Description

BB-64 Wisconsin was laid down in the Philadelphia Navy Yard in January 1941 as the fourth ship of Iowa class battleships. Wisconsin entered service in April 1944 as a part of the 3rd fleet. With her sister ship New Jersey she assisted with the landing operations of Mindoro Island and Okinawa. After the war the Iowa class ships returned home and served as training ships for new officers. When the Korean War began in 1950 the four ships were back to the battle. In May 1956 Wisconsin collided with DD-510 Eaton and damaged her bow, exchanging it with that of the incomplete Kentucky, the 6th Iowa class ship. In 1980 the Reagan administration ordered the revival of Iowa class battleships to build up the US naval force. Wisconsin was equipped with eight Tomahawk launchers, four quadruple Harpoon launchers, 20mm CLWS and a helicopter deck. The 12.7cm guns were removed. She briefly served again during the Gulf War with Missouri, and in September 1991 she was again in reserve duty and is now moored at Norfolk Navy Yard.