American Battleship USS Missouri COBI 4837 - World War II

You know that:

• The IOWA-class ships built between 1940 and 1950 were probably the best battleships ever deployed in the last years of World War II. The state-of-the-art technology of the time, powerful turbines and armament were crucial, especially in the Pacific.
• The designer A. I. Chantry intended to build the largest ship of the time, especially to deter Japan. In the end, however, he was limited in his development by the 33.5 m width of the Panama Canal locks.
• USS Missouri was ceremonially launched on 29 January 1944, becoming the last completed ship of the IOWA class.
• The purpose of the USS Missouri's first mission was to protect the aircraft carrier USS Lexington near the Caroline Archipelago.
• The ships had a triple bottom that served as a fresh water and fuel tank.
• A seawater desalination plant with a staggering 227,000 gallons per 24 hours was installed in the engine room.
• The artillery shells were dyed to identify which ship was firing in case it attacked in a bunch. In the case of the USS Missouri, it was red.
• The Japanese surrender was signed aboard the USS Missouri.
• The Iowa participated in the Battle of Okinawa during World War II, as well as the Korean War and, after the 1984 rebuild, the Gulf War.
• The USS Missouri was not finally decommissioned from the US armament until 31 March 1992.
• A naval museum has been established on the ship, but this is contingent on the vessels being returned to the US military in the event of a threat to the country.
• On 11 April 1945, a Japanese kamikaze pilot attacked the USS Missouri by crashing into the deck near the fuel tanks. The impact caused only a small dent that is still visible on the ship today.
• USS Missouri Captain William M. Callaghan ordered the Japanese pilot buried with full military honors. The reason was probably to show the world that Americans were not barbarians as opposed to Japanese brutality. However, the crew bore this decision with great displeasure.
• There is also a story associated with the USS Missouri from the Vietnam War. During a dark night, a small Vietnamese minesweeper was operating in coastal waters. The crew had no idea of the presence of American military vessels. When the minesweeper's radar detected the presence of a foreign ship, it radioed, "Identify yourself or we will open fire." After a brief silence, the response was "USS Missouri. Fire if you want."

Technical parameters:

• dimensions: length 270.43 m, width 32.97 m, draught 11.5 m
• displacement 54 889 t
• propulsion unit 8 Babcock & Wilcox steam boilers with transmission to 4 General Elektric turbines of 212 000 hp
• maximum speed 33 knots (61 km/h)
• range 27 780 km
• armour: main side 307 mm, first deck 38 mm, second deck 121 mm, gun turret faces 432 mm, conning tower 439 mm
• armament 9 x Mk 7 guns 406 mm + 20x Mk 12 guns 127 mm + 80x Bofors anti-aircraft guns 80 mm and 49x guns 20 mm + 16x Mark 2/4 guns 20 mm
  number of rounds for gun turret 390-460 pcs
• search and reconnaissance aircraft 2x Vought OS-2U Kingfisher seaplane

From the memoirs of Frank Jackson of the crew of the USS Missouri:

When I was 20, I was transferred to the USS Missouri. I remember my first impression when I saw the ship. All I could say was, "Wow."