USS Missouri (BB-63) facts for kids
USS Missouri at sea in her 1980s configuration
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Namesake | State of Missouri |
| Ordered | 12 June 1940 |
| Builder | Brooklyn Navy Yard |
| Laid down | 6 January 1941 |
| Launched | 29 January 1944 |
| Sponsored by | Margaret Truman |
| Commissioned | 11 June 1944 |
| Decommissioned | 26 February 1955 |
| Recommissioned | 10 May 1986 |
| Decommissioned | 31 March 1992 |
| Stricken | 12 January 1995 |
| Status | Museum ship in Pearl Harbor |
| General characteristics (1943) | |
| Class and type | Iowa-class battleship |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 887 feet 3 inches (270.4 m) loa |
| Beam | 108 ft 2 in (33 m) |
| Draft | 36 ft 2.25 in (11 m) |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed | 32.5 knots (37.4 mph; 60.2 km/h) |
| Range | 15,000 mi (24,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement |
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| Armament |
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| Armor |
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| General characteristics (1984) | |
| Complement | 1,851 officers and enlisted |
| Sensors and processing systems |
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| Electronic warfare & decoys |
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| Armament |
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USS Missouri (BB-63)
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 Location in Hawaii
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| Location | Pearl Harbor, Hawaii |
| Built | 1944 |
| Architect | New York Naval Shipyard |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000877 |
| Added to NRHP | 14 May 1971 |
The USS Missouri (BB-63) is an Iowa-class battleship. It was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named after the U.S. state of Missouri. Missouri was the last battleship ever put into service by the United States. It is most famous as the place where Japan officially surrendered, ending World War II.
Missouri was ordered in 1940 and started service in June 1944. During the Pacific War in World War II, she fought in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She also fired her guns at the Japanese home islands. Later, she fought in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953.
The ship was taken out of service in 1955 and put into the "Mothball Fleet." This is a group of ships kept in reserve. But in 1984, she was brought back and updated. This was part of the 600-ship Navy plan. She helped during Operation Desert Storm in January and February 1991.
Missouri earned 11 battle stars for her service in World War II, Korea, and the Persian Gulf. She was finally taken out of service on March 31, 1992. She had served for 17 years in total. In 1998, she became a museum ship at Pearl Harbor.
Contents
Design of the USS Missouri
The Iowa-class battleships were designed in the late 1930s. The U.S. Navy expected a future war with Japan. These ships were the largest and fastest battleships built by the U.S. Navy.
Missouri was 887 feet 3 inches (270.4 m) long. She was 108 ft 2 in (33 m) wide and had a draft of 36 ft 2.25 in (11 m). Her weight was 48,110 long tons (48,880 t) when empty. It increased to 57,540 long tons (58,460 t) when fully loaded for battle.
The ship had four steam turbines. Each one powered a screw propeller. Eight oil-fired boilers created the steam. These engines gave the ship a top speed of 32.5 knots (60.2 km/h; 37.4 mph). Missouri could travel 15,000 nautical miles (28,000 km; 17,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). Her crew included 117 officers and 1,804 enlisted men.
The ship had nine 16 in (406 mm) guns in three main gun turrets. Two turrets were at the front, and one was at the back. She also had twenty 5 in (127 mm) guns in twin turrets along her sides. For air defense, she had eighty 40 mm (1.6 in) guns and forty-nine 20 mm (0.79 in) auto-cannons.
The main armor belt was 12.1 in (307 mm) thick. The main armor deck was 6 in (152 mm) thick. The gun turrets had 19.7 in (500 mm) thick faces. The conning tower had 17.5 in (444 mm) thick sides.
Service History
Building the Missouri
The building of Missouri began on January 6, 1941, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. She was launched on January 29, 1944. Between 20,000 and 30,000 people watched the ceremony. Margaret Truman, daughter of then-Senator Harry S. Truman, christened the ship. Missouri was officially put into service on June 11, 1944. Captain William M. Callaghan was her first commander.
Missouri tested her systems off New York. Then she went to Chesapeake Bay for training. She sailed to the West Coast of the United States on November 11. She went through the Panama Canal on November 18. In San Francisco, she was prepared to be a flagship for the fleet.
