Museum ship (1992–present) USS Wisconsin (BB-64)

crewmembers man rails aboard wisconsin during decommissioning ceremony

with collapse of soviet union in 1990s , absence of perceived threat united states came drastic cuts in defense budget. high cost of maintaining , operating battleships part of united states navy s active fleet became uneconomical; result, wisconsin decommissioned on 30 september 1991 after 14 total years of active service, , joined reserve fleet @ philadelphia naval shipyard. stricken naval vessel register (nvr) on 12 january 1995, on 15 october 1996, moved norfolk naval shipyard, , on 12 february 1998, restored naval vessel register. on 7 december 2000, battleship towed portsmouth, virginia , berthed adjacent nauticus, national maritime center in norfolk. on 16 april 2001 battleship s weather decks opened public hampton roads naval museum, u.s. navy museum charged wisconsin s interpretation , public visitation. ship still owned navy , considered part of mothball fleet.

uss wisconsin docked in norfolk, virginia

wisconsin named along iowa) 1 of 2 navy battleships maintained in united states navy reserve fleets in accordance national defense authorization act of 1996 shore bombardment vessels. however, wisconsin on 60 years old , have required extensive modernization return fleet since of technology dated world war ii, , missile , electronic warfare equipment added battleship during 1988–89 modernization considered obsolete. furthermore, during 1991 gulf war, said hindered iraqi naval mines, , reports on internet suggest majority of shore bombardments carried out oliver hazard perry-class frigates , 3 in (76 mm) guns. in addition, cost of modernizing battleships estimated around $500 million reactivation , $1.5 billion full modernization program.

uss wisconsin @ berth in norfolk in 2007

on 17 march 2006, secretary of navy exercised authority strike iowa , wisconsin nvr, cleared way both ships donated use museums; however, united states congress remained concerned on loss of naval surface gunfire support battleships provided, , noted ...navy efforts improve upon, less replace, capability have been highly problematic. partially consequence, congress passed pub.l. 109–163, national defense authorization act 2006, requiring battleships kept , maintained in state of readiness should ever needed again. congress had ordered following measures implemented ensure wisconsin returned active duty if needed:

these 4 conditions closely mirror original 3 conditions nation defense authorization act of 1996 laid out maintenance of wisconsin while in mothball fleet. unlikely these conditions impede plan turn wisconsin permanent museum ship @ berth in norfolk.

on 14 december 2009 navy officially transferred wisconsin city of norfolk, ending requirement ship preserved possible recall active duty. navy had paid city of norfolk $2.8 million between 2000 , 2009 maintain ship. formal ceremony transferring ship city of norfolk took place on 16 april 2010. wisconsin listed on national register of historic places on 28 march 2012.