in 1956 in the Pacific Ocean off shore San Diego.
Total number of launches done: 10

USCGC Eastwind (WAGB 279)
US Coast Guard Icebreaker. "Wind" class.

Used as balloon launch platform in several arctic cruises between 1952 and 1955.
Estimated number of launches done: 50

USS Staten Island (AGB-5)
US Coast Guard Icebreaker. "Wind" class.

Used as balloon launch platform during an arctic cruise in 1955.
Estimated number of launches done: 30

USS Wood County (LST-1178)
"De Soto County" clss tank transport and landing ship

Used as balloon launch platform during a short campaign in 1964, in front of Virginia coast, US.
Total number of launches done: 4

Other ships used to launch balloons to be included in StratoCat in the near future

  • Egabragg III - Research Vessel
  • Research Vessel Hakuho Maru
  • USCGC Glacier (WAGB-4)
  • RV Triton
  • USS Atka (AGB-3)
  • MV Independence
  • USS Plymouth Rock (LSD29)
  • USS Norton Sound (AVM-1)
  • USS Lamar (PCE-899)
  • ARA Comodoro Augusto Lasserre (Q 9)
  • Constanta (NSSL 281)
  • USS Currituck (AV-7)