The most modern battleship ever built was the Iowa-class battleships of the United States, specifically the USS Missouri (BB-63), which is the last of the class to be commissioned. These battleships were commissioned during World War II but underwent numerous modernizations over the years, especially during the 1980s, when they were reactivated for service as part of the U.S. Navy's naval modernization programs.
Here are key details:
USS Missouri (BB-63):
Commissioned: June 11, 1944
Decommissioned: 1992 (after a final active period from the 1980s-1990s)
Recommissioned: 1986 (after modernization)
Modernization: The Iowa-class battleships, including Missouri, underwent significant modernization starting in 1984 under the "New Threat" upgrades, which improved their radar systems, fire control systems, and added Tomahawk cruise missile capability.
While the Iowa-class battleships themselves are technically considered World War II-era ships, their modernization programs in the 1980s and 1990s brought them up to modern standards, incorporating missile systems, advanced electronics, and other updates that made them relevant for more modern warfare. This era saw them performing more as multi-role platforms rather than the traditional battleships used in direct combat.
USS Missouri is the most modern battleship to have been built and served, representing the final generation of battleships that entered service, even though they were decommissioned in the early 1990s with the shift to aircraft carriers and guided missile systems.