The Massachusetts class battleship is the first of the world's 21st century battleships, brought back from extinction since the early 1990's when the United States formally decommissioned the last naval battleships in active military service in any naval force globally. Battleship use worldwide ended after the Persian Gulf War in 1991 and American battleships remained in reserve until 2006. Requests for fire support naval craft by the Marine Corps and the Navy led the government to design a new 21st century battleship craft. The first Massachusetts class, named EVS Massachusetts was designed in late 2004. Construction on the first of its class began in mid 2005 and completed the first ship by mid 2007. The Department of Defense requested another nine vessels, all completing construction by