USS Missouri (BB-63)

USS Missouri (BB-63) is an Iowa-class battleship of the United States Navy, completed in 1944 and now preserved as a museum ship.

USS Missouri (BB-63) is an Iowa-class battleship of the United States Navy, completed in 1944 and now preserved as a museum ship. It is best known as the site of Japan’s formal surrender in 1945, which ended World War II. Canadian service members and naval historians recognize the ship for this event, which affected Canada’s wartime history and postwar memory.

Design and construction

USS Missouri was built at the New York Navy Yard, laid down in 1941, launched in 1944, and commissioned later that year. It was the fourth and final Iowa-class battleship completed for the U.S. Navy.

World War II service

Missouri operated in the Pacific Theater, including support for the Iwo Jima invasion and bombardment of Okinawa and Japanese mainland targets. Its deck hosted the surrender ceremony that formally ended the war.

Postwar service

After World War II, Missouri returned to service for later conflicts, including the Korean War and the Gulf War. It remained one of the most famous U.S. battleships because of both its combat record and surrender role.

Museum ship

Missouri was decommissioned on 31 March 1992 and later donated as a museum and memorial ship in 1998. It is now displayed at Pearl Harbor near the USS Arizona Memorial.