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Upon arrival in [[Bremerton]], ''Missouri'' was moored at the last pier of the reserve fleet berthing. This placed her very close to the mainland, and she served as a popular tourist attraction, logging about 180,000 visitors per year, who came to view the "surrender deck" where a bronze plaque memorialized the spot where [[Japan]] surrendered to the [[Allies]], and the accompanying historical display that included copies of the surrender documents and photos. A small cottage industry grew in the civilian community just outside the gates, selling souvenirs and other memorabilia. Nearly thirty years would pass before ''Missouri'' would again return to active duty.
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As part of [[President of the United States|President]] [[Ronald Reagan]]s [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Navy Secretary]] [[John F. Lehman]]'s effort to build a [[600-ship Navy]], ''Missouri'' was reactivated in 1984 and moved under tow to the Long Beach Naval Yard for moderinization.<ref>Information obtained from the captions of pictures taken during the transfer. Images can be found [Official U.S. Navy photo # DN-SN-84-10585 here]</ref> During the modernization ''Missouri'' had all of her remaining [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|Oerlikon 20 mm]] and [[Bofors 40 mm gun|Bofors 40 mm]] anti-aircraft guns removed, due to their ineffectiveness against modern day [[Fighter aircraft|jet fighter]]s and enemy anti-ship missiles; additionally, the two 5" gun mounts located in the [[aft]] on the [[Port (nautical)|port]] and [[starboard]] side of the battleship were removed.<ref name="FAS Iowa">{{cite web | title = BB-61 IOWA-class (Specifications) | url = http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/bb-61.htm |publisher=[[Federation of American Scientists]] |accessdate=2006-11-26}}</ref>
Over the next several months the ship was upgraded with the most advanced weaponry available; among the new weapons systems installed were four MK 141 quad cell launchers for 16 [[Harpoon missile|AGM-84 Harpoon]] anti-ship missiles, eight [[Armored Box Launcher|Armored Box Launcher (ABL)]] mounts for 32 [[BGM-109 Tomahawk]] [[missile]]s, and a quartet of the United States Navy's [[Phalanx CIWS|Phalanx]] [[Close-in weapon system|Close In Weapon System (CIWS)]] [[gatling gun]]s for defense against enemy [[anti-ship missile]]s and enemy aircraft.<ref name="FAS Iowa"/> ''Missouri'' also received eight [[RQ-2 Pioneer]] [[Unmanned Aerial Vehicle]]s, which are remotely controlled drones that replaced the helicopters previously used to spot for her nine 16"/50 Mark 7 guns.<ref name="Drone">{{cite web | title = The Warfighter's Encyclopedia: Aircraft - RQ-2 Pioneer | url = https://wrc.navair-rdte.navy.mil/warfighter_enc/aircraft/UAVs/pioneer.htm}}</ref> Also included in her modernization were upgrades to [[radar]] and [[fire control system]]s for her guns and missiles, and improved [[electronic warfare]] capabilities.<ref name="FAS Iowa"/><ref>A complete guide to the weapons systems of the ''Iowa''-class after their 1980s modernization can be found [[:Image:Iowa class battleship 1980s modernization schematic.JPG|here]]</ref> Armed as such, ''Missouri'' was formally recommissioned in [[San Francisco, California]] on [[10 May]] [[1986]]. "This is a day to celebrate the rebirth of American sea power," [[Secretary of Defense]] [[Casper W. Weinberger]] told an audience of 10,000 at the recommissioning ceremony, instructing the crew to "listen for the footsteps of those who have gone before you. They speak to you of honor and the importance of duty. They remind you of your own traditions."<ref>[http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/battleships/missouri/bb63-mo.html Quoted from chinfo.navy.mil]</ref>
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