World War II (1944–1945)
Missouri joined the fleet in the Caroline Islands on January 13, 1945. She became a temporary command ship for Vice Admiral Marc Mitscher. She then joined the Fast Carrier Task Force. Missouri helped protect the aircraft carrier Lexington. By February 16, the task force was off Japan for air strikes.
The fleet then went to Iwo Jima, where American forces invaded on February 19. Missouri helped by firing her guns to support the marines. The task force left on March 5 to get more fuel and ammunition.
On March 14, the ships left for more air strikes on Japan. Four days later, Missouri's anti-aircraft guns helped shoot down four Japanese planes. On March 24, Missouri fired at the southern coast of Okinawa. This was to distract the Japanese from the main invasion point. American ground forces landed on April 1.
On April 11, a kamikaze plane hit Missouri. It struck below the main deck. The plane broke apart, and gasoline caught fire on the deck. But the crew quickly put out the fire. The damage was minor, and the ship kept fighting. Six days later, Missouri found a Japanese submarine. Other ships helped sink the submarine I-56. Missouri left the area on May 5. She was credited with shooting down five enemy planes.
On May 9, Missouri reached Guam. Admiral William F. Halsey Jr., commander of the Third Fleet, came aboard. Missouri became his flagship. On May 21, Missouri sailed to Okinawa again. She helped attack Japanese positions. Then, she and the Third Fleet went north to strike Japanese airfields on Kyūshū on June 2 and 3. A big typhoon hit the fleet on June 5–6, causing minor damage to Missouri.
More air strikes on Kyūshū happened on June 8. The fleet then went to Leyte Gulf for supplies. They left again on July 8 to attack the Japanese Home Islands. Carrier planes hit targets around Tokyo and Hokkaidō. On July 15, Missouri and other ships fired at factories in Muroran. Another bombardment happened on July 17/18. She then covered the carriers during more strikes.
On August 9, the carriers attacked northern Japan. This was the same day as the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. The next day, Japan announced it would surrender. On August 16, Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser of the Royal Navy came aboard Missouri. He gave Admiral Halsey an award for his role in the war.
Japan's Surrender Ceremony
Allied forces prepared to occupy Japan. On August 21, Missouri sent 200 officers and men to her sister ship Iowa. They were to land in Tokyo to help disarm Japan. On August 23, Missouri was chosen to host the surrender ceremony. The crew immediately started cleaning and painting the ship.
Missouri entered Tokyo Bay on August 27. A Japanese destroyer guided her. That night, a special flag was brought aboard. It was the flag Commodore Matthew C. Perry had flown when he opened Japan in 1853. This flag was displayed during the ceremony. Missouri anchored near where Perry's ships had anchored 92 years earlier. Bad weather delayed the ceremony until September 2.
Important military leaders from all the Allied Powers came aboard on September 2. These included leaders from Britain, China, the Soviet Union, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz boarded the ship. Then, General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander for the Allies, came aboard. The Japanese representatives, led by Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu, arrived. At 9:02 AM, General MacArthur began the 23-minute ceremony. He said he hoped for "a better world" from this event.
Another U.S. flag was flown. It was a regular flag from the ship's supplies. By 9:30 AM, the Japanese left. On September 5, Admiral Halsey moved his flag to South Dakota. The next day, Missouri left Tokyo Bay. She took passengers heading home to Guam. Then she sailed to Hawaii. She arrived at Pearl Harbor on September 20.
After World War II (1946–1950)
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Missouri left Pearl Harbor for the East Coast of the United States. She reached New York City on October 23. On October 27, President Truman came aboard for Navy Day events.
After repairs and training, Missouri returned to New York. On March 21, 1946, she received the body of the Turkish Ambassador to the United States, Münir Ertegun. She sailed to Gibraltar and then to Istanbul on April 5. She gave full honors during the transfer and funeral.
Missouri left Istanbul on April 9. She arrived in Piraeus, Greece the next day. Greek officials and citizens gave her a huge welcome. Greece was in a civil war. The United States saw this as important for its new plan to stop the Soviet Union. Missouri's visit showed America's support for Greece's independence. News reports called her a symbol of U.S. interest in the region.
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Missouri left Piraeus on April 26. She stopped in Algiers and Tangier before reaching Norfolk on May 9. She joined Admiral Mitscher's fleet for training. She returned to New York City on May 27. For the next year, she trained along the Atlantic coast. On December 13, 1946, a training shell accidentally hit the battleship, but no one was hurt.
