USS „Missouri“ – the American battleship

The last built American battleships were designed as a response to the Japanese-built fast cruisers, aircraft carriers and battleships. Aviation did not yet play a decisive role in the military doctrines of the time, but their designers had already foreseen the threats, posed by airplanes at sea. The experience, gained from the construction and operation of the previous liners “North Carolina” and “Dakota”, was used in the design of these ships. The "Iowa" type (as the first ship of the series was called) was the result of further development of the "South Dakota" type of battleships. Since the shipbuilders were no longer constrained by the tonnage restrictions, that existed until then, the increase in water capacity was used to increase the power of the machines. The ships reached a speed of 33 knots (sometimes even 35 knots), which was a kind of record for battleships. The ships entered service from the middle of 1943, when the fast Japanese ships were no longer so "fast" and were mainly engaged in the defense of the collapsing empire. This type of battleships did not have the opportunity to fully demonstrate their combat power. The good fortune (or maybe - the bad luck) of war meant, that the tasks, they had to perform, were mainly associated with escorting aircraft carriers and providing fire support for landing operations. In February 1944, the “Iowa” and “New Jersy” had the opportunity to demonstrate their speed qualities, when chased the Japanese cruiser “Katori” and the destroyer “Maikaze”, which were fleeing from the base at Truck Atoll. The “Missouri” is most famous for the signing of the Japanese surrender act on its deck. After the war, the ships were transferred to the reserve, but this was not the end of their service. They were reactivated and participated in the Korean and Vietnam wars, the conflict in the Persian Gulf. All four ships have now been put back into reserve. The “Missouri” is anchored at Pearl Harbor and serves as a museum ship.

A complex, well designed and richly detailed model for experienced modelers. It can be too complex for even moderately experienced modelers. The model recreates Missouri as it was in 1944.