USS Wisconsin at sea, circa 1990
Career (US)
Ordered:	12 June 1940
Laid down:	25 January 1941
Launched:	7 December 1943
Commissioned:	16 April 1944
Decommissioned:	30 September 1991 (final)
Struck:	17 March 2006
Motto:	Forward for Freedom
Nickname:	"Wisky" or "WisKy"
Honours and awards:	6 Battle Stars
Fate:	Museum ship
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type:	Iowa-class battleship
Displacement:	45,000 tons
Length:	887. Events 1381 - Peasants' Revolt: in England, rebels arrive at Blackheath. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 41 - After a night of negotiation Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. Events 45 BC - In his last victory Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. For ships that are not original see Ship replica. For preserved incomplete ships see Ships preserved in museums. History The Iowa -class battleships were shaped by the Battle of Jutland, by naval treaties signed by various countries during the 1920s and 1930s and by the A battleship is a large heavily armored Warship with a main battery consisting of the largest Calibre of Guns Battleships were 2 ft (270 m)
Beam:	108. 2 ft (33 m)
Draft:	28. 9 ft (8. 8 m)
Speed:	33 knots (61 km/h)
Complement:	1,921 officers and men
Sensors and processing systems:	AN/SPS-49 Air Search Radar AN/SPS-67 Surface Search Radar AN/SPQ-9 Surface Search / Gun Fire Control Radar
Electronic warfare and decoys:	AN/SLQ-32 AN/SLQ-25 Nixie Decoy System 8 × Mark 36 SRBOC Super Rapid Bloom Rocket Launchers
Armament:	1943: 9 x 16 in (406 mm) 50 cal. Mark 7 guns 20 × 5 in (127 mm) 38 cal. Mark 12 guns 80 x 40 mm 56 cal. anti-aircraft guns 49 x 20 mm 70 cal. anti-aircraft guns 1983: 9 x 16 in (406 mm) 50 cal. Mark 7 guns 12 × 5 in (127 mm) 38 cal. The AN/SLQ -32 is a shipboard Electronic warfare suite built by the Raytheon Company of Goleta California. The BAE Systems Mark 36 Super Rapid Blooming Offboard Chaff (abbreviated as SRBOC or "Super-arboc" is a short-range mortar intended to launch chaff The Mark 12 5"/38 caliber gun is a US naval gun The gun is installed into Single Purpose and Dual Purpose mounts used primarily by the U The Bofors 40 mm gun is a famous Anti-aircraft Autocannon designed by the Swedish firm of Bofors. The term " Oerlikon 20 mm cannon " refers to a series of Autocannons based on an original designed by Reinhold Becker during World War I, and Mark 12 guns 32 x BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles 16 x RGM-84 Harpoon Anti-Ship missiles 4 x 20 mm/76 cal. Phalanx CIWS
Armor:	Belt: 12. The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM is a long-range all-weather subsonic cruise missile The Harpoon is an all-weather over-the-horizon, Anti-ship missile system developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing Integrated The Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS is an anti-missile system that was designed and manufactured by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division Belt armor is a layer of armor -plating outside the hull of warships typically on Battleships, Battlecruisers, Cruisers and some Aircraft 1 in (307 mm) Bulkheads: 11. A bulkhead is an upright wall within the hull of a Ship. Other kinds of partition elements within a ship are decks and Deckheads Etymology 3 in (287 mm) Barbettes: 11. For the early 20th Century female impersonator see Barbette (performer A barbette is a protective circular armor feature around a Cannon 6 to 17. 3 in (295 to 439 mm) Turrets: 19. In Architecture, a turret (from Italian: torretta, little tower Latin: turris, tower is a small Tower that 7 in (500 mm) Decks: 7. A deck is a permanent covering over a compartment or a hull of a Ship. 5 in (190 mm)

USS Wisconsin (BB-64) ("Wisky" or "WisKy") 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. History The Iowa -class battleships were shaped by the Battle of Jutland, by naval treaties signed by various countries during the 1920s and 1930s and by the A battleship is a large heavily armored Warship with a main battery consisting of the largest Calibre of Guns Battleships were A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government Wisconsin ( or wɪˈskɑnsɨn (French Ouisconsin) is one of the fifty United States of America, located in the north central part of the United States She was built at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and launched on 7 December 1943. The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, formerly Navy Yard, was the first Naval shipyard of the United States. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

During her career, Wisconsin served in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, where she shelled Japanese fortifications during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and screened United States aircraft carriers as they conducted air raids against enemy positions. The Pacific War was the part of World War II —and preceding conflicts—that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands and in East Asia, between World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Empire of Japan ( {{unicode|Kyūjitai}}: ja 大日本帝國 Shinjitai: ja 大日本帝国 pronounced Dai Nippon Teikoku Fortifications are Military Constructions and Buildings designed for defense in Warfare Humans have constructed defensive works for The Battle of Leyte Gulf, also called the "Battle for Leyte Gulf" the "Battles for Leyte Gulf" and formerly as the "Second Battle of the Philippine An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with Strategic bombing is a Military strategy used in a Total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability to wage war rather During the Korean War, Wisconsin shelled North Korean targets in support of United Nations and South Korean ground operations, after which she was decommissioned into the United States Navy reserve fleets, better known as the "mothball fleet. The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː To decommission a ship is to terminate her career in service in the armed forces of her nation The United States Navy maintains a number of its Ships as part of a Reserve fleet, often called the "Mothball Fleet". " She was reactivated 1 August 1986 and modernized as part of the 600-ship Navy plan, and participated in the 1991 Gulf War. Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) The 600 Ship Navy was a strategic plan of the United States Navy during the 1980s to rebuild its fleet after cutbacks that followed the end of the Vietnam War

Wisconsin was last decommissioned in September 1991, having earned a total of six battle stars for service in World War II and Korea, as well as a Navy Unit Commendation for service during the 1991 Gulf War. The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December She currently functions as a museum ship operated by the Hampton Roads Naval Museum at Nauticus, The National Maritime Center in Norfolk, Virginia. Nauticus is a maritime-themed science center and Museum located in Norfolk Virginia. Norfolk is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States Wisconsin was struck from the Naval Vessel Register (NVR) 17 March 2006, and is currently awaiting donation for permanent use as a museum ship. The Naval Vessel Register ( NVR) is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. Events 45 BC - In his last victory Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. For ships that are not original see Ship replica. For preserved incomplete ships see Ships preserved in museums.

Contents 1 Construction 2 World War II (1944–45) 2.1 Shakedown and service with 3rd Fleet, Admiral Halsey 2.2 Service with 5th Fleet, Admiral Spruance 2.3 Bombardment of Japan 3 Post WWII (1945–1950) 4 The Korean War (1950–52) 5 Post Korean War (1952–81) 6 Reactivation (1986–90) 7 Gulf War (1990–91) 8 Museum ship (1992–present) 9 Decorations 10 See also 11 Notes 12 Further reading 13 External links

Construction

Main articles: Iowa class battleship and Armament of the Iowa class battleship

Wisconsin was one of the "fast battleship" designs planned in 1938 by the Preliminary Design Branch at the Bureau of Construction and Repair. History The Iowa -class battleships were shaped by the Battle of Jutland, by naval treaties signed by various countries during the 1920s and 1930s and by the The armament of the s has undergone a massive evolution since the first Iowa -class ship was laid down in June 1940 Historically a fast battleship was a Battleship of which the design featured an emphasis on speed which was unusual compared to the normal practice of the time The Bureau of Construction and Repair was the part of the United States Navy which from 1862 to 1940 was responsible for supervising the design construction conversion procurement She was the third of four completed ships of the Iowa class of battleships. History The Iowa -class battleships were shaped by the Battle of Jutland, by naval treaties signed by various countries during the 1920s and 1930s and by the A battleship is a large heavily armored Warship with a main battery consisting of the largest Calibre of Guns Battleships were ^[1] Her keel was laid down on 25 January 1941, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. In boats and ships keel can refer to either of two parts a structural element or a hydrodynamic element Events 41 - After a night of negotiation Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, formerly Navy Yard, was the first Naval shipyard of the United States. She was launched on 7 December 1943, sponsored by Mrs. The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Goodland, wife of Walter S. Goodland, the governor of Wisconsin, and commissioned on 16 April 1944, with Captain Earl E. Walter Samuel Goodland ( December 22 1862, Sharon Wisconsin March 12 1947, Madison Wisconsin) was an American Governors Initially after the American Revolution, parts of the area now known as Wisconsin were claimed by Virginia, Massachusetts and Connecticut Commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Stone in command. ^[2][3]

