USS MISSOURI (BB-63)
SPECIFICATIONS AND DATA
Prepared by: Don G. Boyer
CONSTRUCTION/ OPERATIONAL DATA
January 1938: New “fast battleship” design work commences at Preliminary Design Branch, Bureau of Construction & Repair.
10 March 1938: Navy’s General Board requests fast battleship designs.
May 1938: General Board approves fast battleship design of April 1938. This design becomes the “Iowa” class.
December 1938: New York Navy Yard completes detailed design work of the Iowa class.
USS Missouri ordered: June 12, 1940.
Built by: New York Navy Yard.
Laid down: January 6, 1941, NYNY.
Launched: January 29, 1944, NYNY.
Commissioned: June 11, 1944, NYNY.
Fully Operational: December 1944.
Departed for Combat Operations: January 2, 1945, en route Ulithi Atoll from Pearl Harbor.
First WWII Combat Operations: February 10, 1945; air strikes against Tokyo, TG58.2
First Korean War Combat Operations: September 15, 1950, shore bombardment, Samchok, Korea.
First Decommissioning: February 26, 1955, at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. Placed in Pacific Reserve Fleet.
Listed on National Register of Historic Places: 1971
Reactivation Begins: May 10, 1984—Begins tow to Long Beach, CA.
Reconstruction, Modernization, and Trials: May 25, 1984 to May 6, 1986.
Recommissioned: May 10, 1986, San Francisco, CA-- Commercial Pier 32.
First Gulf War Combat Operations: January 17, 1991.
Second Decommissioning: March 31, 1992, Long Beach Naval Shipyard (later towed to Puget Sound).
Stricken From the Naval Register: January 12, 1995.
SecNav approves donation of Missouri to Memorial Association: August 21,1996.
Arrives at Pier F-5, Pearl Harbor, HI: June 23, 1998.
Opened as Memorial: January 29, 1999 (55 years after launch).
SPECIFICATIONS
DISPLACEMENT
Design Displacement: 53,900 tons
“ Standard Displacement: 45,000 tons
“ Full Load Displacement: 56,270 tons
(Actual Displacement as measured by inclining or calculation)
Light Ship Displacement: 43,875 tons
Standard Displacement: 48,425 tons (calculated)
Optimum Battle Displacement: 55,424 tons
Full Load Displacement: 57,540 tons (57,500 tons after
modernization)
Emergency Load Displacement: 59,331 tons
DIMENSIONS
Waterline Length: 860’
Length Overall: 887’ 3”
Maximum Beam: 108’ 2”
Mean Draft @ Designer’s Waterline: 34’ 9.25”
Design Draft: 34’ 9.25” @ 54,889 tons
Normal Draft: 35’ .75”
Full Load Draft: 36’ 2.25”
Maximum Draft: 37’ 9” @ 57,540 tons (1945)
Maximum Draft: 37’ 8.75” @ 57,500 tons (198
Frame Spacing: 4’: 216 frames
POWER PLANT
Boilers: Eight Babcock & Wilcox three-drum express two furnaces, double uptakes
Pressure: 565 psi
Temperature: 850 F
Turbines: 4 General Electric geared turbines
High pressure: 24,400 hp @ 4,905 rpm
Low pressure: 28,600 hp @ 3,913 rpm
Astern: 11,000 hp @ 2,375 rpm
Reduction Gears: General Electric
Generators:
8 ship’s service turbogenerators—1,250 kW ea.
2 emergency diesel generators—250 kW ea.
Total ships service capacity—10,000 kW, 450V, AC
Shaft Horsepower:
Normal max.: 212,000
Design (20%) overload: 254,000
Astern: 44,000
Speed: 33 knots @ 202rpm
Machinery weight: 4,992 tons
Endurance as designed:
18,000 nm @ 12 knots
15,900nm @ 17 knots
5,300nm @ 29.6 knots
Endurance as calculated by sea trials:
20,150 nm @ 15 knots
4,830 nm @ full power
Propellers:
2 five-bladed 17’ dia. inboard
2-four bladed 18’ 3” dia. outboard
Rudders: 2—340 sq. ft. each
Tactical Diameter: 314 yds @ 30 knots
TANK CAPACITIES
Fuel Oil: 8,841 tons (1949)
Emergency max. 9,520 tons
Diesel Oil: 187.2 tons (1945)
Gasoline: 22.4 tons (1945)
Reserve feed water: 491.2 tons
Potable water: 777.2 tons
AMMUNITION LOAD (WWII)
Normal: 2,557 tons
Full load: 2,887 tons
Emergency load: 3,068 tons)
COMPLEMENT
As designed: 1.851—91 ofc \ 1,760 enl.
1943: 1,921—117 ofc.\ 1,804 enl.
1945: 2,798—151 ofc.\ 2,647 enl.
1949: 2,406—151 ofc.\ 2,255 enl.
1983: 1,653—74 ofc.\ 1,579 enl.
