The Last Commissioned American Battleship Served in World War II, Korea and in the Gulf War

Commissioned in January 1944, the USS Missouri (BB-63) - AKA the "Mighty Mo" - joined the fight later than her sister ships. While she was the last battleship to enter the US fleet during World War II, her significance in history cannot be understated. Most notably, she was the site of Japan's formal surrender in September 1945, marking the end of the six-year global conflict.

Wanting to counter Japan

During the 1930s, a period of peace for the United States, military leaders anticipated the possibility of conflict with Japan. In response, the Navy was assigned the task of developing a new battleship design. The goal was to create a vessel capable of challenging Japan's Kongō -class battlecruisers.

After the First World War , global powers agreed to the Washington Naval Treaty , which imposed restrictions on the size of new ships. This was followed by the Second London Naval Treaty , which Japan declined to sign. This led to further negotiations that permitted the US to construct battleships up to 45,000 tons, an increase from the earlier limit of 36,000 tons.

Construction of the USS Missouri (BB-63)

Following her approval, the USS Missouri was officially commissioned in June 1940, with construction commencing the next January. By 1944, the Iowa -class battleship was fully built, attracting a crowd of 30,000 spectators as she readied for her maiden voyage.

Equipped with turbines capable of reaching speeds up to 32.5 knots, the Missouri boasted a formidable arsenal, including nine 16-inch .50-caliber Mark VII deck guns as her primary weaponry. Additionally, she featured 20 five-inch .38-caliber dual-purpose guns and 20 quadruple mounts with 40 mm Bofors guns for anti-aircraft protection. The ship also carried forty-nine 0.8-inch Oerlikon light AA autocannons.

After completing a shakedown cruise south of Chesapeake Bay, the Missouri proceeded to the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco, California, where she went through upgrades to serve as a fleet flagship.

Site of the Japanese surrender

After being commissioned, the USS Missouri was deployed overseas as part of Task Force 58, arriving near Tokyo in January 1945. The battleship immediately engaged in an assault on the Japanese city, using her armaments to provide anti-aircraft support. Following this, she continued to conduct strikes against Japan, including during the Battle of Iwo Jima .

Shortly before the Battle of Okinawa , Missouri and two other U.S. ships were reassigned to Task Force 59, which was responsible for bombarding the southern region of Okinawa. This mission aimed to divert Japanese forces from the anticipated invasion of the island's western side. In April 1945, Missouri endured an attack by kamikaze aircraft, sustaining only superficial damage. A few days later, another kamikaze pilot hit the ship, resulting in injuries to two crew members.

On September 2, 1945, Missouri served as the location of the Japanese surrender . The formal ceremony was attended by Gen. Douglas McArthur and Adm. Chester Nimitz , with Minister of Foreign Affairs Mamoru Shigemitsu representing the Japanese side.

Service during later US-involved conflicts

The USS Missouri was called back into service in 1950 with the outbreak of the Korean War . Initially assigned to the Pacific Fleet, she became the first American battleship to arrive in Korean waters, where she carried out shoreline bombardments and served as an escort for aircraft carriers throughout the conflict.

In 1955, Missouri was decommissioned and sent to Puget Sound. She remained moored in Seattle for several decades, becoming a popular tourist destination - at the height of her time there, she attracted approximately 250,000 visitors annually .

In 1984, under the Reagan administration, Missouri was reactivated as part of a fleet expansion aimed at countering the Soviet Union. She was modernized with cutting-edge weapons and technology, including four Mk 141 quad cell launchers for RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles and four Phalanx 0.8-inch .76-caliber Close-In Weapon Systems. Also, eight Mk 143 Armored Box Launcher mounts for Tomahawk missiles were installed.

Three years later, Missouri was deployed to Kuwait as part of Operation Earnest Will , outfitted with additional 25 mm chain guns and 40 mm grenade launchers. In January 1991, she arrived in the Persian Gulf, in support of Operation Desert Storm , where her mission involved clearing sea mines and providing naval gunfire support.

USS Missouri 's (BB-63) retirement and legacy

Ronald Reagan reactivated the USS Missouri as a deterrent against the Soviet Union. However, by the mid-1990s, though, the USSR had dissolved , and Russia was no longer considered a real threat. As a result, the US military aimed to cut costs, leading to the battleship being decommissioned again

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Initially, the USS Missouri returned to Puget Sound but was later stationed at Ford Island in 1998. It still remains there, anchored about 500 feet from the USS Arizona Memorial. The Missouri faces the memorial, symbolizing an eternal watch over those who perished in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941.