About 250 Allied vessels accompanied USS Missouri during Japan’s formal surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay.
The large fleet presence reflected the scale of the Allied victory and the importance of the ceremony. USS Missouri served as the central platform, but numerous other warships and support vessels were positioned nearby in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945.
The accompanying ships included vessels from the United States and other Allied navies, including British and Australian ships. A Dutch hospital ship was also among the vessels described as present. The fleet helped secure the area while demonstrating the military power that had defeated Japan.
The number is an approximate figure rather than a precise roll call of every craft in the bay. This is separate from the nine Allied representatives who signed the surrender document after MacArthur: the question concerns ships physically accompanying Missouri, not countries or signatories.