Wisconsin’s main battery consisted of nine 16 inch (406 mm)/50 caliber Mark 7 naval guns, which could hurl 2,700 lb (1,200 kg) armor piercing shells some 24 miles (39 km). Her secondary battery consisted of twenty 5 inch (127 mm)/38 caliber guns in ten twin turrets, which could fire at targets up to 9 miles (14 km) away. The Mark 12 5"/38 caliber gun is a US naval gun The gun is installed into Single Purpose and Dual Purpose mounts used primarily by the U With the advent of air power and the need to gain and maintain air superiority came a need to protect the growing fleet of allied aircraft carriers; to this end, Wisconsin was fitted with an array of Oerlikon 20 mm and Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft guns to defend allied carriers from enemy airstrikes. Air superiority is the dominance in the Air power of one side's air forces over the other side's during a Military campaign. The term " Oerlikon 20 mm cannon " refers to a series of Autocannons based on an original designed by Reinhold Becker during World War I, and The Bofors 40 mm gun is a famous Anti-aircraft Autocannon designed by the Swedish firm of Bofors. Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of engaging hostile military Aircraft in defence of ground objectives, ground or naval forces When reactivated in 1986 Wisconsin had her 20 mm and 40 mm AA guns removed, and was outfitted with Phalanx CIWS mounts for protection against enemy missiles and aircraft, and Armored Box Launchers and Quad Cell Launchers designed to fire Tomahawk missiles and Harpoon missiles, respectively. The Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS is an anti-missile system that was designed and manufactured by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division The Armored Box Launcher ( ABL) is a four-round protected launch container for the BGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missile The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM is a long-range all-weather subsonic cruise missile The Harpoon is an all-weather over-the-horizon, Anti-ship missile system developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing Integrated ^[4]

Although Wisconsin (BB-64) is numerically the highest numbered US battleship built, she was actually completed before USS Missouri (BB-63), making Missouri the last completed US battleship. Construction See also Iowa class battleship, Armament of the Iowa class battleship Missouri was one of the ''Iowa''-class " ^[1][5]

World War II (1944–45)

Shakedown and service with 3rd Fleet, Admiral Halsey

After the ship's trials and initial training in the Chesapeake Bay, Wisconsin departed Norfolk, Virginia, on 7 July 1944, bound for the British West Indies. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest Estuary in the United States. Norfolk is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The term British West Indies refers to territories in and around the Caribbean which were at one time colonised by the United Kingdom. Following her shakedown cruise (conducted out of Trinidad) she returned to the builder's yard for alterations and repairs. Shakedown cruise is a Nautical term in which the performance of a Ship is tested Trinidad ( Spanish: " Trinity " is the largest and most populous of the two major islands and ^[2]

On 24 September 1944 Wisconsin sailed for the west coast, transiting the Panama Canal, and reporting for duty with the Pacific Fleet on 2 October. Events 622 - Prophet Muhammad completes his hegira from Mecca to Medina. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Panama Canal is a man-made Canal in Panama which joins the Events 1187 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule The battleship later moved to Hawaiian waters for training exercises and then headed for the Western Caroline Islands. The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the The Caroline Islands form a large Archipelago of widely scattered islands in the western Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Guinea. Upon reaching the Caroline Island Ulithi she joined U. Ulithi is an Atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km (103 nautical mi east of Yap. S. Navy Admiral William F. Halsey's Third Fleet on 9 December 1944. Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks of the highest Naval officers Fleet Admiral William Frederick Halsey Jr, GBE, USN, ( October 30, 1882 &ndash August 16, 1959) (called "Bill The Third Fleet is one of six numbered fleets in the United States Navy. Events 536 - Byzantine General Belisarius enters Rome while the Ostrogothic garrison peacefully leaves the city Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[2][6]

Due to the length of time it took to build, Wisconsin missed much of the initial thrust into Japanese held terrirory, having arrived at a time when the reconquest of the Philippines was well underway. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP As a part of that movement, the planners had envisioned landings on the southwest coast of Mindoro, south of Luzon. For the unincorporated community of Mindoro Wisconsin in the United States of America see Mindoro Wisconsin. Luzon is the largest and most economically and politically important Island in the Philippines and one of the three island groups in the country with Visayas From that point, American forces could threaten Japanese shipping lanes through the South China Sea. The South China Sea is a Marginal sea south of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from Singapore to the In preparation for the coming invasion of Mindoro, Wisconsin was assigned to protect the Third Fleet's Fast Carrier Task Force (TF) 38, as they conducted air raids at Manila to soften up Japanese positions. The Fast Carrier Task Force, known at different times as Task Force 38 and Task Force 58, was the main striking force of the United States Navy in The City of Manila ^[2]

On 18 December 1944 the ships of Task Force 38 unexpectedly found themselves in a fight for their lives when Typhoon Cobra overtook the force— seven fleet and six light carriers, eight battleships, 15 cruisers, and about 50 destroyers— during their attempt to refuel at sea. Events 218 BC - Second Punic War: Battle of the Trebia - Hannibal 's Carthaginian forces defeat those of the Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. At the time the ships were operating about 300 miles (500 km) east of Luzon in the Philippine Sea. The Philippine Sea is a Marginal sea east and north of the Philippines occupying an estimated Surface area of 90 000 mi² (1 000 000 ^[7] The carriers had just completed three days of heavy raids against Japanese airfields, suppressing enemy aircraft during the American amphibious operations against Mindoro in the Philippines. For the unincorporated community of Mindoro Wisconsin in the United States of America see Mindoro Wisconsin. The task force rendezvoused with Captain Jasper T. Acuff and his fueling group 17 December with the intention of refueling all ships in the task force and replacing lost aircraft. Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila ^[8] Although the sea had been growing rougher all day, the nearby cyclonic disturbance gave relatively little warning of its approach. On 18 December, the small but violent typhoon overtook the Task Force while many of the ships were attempting to refuel. Many of the ships were caught near the center of the storm and buffeted by extreme seas and hurricane force winds. Three destroyers, Hull (DD-350), Monaghan (DD-354), and Spence (DD-512), capsized and sank with nearly all hands, while a cruiser, five aircraft carriers, and three destroyers suffered serious damage. Pre-World War II Following a shakedown cruise which took her to the Azores, Portugal, and the British Isles, Hull arrived San Diego Pearl Harbor On 7 December 1941, Monaghan was a ready duty destroyer in Pearl Harbor, and at 0751 was ordered to join, who had just sunk History Spence sailed on 25 August as a unit of Task Group (TG 1 ^[7] Approximately 790 officers and men were lost or killed, with another 80 injured. Fires occurred in three carriers when planes broke loose in their hangars and some 146 planes on various ships were lost or damaged beyond economical repair by fires, impact damage, or by being swept overboard. ^[8] Wisconsin reported two injured sailors as a result of the typhoon,^[9] but otherwise proved her seaworthiness as she escaped the storm unscathed. ^[2][8]

Wisconsin’s next operation was to assist with the occupation of Luzon. Bypassing the southern beaches, American amphibious forces went ashore at Lingayen Gulf, the scene of initial Japanese assaults to take Luzon nearly three years before. ^[2]

Wisconsin, armed with heavy anti-aircraft batteries, performed escort duty for TF 38's fast carriers during air strikes against Formosa, Luzon, and the Nansei Shoto to neutralize Japanese forces there and to cover the unfolding Allied Lingayen Gulf operations. Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. The Ryukyu Islands, in Japanese called the (literally Southwest Islands are a chain of Japanese islands in the western Pacific Ocean at the eastern limit Those strikes, lasting from 3 January to 22 January 1945, included a thrust into the South China Sea, in the hope that major units of the Imperial Japanese Navy could be drawn into battle. Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Events 565 - Eutychius is deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar For Combined Fleet, please see that article For Carrier Striking Task Force, please see that article ^[2]

Wisconsin’s carrier group launched air strikes between Saigon and Camranh Bay, French Indochina, on 12 January 1945, resulting in severe losses for the enemy. Cam Ranh Bay ( Vietnamese: Vịnh Cam Ranh) is a deep-water Bay in Vietnam in the province of Khánh Hòa. First French interventions See also France-Vietnam relations France-Vietnam relations started as early as the 17th century with the mission of the Jesuit Events 475 - Basiliscus becomes Byzantine Emperor, with a coronation ceremony in the Hebdomon palace in Constantinople Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar TF 38's warplanes sank 41 ships and heavily damaged docks, storage areas, and aircraft facilities. Formosa, already struck on 3 January and 4 January, was raided again on 9 January, 15 January, and 21 January. Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade. Throughout January Wisconsin shielded the carriers as they conducted air raids at Hong Kong, Canton, Hainan Island, the Canton oil refineries, the Hong Kong Naval Station, and Okinawa. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders Guangzhou ( Jyutping: Gwong²zau¹; Yale: Gwóngjàu) is the Capital and a Sub-provincial city Hainan ( POJ: Hai-lam Pinyin:, Jyutping: hoi2 naam4 literal meaning "South of the Sea" is the smallest province of the People's An oil refinery is an industrial Process plant where Crude oil is processed and refined into more useful Petroleum products, such as Gasoline is one of Japan 's southern prefectures, and consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over 1000 km long which extends southwest from Kyūshū ^[2]

