I'm looking for some sort of provider that I can connect to through a browser and subsequently open an ssh connection to another host. client based applet type solutions are blocked by firewall

So let's get this straight.

Your want to SSH to a host from {something browser initiated} but the {something} needs to be server-based 'cos if the SSH session originates from the client IP address then the firewall blocks it, hence you can't use a stand-alone or applet based SSH client 'cos they'll all actually run on the client machine.

Sounds like you need a SSH client that will run on the web server itself, hence you can permit SSH from the IP address of the web server whilst denying all others.

My thoughts are:
Have a look for something servlet-based rather than applet.
Run telnetd/SSHd on the web-server. SSH->{svr1 SSH->{svr2}}

I hada quick google and looks like http://www.ericdaugherty.com/dev/sshwebproxy/ will do the job you want

great! this was exactly what I need.. Thanks

-db