About the USS WISCONSIN Association

THE BIRTH OF THE USS WISCONSIN (BB-64) ASSOCIATION

It was in 1986 when we first heard the BATTLESHIP WISCONSIN was to be re-commissioned for her third tour of duty. After 38 years since her last decommissioning in 1958, we were really surprised and excited at the prospect.

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  • The USS WISCONSIN applies the Wisconsin State Motto, “FORWARD” to her mission of preserving freedom and serving the interest of the United States hence “FORWARD FOR FREEDOM.”

    The warship silhouette is a battleship designed to combine the most powerful guns, large size and the strongest armor. She is capable to dealing and absorbing the most damage. The crossed cutlass and sword represents the combat readiness of the enlisted personnel and officers aboard WISCONSIN.

    Dark blue and gold are the colors traditionally associated with the United States Navy. The ship’s wheel represents navigation and leadership and reflects WISCONSIN’S global capabilities and seaworthiness. The smaller shield, from the United States Coat of Arms points out our national heritage and also appears on the Wisconsin State Flag. During World War II WISCONSIN played a vital part in the attainment of U.S. Naval power as second to none in the world. She earned 5 battle stars for her World War II service and one for Korea. This total is represented by the stars around the ship’s wheel.

    The state’s motto dates back to the 1850’s. State officials at that time felt their motto should be descriptive of where the state was headed, and where the people should look. In an effort to keep their motto clear and understood by all, they opted for a less traditional English version, since most mottoes were in Latin. The progressivism of the state at that time has remained intact throughout the years.

    “Recommissioning Ceremony Book, October 22, 1988

  • Length: 887’ 3″

    Beam: 108’ 2″

    Draft: 37’ 9″

    Displacement: 58,000 tons fully loaded

    Boilers: Eight 600-PSI Babock & Wilcox

    Main Engines: Four geared Westinghouse turbines

    Horsepower: 212,000 shaft horsepower (total all four shafts)

    Propellers: Two Five-bladed 17’ 5″ (inboard) Two four-bladed 18’ 3″ (outboard)

    Speed: In excess of 33 knots

    Tank Capacity: 2.2 million gallons of fuel oil 37,000 gallons of aviation fuel 210,000 gallons of fresh water

    Anchors: Two anchors, port and starboard bow, each weighing 30,000 pounds. Each anchor chain is 12 shots or 1,080 feet long and each link weighs about 120 pounds.

    Armor: The main armor belt of the hull is 12.1″ tapering 19 degrees vertically to 1.62″. To protect the propellers and shafts aft, the armor is 12.1″ thick.

    Other armor thicknesses are:
    Turret faces 17″
    Turret tops 7.25″
    Turret backs 12″
    Turret sides 9.5″
    Second deck armor 6″
    Conning tower sides 17.5″

    Personnel:
    Design: 1,921 (117 officers, 1,804 enlisted)
    WWII: 2,911 (173 officers, 2,738 enlisted)
    1949: 2,672 (169 officers, 2,503 enlisted)
    1988: 1,575 (67 officers, 1508 enlisted)goes here

  • Main Gun Battery
    Nine 16″/50 Caliber guns in three gun turrets
    Range: 23 miles Projectiles: Armor piercing 2,700 lb. High capacity 1,900 lb. Powder: Six 110 lb. Bags Rate of fire: Two rounds per minute per gun
    Use: Anti-surface, shore bombardment

    Secondary Gun
    Twelve 5″/38 caliber guns in six twin mounts
    Range 9 miles
    Projectiles: 55 lb.
    Powder: 30 lb.
    Rate of fire: Fifteen rounds per minute per gun
    Use: Anti-surface, anti-air, shore bombardment

    Air Defense
    Four Phalanx Close-In Weapons Systems capable of firing 20mm ammunition at a rate of 50 rounds per second for self-defense against missiles and aircraft.

