USS Wisconsin (BB-64), one of the four Iowa class battleships, began her career in the middle of World War II. Wisconsin reported for duty with the Pacific Fleet in October 1944. The powerful new warship joined Admiral William F. Halsey's 3rd Fleet when the liberation of the Philippines was underway. The battleship helped neutralize Japanese sea, air and ground forces occupying the islands. Wisconsin was reassigned to the 5th Fleet in February 1945 and supported the landings on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The battleship's brief but active World War II career concluded with the transport of war-weary GIs back to the U.S. during operation Magic Carpet. [HNSA]
| Class | Iowa Battleship |
| Launched | 7 December 1943 |
| Commissioned | 16 April 1944 |
| Length | 887 feet |
| Beam | 108 feet |
| Draft | 36 feet Max. |
| Displacement | 57,500 tons |
| Armament (1988) | Nine 16"/50 cal. guns Twelve 5"/38 cal. guns 32 armored Tomahawk missile launchers 16 Harpoon missile launchers; and Four 20 mm Phalanx CIWS Gatling-type guns |
Additional Information:
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HNSA