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One of the awesome things to see on the Missouri is a clear 3D plastic model of the 16” gun ammo handling mechanisms. The darn things go almost down to the keel through several decks. You usually only see the guns sitting there, with no clue as to how the shells get fed up there.

I believe the Congressional legislation (Section 1011 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 1996) only stated that two had to be kept in a state of readiness, even if used as museums. The two picked were the New Jersey and Wisonsin I believe.

I believe that the legislation included that the Navy retain whatever logistical support necessary to keep the two battleships available for service if necessary, including technical manuals, repair and replacement parts, ordinance availability, etc.

Whether that is occurring under the Obama administration, I cannot say. It would be difficult to retain the personnel and their training to man the vessels if they were ever needed, particualry as time goes on and they sit there open to the public.

Suppose I wonder about just how much “readiness” these ships have. The Missouri has engines removed, and the gun elevation mechanisms gone. One of the tricks the crew turning it into a museum had was elevating them from an embarrassing droop to the deck.

I don't think that's accurate. The engines are within an armored citadel designed under the "all or nothing" principle of armor protection. The ship would literally have needed to been cut in half to get them out.

As to the gun elevation, the issue wasn't removal of the mechanisms (again, they're buried within armored turrets that would have to be cut into pieces to get to them), but the fact that as part of the demilitarization process the gearing was welded in place. And that happened to NJ in what was apparently an isolated act of over-enthusiasm in rendering her "inoperable", not to Missouri.

With the exception of the NJ's elevation mechanisms being welded, all four class members were treated very well and lightly when it came to being de-mil'd. I went aboard Hornet (CVS-12) in the Fall of 1998 right about when she opened as a museum at Alameda. SHE'D had major power conduits severed, and the vet/tour-guide who I spent a good deal of time talking with on her Navigation Bridge told me that they were having all sorts of problems restoring power to critical parts of the ship.

Compare/contrast with the heavy cruiser USS Salem. When it was un-mothballed in Quincy Mass as a museum it was in such good and unmolested condition that one of its former air-search radar operators (now a restoration volunteer) was able quickly fire up his old set. And took down Logan Airport for a couple hours ...