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NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive
Patches contributed by Robert M. Cieri

BB-64 USS WISCONSIN
Keel Laying - Shakedown Cruise

Radio Call Sign: November - Uniform - Golf - Whiskey
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1944 - 1945 Pacific Campaign
October 1945 - October 1951
November 1951 - 1953 Korean War
1954 - 1979
1980 - 1987
1988 - 1991
1992 - 2002
2003 - Present

Iowa Class Battleship: Displacement 45,000 Tons, Dimensions, 887' 3" (oa) x 108' 2" x 37' 9" (Max). Armament 9 x 16"/50 20 x 5"/38AA, 80 x 40mm 49 x 20mm, 3 AC. Armor, 12 1/8" Belt, 17" Turrets, 1 1/2" +6" +5/8" Decks, 17 1/4" Conning Tower. Machinery, 212,000 SHP; Westinghouse Geared Turbines, 4 screws. Speed, 33 Knots, Crew 1921.

Operational and Building Data: Laid down by Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard, January 25 1941. Launched 7 December 1943. Commissioned April 16 1944. Decommissioned July 1 1948. Recommissioned March 3 1951. Decommissioned March 8 1958. Recommissioned October 22 1988. Decommissioned September 30 1991. Stricken for disposal 12 January 1995 but retained in reserve. Reinstated on the Naval Vessels Register, in reserve, 12 February 1998.
Fate: Berthed at Norfolk, VA; to become a museum-in-reserve,with the weather decks open to the public, but the ship still maintained in reserve and owned by the Navy.
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BB-64 Wisconsin161k The Wisconsin (BB-64) on 12 January 1943. Note the wedge shaped forward transverse bulkhead (with the worker on the top edge) just forward of the barbette of No. 1 turret. This large plate of armor was designed to protect the ship from shells fired by an enemy vessel operating off the bow. In the Wisconsin and Missouri (BB-63), this armor piece was 14.5 inches thick; in the Iowa and New Jersey, only 11.3 inches. At the time this photograph was taken, the Wisconsin was over 35 percent complete with almost 10,000 tons of material erected. She will be commissioned in 15 months. USN photo. Text courtesy of "THE IOWA CLASS BATTLESHIPS" by Malcom Muir, ISBN # 0-8069-8338-8, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York, NY 1991, submitted by Mike Green.
BB-64 Wisconsin149k The Wisconsin (BB-64) viewed from astern on 12 January 1943. The armor deck is being fitted over the engineering spaces. The 17.3 inch circular armor plates forming the upper barbette of No. 3 turret have been completely assembled and work is underway inside the turret itself. The circle inside the barbette armor is the conical bulkhead which makes up part of the rotating structures and bears the weight of the gun house. The bottom edge of the conical bulkhead is joined to the pan floor which rests on the upper roller path. Turrets Nos. 1 and 2 are not so far advanced. USN photo. Text courtesy of "THE IOWA CLASS BATTLESHIPS" by Malcom Muir, ISBN # 0-8069-8338-8, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York, NY 1991, submitted by Mike Green.
Wisconsin136kLest you think it grows on trees, the citizens of Wisconsin banded together for Silver Service for the Wisconsin (BB-64), 23 May 1943. USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
BB-64 Wisconsin158k The main machinery plant of the Wisconsin (BB-64) is easily seen in this photo, looking forward on 8 July 1943. The boilers are in place and are visible here. The main engines, in the spaces between the boilers, have already been covered over. The minute sub-division of the spaces within the hull is of primary importance for the control of flooding after suffering battle damage and is also visible. Lists can be corrected by counterflooding to keep the vessel on an even keel and to maintain stability. U. S. Navy photo & partial text from the book "IOWA CLASS BATTLESHIPS-Their Design, Weapons and Equipment" by Robert F. Sumrall & Tom Walkowiak, submitted by Mike Green.
BB-64 Wisconsin118k With the armor for the lower part of No. 2 barbette erected, the Wisconsin (BB-64) on 8 July 1943 has been on the stocks for 18 months. She is only about 20 percent complete, but she would be ready for sea in 21 months. It is just possible to make out the uptakes of her eight boilers. Protecting them is the citadel with its 12.1 inch belt inclined at 19 degrees. Note that the armor on No. 2 barbette angles in at the bottom sides. The result is a weight saving in protection with no loss in protection since the belt will be extended forward past No. 1 turret. USN photo. Text courtesy of "THE IOWA CLASS BATTLESHIPS" by Malcom Muir, ISBN # 0-8069-8338-8, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York, NY 1991, submitted by Mike Green.
BB-64 Wisconsin1.3m Wisconsin (BB-64) under construction at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, late 1943.USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
BB-64 Wisconsin205kThe Wisconsin (BB-64) was launched under the sponshorship of Wisconsin political leader Walter S. Goodland and his wife in 7 December 1943.Copied from the Philly Navy yard paper, BEACON, September 1995, courtesy of Ed Zajkowski.
