85-0301 Revell 1/535 USS Missouri Battleship

One of America's most powerful naval vessels, the USS Missouri was the last of four Iowa class battleships - the largest battleships built by the U.S.N. Her active combat operations included the period from the two Iwo Jima landings in February of 1945 to the end of the fighting in September. The most memorable mission of the “Mighty Mo” was when she was chosen as the scene of the historic signing of the peace treaty with Japan. This kit contains a copy of the plaque placed on her deck after the surrender documents were signed.

History

On September 2, 1945, ships of the United States Pacific Fleet rode at anchor in Tokyo Bay. A scant month passed since an American B-29 had dropped the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, and now the representatives of the Emperor were assembling abroad an American ship to sign formal surrender documents. The ship chosen to be the scene of this historic signing was one of this nation’s most powerful naval vessels, the U.S.S. MISSOURI. She was the last of four Iowa class battleships, and was completed in June of 1944. The active combat operations of the MISSOURI included the period from the two Iwo Jima landings in February of 1945 until the close of hostilities in September. With the outbreak of hostilities in Korea, the Mighty Mo was again in action, cruising in Korean waters from August 1950 until April 1951. She participated in numerous actions, including bombardments of the Korean Peninsula. Now, along with her sister ships, New Jersey, Wisconsin and Iowa, she rides quietly at anchor, a part of the great mothball fleet. The MISSOURI was built at a cost in excess of $100,000,000 and has an overall length of 887 feet 3 inches with a bean 108’. Her main batteries, consisting of nine 16 inch guns have a range of 23 miles, and she has a variety of smaller guns including 20 five inch, 80 forty millimeter, and 50 twenty millimeter. She has a speed of 33 knots, and is powered by geared turbines that develop 212,000 shaft horsepower. In wartime her crew consisted of 2,700 officers and men. After the surrender documents were signed, a plaque was placed in her deck just forward of the conning tower on the starboard side, to mark the spot. A miniature replica of this plaque is included in your kit, and on it you will see the following: “Over this spot, on 2 September 1945 the instrument of formal surrender of Japan to the Allied Powers was signed, thus bringing to a close the Second World War. The ship was at that time at anchor in Tokyo Bay.” Around the lower half of the plaque is inscribed, “Latitude 35° 21’ 17” North, Longitude 139° 45’ 36” East. This indicates the ship’s actual position in Tokyo bay. Although modern naval tactics have made the battleship all but obsolete, and these giant beauties have been relegated to history, the U.S.S. MISSOURI will always remain, along with the other ships of her class, the pinnacle of battleship development. It is not likely that the world will ever again see the likes of the MIGHTY MO.

Features

1/535 scale plastic assembly model kit
Detailed Static Display Model
Includes 2 Navy Seaplanes on Catapults
Nine elevating guns
Forward Mast and Radar screens
Three moveable turrets
Illustrated Instructions
Age Suitability: 14+

Safety Notice: Warning! This product is not suitable for children under 36 months, it contains small parts with sharp edges which can present a choking hazard.

Specs

Length: 508mm
Width: 60.32mm
Height:
Scale: 1/535
Parts: 75
Skill Level: 2
Colour: Grey Plastic

Contents

1 x Revell 1/535 USS Missouri – US Navy Battleship

Model: 85-0301
Issued:
Shipping Weight: 1.0kgs
Manufactured by: Revell