Service with 5th Fleet, Admiral Spruance

Wisconsin was assigned to the Fifth Fleet when Admiral Raymond A. Spruance relieved Admiral Halsey as Commander of the Fleet. Raymond Ames Spruance ( July 03, 1886 - December 13, 1969) was a United States Navy Admiral in World War II. She moved northward with the redesignated TF 58 as the carriers headed for the Tokyo area. On 16 February 1945, the task force approached the Japanese coast under cover of adverse weather conditions and achieved complete tactical surprise. Events 1249 - Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khan of the Mongols Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar As a result, Wisconsin and the other ships shot down 322 enemy planes and destroyed 177 more on the ground. Japanese shipping, both naval and merchant, also suffered drastically, as did hangars and aircraft installations. ^[2]

Wisconsin and the task force moved to Iwo Jima on 17 February 1945 to provide direct support for the landings slated to take place on 19 February. Iwo Jima ( 硫黄[[wikt 島|島]] officially Iōtō,also frequently Iōjima: “ Sulfur island” is an island of the Japanese Events 1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt. 1600 - Philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 197 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum They revisited Tokyo on 25 February and hit the island of Hachino off the coast of Honshū the next day, resulting in heavy damage to ground facilities; additionally, American planes sank five small vessels and destroyed 158 planes. officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor Hachinohe (八戸市 -shi is a city located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. or Honshu is the largest Island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaidō across the Tsugaru Strait, north of ^[2]

Wisconsin’s task force stood out of Ulithi on 14 March 1945 bound for Japan. Ulithi is an Atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km (103 nautical mi east of Yap. Events 1489 - The Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro, sells her kingdom to Venice. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar The mission of that group was to eliminate airborne resistance from the Japanese homeland to American forces off Okinawa. Enemy fleet units at Kure and Kobe, on southern Honshū, reeled under the impact of the explosive blows delivered by TF 58's airmen. is a city located in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan. As of the January 1 2008 the city has an estimated Population of 246118 and a density is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture and a prominent port city in Japan with a population of about 1 On 18 March and 19 March, from a point 100 miles (160 km) southwest of Kyūshū, TF 58 hit enemy airfields on that island; unfortunately, allied anti-aircraft fire on 19 March failed to stop a Kamikaze attack on the carrier Franklin (CV-13). Events 37 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius ' will and proclaims Caligula emperor Events 1279 - A Mongolian victory in the Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China. or Kyushu is the third-largest Island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Events 1279 - A Mongolian victory in the Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China. ( is a word of Japanese origin which in English usually refers to the Suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Launch and commissioning initial cruise She was laid down on 7 December 1942 and launched by Newport News Shipbuilding That afternoon, Wisconsin and the task force retired from Kyūshū, screening the blazing and battered flattop, and shooting down 48 attackers. ^[2]

On 24 March 1945, Wisconsin trained her 16 inch (406 mm) guns on targets ashore on Okinawa. Events 1401 - Mongol emperor Timur sacks Damascus. 1603 - James VI of Scotland Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar is one of Japan 's southern prefectures, and consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over 1000 km long which extends southwest from Kyūshū Together with the other battle-wagons of the task force, she pounded Japanese positions and installations in preparation for the landings. Japanese resistance, while fierce, was doomed to failure by dwindling numbers of aircraft and trained pilots. ^[2]

While TF 58's planes were dealing with Yamato and her escorts, enemy aircraft attacked the American surface units. Construction The Yamato class was built after the Japanese withdrew from the Washington Naval Treaty at the Second London Conference of 1936 Combat air patrols (CAP) shot down 15 enemy planes, and ships' gunfire shot down another three, but not before one Kamikaze attack penetrated the CAP and screen to crash on the flight deck of the fleet carrier Hancock (CV-19). Operational History World War II After fitting out in the Boston Navy Yard and shake-down training off Trinidad and Venezuela On 11 April 1945 the Japanese renewed their Kamikaze attacks; and only drastic maneuvers and heavy barrages of gunfire saved the task force. Events 491 - Flavius Anastasius becomes Byzantine Emperor, with the name of Anastasius I. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Combat air patrols shot down 17 planes, and ships' gunfire shot down 12. The next day, 151 enemy aircraft attacked TF 58, but Wisconsin, together with other units of the screens for the vital carriers, kept the Kamikaze pilots at bay and destroyed them before they could reach their targets. Over the days that ensued Japanese suicide attacks managed to crash into three carriers — Intrepid (CV-11), Bunker Hill (CV-17) and Enterprise (CV-6) — on successive days. Launch and commissioning The USS Intrepid was launched on April 26, 1943 by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co Construction The Bunker Hill was launched on 7 December 1942 at the Bethlehem Steel Company, Quincy Massachusetts, sponsored Initial operations Enterprise was launched on 3 October 1936 at Newport News Shipbuilding, sponsored by Lulie Swanson wife of Secretary of the ^[2]

By 4 June 1945 a typhoon was swirling through the Fleet. Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Wisconsin rode out the storm unscathed, but three cruisers, two carriers, and a destroyer suffered serious damage. Offensive operations were resumed on 8 June with a final aerial assault on Kyūshū. Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable Japanese aerial response was virtually nonexistent; 29 planes were located and destroyed. On that day, one of Wisconsin’s float-planes landed and rescued a downed pilot from the carrier Shangri-La (CV-38). World War II service She was laid down by the Norfolk Navy Yard, at Portsmouth Virginia, on 15 January ^[2]

Bombardment of Japan

Wisconsin ultimately put into Leyte Gulf and dropped anchor there on 13 June 1945 for repairs and replenishment. Leyte Gulf is the body of water immediately east of the Island of Leyte in the Philippines, adjoining the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Events 1525 - Martin Luther marries Katharina von Bora, against the Celibacy rule decreed by the Roman Catholic Church for Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Three weeks later, on 1 July, the battleship and her escorts sailed once more for Japanese home waters for carrier air strikes on the enemy's heartland. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Nine days later, carrier planes from TF 38 destroyed 72 enemy aircraft on the ground and smashed industrial sites in the Tokyo area. Wisconsin and the other ships made no attempt whatsoever to conceal the location of their armada, due in large part to a weak Japanese response to their presence. ^[2]

On 16 July 1945, Wisconsin fired the 16 inch (406 mm) guns at the steel mills and oil refineries at Muroran, Hokkaido. Events 622 - The beginning of the Islamic calendar. 1054 - Three Roman legates fractured relations between the Western and Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Steel Mill was one of Bruce Springsteen 's early bands and performed regularly on the Jersey Shore, in Virginia, and also in California from 1969 An oil refinery is an industrial Process plant where Crude oil is processed and refined into more useful Petroleum products, such as Gasoline is a city and port located in Iburi, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is the capital city of Iburi Subprefecture Two days later, she wrecked industrial facilities in the Hitachi Miro area, on the coast of Honshu, northeast of Tokyo itself. Hitachi (常陸国 -no kuni was an old province of Japan which bordered on Iwashiro, Iwaki, Shimousa, and Shimotsuke provinces During that bombardment, British battleships of the British Pacific Fleet contributed their heavy shellfire. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The British Pacific Fleet (BPF was a multinational Allied naval force which saw action against Japan during World War II. By that point in the war, Allied warships such as Wisconsin were able to shell the Japanese homeland almost at will. ^[2]

Task Force 38's planes subsequently blasted the Japanese naval base at Yokosuka, and put the former fleet flagship Nagato out of action, one of the two remaining Japanese battleships. is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. It is located at the mouth of Tokyo Bay in the Miura Peninsula, and the city stretches across Construction Nagato was laid down at the Kure Naval Arsenal on 28 August 1917 launched on 9 November 1919 and completed on 15 November 1920 Throughout July and into August Admiral Halsey's airmen visited destruction upon the Japanese, the last instance being against Tokyo on 13 August 1945. Events 3114 BC - According to the Lounsbury correlation the start of the Maya calendar. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Two days later, the Japanese surrendered, ending World War II. ^[2]

Wisconsin, as part of the occupying force, arrived at Tokyo Bay on 5 September 1945, three days after the formal surrender occurred on board the battleship Missouri (BB-63). Events 1590 - Alexander Farnese 's army forces Henry IV of France to raise the siege of Paris. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Construction See also Iowa class battleship, Armament of the Iowa class battleship Missouri was one of the ''Iowa''-class " During Wisconsin’s brief career in World War II she had steamed 105,831 miles (170,318 km) since commissioning; had shot down three enemy planes; had claimed assists on four occasions; and had fueled her screening destroyers on some 250 occasions. ^[2]

Post WWII (1945–1950)

Shifting subsequently to Okinawa, the battleship embarked homeward-bound GIs on 22 September 1945, as part of Operation Magic Carpet staged to bring soldiers, sailors, and marines home from the far-flung battlefronts of the Pacific. is one of Japan 's southern prefectures, and consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over 1000 km long which extends southwest from Kyūshū Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar For the other operation with this name see Operation Magic Carpet (Yemen. Departing Okinawa on 23 September, Wisconsin reached Pearl Harbor on 4 October 1945, remaining there for five days before she pushed on for the west coast on the last leg of her state-side bound voyage. Events 1122 - Concordat of Worms. 1459 - Battle of Blore Heath, the first major battle of the English Pearl Harbor is a Harbor on the Island of O{{okina}}ahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Events 610 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar She reached San Francisco, California, on 15 October. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Events 533 - Byzantine General Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the ^[2]

