USS Wisconsin (BB-64)

The USS Wisconsin (BB-64), nicknamed "Wisky" or "WisKy," was an Iowa-class battleship of the United States Navy. She was the third ship of her class to be commissioned. Constructed by the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Wisconsin was launched on December 7, 1943, and commissioned on April 16, 1944.

Throughout her career, Wisconsin served in World War II, the Korean War, and Operation Desert Storm. During World War II, she participated in operations in the Pacific Theater, providing naval gunfire support for landings and engaging enemy forces. In the Korean War, she again provided gunfire support for ground troops and conducted shore bombardment missions.

After periods of deactivation and modernization, Wisconsin was reactivated in the 1980s as part of the Navy's 600-ship program. She received significant upgrades, including the installation of Tomahawk cruise missiles and Harpoon anti-ship missiles. During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, she participated in naval operations in the Persian Gulf, firing Tomahawk missiles at targets in Iraq and providing fire support.

Wisconsin was decommissioned for the final time on September 30, 1991. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in 1998 and eventually transferred to the City of Norfolk, Virginia, as a museum ship. Today, the USS Wisconsin is a prominent attraction at Nauticus, the National Maritime Center in Norfolk, where visitors can tour the ship and learn about her history. She is a symbol of American naval power and a reminder of the role battleships played in 20th-century warfare.