USS Missouri ( BB - 11 ) USS " Missouri " ( BB - 11 ) , a , was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the 24th state . " Missouri " was laid down on 7 February 1900 by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company of Newport News , Virginia . She was launched on 28 December 1901 sponsored by Mrs . Edson Fessenden Gallaudet , daughter of United States Senator Francis Marion Cockrell of Missouri , whose husband and commissioned on 1 December 1903 , Captain William S . Cowles in command . Pre - World War I . Assigned to the North Atlantic Fleet , " Missouri " left Norfolk , Virginia on 4 February 1904 for trials off the Virginia Capes and fleet operations in the Caribbean Sea . On 13 April , during target practice , a flareback from the port gun in her after turret ignited a powder charge and set off two others . No explosion occurred but the rapid burning of the powder suffocated 36 of the crew . Prompt action prevented the loss of the warship and three of her crew earned Medals of Honor for extraordinary heroism . After repairs at Newport News , " Missouri " sailed on 9 June for duty in the Mediterranean Sea from which she returned to New York on 17 December . Fleet operations along the east coast and in the Caribbean during the next years were highlighted by her relief to earthquake victims at Kingston , Jamaica from 17 – 19 January 1907 . In April , she took part in the Jamestown Exposition . With the " Great White Fleet " , " Missouri " sailed from Hampton Roads on 16 December 1907 , passing in review before President Theodore Roosevelt at the beginning of a world cruise , which was to show the world that American naval might could penetrate any waters . Calling at ports in the Caribbean and along the east coast of South America , the fleet rounded Cape Horn to call in Peru and Mexico before arriving at San Francisco , California on 6 May 1908 for a gala visit . In July , the fleet turned west for Honolulu , Hawaii , thence to New Zealand and Australia , arriving in Manila on 2 October . The most tumultuous welcome yet came in Yokohama , Japan , and with a call in Amoy , China , the fleet began the passage home by way of Ceylon , Suez , and ports in the eastern Mediterranean . Departing Gibraltar on 6 February 1909 , the fleet was again reviewed by President Roosevelt upon its triumphant return to Hampton Roads on 22 February . Placed in reserve at Boston , Massachusetts on 1 May 1910 , " Missouri " recommissioned on 1 June 1911 , and resumed east coast and Caribbean operations with the Atlantic Fleet . In June 1912 , she carried Marines from New York to Cuba where they protected American interests during a rebellion . The next month the battleship carried midshipmen for training then decommissioned at Philadelphia , Pennsylvania on 9 September 1912 . " Missouri " recommissioned on 16 March 1914 for that summer ' s United States Naval Academy Practice Squadron ' s cruise to Italian and English ports . She returned to ordinary at Philadelphia on 2 December , but recommissioned on 16 April 1915 to train midshipman in the Caribbean and on a cruise through the Panama Canal to California ports . She returned to the Reserve Fleet at Philadelphia on 18 October , recommissioned on 2 May 1916 , and again conducted training along the east coast and in the Caribbean until placed in ordinary for the winter at Philadelphia . World War I . Upon the entry of the United States into World War I , " Missouri " recommissioned on 23 April 1917 , joined the Atlantic Fleet at Yorktown , Virginia and operated as a training ship in the Chesapeake Bay area . On 26 August , Rear Admiral Hugh Rodman broke his flag in " Missouri " as Commander , Division 2 , Atlantic Fleet , and the warship continued to train thousands of recruits in engineering and gunnery for foreign service on warships and as armed guards for merchant vessels . Following the Armistice , the battleship was attached to the Cruiser and Transport Force , departing Norfolk on 18 February 1919 on the first of four voyages to Brest , France to return 3 , 278 US troops to east coast ports . " Missouri " decommissioned at Philadelphia Navy Yard on 8 September . She was sold to J . G . Hitner and W . F . Cutler of Philadelphia on 26 January 1922 and scrapped in accordance with the Washington Naval Treaty limiting naval armaments . References . Bibliography