Missouri went to Rio de Janeiro on August 30, 1947. President Truman boarded on September 2. They celebrated the signing of the Rio Treaty. This treaty said an attack on one American country would be an attack on all.
The Truman family returned to the U.S. on Missouri. From September 1947 to March 1948, the ship was repaired. Then she had refresher training. In 1948, Missouri became the first battleship to have a helicopter team. She used two Sikorsky HO3S-1 helicopters for tasks and rescues.
In the late 1940s, the U.S. military was reducing its size. Many ships were taken out of service. However, President Truman did not want Missouri to be decommissioned. He liked the battleship, and his daughter Margaret had christened it. So, Missouri remained the only U.S. battleship in active service.
On January 17, 1950, Missouri ran aground near Old Point Comfort. She was stuck about 7 feet (2.1 m) above the water. With help from tugboats and pontoons, she was freed on February 1, 1950, and repaired.
Korean War (1950–1953)
In 1950, the Korean War began. The United States sent forces to support the United Nations and South Korea. Missouri was sent from Norfolk on August 19 to help.
Missouri arrived near Kyūshū on September 14. She became the flagship for Rear Admiral Allan Edward Smith. She was the first American battleship in Korean waters. On September 15, 1950, she fired at Samchok. This was to distract enemy troops from the Incheon landings. This was the first time Missouri had fired her guns in battle since World War II. She helped prepare the way for the U.S. Eighth Army.
Missouri arrived at Incheon on September 19. She became the flagship for Vice Admiral A. D. Struble on October 14. She screened the aircraft carrier Valley Forge. She also fired at targets in the Chongjin, Tanchon, and Wonsan areas from October 12 to 26.
The Incheon landings cut off North Korea's supply lines. The North Korean army began to retreat. China worried that the UN forces would come too close to its border. On October 19, 1950, Chinese soldiers entered North Korea. They launched a big attack against UN troops. UN forces were surprised and had to retreat quickly. Missouri helped cover this retreat. She moved to Hungnam on December 23. She provided gunfire support until the last UN troops were evacuated by sea on December 24, 1950.
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Missouri continued to work with carriers and bombard targets off Korea's east coast until March 19, 1951. She arrived at Yokosuka on March 24. Four days later, her duty in the Far East ended. She left Yokosuka on March 28 and arrived at Norfolk on April 27. She became the flagship for Rear Admiral James L. Holloway, Jr.. In the summer of 1951, she took two training cruises for midshipmen to northern Europe.
After winter and spring training, Missouri left Norfolk on June 9, 1952, for another midshipman cruise. She returned to Norfolk on August 4. She then prepared for a second tour in Korea.
Missouri left Hampton Roads on September 11, 1952. She arrived at Yokosuka on October 17. Vice Admiral Joseph J. Clark, commander of the 7th Fleet, came aboard. Her main job was to provide artillery support. She bombarded enemy targets from October 25 to January 2, 1953. These targets were in areas like Chaho-Tanchon, Chongjin, and Wonsan.
Missouri went to Incheon on January 5, 1953. Then she sailed to Sasebo, Japan. General Mark W. Clark, Commander in Chief of the U.N. Command, visited the battleship. In the following weeks, Missouri continued to patrol and support troops ashore. She repeatedly bombarded Wonsan, Tanehon, Hungnam, and Kojo. This destroyed important supply routes.
Missouri's last bombardment mission was against the Kojo area on March 25. On March 26, her commanding officer, Captain Warner R. Edsall, died from a heart attack. Her older sister ship, New Jersey, replaced her as the 7th Fleet flagship on April 6.
Missouri left Yokosuka on April 7. She arrived at Norfolk on May 4. She became the flagship for Rear Admiral E. T. Woolridge. On June 8, she left for a midshipman training cruise to Lisbon and Cherbourg. During this trip, Missouri was joined by her three sister ships: New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Iowa. This was the only time all four ships sailed together. She returned to Norfolk on August 3. She then sailed to the West Coast to be taken out of service. After stops in Long Beach and San Francisco, Missouri arrived in Seattle on September 15. She was decommissioned on February 26, 1955. She joined the reserve fleet in Bremerton.
