USS Missouri (BB-63)

The third USS Missouri (BB-63) ("Mighty Mo") is a U.S. Navy battleship, notable as the final battleship to be built by the United States, the second-to-last in the world after HMS Vanguard, and the site of the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II.

Related Topics:
U.S. Navy - Battleship - United States - HMS Vanguard - Japan - World War II

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She was one of the Iowa-class "fast battleship" designs planned in 1938 by the Preliminary Design Branch at the Bureau of Construction and Repair. Missouri was ordered on 12 June 1940 and her keel was laid at the New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York on 6 January 1941. She was launched on 29 January 1944 and commissioned on 11 June. The ship was the fourth of the Iowa class and the final battleship commissioned by the Navy. The ship was christened at her launching by Mary Margaret Truman, daughter of Harry S. Truman, then a senator from Missouri.

Related Topics:
''Iowa''-class - Bureau of Construction and Repair - 12 June - 1940 - Keel - New York Navy Yard - Brooklyn, New York - 6 January - 1941 - 29 January - 1944 - 11 June - Mary Margaret Truman - Harry S. Truman - Missouri

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During World War II, Missouri saw action at the Battle of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Okinawa, and shelled the Japanese home islands of Hokkaido and Honsh?. In the 1950s, Missouri fought in the Korean War and was decommissioned into the United States Navy reserve fleets. She was recommissioned in the 1980s, and refitted with modern armaments. In 1991, she participated in the Gulf War.

Related Topics:
Battle of Iwo Jima - Battle of Okinawa - Hokkaido - Honsh? - Korean War - United States Navy reserve fleets - Gulf War

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Missouri was decommissioned a final time on 31 March 1992, having received a total of eight battle stars, and is presently a museum ship at Pearl Harbor.

Related Topics:
31 March - 1992 - Battle star - Museum ship - Pearl Harbor

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