Construction USS Wisconsin (BB-64)

wisconsin 1 of fast battleship designs planned in 1938 preliminary design branch @ bureau of construction , repair. third of 4 completed ships of iowa class of battleships. keel laid down on 25 january 1941, @ philadelphia navy yard. launched on 7 december 1943, sponsored mrs. goodland, wife of walter s. goodland, governor of wisconsin, , commissioned on 16 april 1944, captain earl e. stone in command.

wisconsin s main battery consisted of 9 16 in (406 mm)/50 cal mark 7 guns, hurl 2,700 lb (1,200 kg) armor-piercing shells 20 mi (32 km). secondary battery consisted of 20 5 in (127 mm)/38 cal guns in ten twin turrets, fire @ targets 10 mi (16 km) away. advent of air power , need gain , maintain air superiority came need protect growing fleet of allied aircraft carriers; end, wisconsin fitted array of oerlikon 20 mm , bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft guns defend allied carriers enemy airstrikes. when reactivated in 1986, wisconsin had 20 mm , 40 mm aa guns removed, , outfitted phalanx ciws mounts protection against enemy missiles , aircraft, , armored box launchers , quad cell launchers designed fire tomahawk missiles , harpoon missiles, respectively. wisconsin , sister ship missouri fitted thicker traverse bulkhead armor, 14.5 inches (368 mm), compared 11.3 inches (287 mm) in first 2 ships of class, iowa , new jersey.

wisconsin numerically highest numbered battleship built. although keel laid after uss missouri s, commissioned before missouri s commissioning date. thus, wisconsin s construction began after missouri s, , finished earlier. iowa , wisconsin stricken naval vessel register on 17 march 2006 making them last battleships on navy list in world.