THE ULTIMATE WARSHIP
The USS Wisconsin (BB-64), the last of the Iowa-Class Battleships, was commissioned on 16 April 1944. Her Keel was laid on 25 January 1941 and was launched 2-years to the date of the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1943. The USS Wisconsin has served her country gallantly in 3 wars, WWII, Korea and Operation Desert Storm as a most formidable warship. Whether active or inactive, she was always on the ready, waiting to be called. Her military life was effectual gaining for her an outstanding list of accomplishments.
The Battleship Wisconsin is now at permanent berth at Nauticus The National Maritime Center in Norfolk Virginia. The ship is now partially open to the public. For more information on touring the ship, click here!
Refer to the Nauticus website for additional information and admission prices. To learn more about the Nauticus and the ship’s homecoming, click the link below.
General Info
Displacement: 58,000 tons fully loaded, measuring a length of 887’ 3” feet, beam 108 feet, draft 37’ 9”, according to unofficial figures.
Main battery: Nine 16-inch/406mm 50 Caliber Mark 7 cannons in 3 turrets sitting atop a barbette that fire artillery shells that can weight as much as 2,700 pounds.
Secondary battery: Twenty (20) 5-inch/127mm 38 Caliber gun mounts during WWII and Korea for a total of 40 cannons. Eight of these gun mounts were replaced during the 1980’s retrofit with eight (8) Armored Box Launchers that held thirty-two (32) BGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles and sixteen (16) RGM-84 Harpoon Anti-Ship Missiles. The Main Battery artillery shells were mainly used for Naval Gunfire Support for shore bombardment whereas her secondary cannons were used for Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Surface weaponry.
The Iowa-Class Battleships which included the USS Iowa (BB-61), USS New Jersey (BB-62), USS Missouri (BB-63) and the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) are credited with reaching speeds >30 knots.
The Ship’s Crest
Ship Specifications
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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
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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 bombardmentSecondary 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 bombardmentAir 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.
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Combat Action Ribbon, (With One Gold Star Korea and Persian Gulf)
Navy Unit Commendation, (Persian Gulf)
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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
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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,)
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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
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Combat Action Ribbon
Korea Nov 20th 1951 - Mar 31st 1952
Persian Gulf - Jan 17th 1991 - Feb 28th 1991Navy 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 1945World 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 1991Navy 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
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Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Philippine Liberation Medal (with two Bronze stars, World War II)
United Nations Service Medal (Korea)
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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 requests a two week notice from our members so that they can make sure of booking them into a tour. To schedule a tour call (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
