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Can the USS Missouri still run?

The USS Missouri was finally retired in 1992 and turned from a warship into a museum—just like the one in the movie. Today, it stays docked in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where there is no crew at the ready, nor any ammo or fuel on board.



No, the USS Missouri (BB-63), famously known as "Mighty Mo," cannot run under its own power in 2026. After being decommissioned for the final time in 1992, the ship’s massive boilers, engines, and mechanical systems were deactivated and "mothballed." The ship currently serves as a floating museum and memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. While the USS Missouri Memorial Association maintains the ship's structural integrity and aesthetic appearance with high-fidelity care—regularly painting the hull and preserving the teak decks—the internal propulsion systems are no longer functional. Reactivating a battleship of this scale would require hundreds of millions of dollars and a massive crew of specialized engineers, making it practically impossible. In 2026, the ship remains a stationary "American Icon," allowing visitors to stand on the very deck where World War II officially ended, but for any movement, such as for dry-docking or relocation, the vessel must be assisted by several heavy-duty harbor tugboats.

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It holds the distinction of being the world's last active service battleship. According to recent visitors, the Battleship Missouri Memorial's war artifacts and exhibits complement the displays at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Many past travelers also praised the attraction's knowledgeable tour guides.

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