USS Wisconsin (BB-64)

USS Wisconsin (BB-64) is an Iowa-class battleship, the second ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Commissioned in 1944, she served with distinction in the final years of World War II in the Pacific Theater and later saw extensive action during the Korean War and the Gulf War. Known for her formidable firepower and speed, she was among the last and most powerful battleships ever constructed by the United States. Today, she is preserved as a museum ship at the Nauticus maritime center in Norfolk, Virginia.

Construction and commissioning

The contract for the vessel was awarded on 12 June 1940, and her keel was laid down at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on 25 January 1941. She was launched on 7 December 1943, the second anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, sponsored by the wife of the Governor of Wisconsin, Walter S. Goodland. Following fitting-out, the ship was commissioned into active service on 16 April 1944, under the command of Captain Earl E. Stone. Her construction and rapid commissioning were part of the massive wartime naval expansion program undertaken by the United States Department of the Navy.

Service history

After shakedown exercises in the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, she transited the Panama Canal to join the U.S. Pacific Fleet in 1944. During World War II, she served as a flagship for Admiral William F. Halsey Jr.'s Third Fleet and participated in major campaigns including the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Philippines campaign (1944–1945), and the Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She provided vital naval gunfire support for amphibious assaults and engaged in anti-aircraft defense against kamikaze attacks. Following the surrender of Japan, she assisted in Operation Magic Carpet, returning American personnel from the Pacific theater.

Design and armament

As a member of the Iowa class, she was designed for speed to escort the new Essex-class fast carrier task forces. Her main battery consisted of nine 16"/50 caliber Mark 7 guns housed in three triple turrets, capable of firing armor-piercing projectiles over twenty miles. Her secondary armament included twenty 5"/38 caliber guns in twin mounts, renowned for their versatility in anti-aircraft and surface roles. During her career, her anti-aircraft warfare suite was updated, replacing original Bofors 40 mm gun and Oerlikon 20 mm cannon mounts with modern Phalanx CIWS and Tomahawk cruise missile launchers during her 1980s reactivation.

Post-war service and museum ship

After Korean War service bombarding targets along the Korean Peninsula, she was placed in the reserve fleet in 1958. She was reactivated and modernized in the 1980s as part of President Ronald Reagan's 600-ship Navy initiative. During the Gulf War, she launched Tomahawk missiles and fired her guns in combat for the last time in U.S. naval history. She was decommissioned for the final time on 30 September 1991. After being struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 2006, she was donated to the city of Norfolk, Virginia, and now serves as the centerpiece of the Nauticus maritime museum.

Awards and legacy

Over her long career, the ship earned numerous battle stars and unit commendations, including five for World War II, one for the Korean War, and others for service during the Gulf War and the Cold War. She received the Navy Unit Commendation for her performance during the Gulf War. Her legacy is preserved not only as a museum but also in the National Register of Historic Places listing she shares with her berth. She stands as a powerful symbol of American naval power in the 20th century and a testament to the service of her crews across multiple conflicts.

Category:Iowa-class battleships Category:Museum ships in Virginia Category:Ships built in Philadelphia Category:World War II battleships of the United States