https://unitedstatesarmynavy.com Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:05:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1 https://unitedstatesarmynavy.com/2025/07/1953-life-vest-empire-state-mariner-aka-usns-observation-island/ https://unitedstatesarmynavy.com/2025/07/1953-life-vest-empire-state-mariner-aka-usns-observation-island/#comments Thu, 31 Jul 2025 06:02:45 +0000 https://unitedstatesarmynavy.com/2025/07/1953-life-vest-empire-state-mariner-aka-usns-observation-island/








Historic LIFE VEST by Atlantic & Pacific Manufacturing, Brooklyn NY. In 1956, it was transferred to the US Navy and renamed the USS Observation Island. It was the platform for the first at-sea firing of the Polaris missile in 1959. Plenty more history is available online. One small hole and tear on right shoulder. See pic for close-up. PLEASE NOTE: FOR DISPLAY ONLY. THE FLOATATION MATERIAL INSIDE IS HARD AND UNLIKELY TO FLOAT.

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