Heading for the east coast of the United States soon after the start of the new year, 1946, Wisconsin transited the Panama Canal between 11 January and 13 January 1946 and reached Hampton Roads, Virginia, on 18 January. The Panama Canal is a man-made Canal in Panama which joins the Events 1055 - Theodora is crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire. Events 532 - Nika riots in Constantinople. 888 - Odo Count of Paris becomes King of the Franks Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the region of land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the USA. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state Events 350 - Generallus Magnentius deposes Roman Emperor Constans and proclaims himself Emperor Following a cruise south to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, the battleship entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for overhaul. Guantánamo Bay ( Spanish Bahía de Guantánamo) is a bay located in Guantánamo Province at the south-eastern end of Cuba The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard and abbreviated as NNSY is a U After repairs and alterations that consumed the summer months, Wisconsin sailed for South American waters. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a ^[2]

Over the weeks that ensued, the battleship visited Valparaíso, Chile, from 1 November to 6 November 1946; Callao, Peru, from 9 November to 13 November; Balboa, Canal Zone, from 16 November to 20 November; and La Guaira, Venezuela, from 22 November to 26 November, before returning to Norfolk on 2 December 1946. Valparaíso (literally in Spanish: Valle Paraíso (Paradise Valley and also called "Valpo" locally is a major city in Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Events 355 - Roman Emperor Constantius II promotes his cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar, entrusting him with Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Callao in Perupng see image description page at http//enwikipedia Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. Events 694 - Egica, a king of the Visigoths of Hispania, accuses Jews of aiding Muslims sentencing all Events 1002 - English king Ethelred orders the killing of all Danes in England, known today as the St Balboa is a district of Panama City, located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. Events 534 - A second and final revision of the Codex Justinianus is published Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, La Güaira is the capital of the Venezuelan state of Vargas and the country's chief port Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran Events 43 BC - The Second Triumvirate alliance of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus ("Octavian" later "Caesar Augustus" Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[2]

Wisconsin spent nearly all of 1947 as a training ship, taking naval reservists on two-week cruises throughout the year. Those voyages commenced at Bayonne, New Jersey, and saw visits conducted at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and the Panama Canal Zone. Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, south of Jersey City. While underway at sea, the ship would perform various drills and exercises before the cruise would end where it had started, at Bayonne. During June and July of 1947, Wisconsin took United States Naval Academy midshipmen on cruises to northern European waters. The United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States that educates and commissions officers of the United States ^[2]

In January 1948, Wisconsin reported to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Norfolk for inactivation. Placed out of commission, in reserve on 1 July 1948, Wisconsin was assigned to the Norfolk group of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[2]

The Korean War (1950–52)

Her sojourn in "mothballs," however, was comparatively brief, due to the North Korean invasion of South Korea in late June 1950. Initial operations After completion of shakedown in September 1946, Buck operated with the Pacific Fleet along the west coast from Acapulco Mexico World War II After shakedown in the Caribbean Sea, Saint Paul departed Boston Massachusetts, on 15 May 1945 and headed for North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː Wisconsin was recommissioned on 3 March 1951 with Captain Thomas Burrowes in command. Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January ^[2] After shakedown training, the revitalized battleship conducted two midshipmen training cruises, taking the officers-to-be to Edinburgh, Scotland; Lisbon, Portugal; Halifax, Nova Scotia; New York City; and Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, before she returned to Norfolk. Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow. Lisbon (Lisboa liʒˈboɐ is the Capital and largest city of Portugal. The City of Halifax (est 1841 is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County Nova Scotia (ˌnəʊvəˈskəʊʃə ( Latin for New Scotland; Alba Nuadh Nouvelle-Écosse is a Canadian province located on Canada 's The City of New York Guantánamo Bay ( Spanish Bahía de Guantánamo) is a bay located in Guantánamo Province at the south-eastern end of Cuba The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la While leaving New York Wisconsin was accidentally grounded on mud flats in New York Harbor, but was freed on 23 August 1951 with no damage to the ship. Events 79 - Mount Vesuvius begins stirring on the feast day of Vulcan the Roman god of fire Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January ^[10]

Wisconsin departed Norfolk on 25 October 1951, bound for the Pacific. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January She transited the Panama Canal on 29 October and reached Yokosuka, Japan, on 21 November. The Panama Canal is a man-made Canal in Panama which joins the Events 437 - Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. It is located at the mouth of Tokyo Bay in the Miura Peninsula, and the city stretches across Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem. There, she relieved New Jersey (BB-62) as flagship for Vice Admiral H. Construction See also Iowa class battleship, Armament of the Iowa class battleship New Jersey was one of the ''Iowa''-class " flagship is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels a designation given on account of being either the largest fastest newest most heavily armed or for publicity purposes the most well M. Martin, Commander, Seventh Fleet. ^[2]

On 26 November, with Vice Admiral Martin and Rear Admiral F. Events 43 BC - The Second Triumvirate alliance of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus ("Octavian" later "Caesar Augustus" P. Denebrink, Commander, Service Force, Pacific, embarked, Wisconsin departed Yokosuka for Korean waters to support the fast carrier operations of TF 77. She left the company of the carrier force on 2 December and, screened by the destroyer Wiltsie (DD-716), provided gunfire support for the Republic of Korea (ROK) Corps in the Kasong-Kosong area. Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire 1946-1950 Following a shakedown cruise which took the ship to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Wiltsie transited the Panama Canal on 8 July South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː Kosong is a kun, or county in Kangwon province North Korea. It lies in the southeasternmost corner of North Korea immediately north of the After disembarking Admiral Denebrink on 3 December at Kangnung, the battleship resumed station on the Korean "bombline," providing gunfire support for the American 1st Marine Division. Events 1800 - War of the Second Coalition: Battle of Hohenlinden, French Gangneung is a city in Gangwon-do, on the east coast of South Korea. Wisconsin’s shellings accounted for a tank, two gun emplacements, and a building. ^[2] She continued her gunfire support task for the 1st Marine Division and 1st ROK Corps through 6 December, accounting for enemy bunkers, artillery positions, and troop concentrations. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev ^[2] On one occasion during that time, the battleship received a request for call-fire support and provided three star-shells for the 1st ROK Corps, illuminating an enemy attack that was consequently repulsed with considerable enemy casualties. ^[2]

After being relieved on the gunline by the heavy cruiser St. Paul (CA-73) on 6 December, Wisconsin briefly retired from gunfire support duties. The heavy cruiser was a type of Cruiser, a naval Warship designed for long range high speed and an armament of naval guns roughly 8in in calibre World War II After shakedown in the Caribbean Sea, Saint Paul departed Boston Massachusetts, on 15 May 1945 and headed for Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev She resumed them, however, in the Kasong-Kosong area on 11 December screened by the destroyer Twining (DD-540). Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office 1944 Twining arrived at Pearl Harbor on the 17th to begin three months of training exercises maneuvers and drills as her crew honed its skills in bombardment The following day, 12 December, saw the embarkation in Wisconsin of Rear Admiral H. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian R. Thurber, Commander, Battleship Division 2. The admiral came on board via helicopter, incident to his inspection trip in the Far East. History Since 400 AD Chinese children have played with bamboo flying toys. ^[2]

Wisconsin continued her naval gunfire support duties on the "bombline," shelling enemy bunkers, command posts, artillery positions, and trench systems through 14 December. Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people She departed the "bombline" on that day to render special gunfire support duties in the Kojo area blasting coastal targets in support of United Nations (UN) troops ashore. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security That same day, Wisconsin returned to the Kasong-Kosong area. On 15 December, she disembarked Admiral Thurber by helicopter. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of The next day, Wisconsin departed Korean waters, heading for the Sasebo U.S. Fleet Activities base to rearm. US Fleet Activities Sasebo is a United States Navy naval base in Sasebo, Japan, on the island of Kyūshū. ^[2]

Returning to the combat zone on 17 December 1951, Wisconsin embarked United States Senator Homer Ferguson of Michigan on 18 December. Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January Homer Samuel Ferguson ( February 25, 1889 &ndash December 17, 1982) was a United States Senator from Michigan. Michigan ( is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. Events 218 BC - Second Punic War: Battle of the Trebia - Hannibal 's Carthaginian forces defeat those of the That day, the battleship supported the 11th ROK invasion with night illumination fire that enabled the ROK troops to repulse a North Korean assault with heavy enemy casualties. ^[2][3] Departing the "bombline" on 19 December the battleship transferred her distinguished passenger, Senator Ferguson, by helicopter to the carrier Valley Forge (CV-45). Events 324 - Licinius abdicates his position as Roman Emperor. 1947 – 1950 Following fitting out the new carrier got underway on 24 January 1947 for shakedown training which took her via Norfolk, to Guantanamo ^[2]