Being Taken Out of Service
In Bremerton, Missouri was a popular tourist attraction. About 250,000 visitors came each year. They wanted to see the "surrender deck" where Japan signed the surrender. A bronze plaque marked the spot. Nearly 30 years passed before Missouri returned to active duty.
Reactivation (1984–1990)
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In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan wanted to build a 600-ship Navy. So, Missouri was brought back into service. She was towed to the Long Beach Naval Yard in 1984 for updates. A small crew spent three weeks preparing her for the tow. During the updates, Missouri had her old weapons removed. These included 20 mm and 40 mm anti-aircraft guns. Four of her ten 5-inch (127 mm) gun mounts were also removed.
Over the next few months, the ship received new, advanced weapons. These included launchers for 16 Harpoon anti-ship missiles. She also got launchers for 32 Tomahawk cruise missiles. Four Phalanx Close In Weapon Systems were added for defense against missiles and planes. Her radar and fire control systems were also updated.
Missouri was officially put back into service in San Francisco on May 10, 1986. Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger spoke at the ceremony. He told the crew to remember the ship's history and duty. Margaret Truman also spoke, telling the crew to "take care of my baby."
Four months later, Missouri left her new home port of Long Beach. She went on a trip around the world. She visited places like Pearl Harbor, Australia, Istanbul, and Italy. Missouri was the first American battleship to travel around the world since the "Great White Fleet" 80 years before. That fleet included the first battleship named USS Missouri (BB-11).
In 1987, Missouri was sent to the Persian Gulf for Operation Earnest Will. This operation involved protecting Kuwaiti oil tankers. Smaller guns were added to the ship to deal with fast Iranian boats. Missouri spent over 100 days at sea. She protected tanker convoys and kept her weapons ready for Iranian missiles.
Missouri returned to the United States in early 1988. Later that year, she took part in the Rim of the Pacific (RimPac) exercises. These exercises involved ships and troops from Australia, Canada, Japan, and the U.S. She also visited ports in Canada and the U.S.
In 1989, Missouri had routine maintenance. On July 1, 1989, the music video for Cher's song "If I Could Turn Back Time" was filmed aboard Missouri. The ship's crew was in the video. A few months later, she took part in Pacific Exercise (PacEx) '89. She and New Jersey showed off their gunfire for aircraft carriers. In 1990, Missouri again participated in the RimPac Exercise.
Gulf War (January–February 1991)
On August 2, 1990, Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait. President George H. W. Bush sent troops and naval support to the Persian Gulf.
Missouri's planned cruise was canceled. She was prepared to be sent to the Middle East. Missouri left Long Beach on November 13, 1990. She headed for the Persian Gulf. She stopped in Hawaii, the Philippines, and Thailand. She entered the Strait of Hormuz on January 3, 1991. During the operations before Operation Desert Storm, Missouri got ready to launch Tomahawk missiles and provide gunfire support.
Missouri fired her first Tomahawk missile at Iraqi targets at 1:40 AM on January 17, 1991. She launched 27 more missiles over the next five days.
On January 29, the frigate Curts led Missouri north. Missouri fired her 16 in (406 mm) guns at an Iraqi bunker. This was the first time her big guns had been fired in combat since 1953. The battleship fired at Iraqi defenses in Kuwait on February 3. She fired 112 16 in (406 mm) rounds over three days. Missouri then fired another 60 rounds off Khafji on February 11–12.
After minesweepers cleared a path, Missouri fired 133 rounds. This was part of a fake amphibious landing on February 23. The heavy firing got Iraq's attention. Iraq fired two Silkworm missiles at the battleship. One missed. The other was shot down by a Sea Dart missile from the British destroyer HMS Gloucester. It crashed into the sea about 700 yd (640 m) in front of Missouri.
During the campaign, Missouri was involved in an accidental firing incident with the frigate Jarrett. On February 25, Jarrett's Phalanx CIWS system fired at chaff released by Missouri. Some rounds accidentally hit Missouri. One round went through a wall and got stuck inside the ship. Another hit the forward funnel. One sailor on Missouri had minor injuries from flying pieces. It was an accident, and the rounds came from Jarrett.
Missouri also helped clear Iraqi naval mines. By the end of the war, Missouri had destroyed at least 15 mines.