BB-64 Wisconsin222kAerial view of the Wisconsin (BB-64) at Philadelphia Navy Yard on "Pearl Harbor Day" 7 December 1943. Note the non appearance of the guns in the main battery and the scaffolding around the stacks.Copied from the Philly Navy yard paper, BEACON, September 1995, courtesy of Ed Zajkowski.
Wisconsin89k Launching invitation for the Wisconsin (BB-64), held at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on "Pearl Harbor Day" 7 December 1943. USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
Wisconsin66kCommemorative postal cover marking the launching of the Wisconsin (BB-64), 7 December 1943. USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
BB-64 Wisconsin138kThe Wisconsin (BB-64) is fitting out under the 350-ton Hammerhead Crane at Pier 4 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard sometime after being launched on 7 December 1943, and before commissioning on 16 April 1944.USN photo courtesy of Brian Kroenung.
BB-64 Wisconsin25kShip's Crest.USN photo.
BB-64 Wisconsin174kCommissioning pamphlet from the Philadelphia Navy Yard, 16 April 1944.USN photo.
Wisconsin352kPlankowner's certificate for the Wisconsin (BB-64), 16 April 1944. USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
Wisconsin306kPhoto undated but is certain to be 1944 right after commissioning. She still has the original short mainmast on her after stack. USN / BuAer photo # 234431 courtesy of David Buell. Photo added 07/13/09.
BB-64 Wisconsin79k At anchor on 30 May 1944, during her Atlantic coast shakedown period.Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-453313, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-64 Wisconsin153kUS Navy officers working in the executive officers' office on the main deck of the Wisconsin (BB-64) during shakedown cruise in July 1944. Photographer: Dmitri Kessel, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life.
BB-64 Wisconsin187kCrew standing on deck for a presentation ceremony aboard the Wisconsin (BB-64) during shakedown cruise.Photographer: Dmitri Kessel, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life.
BB-64 Wisconsin169kUS sailor standing in a repair locker aboard the Wisconsin (BB-64) during shakedown cruise.Photographer: Dmitri Kessel, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life.
BB-64 Wisconsin121kPatients being treated in the sickbay of the Wisconsin (BB-64) during shakedown cruise.Photographer: Dmitri Kessel, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life.
BB-64 Wisconsin164kUS sailors using a soda fountain aboard the Wisconsin (BB-64) during shakedown cruise.Photographer: Dmitri Kessel, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life.
BB-64 Wisconsin111kView inside the captain's stateroom aboard the battleship during shakedown cruise.Photographer: Dmitri Kessel, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life.
BB-64 Wisconsin116kTwo young officers relaxing in one of the ensigns' staterooms aboard the Wisconsin (BB-64) during its shakedown cruise.Photographer: Dmitri Kessel, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life.
BB-64 Wisconsin132US sailors relaxing in their bunks in the crew quarters aboard the Wisconsin (BB-64) during shakedown cruise.Photographer: Dmitri Kessel, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life.
BB-64 Wisconsin165kCrew watching sailor receiving Purple Heart medal at ceremony aboard the battleship during shakedown cruise.Photographer: Dmitri Kessel, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life.
BB-64 Wisconsin171kUS sailor reading a book in the library aboard the Wisconsin (BB-64) during shakedown cruise.Photographer: Dmitri Kessel, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life.
BB-64 Wisconsin162kProtestant chaplain conducting services aboard the USS Wisconsin during its shakedown cruisePhotographer: Dmitri Kessel, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life.
BB-64 Wisconsin134kLeaving Philadelphia Navy Yard for the Pacific, 24 September 1944.USN photo.
Wisconsin66kThe Wisconsin (BB-64) seems to have fallen under the spell of the censors airbrush, probably during her Atlantic coast shakedown period.
Note the name Wisconsin is misspelled.		USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
BB-64 Wisconsin503kWisconsin (BB-64) probably off the east coast before heading west to the Pacific. BuAer photo # 234433, courtesy of David Buell.
Wisconsin BB-64 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The Hazegray & Underway Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Contact Name: Dominic Menta
Address:
Phone:
E-mail: dombb64@ptd.net

Note About Contacts.

The contact listed was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.

Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway Battleship Pages By Andrew Toppan.
Wisconsin (BB-64) Web Page by the Wisconsin Reunion Assn.
Back To The Main Photo IndexBack To The Battleship Photo Index Page

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