U.S.S. Missouri!

What Is the U.S.S. Missouri?

Battleship BB-63, the U.S.S. Missouri is an Iowa-class warship that served the Navy in World War II, the Korean War, and the Gulf War!

What Makes It Historical?

The Missouri was being built when the attack on Pearl Harbor took place, a three-year process from January 6, 1941 until January 29, 1944. At 887 feet in length, she was able to house 134 officers and 2,400 enlisted crew during World War II, and she was super fast, able to exceed 30 knots! After testing her limits and docking for a while here at Pearl Harbor, the Missouri set off to the Pacific Arena!

For most of 1945, the Missouri was shooting down planes with its short-range gatling guns and bombarding the shore with nine 16″ turrets that could launch a 2,700-pound projectile over 23 miles! The ship aided in the Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and bombarded Muroran, Hokaido, and Honshu! On September 2, 1945, Japan officially surrendered here aboard the Missouri, ending the second World War!

Though World War II was the Missouri’s most famous round of action, this battleship also bombarded the coast of Korea from 1950 to 1953, including what would be my home town of Incheon! She was de-commissioned in 1955, then recommissioned in 1986, launching missiles in the Persian Gulf from 1987 until 1991, then was decommissioned again on March 31, 1992. Since 1998, the Missouri has been resting on her laurels here in Pearl Harbor, and while she did not witness the harbor’s fateful bombing, she sure did avenge it!

How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?

Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
Volunteer at the Battleship Missouri Memorial!
Become a member of the USS Missouri Memorial Association!
Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!