A tracking ship, also called a missile range instrumentation ship or range ship, is a ship equipped with antennas and electronics to support the launching and tracking of missiles and rockets. Since many missile ranges launch over ocean areas for safety reasons, range ships are used to extend the range of shore-based tracking facilities. In the United States, the initial tracking ships were constructed by the U.S. Army and then the U.S. Air Force to support their missile programs. They were generally built on a surplus Liberty ship or Victory ship hull. By 1964, the U.S. Navy took over all the range ships and introduced more. In some Navies, such a ship is also given the Type Designation "Vigilship" or "Veladora", with the Designation Letter "V" or Letters "VC".

Missile range instrumentation ships

Chinese PLA Strategic Support Force

The Chinese ships were purpose built vessels for their role in the navy and the space program.

French Navy

The Poincaré was a converted tanker, but the Monge was a purpose-built ship. Inactive Active

Indian Navy

Pakistan Navy

Russian Navy / Soviet Navy

The Soviet and later Russian ships were purpose built vessels for their role.

United States Navy/United States Air Force

There are currently only two active Instrumentation Ships in the U.S. Navy inventory: USNS Invincible and USNS Howard O. Lorenzen. The former is now in the inactive fleet. The latter was delivered in January 2012 to replace USNS Observation Island (T-AGM-23) in 2014. Most of the USN and USAF tracking ships were converted into their role. Some ships were in service with NASA.

Inactive

Active