On 20 December Wisconsin participated in a coordinated air-surface bombardment of Wonsan to neutralize pre-selected targets in the Wonson area. Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. The ship shifted its bombardment station to the western end of Wonsan harbor, hitting boats and small craft in the inner swept channel with her 5-in guns during the afternoon. Such activities helped to forestall any attempts to assault the friendly-held islands in the Wonsan area. Wisconsin then made an anti-boat sweep to the north, firing her five inch (127 mm) batteries on suspected boat concentrations. She then provided gunfire support to UN troops operating at the "bombline" until 22 December 1951, when she rejoined the carrier task force. Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January ^[2]

On 28 December, Francis Cardinal Spellman, on a Korean tour over the Christmas holidays, visited the ship, coming on board by helicopter to celebrate Mass for the Catholic members of the crew. Events 1065 - Westminster Abbey is Consecrated. 1308 - The reign of Emperor Hanazono, Emperor of Francis Joseph Cardinal Spellman ( May 4, 1889 – December 2, 1967) wasthe ninth Bishop and sixth Archbishop of the Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". He left the ship by helicopter off Pohang. Pohang is a city in North Gyeongsang Province South Korea. The built-up area of Pohang is located on the alluvium of the mouth of the Hyeongsan River Three days later, on the last day of the year, Wisconsin put into Yokosuka. ^[2]

Wisconsin departed that Japanese port on 8 January 1952 and headed for Korean waters once more. Events 871 - Battle of Ashdown - Ethelred of Wessex defeats a Danish invasion army Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. She reached Pusan the following day and entertained the President of South Korea, Syngman Rhee, and his wife, on 10 January. The President of the Republic of Korea is according to the Constitution head of state chief executive of the government and commander-in-chief of the armed forces Syngman Rhee or Yi Seungman ( March 26, 1875 – July 19, 1965) was the first president of South Korea. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war. President and Mrs. Rhee received full military honors as they came on board, and he reciprocated by awarding Vice Admiral Martin the ROK Order of the Military Merit. ^[2][3]

Wisconsin returned to the "bombline" on 11 January, and over the ensuing days delivered heavy gunfire support for the 1st Marine Division and the 1st ROK Corps. Events 1055 - Theodora is crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire. As before, her primary targets were command posts, shelters, bunkers, troop concentrations and mortar positions. As before, she stood ready to deliver call-fire support as needed. One such occasion occurred; on 14 January when she shelled enemy troops in the open at the request of the ROK 1st Corps. Events 1129 - Formal approval of the Order of the Templar at the Council of Troyes. ^[2]

Rearming at Sasebo and once more joining TF 77 off the coast of Korea soon thereafter, Wisconsin resumed support at the "bombline" on 23 January. Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Three days later, she shifted once more to the Kojo region, to participate in a coordinated air and gun strike. That same day, the battleship returned to the "bombline" and shelled the command post and communications center for the 15th North Korean Division during call-fire missions for the 1st Marine Division. ^[2][3]

Returning to Wonsan at the end of January, Wisconsin bombarded enemy guns at Hodo Pando before she was rearmed at Sasebo. The battleship rejoined TF 77 on 2 February and the next day, blasted railway buildings and marshaling yards at Hodo Pando and Kojo before rejoining TF 77. Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor After replenishment at Yokosuka a few days later, she returned to the Kosong area and resumed gunfire support. During that time, she destroyed railway bridges and a small shipyard while conducting call-fire missions on enemy command posts, bunkers, and personnel shelters, making numerous cuts on enemy trench lines in the process. ^[2]

On 26 February, Wisconsin arrived at Pusan where Vice Admiral Shon, the ROK Chief of Naval Operations; United States Ambassador J. Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed J. Muccio; and Rear Admiral Scott-Montcrief, Royal Navy, Commander, Task Group 95. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) 12, visited the battleship. Departing that South Korean port the following day, Wisconsin reached Yokosuka on 2 March, and a week later she shifted to Sasebo to prepare to return to Korean waters. Events 986 - Louis V becomes King of the Franks. 1127 - Assassination of Charles the Good ^[2]

Wisconsin arrived off Songjin, Korea, on 15 March 1952 and concentrated her gunfire on enemy railway transport. Kimch'aek, formerly Sŏngjin (성진 is a city in North Hamgyong Province North Korea. Events 44 BC - Julius Caesar, Dictator of the Roman Republic, is stabbed to death by Marcus Junius Brutus, Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Early that morning, she destroyed a communist troop train trapped outside of a destroyed tunnel. A train is a connected series of vehicles that move along a track ( Permanent way) to transport freight or passengers from one place to another A tunnel is an underground passageway The definition of what constitutes a tunnel is not universally agreed upon That afternoon, she received the first direct hit in her history, when one of four shells from a communist 155 mm (approximately 6 in) gun battery struck the shield of a starboard 40 mm mount; Although little material damage resulted, three men were injured. ^[2][3] Wisconsin subsequently destroyed that battery with a 16 inch (406 mm) salvo before continuing her mission. ^[2][3] After lending a hand to support once more the 1st Marine Division with her heavy rifles, the battleship returned to Japan on 19 March. Events 1279 - A Mongolian victory in the Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China. ^[2]

Relieved as flagship of the Seventh Fleet on 1 April by sister ship Iowa (BB-61), Wisconsin departed Yokosuka, bound for the United States. Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Construction See also Iowa class battleship, Armament of the Iowa class battleship Iowa was the lead ship of her class of " En route home, she touched briefly at Guam, where she took part in the successful test of the Navy's largest floating dry-dock on 4 April and 5 April, marking the first time that an Iowa-class battleship had ever utilized that type of facility. Guam ( Chamorro: cha Guåhån) officially the Territory of Guam, is an island in the western Pacific Ocean and is an organized unincorporated Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop History The Iowa -class battleships were shaped by the Battle of Jutland, by naval treaties signed by various countries during the 1920s and 1930s and by the She continued her homeward-bound voyage, via Pearl Harbor, and arrived at Long Beach, California on 19 April; she then sailed for Norfolk. Long Beach is a city located in southern California, USA, on the Pacific coast Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer ^[2]

Post Korean War (1952–81)

On 9 June 1952 Wisconsin resumed her role as a training ship, taking midshipmen to Greenock, Scotland; Brest, France; and Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, before returning to Norfolk. Events 53 - Roman Emperor Nero marries Claudia Octavia 62 - Claudia Octavia commits Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Greenock ( Gaelic Grianaig g̊ɾʲiənɛg̊ʲ is a large town and former Burgh of barony in the Inverclyde Council area of western Brest (bʁɛst in French, in Breton) is a city in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France. Guantánamo Bay ( Spanish Bahía de Guantánamo) is a bay located in Guantánamo Province at the south-eastern end of Cuba The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la She departed Hampton Roads on 25 August and participated in the NATO exercise Operation Mainbrace, which was held out of Greenock, Scotland. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the The North Atlantic Treaty After her return to Norfolk, Wisconsin underwent an overhaul in the naval shipyard there. Wisconsin remained in the Atlantic fleet throughout 1952 and into 1953, training midshipmen and conducting exercises. After a month of routine maintenance Wisconsin departed Norfolk on 9 September 1953, bound for the Far East. Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[2]

Sailing via the Panama Canal to Japan, Wisconsin relieved New Jersey (BB-62) as Seventh Fleet flagship on 12 October. The Panama Canal is a man-made Canal in Panama which joins the Construction See also Iowa class battleship, Armament of the Iowa class battleship New Jersey was one of the ''Iowa''-class " Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. During the months that followed, Wisconsin visited the Japanese ports of Kobe, Sasebo Navy Yard, Yokosuka, Otaru, and Nagasaki. is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture and a prominent port city in Japan with a population of about 1 is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.As of 2006 the city has an estimated Population of 258324 and the density of 709 is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. It is located at the mouth of Tokyo Bay in the Miura Peninsula, and the city stretches across is a city and port located in Shiribeshi, Hokkaidō, Japan, northwest of Sapporo. ( is the Capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan. She spent Christmas at Hong Kong and was ultimately relieved of flagship duties on 1 April 1954 and returned to the United States soon thereafter, reaching Norfolk, via Long Beach and the Panama Canal, on 4 May 1954. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 1256 - The Augustinian monastic order is constituted at the Lecceto Monastery when Pope Alexander IV Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) ^[2]

Entering the Norfolk Naval Shipyard on 11 June, Wisconsin underwent a brief overhaul and commenced a midshipman training cruise on 12 July. Events 1184 BC - Trojan War: Troy is sacked and burned according to the calculations of Eratosthenes. Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre. After revisiting Greenock, Brest, and Guantánamo Bay, the ship returned to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for repairs. Shortly thereafter, Wisconsin participated in Atlantic Fleet exercises as flagship for Commander, Second Fleet. Departing Norfolk in January 1955, Wisconsin took part in Operation Springboard, during which time she visited Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Then, upon returning to Norfolk, the battleship conducted another midshipman's cruise that summer, visiting Edinburgh; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Guantánamo Bay before returning to the United States. Copenhagen (ˌkəʊpənˈheɪgən ˌkəʊpənˈhɑːgən ˈkəʊpənˌheɪgən ˈkəʊpənˌhɑːgən kʰøb̥ənˈhɑʊ̯ˀn kʰøb̥m̩ˈhɑʊ̯ˀn is the capital and largest city ^[2]