ARMOR
BELT ARMOR:
Upper side: Between second and third decks, frames 0-166;12.1” on 0.875” backing, inclined 19 . Class A armor.
Lower side: Between third deck and hold, frames 166-189, tapered from 13.5” to 5.625” @ frame 166; tapered from 13.5” to 7.25” @ frame 189. Class B armor.
Lower side: Between third deck and hold, frames 50-166, tapered from 12.1” to 1.625", inclined 19 . Class B armor.
TURRET ARMOR:
Face plates: 17.3” on 2.7” backing (20” total)
Sides: 9.5”
Back plates: 7.25”
Roof plates: 7.25”
BARBETTE ARMOR:
To second deck: 17.3” tapered to 11.6”
Second to third deck: 3”
Below third deck: 1.5”
CONNING TOWER ARMOR:
Sides: 17.5”
Roof: 7.25”
Deck: 4”
Communications tube: 16”
DECK ARMOR:
Main deck: 1.5”
Second deck: 5” to 4.75” on 1.25” backing (50 lb. STS—6.25” max.)
Splinter: 0.625” (over machinery spaces only)
Third deck: 0.5” or 0.625”
Deck above steering gear: 6.2”
TRANSVERSE ARMORED BULKHEADS:
Forward: 14.5”
Aft: 11.2”
SECONDARY GUN ARMOR:
Mounts: 2.5” (100 lb. STS)
Handling rooms: 2.5”
WEAPONS FIT (WWII/KOREA)
9—16”/50 CALIBER (406mm) GUNS, Mk 7
[3x3]
First Built: 1939
Turret Data:
Weight: 1,701 to1,708 tons (2,109.85 tons w/rifles)
Elevation: +45 , -5 ; @ 12 \sec.
Train: 150 max. @ 4 \sec.
Roller path diameter: 34’ 7”
Gun Data:
Rate of fire: 2 rounds per minute (practiced crews faster)
Barrel length: 66’ (68’ overall)
Breech: down-swing carrier type
Recoil: 4’
Gun weight:
267,904 lbs. (133.95 tons) w/breech
239,156 lbs. (119.57 tons) w/out breech
Length of rifling: 682.46” (56.87’)
Muzzle velocity: 2,500 fps
Muzzle energy: 116,980 ft. tons
Maximum pressure: 18.5 tons/sq. in.
Barrel life: approx. 290 rounds
Shell Data:
Mk 8: Armor piercing—2,700 lbs.
Mk 13/14: High capacity—1900 lbs.
Shell charges:
AP Mk 8—40.47 lbs.
HC Mk 13/14—153.58 lbs.
Penetration (AP): 20.04” steel @ 20,000 yds.
Maximum range:
@45 elevation = 42,245 yds. (24 miles)
With post war cooler powder, @ 45 elevation = 40,185 yds. (22.8 miles).
20—5”/38 CALIBER (127mm) GUNS. Mk 12 Mod 1 dual purpose, on Mk 28 Mod 2 mounts
[10x2]
Mk 28 Mod2 Mount Data:
Weight: 170,635 lbs. (85.32 tons)
Elevation: 85 max., -15 min. @ 15 \sec.
Train
25 \sec.(Mounts had various train limiters depending on location of mount to prevent accidental damage to ship structures.)
Gun Data:
Gun weight: 3,990 lbs. W/out breech (1.99 tons) [2 guns per mount = 7,980 lbs., 3.98 tons]
Gun length, overall: 15’ 10”
Length of rifling: 157.225” (13.1’)
Type of construction: monobloc
Type of breech: Semi-automatic, vertical sliding wedge
Chamber volume: 650 cu. in.
Powder container: brass cartridge, 27 lb.Powder charge: flashless—15.5 lb.: non-flashless—15.4 lb.
Muzzle velocity: 2,600 fps new, 2,500 fps avg. (AAC Mk 49, WP, and COM Mk 28\46)
Muzzle energy: 2,586 foot-tons
Maximum pressure: 18 tons\sq. in.
Gun recoil: 1’ 7”
Barrel life: approx. 4,600 rounds
Shell Data:
Shell types:
AAC (Anti-Air Common) Mk 35\49
HC (High Capacity) Mk 35\49
WPC (White Phosphorus Common) Mk 38\46
Shell weight:
VT = 54.61 lb. + 7.86 lb. charge
AAC = 55.18 lb. + 7.55 lb. charge
HC = 54.3 lb. + 7.55 lb. charge
WP = 54.39 lb.
COM = 55.18 lb.
Range:
18,200 yds. @ 45 maximum (10.34 miles)
AA ceiling 37,200’ (7 mi.)
80—40-MM/56 CALIBER (1.575”) BOFORS AA GUNS, Mk 1 & 2 on Mk 4 quad mount
[20 x 4]
Mk 2 Mount Data
Weight (w/.375” shield): 25,500 lbs. (12.75 tons)
Elevation limits: + 90 , - 15 @ 24 /sec.
Train limits: 360 (w\limiters depending on location) @ 26 /sec.
