Biggest U.S Battleship Ever Built

The Biggest U.S battleship ever constructed is the USS Missouri (BB-63), belonging to the Iowa-class. It was 270.4 m long and displaced 58,000 tonnes. Now a museum ship, it once instilled terror in the hearts of the enemies when they saw her approaching. Read the article to learn more about this novel battleship, its role and its significance.

Why was the biggest battleship built?

The Iowa-Class of battleships were designed in the 1930s, as the U.S. expected a war with the Empire of Japan. They were not only the last battleships constructed by the U.S but also the Navy’s biggest and fastest ships of the type.

Though American naval officers suggested slow but heavily armed battleships, the planners said that such ships would not be able to handle the faster Japanese fleet in a battle, especially the Kongo-class battlecruisers and the aircraft carriers of the 1st Air Fleet.

Hence, the Iowa-Class was born. Although 6 ships were planned, only 4 could be constructed.

The USS Missouri had a 33 m beam and an 11.5 m draft.

The biggest U.S battleship had four steam turbines, which gave her a top speed of 32.5 knots. She had a cruising range of 15,000 nm at a speed of 15 knots.

She was designed to accommodate 117 officers and 1804 enlisted men which increased by the end of WWII, as her crew at the time stood at 189 officers and 2978 sailors.

Role in Second World War

Nicknamed the Mighty Mo, the battleship USS Missouri was assigned to the Pacific Theatre where it played an important role in the naval battles of Iwo Jima, in February 1945, when it provided firepower support during the U.S. Marines invasion’, through its 16-inch guns which wreaked havoc on the Japanese fortifications.

It was also significant during the Battle of Okinawa, a major battle of the Pacific War fought between March and June 1945, on Okinawa Island, which led to U.S. victory.

USS Missouri was also a part of raids which targeted industrial facilities on Japan’s home islands, to cripple its war production capacity.

It also protected carrier groups from enemy aircraft. The USS Missouri became an iconic vessel as her quarterdeck was the site of Japan’s formal surrender on September 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay, which marked the end of WWII, an event which is seen as a symbol of Allied victory.

After the war ended, the USS Missouri transitioned from combat operations to strategic missions between 1946 and 1950.

It was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea as a part of U.S. strategy to check Soviet aggression. In September 1947, President Harry S. Truman visited the USS Missouri, the first presidential visit to the battleship.

Role in the Korean War

The Korean War began in 1950 and the U.S participated on behalf of the United Nations. Forces in Japan were sent to Korea, under the orders of President Truman.

USS Missouri was also sent from Norfolk on August 19, 1950, and braved a hurricane off North Carolina, needing repairs after she arrived at Pearl Harbor.

She reached close to Kyushu on September 14, 195,0 and provided gunfire support during the Incheon landings, to divert North Korean forces.

From 1950 to 1951, USS Missouri also conducted shore bombardments along the eastern coast of Korea.

In the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, Missouri provided curtain fire to evacuate Marines at Hungnam, safeguarding them from advancing Chinese troops.

In 1952, she also participated in naval raids and bombarded strategic targets like factories and transportation lines.

Her last engagement was on March 25, 1953, in the Kojo area after which she went home, to be eventually decommissioned in 1955.

Recommissioning of Biggest U.S Battleship

During the administration of President Ronald Wilson Reagan, the biggest U.S battleship was towed to the Long Beach Naval Yard to undergo modernisation so it could be recommissioned, as part of the program to build a 600-ship navy.

Her obsolete guns and other armament were removed and replaced with four Mk 141 quad cell launchers for 16 RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, 32 BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles, rotary cannon, advanced radar and fire-control systems and her warfare capabilities were improved.

The ship was formally recommissioned in San Francisco on May 10, 1986. After undergoing maintenance in 1989, she participated in the Pacific Exercise and in 1990, took part in the RimPac exercise.

She also took a cruise across the world and undertook a combat role in the 1991 Persian Gulf War after which she was finally decommissioned for the last time in 1992. In January 1999, she was opened as a museum.

USS Missouri received three battle stars for her service in the Second World War, 5 for the Korean War and another 3 for her service in the Gulf War.

Site of Movie Shootings

USS Missouri, the biggest U.S battleship was also the site where the famous American singer Cher filmed the music video of her song ‘If I Could Turn Back Time’. The production was a success and was well-received by the audience. The captain of the USS Missouri said the song could be played when the ship was conducting underway replenishments with other vessels.

USS Missouri was also a part of the 1992 movie Under Siege and also featured in the 2012 film Battleship. As the ship had not moved under her own power since 1992, shots of her at sea were achieved with the help of tugboats.

Conclusion

USS Missouri is the biggest U.S battleship and a legendary one as well. It took the US to victory in the Second World War and played an important role in the Korean War and Gulf War in its 51-year-long career.

She was a key participant in the invasion of two Jima and Okinawa and joined in air strikes and shore bombardment on Japan’s mainland.

She also participated in Operation Earnest Will in the Middle East and escorted Kuwaiti tankers flying under the flag of the U.S.

In the 1990s, she returned to the Middle East to bomb Iraqi forces in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and also took part in the Battle of Kafji.

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About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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