Upon completion of a major overhaul at the New York Naval Shipyard, Wisconsin headed south for refresher training in the Caribbean Sea, later taking part in another Springboard exercise. The United States Navy Yard New York - better known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard or the New York Naval Shipyard (NYNSY - is an American shipyard located For the region see Caribbean. The Caribbean Sea (kəˈrɪbiən or /ˌkærɨˈbiːən/ is a tropical Sea in the Western Hemisphere During that cruise, she again visited Port-au-Prince and added Tampico, Mexico, and Cartagena, Colombia, to her list of ports of call. Tampico, located at, is the main city in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, and is the Mexican Gulf 's main economic powerhouse Cartagena de Indias (kaɾtaˈhena ð̞e ˈin̪d̪jas in Spanish; the usual English pronunciation is ˌkɑrtəˈheɪnə deɪ ˈɪndiəs is a large city She returned to Norfolk on the last day of March 1956 for local operations. ^[2] On 19 October 1955, while operating in the East River in New York Harbor, Wisconsin was accidentally grounded. Events 202 BCE - The Battle of Zama results in the defeat of Carthage and Hannibal. Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) The East River is a tidal Strait in New York City. It connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end However, the ship was freed in about an hour without any serious damage. ^[10]

Throughout April and into May, Wisconsin operated locally off the Virginia capes. The bow (pronounced &mdashrhymes with how) is a nautical term that refers to the forward part of the hull of a Ship or Boat, Events 1527 - Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. World War II 1943 Eaton departed Casco Bay Maine, 6 February 1943 for duty in the Pacific On 6 May the battleship collided with the destroyer Eaton (DDE-510) in a heavy fog; Wisconsin put into Norfolk with extensive damage to her bow, and one week later entered dry dock at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Events 1527 - Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. World War II 1943 Eaton departed Casco Bay Maine, 6 February 1943 for duty in the Pacific The bow (pronounced &mdashrhymes with how) is a nautical term that refers to the forward part of the hull of a Ship or Boat, ^[10] A novel expedient sped her repairs and enabled the ship to carry out her scheduled midshipman training cruise that summer. A 120 ton, 68 foot (21 m) section of the bow of the uncompleted Iowa-class battleship Kentucky (BB-66) was transported by barge, in one section, from Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation of Newport News, Virginia, across Hampton Roads to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Background See also Iowa class battleship Kentucky was one of the " Fast battleship " designs planned in 1938 by the Preliminary Design Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding ( NGS) formerly called Northrop Grumman Newport News ( NGNN) or Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company Newport News is an Independent city in Virginia. It is at the south-western end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the region of land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the USA. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard and abbreviated as NNSY is a U ^[2] Working round-the clock, Wisconsin’s ship’s force and shipyard personnel completed the operation which grafted the new bow on the old battleship in a mere 16 days. On 28 June 1956, the ship was ready for sea. Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul. Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[3][10]

Wisconsin resumed her midshipman training on 9 July 1956. Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. That autumn, Wisconsin participated in Atlantic Fleet exercises off the coast of the Carolinas, returning to port on 8 November 1956. Events 1519 - Hernán Cortés enters Tenochtitlán and Aztec ruler Moctezuma welcomes him with great a Celebration Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Entering the Norfolk Naval Shipyard a week later, the battleship underwent major repairs that were not finished until 2 January 1957. Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) ^[2]

After local operations off the Virginia capes from 3 January 1957 to 4 January 1957 and from 9 January to 11 January, Wisconsin departed Norfolk on 16 January, reporting to Commander, Fleet Training Group, at Guantánamo Bay. Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. Events 1055 - Theodora is crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire. Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate. Wisconsin served as Admiral Henry Crommelin's flagship during the ensuing shore bombardment practices and other exercises held off the isle of Culebra, Puerto Rico, from 2 February to 4 February 1957. Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor Events 211 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) Sailing for Norfolk upon completion of the training period, the battleship arrived on 7 February and resumed local operations off Norfolk. Events 457 - Leo I becomes emperor of the Byzantine Empire. 1074 - Battle of Montesarchio in which the Prince On 27 March Wisconsin sailed for the Mediterranean Sea, reaching Gibraltar on 6 April 1957, she pushed on that day to rendezvous with TF 60 in the Aegean Sea before reporting to Turkey for the NATO Exercise Red Pivot. Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates Gibraltar (dʒɨˈbrɒltər is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato in the Battle of Thapsus Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) Etymology In ancient times there were various explanations for the name Aegean. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches ^[2]

Departing Xeros Bay on 14 April, she arrived at Naples four days later, Wisconsin conducted exercises in the eastern Mediterranean. Events 43 BC - Battle of Forum Gallorum: Mark Antony, besieging Julius Caesar 's assassin Decimus Junius Brutus in Naples ( Napoli, Neapolitan: Nàpule) is a historic City in southern Italy, the Capital of the In the course of those operational training evolutions, she rescued a pilot and crewman who survived the crash of a plane from the carrier Forrestal (CVA-59). 1956–1962 From her home port Norfolk Virginia, Forrestal spent the first year of service in intensive training operations off the Virginia Capes ^[3] Wisconsin reached Valencia, Spain, on 10 May and, three days later, entertained prominent civilian and military officials of the city. Valencia ( Valencian: València, Valencia Spanish phonology --> is the capital of the Spanish autonomous Events 1291 - Scottish Nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England. ^[2]

Departing Valencia on 17 April, Wisconsin reached Norfolk on 27 May. Events 69 - After the First Battle of Bedriacum, Vitellius becomes Roman Emperor. Events 927 - Simeon the Great, Tsar of Bulgaria, dies 1120 - Richard III of Capua is anointed On that day, Rear Admiral L. S. Parks relieved Rear Admiral Crommelin as Commander, Battleship Division 2. Departing Norfolk on 19 June, the battleship, over the ensuing weeks, conducted a midshipman training cruise through the Panama Canal to South American waters, and reached Valparaiso on 3 July. Events 1179 - The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. Events 324 - Battle of Adrianople Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium. Eight days later, the battleship headed back to the Panama Canal and the Atlantic. ^[2]

After exercises at Guantánamo Bay and off Culebra, Wisconsin reached Norfolk on 5 August and conducted local operations that lasted into September. Events 642 - Battle of Maserfield - Penda of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald of Bernicia. She then participated in NATO exercises which took her across the North Atlantic to the British Isles. The British Isles (Irish variously Na hOileáin Bhriotanacha, Oileáin Iarthair Eorpa, Éire agus an Bhreatain Mhór; Ellanyn Goaldagh Eileanan ^[2]

Wisconsin’s days as an active fleet unit were numbered, and she prepared to make her last cruise. On 4 November 1957, she departed Norfolk with a large group of prominent guests on board. Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) Reaching New York City on 6 November, the battleship disembarked her guests and, on 8 November, headed for Bayonne, New Jersey, to commence a pre-inactivation overhaul. Events 355 - Roman Emperor Constantius II promotes his cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar, entrusting him with Events 1519 - Hernán Cortés enters Tenochtitlán and Aztec ruler Moctezuma welcomes him with great a Celebration Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, south of Jersey City. She was placed out of commission at Bayonne on 8 March 1958, and joined the United States Navy reserve fleet (better known as the "Mothball Fleet") there, leaving the United States Navy without an active battleship for the first time since 1895. Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion. Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States Navy maintains a number of its Ships as part of a Reserve fleet, often called the "Mothball Fleet". ^[2] Subsequently taken to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Wisconsin remained there with her sister ship Iowa into the 1980s. The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, formerly Navy Yard, was the first Naval shipyard of the United States. ^[2]

Reactivation (1986–90)

