Was the USS Missouri's Pool Table a Myth or Reality?

Have you ever wondered whether the USS Missouri, one of the most famous battleships in World War II, had a pool table on board? This article delves into the historical accuracy of the presence of such an amenity on such a iconic vessel, drawing from personal experiences and naval history.

Exploring the Possibility of a Pool Table Amidst Turbulence

It is quite an intriguing conjecture to imagine a pool table on a battleship, given the rigorous conditions of naval warfare. While there is no concrete evidence of the USS Missouri possessing a pool table, my personal experience aboard the USS Ticonderoga during the Skylab II mission sheds some light on why this is unlikely.

As a press pool reporter for the Skylab II mission, I had the honor of being on board the USS Ticonderoga. This ship served as the primary recovery vessel for the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972. One day, the captain invited members of our pool to a conference room to watch a video taken from the ship's flight deck during the Apollo 17 recovery operation.

The Unstoppable Rolling Ship vs. Rolling Video Dilemma

As the video screen displayed the ship's gentle rolling in the Pacific, the image appeared to roll opposite to our actual motion. Our physical experience was that the ship was rolling, but the video seemed to show the opposite movement. This mismatch between the real and visual rolling made the experience quite nauseating for all aboard, including even seasoned sailors.

The key lesson here is that ships at sea roll with ocean swells, and this motion is consistent for all vessels, regardless of size. Even battleships and aircraft carriers are subject to this undulation. Therefore, maintaining a pool table in a seaworthy condition would be a significant challenge. The table would not remain level, and any attempt to correct this would only introduce more instability.

Practical Considerations During Naval Warfare

Besides the physical challenges, there were also practical considerations during World War II that would have made a pool table a non-starter on many naval vessels, including the USS Missouri. One of the primary concerns was the flammability of such equipment. During wartime, anything that could potentially catch fire and was deemed non-essential was often removed from ships to reduce the risk of damage and to focus on critical operations.

Conclusion: Mirages and Legends of Naval Ships

While the idea of a pool table on the USS Missouri might make for a compelling naval legend, the historical and practical realities make it highly unlikely. The challenges of maintaining a level playing surface and the need to prioritize essential wartime equipment converge to paint a picture of a ship focused on fulfilling its military duties rather than leisure pursuits.

So, while our imaginations may run wild with scenes of officers playing pool on the decks of historic battleships, such amenities were impractical and possibly counterproductive in the high-stress environment of naval warfare.