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Members
of HMAS Newcastle’s Chief Petty Officer’s Mess got all
decked out for a recent visit to the now decommissioned
Iowa class battleship USS Missouri in Hawaii.
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Photo:
LCDR Melinda
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By
WOMT Brett Rylance
The
RIMPAC 2004 deployment allowed personnel from the RAN contingent
(HMAS Newcastle, HMAS Parramatta and HMAS Rankin) to attend
a tour onboard the now decommissioned Iowa class battleship
USS Missouri.
USS Missouri, or as it has been more affectionately known
as “Mighty Mo”, has been kept in pristine condition and is
now available for tours to the public.
She is berthed alongside Ford Island, Pearl Harbour, not far
from the renowned Arizona Memorial. Some compartments the
ship have been left in the same condition as it was when decommissioned,
while other compartments have been restored to their original
state during her World War II days.
As you board Missouri you have a sense of awe; considering
its might, longevity and significant history.
To be in “Battleship Row”, where the United States was initially
attacked by the Japanese, and onboard the ship where Japan
officially surrendered was an honour.
Many photographic opportunities were taken including Newcastle’s
CPO’s mess who attended in uniform.
USS Missouri was commissioned during WWII and was the youngest
of the four magnificent Iowa class battleships built by the
United States.
Missouri was upgraded many times during her half century of
naval service.
She was involved in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, screened
task force 58 during air strikes against Japan and served
as Admiral William Halsey’s flagship.
She also participated in the Korean War, providing support
for evacuation and extensive shore bombardment of North Korea.
In 1991, Missouri launched 28 tomahawk missiles into Baghdad
and during the 44 days of Desert Storm fired 759, 16- inch
projectiles while bombarding Iraqi forces. Missouri was decommissioned
for the second time) on March 31, 1992.
USS Missouri arrived in Hawaii in 1998 and was open to the
public on January 29, 1999.
The end of the tour saw the relevant ship’s companies have
dinner and refreshments on the stern of the Mighty Mo which
was organised by Newcastle’s Flight Commander, LCDR Bailey.