Gun Data:
Gun weight: 202 lbs.
Gun length: 8’ 2” overall
Type of construction: monobloc
Type of breech: vertical sliding
Length of rifling: 75.85” (6’ 4”)
Chamber volume: 28.3 cu. in.
Muzzle velocity: 2,890 fps
Range: 11,133 yds @ 45 (6.3 mi.)
Maximum pressure: 19.5 tons\sq. in.
Shell Data:
Powder charge: .694 lb.
Shell types:
HE Mk 1,2
AP M81A1
AP-T Mk 4
Shell weights:
Mk1/2—1.985 lb.; chg. 0.15 lb.
(Following WWII the number of 40-mm mounts was reduced; all finally removed during reconstruction and modernization, 1984-86.)
49—20-MM/70 CALIBER OERLIKON AA GUNS.
[8 x2, 33 x 1 in 1945]
Mount Data:
Weight: varied between mounts: Mk 4 twin—1,695 lbs., Mk 5 single—1,394 lbs. (depending on type and presence of trunnion height adjustment gear)
Elevation: + 90 max., - 15
Train: 180 (limiters sometimes added depending on location)
Gun Data:
Weight: 150 lbs., including breech mechanism
Gun length: 4’ 9” overall
Type of construction: monobloc
Type of breech: horizontal sliding
Barrel life: approx. 9,000 rounds
Rate of fire: 450 rounds per minute
Shell Data:
Weight: .27 lb.
Muzzle velocity: 2,770 fps
Range: 4,800 yds. @ 45 elevation (2.7 miles)
(The number of 20-mm mounts varied during and after WWII. Originally 49 single mounts, with eight twin mounts installed in place of some singles by 1945, increasing to 32 during Korea as the single mounts were replaced or eliminated. All 20 mm removed by 1955.)
WEAPONS FIT (MODERNIZATION)
Following modernization, the ship had 9 x 16”, 12 x 5”, 4 Phalanx 20 mm CIWS, 32 BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles in eight armored box launchers, 16 RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles in 4 canister launchers and 8 single-barreled .50 cal. MGs.
TOMAHAWK CRUISE MISSILE (BGM-109)
[8 x 4]
Length: 20’ 6”
Diameter: 1.7’
Weight: 3400 lb.
Propulsion:
Solid booster
F-107 turbojet
Speed: .7 mach
Range:
Strategic version—1,500+ nautical miles
Tactical versions—250+ nautical miles
Guidance: TAINS, TERCOM, GPS; tactical version w/ inertial guidance, active radar and anti-radiation homing
Warhead:
Conventional up to 1,000 lb. (CBU, Bullpup warheads; other types)
Thermonuclear warhead in the 300kt range
Versions:
A—nuclear
B—anti-ship
C—land-attack, conventional
D—land-attack, bomblets (166 BLU-97/B)
E—anti-ship
F—land attack, anti-airfield
HARPOON ANTI-SHIP MISSILE (RGM-84)
[4 x 4]
Length: 15.2’
Diameter: 1.1’
Weight: 1,502 lbs.
Propulsion: solid booster, CAE-JA02 turbojet
Speed: .85 mach
Range: 67+ miles
Guidance: inertial, then active homing on J band
Warhead: 500 lbs.
(Improved version in 1991, longer & 150 lbs. heavier,)
MK 15 MOD O BLOCK O/1 20-MM PHALANX CLOSE IN WEAPONS SYSTEM (CIWS)
[4 x 1]
Mount weight: 5.4 tons
Gun: multi-barrel M61A1 20-mm
Shell: tungsten
Rate of fire: 3,000 rpm
Maximum range (horizontal): 1,626 yds. (.92 miles)
Fire control: Mk 90 integrated fire control system with track-while-scan radar
SENSORS/FIRE CONTROL (WWII)
Radars:
SK-2 air search (foremast)
2 SG surface search (fore and mainmasts)
GFCS:
2-Mk 38 main battery directors, w/Mk 13 radars
1-Mk 40 main battery director (conning tower) w/ Mk 3 radar (later Mk 27)
4-Mk 37 secondary gun directors, w/Mk 12/22 radars (later Mk 32, Mk 25)
40-mm gun fire directors, Mk 56 w/Mk 35 radar installed late in war
EW: TDY jammers installed by 1945
SENSORS/FIRE CONTROL (KOREA)
Radars:
SR-3 air-search (foremast)
SP height-finder (mainmast)
SG-6 surface search (foremast)
SENSORS/FIRE CONTROL (MODERNIZATION)
Radars:
1 LN-66
1 SPS-67 C-band surface search
1 SPS -49 S-band air search
2 Mk 13 3-cm. Fire control—main battery
4 Mk 25 X-band fire control—secondary battery
TACAN: URN-25
Electronic Warfare:
SLQ-32(V)3 radar warning (B-J bands) jamming/spoofing (H-J bands)
Mk 36 SRBOC chaff RL (6 x
SLQ-25 Nixie towed torpedo countermeasures noisemaker REFERENCES