As part of President Ronald Reagan's Navy Secretary John F. Lehman's effort to create a "600-ship Navy" Wisconsin was reactivated 1 August 1986 and moved under tow to the Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans, Louisiana, to commence pre-re-commissioning workups. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by The United States Secretary of the Navy ( SECNAV) is the Civilian head of the Department of the Navy. John F Lehman Jr (born September 14, 1942) is an American Investment banker and Writer who served as Secretary of the The 600 Ship Navy was a strategic plan of the United States Navy during the 1980s to rebuild its fleet after cutbacks that followed the end of the Vietnam War Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Avondale Shipyard was an independent Shipbuilding company acquired by Litton Industries, in turn acquired by Northrop Grumman Corporation New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana The State of Louisiana ( or, État de Louisiane, pronounced) is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America The battleship was then towed from the Avondale Shipyard and arrived at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, 2 January 1987 to receive weapons system upgrades for her modernization. Ingalls Shipbuilding is a Shipyard located in Pascagoula Mississippi, USA, originally established in 1938 and is now part of Northrop Grumman Ship Pascagoula is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States. Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) ^[2][3] During the modernization Wisconsin had all of her remaining Oerlikon 20 mm and Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft guns removed, due to their ineffectiveness against modern day jet fighters and enemy anti-ship missiles; additionally, the two 5" gun mounts located at mid-ship and in the aft on the port and starboard side of the battleship were removed. The term " Oerlikon 20 mm cannon " refers to a series of Autocannons based on an original designed by Reinhold Becker during World War I, and The Bofors 40 mm gun is a famous Anti-aircraft Autocannon designed by the Swedish firm of Bofors. A fighter aircraft is a Military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other Aircraft, as opposed to a Bomber, which is designed For the acronym see AFT. Aft, in naval Terminology, is an Adjective or Adverb meaning 'towards Port is the nautical term (used on Boats and Ships) that refers to the left side of a ship as perceived by a person on board the ship and Starboard is the nautical term that refers to the right side of a vessel as perceived by a person on board a vessel and facing the bow (front ^[11]

Over the next several months the ship was upgraded with the most advanced weaponry available; among the new weapons systems installed were four MK 141 quad cell launchers for 16 AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, eight Armored Box Launcher (ABL) mounts for 32 BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles, and a quartet of the United States Navy's Phalanx Close In Weapon System (CIWS) gatling guns for defense against enemy anti-ship missiles and enemy aircraft. The Harpoon is an all-weather over-the-horizon, Anti-ship missile system developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing Integrated The Armored Box Launcher ( ABL) is a four-round protected launch container for the BGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missile The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM is a long-range all-weather subsonic cruise missile A missile (see also pronunciation differences) is a self-propelled explosive Projectile used as a weapon towards a target The Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS is an anti-missile system that was designed and manufactured by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division A Close-in weapon system (CIWS is a naval shipboard Point-defense weapon for detecting and destroying incoming Anti-ship missiles and enemy aircraft The Gatling gun is considered by some to have been the first Machine gun: although it did not automatically reload under its own power it was capable of firing continuously Anti-ship missiles are a Missile designed for use against Ships Most anti-ship missiles are of the Sea-skimming type and use a combination of ^[11][12][13] Wisconsin also received eight RQ-2 Pioneer Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, which are remotely controlled drones that replaced the helicopters previously used to spot for her nine 16"/50 Mark 7 guns. The RQ-2 Pioneer is an Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV that has been utilized by the United States Navy, Marine, and Army, deploying An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV is an unpiloted Aircraft. UAVs can be remote controlled or fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans or more complex dynamic ^[14] Also included in her modernization were upgrades to radar and fire control systems for her guns and missiles, and improved electronic warfare capabilities. Radar is a system that uses electromagnetic waves to identify the range altitude direction or speed of both moving and fixed objects such as Aircraft, ships Note the term " fire control " may also refer to means of stopping a fire such as sprinkler systems A fire-control system Electronic warfare ( EW) is the use of the Electromagnetic spectrum to effectively deny the use of this medium by an adversary while optimizing its use by friendly ^[11] Armed as such, Wisconsin was formally recommissioned on 22 October 1988 in Pascagoula, Mississippi under the command of Captain Jerry M. Events 202 BC - Hannibal Barca, leader of the Carthaginians, is defeated by the Roman legions under Scipio Africanus Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Pascagoula is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States. Blesch, USN. Assigned to the United States Atlantic fleet, she was subsequently homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, where she became the centerpiece of her own surface action group (SAG), also referred to as a battleship battle group (BBBG). A battleship battle group was a formation used by the United States Navy, after the recommissioning of the ''Iowa''-class battleships.

Wisconsin spent the first part of 1989 conducting training exercises in the Atlantic Ocean and off the coast of Puerto Rico before returning to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for a post recommissioning shakedown that lasted the rest of the year. Puerto Rico (ˌpwertoˈriko officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico" {{lang-en|"Associated Free State of Puerto Rico"}} In mid-1990 the battleship participated in a fleet exercise. ^[3]

Gulf War (1990–91)

On 2 August 1990 Saddam Hussein's Iraq invaded Kuwait. Events 338 BC - A Macedonian army led by Philip II defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes in the Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti ( Arabic: ar صدام حسين عبد المجيد التكريتي --> April 28 1937 &ndash December 30 For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. The State of Kuwait ( دولة الكويت IPA [dawlatt̪ alkuwajt̪]) is a sovereign Arab Emirate on the coast of the Persian Gulf, enclosed In the middle of the month, President George H. W. Bush, in keeping with the Carter Doctrine, sent the first of several hundred thousand troops, along with a strong force of naval support to Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf area to support a multi-national force in a standoff with the Iraqi dictator. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12 1924 served as the forty-first President of the United States from 1989 to 1993 The Carter Doctrine was a policy proclaimed by President of the United States Jimmy Carter in his State of the Union Address on 23 January The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi On 7 August 1990 Wisconsin and her battle group were ordered to deploy in defense of Kuwait for Operation Desert Shield, and they arrived in the Persian Gulf 23 August. Events 322 BC - Battle of Crannon between Athens and Macedon following the death of Alexander the Great. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Events 79 - Mount Vesuvius begins stirring on the feast day of Vulcan the Roman god of fire ^[3] On 15 January 1991, Operation Desert Storm commenced operations, and Wisconsin found herself serving alongside her younger sister Missouri (BB-63), just as she had done in Korea forty years previously. Construction See also Iowa class battleship, Armament of the Iowa class battleship Missouri was one of the ''Iowa''-class " Both Wisconsin and Missouri launched Tomahawk Missile attacks against Iraq; they were among the first ships to fire cruise missiles during the 1991 Gulf War. Wisconsin served as the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) strike commander for the Persian Gulf, directing the sequence of launches that marked the opening of Operation Desert Storm and firing a total of 24 of her own TLAMs during the first two days of the campaign. ^[15] Wisconsin also assumed the responsibility of the local anti-surface warfare coordinator for the Northern Persian Gulf Surface Action Group. ^[3]

Wisconsin, escorted by Nicholas (FFG-47), relieved Missouri on 6 February, then answered her first combat call for gunfire support since March 1952. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio The most recently recommissioned battleship sent 11 shells across 19 miles (31 km) of space to destroy an Iraqi artillery battery in southern Kuwait. Artillery (from French artillerie) is a military Combat Arm which employs any apparātus machine Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) as a spotter in combat for the first time, Wisconsin pounded Iraqi targets and Iraqi boats that had been used during raids along the Saudi Arabian coast. The RQ-2 Pioneer is an Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV that has been utilized by the United States Navy, Marine, and Army, deploying An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV is an unpiloted Aircraft. UAVs can be remote controlled or fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans or more complex dynamic ^[15] On 7 February Wisconsin fired her guns against Iraqi artillery sites, missile facilities, and electronic warfare sites along the coast. Events 457 - Leo I becomes emperor of the Byzantine Empire. 1074 - Battle of Montesarchio in which the Prince She also targeted naval sites with her 16-inch (406 mm) guns, firing several rounds which severely damaged or sunk 15 Iraqi boats, and destroyed several piers at the Khawr al-Mufattah Marina. For other uses of this word see Marina (disambiguation. A marina is a sheltered Harbor where Boats and Yachts ^[3] In response to calls for fire support from U. S. and coalition forces Wisconsin’s turrets boomed again on 9 February, blasting bunkers and artillery sites, and shelling Iraqi troop positions near Khafji after the Iraqis were ousted from the city by Saudi and Qatari armor. Events 474 - Zeno crowned as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire. Ras Al Khafji (رأس الخفجي or Khafji (الخفجي was historically the principal town in the Neutral zone between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Qatar ( قطر; ˈqɑtˁɑr local pronunciation giṭar officially the State of Qatar (Arabic دولة قطر transliterated ^[3] On 21 February one of Wisconsin’s UAVs observed several trucks resupplying an Iraqi command post; in response, Wisconsin trained her 16-inch (406 mm) guns on the complex, leveling or heavily damaging ten of the buildings. Events 362 - Athanasius returns to Alexandria. 1245 - Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland ^[3] Wisconsin and Missouri alternated positions on the gun line, using their 16-inch (406 mm) guns to destroy enemy targets and soften defenses along the Kuwait coastline for a possible amphibious assault. ^[15][3]