    Missiles
    Tomahawk: Capable of carrying (32) land attack or anti-ship cruise missiles in eight armored box launchers. Harpoon: Capable of carrying (16) anti-ship missiles in canister mounts.

This commemorative print is dedicated to the loyal employees of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, whose energy, thought and devotion to duty created this great ship.
Presented to the Employees of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, 1945

General Info

Displacement 52,000 tons at full load, length 880 feet, beam 108 feet, draft 36 feet, according to unofficial figures.

Main battery: nine 16-inch guns firing shells weighing over one ton apiece.

Secondary battery: twenty 5-inch guns. Antiaircraft batteries: over 125 forty-millimeter and twenty-millimeter guns.

Credited with speed above 30 knots.

    • Combat Action Ribbon, (With One Gold Star Korea and Persian Gulf)

    • Navy Unit Commendation, (Persian Gulf)

    • American Campaign Medal, (World War II)

    • Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, (with 5 Battle Stars for service in the Pacific in WWII)

    • World War II Victory Medal

    • Navy Occupation Service Medal  National Defense Service Medal, (with Bronze Star, for service in Korea and the Persian Gulf),

    • Korean Service Medal (with one Battle Star,)

    • Southwest Asia Service Medal, (with two Bronze Stars, for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm)

    • (Navy) Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

    • Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, (World War II)

SHIP’S AWARDS

    • Combat Action Ribbon

    Korea Nov 20th 1951 - Mar 31st 1952
    Persian Gulf - Jan 17th 1991 - Feb 28th 1991

    • Navy Commendation Ribbon

    Persian Gulf - Jan 17th 1991 - Feb 28th 1991

    • American Campaign Medal - World War II

    • Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal -

      5 Battle Stars- World War II

      +Leyte Operation: Luzon Attacks Dec 1944
      +Luzon Operation: Dec 1944 - Jan 1945,
      +Iwo Jim Operation: Feb - 1945 - Mar 1945
      +Okinawa Gunto Operation: Mar 1945 - June 1945
      +Third Fleet Operations Against Japan: Jul 1945 - Aug 1945

    • World War II Victory Medal - WWII 1945

    • Navy Occupation Service Medal - (Asia) Sep 2nd - 24th 1945

    • National Defense Service Medal - with one Bronze Star

      +Korea 1951-1953 and Persian Gulf 1990

    • Korean Service Medal -one Bronze Star - 20 Nov 1951 -31 Mar 1952

    • Southwest Asia Service Medal – with two Bronze Stars
      +Operation Desert ShieldDesert Storm - Aug 7th 1990 - Jan 17th 1991

    • Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon – Desert ShieldDesert Storm

    • Philippine Presidential Unit Citation -Dec 14th 1944 - Jan 22nd 1945

    • Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation - Nov 22nd 1951 - Mar 31st 1952

    • Philippine Liberation Medal with two Bronze Stars – World War II - Dec 4th 1944 - Jan 1945

    • United Nations Service Medal – Korea – Nov 20th 1951- Mar 31st 1952

    • Saudi Arabian Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait - Desert Storm Jan 17th - 28th 1991

    • Kuwait Liberation Medal - Kuwait - Desert Shield - Desert Storm

    • Republic of Korean War Service Medal - Nov 20th 1951

    • Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

    • Philippine Liberation Medal (with two Bronze stars, World War II)

    • United Nations Service Medal (Korea)

    • Saudi Arabian Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait

    • Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait

    • Republic of Korean War Service Medal

TourING the wisconsin:

USS Wisconsin Association members can tour the Wisconsin free of charge.
Nauticus requires a two week notice from our members so that they can make sure of booking them into a tour. To schedule a tour call Christine Arrasate at (757) 664-1019.


Members must show their current association membership card in order to receive this privilege. Any non-members brought along will have to pay the standard price.


For general information related to operations and status of battleship Wisconsin visit, https://www.nauticus.org

Requesting military Records

To Request Copies of Military Records click on the following URL and follow instructions.

https://archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/