A Hawaiian Kaleidoscope - USS Bowfin and Missouri (Mighty Mo) - February 2012

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The USS Missouri is an Iowa-class battleship, built in 1942. It is the last of four existing Iowa-class battleships ever built, and the United States has not built any battleships since, making this the last battleship ever built by the U.S.

The Mighty Mo

The Missouri played a role in winning the war against Japan in the pacific, and in September of 1945 it was the deck of the USS Missouri that hosted a delegation from Japan that signed the formal instrument of surrender to the Allied Powers. The Missouri then spent many decades in active service, before being retired as a museum ship at Pearl Harbour. Given its history, it seems fitting to be spending its time from now on in the very spot that launched America's war with Japan.

A visit to the USS Missouri costs $22 (as of 2012), and, like the USS Bowfin, is purchased at the park's visitor center. A nearbly shuttle bus ride then takes you from the visitor center to the dock on Ford Island where the Missouri is moored.

Mighty Mo entrance

USS Missouri

The Missouri's Bow

Main superstructure

Towards the Bow

Main Guns

The USS Missouri -- also known by its nickname "Mighty Mo" -- appears clean and proud as you approach it. It has a long, graceful, slender form. Some fixed ramps and steps lead you up onto the main deck, where the first thing that impresses are the main sixteen-inch guns.

Main guns, USS Missouri

USN visitors, USS Missouri

There are some overview maps when you first board that give you an overview of the path you can follow through the ship. At first glance, it looks fairly complicated, but if you stay with it for a bit, you can discern the path you are supposed to follow. When we visited, we first walked on-deck to the bow, then walked around and down the starboard side of the ship.

On the startboard side of the ship, you soon come to a pretty historic spot - the place where the Japanese surrendered in September of 1945. A round plaque is set into the deck and an additional plaque is on the wall of the captain's cabin.

The spot where WWII ended

Instrument of Surrender Plaque

Starboard 5-inch guns

Continuing rearward, you soon reach the wide open rear part of the main deck (including a small aircraft landing area - not sure how that worked before the advent of helicopters). It appears as if some semi-permanent tent structures on this deck are used to host ceremonial functions from time to time.

You then descended into the bowels of the ship via a short, steep stairwell in the main deck, leading down to the second deck. There is then a remarkably long walk through most of the length of the ship, starting with the Chief Petty Officers quarters and living spaces, through the main mess hall, galley and related food prep areas, offices for the master of arms, rows upon rows upon rows of crews' bunks, machine room, computer room, and post office, among many other things. Everything has a certain "air of recent history" about it - 70s-style dark wood furnishings, 50s-style stamped metal fittings and appliances, 80s-era computer gear (some original Macintoshes among them).