On the night of 23 February Missouri and Wisconsin turned their big guns on Faylaka Island to support the ground offensive in Iraq. Events 1455 - Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western Book printed from Movable Failaka Island (جزيرة فيلكا) is an island that belongs to Kuwait in the Persian Gulf. The two ships were to conduct a diversionary assault aimed at convincing the Iraqi forces arrayed along the shores of Faylaka Island that Coalition forces were preparing to launch an amphibious invasion. Feint is a French term that entered English from the discipline of Fencing. ^[15] As part of this attack Missouri and Wisconsin were directed to shell known Iraqi defensive positions on the island. Shortly after Missouri completed her shelling of Faylaka Island Wisconsin, while still over the horizon (and thus out of visual range of the Iraqi forces) launched her RQ-2 Pioneer Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to spot for her 16-inch (406 mm) guns. As Wisconsin’s drone approached Faylaka Island the pilot of the drone was instructed to fly the vehicle low over Iraqi positions so that the soldiers would know that they were once again being targeted by a battleship. ^[14] Iraqi troops on the ground heard the Pioneer’s distinctive buzzing sound, and having witnessed the effects of Missouri’s artillery strike on their trenchline the Iraqi troops decided to signal their willingness to surrender by waving makeshift white flags, an action dutifully noted aboard Wisconsin. Surrender is when Soldiers, nations or other combatants stop fighting and become Prisoners of war, either as White flags have had different meanings throughout history and depending on the locale Amused at this sudden development the men assigned to the drone’s aircrew called Wisconsin’s commanding officer, Captain David S. Bill III, and asked, "Sir, they want to surrender, what should I do with them?"^[14] This surrender to Wisconsin’s Pioneer has since become one of the most remembered moments of the Gulf War; the incident was also the first-ever surrender of enemy troops to an unmanned aircraft controlled by a ship. ^[16][17]

The next day Wisconsin answered two separate call fire support missions for coalition forces by suppressing Iraqi troops barricaded in a pair of bunkers. After witnessing the effects of Wisconsin’s strike against the Iraqi positions an elated Saudi marine commander commented over the radio, "I wish we had a battleship in our navy. "^[3]

Both Wisconsin and Missouri passed the million-pound mark of ordnance delivered on Iraqi targets by the time President George H. W. Bush ended hostilities on 28 February. Events 202 BC - coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty 's rule With one last salvo from her big guns, Wisconsin fired the last naval gunfire support mission of the war. ^[15] Wisconsin remained in the Persian Gulf after the cease-fire took effect, and returned home on 28 March 1991. Events 37 - Roman Emperor Caligula accepts the titles of the Principate, entitled to him by the Senate. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. During the 6 months Wisconsin spent in the Persian Gulf she had flown 348 UAV hours, recorded 661 safe helicopter landings, steamed 46,000 nautical miles (85,000 km), fired 528 16-inch (410 mm) rounds, 881 5-inch (130 mm) rounds, and 5,200 20 mm Phalanx CIWS rounds. ^[3] Since all four remaining battleships were decommissioned and stricken following the Gulf War, this was the last time that United States battleships actively participated in a foreign war. ^[12]

Museum ship (1992–present)

With the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s and the absence of a perceived threat to the United States came drastic cuts in the defense budget. The Soviet Union 's collapse into independent nations began early in 1985 The high cost of maintaining and operating battleships as part of the United States Navy's active fleet became uneconomical; as a result, Wisconsin was decommissioned on 30 September 1991 and was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register (NVR) on 12 January 1995. Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. The Naval Vessel Register ( NVR) is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. Events 475 - Basiliscus becomes Byzantine Emperor, with a coronation ceremony in the Hebdomon palace in Constantinople Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 On 15 October 1996 she was moved to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and on 12 February 1998 she was restored to the Naval Vessel Register. Events 533 - Byzantine General Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard and abbreviated as NNSY is a U Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) On 7 December 2000 the battleship was towed from Portsmouth, Virginia and berthed adjacent to Nauticus, The National Maritime Center in Norfolk. Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Nauticus is a maritime-themed science center and Museum located in Norfolk Virginia. On 16 April 2001 the battleship's weather decks were opened to the public by the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, a U. Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is an official United States Navy Museum that interprets the history of the Navy in the Virginia Harbor of S. Navy museum charged with Wisconsin’s interpretation and public visitation. The ship is still owned by the Navy and is considered part of the mothball fleet. A reserve fleet or (less formally mothball fleet is a collection of Naval vessels (both Warships and support vessels that are fully equipped for ^[3][12][18]

Wisconsin was named as one of two US Navy battleships that were to be maintained in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act of 1996 (the other was Iowa). The National Defense Authorization Act is the name of a United States federal law that is enacted each Fiscal year to specify the budget and expenditures of the Construction See also Iowa class battleship, Armament of the Iowa class battleship Iowa was the lead ship of her class of " ^[19] Both battleships were maintained in the United States Navy reserve fleets for use as shore bombardment vessels since their 16-inch (405 mm) guns are capable of firing 2,700 lb (1,200 kg) projectiles approximately 24 nautical miles (44 km) inland; However, Wisconsin is now over 60 years old and would require extensive modernization to return to the fleet since most of her technology dates back to World War II, and the missile and electronic warfare equipment added to the battleship during her 1980s modernization are now considered obsolete. The United States Navy maintains a number of its Ships as part of a Reserve fleet, often called the "Mothball Fleet". ^[11] Furthermore, during the 1991 Gulf War she was said to be hindered by Iraqi naval mines, and reports on the Internet suggest that the majority of the shore bombardments were successfully carried out by US Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates and their 3 in (76 mm) guns. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. A naval mine is a self-contained Explosive device placed in water to destroy Ships or Submarines Unlike Depth charges mines are deposited Ships The ships were designed by Maine shipyard Bath Iron Works in partnership with New York-based naval architects Gibbs & Cox. For the bird see Frigatebird. A frigate /ˈfrɪgɪt/ is a warship ^[15] In addition, the cost of modernizing Iowa and Wisconsin is estimated to be somewhere around $500 million for reactivation and $1. 5 billion for a full modernization program. ^[20]

On 17 March 2006 the Secretary of the Navy exercised his authority to strike Iowa and Wisconsin from the NVR, which has cleared the way for both ships to be donated for use as museums; however, the United States Congress remains "deeply concerned" over the loss of naval surface gunfire support that the battleships provided, and has noted that ". Events 45 BC - In his last victory Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The United States Secretary of the Navy ( SECNAV) is the Civilian head of the Department of the Navy. For ships that are not original see Ship replica. For preserved incomplete ships see Ships preserved in museums. The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses . . navy efforts to improve upon, much less replace, this capability have been highly problematic. "^[21] Partially as a consequence the US House of Representatives has asked that the battleships be kept in a state of readiness should they ever be needed again. The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. ^[22] Congress has asked that the following measures be implemented to ensure that, if need be, Wisconsin can be returned to active duty:

1. Wisconsin must not be altered in any way that would impair her military utility;
2. The battleship must be preserved in her present condition through the continued use of cathodic protection, dehumidification systems, and any other preservation methods as needed;
3. Spare parts and unique equipment such as the 16-inch (406 mm) gun barrels and projectiles be preserved in adequate numbers to support Wisconsin, if reactivated;
4. The Navy must prepare plans for the rapid reactivation of Wisconsin should she be returned to the Navy in the event of a national emergency. ^[22]

These four conditions closely mirror the original three conditions that the Nation Defense Authorization Act of 1996 laid out for the maintenance of Wisconsin while she was in the Mothball Fleet. The United States Navy maintains a number of its Ships as part of a Reserve fleet, often called the "Mothball Fleet". ^[11][19] It is unlikely that these conditions will impede the current plan to turn Wisconsin into a permanent museum ship at her berth in Norfolk.

Decorations

Wisconsin earned five battle stars for her World War II service, and one for the Korean War. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the The ship also received the Combat Action Ribbon and Navy Unit Commendation for actions in the Korean War and Operation Desert Storm in 1991. The Combat Action Ribbon ( CAR) is a personal military decoration of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, and which is The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December She also received over a dozen more awards for World War II, the Korean War and Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. ^[23]

See also

• Zumwalt-class destroyer Wisconsin’s intended replacement
• Crossing the T
• List of broadsides of major World War II ships

Notes

Further reading

• Paul Chan, Ian and McAuley, Rob. The Battleships. Channel 4 Books, London ISBN 0-7522-6188-6
• Naval Historical Foundation. The Navy. Hugh Lauter Levin Associates. ISBN 0-88363-100-8
• The Floating Drydock. United States Naval Vessels, ONI 222-US, Kresgeville, PA 18333. ISBN 0-944055-02-8
• This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships ( DANFS for short is the primary reference work for the basic facts about every Ship ever used

External links

• NAVSOURCE Photo Gallery: Numerous photographs of USS Wisconsin
• Nauticus, Norfolk, VA
• Hampton Roads Naval Museum
• Operation Desert Storm Timeline
• Maritimequest USS Wisconsin BB-64 Photo Gallery
• USS Wisconsin Photo Gallery and Facts
• USS Wisconsin Association
• Naval Vessel Registry BB-64
• 1995 US General Accounting Office report on the US Navy’s Naval Surface Fire Support program
• 2005 US Government Accountability Office Report: Issues Related to Navy Battleships
• Satellite image of the USS Wisconsin
• HNSA Ship Page: USS Wisconsin
• BB-64 Personnel Roster at HullNumber.com

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