Sherwin-Williams coatings refurbish historic Battleship Missouri

Nearly 5,500 gallons of Sherwin-Williams coatings have been applied to the historic Battleship Missouri, which recently returned to her home pier near the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. 

The ex-U.S.S. Missouri, or “Mighty Mo,” is known as the site of Japan’s unconditional surrender to Allied Forces on September 2, 1945, ending World War II. The ship was launched in June 1944 and provided firepower in the decisive battles for Iwo Jima and Okinawa. On September 2, 1945 – 65 years ago this summer – the Missouri served as the site of Japan’s formal, unconditional surrender to Allied Powers while anchored in Tokyo Bay, Japan.

The famous ship also saw action in the Korean Conflict and Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. Today, the ship is under the care of the non-profit USS Missouri Memorial Association, which owns and operates the ship as the Battleship Missouri Memorial, a historic attraction and memorial in Pearl Harbor.

Work on the $18 million refurbishment began in October under the guidance of BAE Systems at the U.S. Navy’s Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. The superstructure was pressure washed by memorial volunteers. BAE Systems and its subcontractors used power tools to remove remaining paint, spot-primed bare steel, airless-sprayed the ship’s superstructure and freeboard, and plural component-sprayed the underwater hull. 

Sherwin-Williams products used on the 887-foot battleship included:

• Dura-Plate UHS Epoxy, SeaGuard Vinyl Antifoulant (underwater hull)
• Dura-Plate UHS Epoxy, Polysiloxane XLE-80 (freeboard)
• Macropoxy 920 Pre-Prime, Mil-PRF-24635 Silicone Alkyd (mast aloft black areas)
• Macropoxy 920 Pre-Prime, SeaGuard 5000 HS Epoxy, Polysiloxane XLE-80 (superstructure)
• Dura-Plate MT, Dura-Plate UHS Epoxy (decks)

Sherwin-Williams also provided technical expertise and worked closely with both the shipyard and contractor throughout the project.

"It was an honor for Sherwin-Williams to provide coatings for one of the most renowned and historically significant ships in U.S. history,” said Brad Rossetto, vice president of marketing, Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine. “We are proud to have worked with the USS Missouri Memorial Association and BAE Systems to help preserve one of America’s most precious assets for generations to come.”

“Thanks to the support of those such as Sherwin-Williams, the Battleship Missouri is fortified against the elements for decades to come,” said Ron Chavez, chief engineer for the Battleship Missouri Memorial.

“There was a tremendous amount of marine growth stuck to the hull that needed to be removed before the team could start the preservation work,” said Roger Kubischta, director of operations for BAE Systems’ Hawaii Shipyard. “There was corrosion in spots of the hull, but it was mostly intact. In all, over eight acres of the boat’s surface needed to be preserved.”

“BAE Systems was honored to help lead the preservation effort on this historic vessel,” said Dave Herr, president of BAE Systems Support Solutions. “With the hard work of our employees and subcontractors, and our trusted partnership with Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, one of our nation’s most treasured assets is back pier-side today. We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with the USS Missouri Memorial Association, whose passion for the project was inspiring and a testament to the historic significance of the Mighty Mo and the importance of bringing her history to life.”