Combat operations moved out of range of the battleship's weapons on February 26. Missouri had fired 783 16 in (406 mm) shells and launched 28 Tomahawk cruise missiles. She patrolled the Persian Gulf until sailing home on March 21. After stops in Australia and Hawaii, she arrived home in April. She spent the rest of the year training. On December 7, she marked the 50th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. President Bush visited Missouri during that ceremony.
Museum Ship (1998 to Present)
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With the end of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the U.S. military budget was cut. It became too expensive to keep battleships active. So, Missouri was decommissioned on March 31, 1992, in Long Beach. She had served for 16 years. Her last commanding officer, Captain Albert L. Kaiss, wrote a message to the crew. He thanked them for their service and for preparing the ship for retirement.
Missouri returned to the reserve fleet at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. On January 12, 1995, her name was removed from the Naval Vessel Register. She stayed in Bremerton but was not open to tourists. People wanted her to remain a tourist site there. But the U.S. Navy wanted to pair her with a symbol of the start of World War II.
On May 4, 1998, the Secretary of the Navy signed a contract. Missouri was given to the non-profit USS Missouri Memorial Association (MMA) in Honolulu, Hawaii. She was towed from Bremerton on May 23. She stopped in Astoria, Oregon, in fresh water. This helped remove barnacles and sea grass from her hull. Then she was towed across the Pacific Ocean. She docked at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor on June 22. This was just 500 yd (460 m) from the Arizona Memorial. Less than a year later, on January 29, 1999, Missouri opened as a museum.
Some people were concerned about moving Missouri to Pearl Harbor. The National Park Service worried that Missouri would overshadow the Arizona. The Arizona's sinking on December 7, 1941, is a symbol of the Pearl Harbor attack. To prevent this, Missouri was placed facing away from the Arizona Memorial. This way, people on Missouri's back decks would not see the Arizona Memorial. The decision to have Missouri's front face the Arizona Memorial was meant to show that Missouri watches over the Arizona's remains. This is so those inside the Arizona can rest in peace.
A gun from Missouri is displayed with a gun from Arizona. They are at the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza in Phoenix, Arizona. This memorial represents the start and end of the Pacific War for the United States.
Missouri was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 14, 1971. This was because she hosted the signing of Japan's surrender. She cannot be named a National Historic Landmark. This is because she was greatly updated after the surrender.
On October 14, 2009, Missouri was moved to a drydock at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. She had a three-month overhaul costing $18 million. This work included a new anti-corrosion system and repainting her hull. Workers found that the ship was leaking in some places. The repairs finished in January 2010. The ship returned to her spot on January 7, 2010. The ship's grand reopening was on January 30.
Awards and Recognition
Missouri received three battle stars for her service in World War II. She earned five for her service during the Korean War. She also received three for her service during the Gulf War. Missouri has also received many awards for her role as a museum ship:
- 2017 Preservation Honor Award from the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation
- Historic Naval Ships Association Awards
- 2001 Russell Booth Award
- 2011 Henry A. Vadnais, Jr. Award
- 2011 HNSA Educator Award
- 2016 HNSA Educator Award
Images for kids
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Allied sailors and officers watch General Douglas MacArthur sign documents during the surrender ceremony aboard Missouri on September 2, 1945. This officially ended World War II.
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Missouri (center) and the destroyer Power (left) visiting Istanbul in 1947.
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A helicopter lands on a Missouri gun turret during a 1948 training cruise.
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USS Missouri at the Harbor of Incheon, South Korea.
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Forecastle of USS Missouri (BB-63) in heavy seas around 1951.
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Missouri fires her guns at enemy positions during the Korean War.
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Crewmen stand on deck as Missouri is officially put back into service in San Francisco, California.
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Missouri getting fuel from the USNS Kawishiwi while sailing with Kitty Hawk.
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Missouri launches a Tomahawk missile.
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Missouri firing her 16-inch guns during Desert Storm, February 6, 1991.
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The battleship Missouri (BB-63) begins its 2-mile journey back to Ford Island after being moved by workers in 2010.
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Missouri facing the sunken Arizona. These ships represent the beginning and end of WWII for the USA.
See also
In Spanish: USS Missouri (BB-63) para niños
