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USS Missouri (BB-63)
The Missouri and her sister battleships saw an equal amount of combat action even after the end of World War 2.
By Staff Writer
The USS Missouri and her three sister ships were designed, laid down and launched during World War 2 and represented some of the most powerful vessels of their type in the conflict. The power brought to bear from her massive 16 inch gun batteries proved useful in the destruction and suppression of fortified shoreline positions. Additionally, the presence of this class of battleship could often mean the outcome of a battle in her favor. The USS Missouri represented the third in the Iowa class series of battleships beginning with the USS Iowa (BB 61) and USS New Jersey (BB 62) and the USS Wisconsin (BB 64). She became the final battleship to be completed by the United States.
After the end of hostilities following the Second World War, the Missouri - used post-war for a time as a trainer - found itself back in action (following a short mothballing episode) in time for the Korean War, putting its mighty battery of 16 inch guns to stellar use against fortified land positions. In 1986, and after finding new life thanks to a modernization program that included the implanting of Phalanx CIWS defense systems, Harpoon anti-ship and Tomahawk cruise missile launching capabilities, the Missouri was called back to active service. By the early 1990's, the Missouri was called upon to support the Marine force landing in the operation to take back Kuwait from Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Following the action in 1991, the Missouri was once again decommissioned in 1992. The Missouri remains mothballed as a floating museum in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The Missouri is worth a historical footnote mention in regards to World War 2 as the formal surrender of the Empire of Japan took place on her deck. The USS Missouri battleship was later featured prominently in the Hollywood motion picture "Under Siege". During her tenure, the Missouri was also known affectionately as "Big Mo" and "Mighty Mo" earning some eleven battle stars for service covering World War 2, the Korean War and the Persian Gulf War.
"Mighty Mo" was ordered in 1940, laid down in 1941, launched in 1944 and finally decommissioned in 1992. Her name was officially struck from the Naval Vessel Register in early 1995.
History text ©2003-2009 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved
No Reproduction Without Permission • Corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com
Last Updated: 11/3/2008
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| Specifications for the USS Missouri (BB-63) |
 Dimensions: |
Length: 887ft (270.36m)
Beam: 108ft (32.92m)
Draught: 38ft (11.58m)
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| Performance: |
Surface Speed: 28kts (32mph)
Range: 0miles (0km)
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| Structure: |
Complement: 2,700
Suface Displacement: 57,450tons
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| Power: |
| Engine(s): 4 x shafts powered by geared steam turbines of 212,000shp. |
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| Armament Suite: |
1943:
9 x 16" Mark 7 main guns
12 x 5" Mark 12 DP guns
80 x 40mm anti-aircraft guns
49 x 20mm anti-aircraft guns
1984:
9 x 16" Mark 7 main guns
12 x 5" Mark 12 DB guns
8 x Quadruple Tomahawk surface-to-surface cruise missile launchers (32 x BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles)
4 x Quadruple Harpoon surface-to-surface anti-ship missle launchers (16 x RGM-84 Harpoon missiles)
4 x 20mm Phalanx CIWS
8 x Mark 36 SRBOC Super Rapid Bloom chaff rocket launchers
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| Ships in Class |
| USS Iowa (BB-61); USS New Jersey (BB-62); USS Missouri (BB-63); USS Wisconsin (BB-64)
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