What type of warship was USS Missouri, the vessel used for Japan's 1945 surrender ceremony?

USS Missouri was an Iowa-class battleship used for Japan's 1945 surrender ceremony.

Missouri, designated BB-63, was one of four Iowa-class battleships completed by the United States during World War II. The class was designed for high speed, heavy armor, and powerful 16-inch guns, allowing the ships to operate with fast carrier task forces while also providing shore bombardment.

The ship entered service in June 1944 and fought in the Pacific during the final year of the war. Its selection as the surrender venue made it one of the most recognizable vessels in modern naval history. The ceremony was held on its open deck in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.

Missouri was not an aircraft carrier, although it operated alongside carriers and other fleet units. It also was not the first ship named Missouri; BB-63 was the third U.S. Navy ship to carry the name. The battleship later served in the Korean War and was recommissioned for the Gulf War before becoming a museum ship at Pearl Harbor.