USS Wisconsin (BB-64)

The second Wisconsin (BB-64) was laid down on 25 January 1941 at the Philadelphia [Pa.] Navy Yard; launched on 7 December 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Walter S. Goodland; and commissioned on 16 April 1944, Capt. Earl E. Stone in command.

After her trials and initial training in the Delaware and Chesapeake bays, Wisconsin departed Norfolk, Va. on 4 July 1944, in concert with Winslow (DD-359), Simpson (DD-221), and Decatur (DD - 341) bound for Trinidad, British West Indies. Arriving at Port of Spain, Trinidad, Wisconsin conducted shakedown exercises in the Gulf of Paria from 8-31 July. On 1 August Wisconsin departed Trinidad along with Decatur and Bainbridge (DD-246) en route to Philadelphia via Culebra, Puerto Rico. On 2 August Wisconsin conducted firing practice on the range at Culebra. On 5 August she anchored in the lower Delaware Bay. From 6-9 August the ship conducted further exercises and returned to the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 10 August. From 10 September through 23 September, Wisconsin remained moored in Philadelphia undergoing post-shakedown availability. On 24 September 1944 Wisconsin conducted full speed trials which she completed the next day, 25 September.

On 27 September 1944 the ship got underway for drone firing off the Delaware capes and upon completion joined Task Group (TG) 27.3 under Rear Adm. J.C. Jones, Commander Cruiser Division 17 with the light cruiser Pasadena (CL-65), and the destroyer escort Moore (DE-240), and the destroyers Collett (DD-730), Haynsworth (DD-700), Waldron (DD-699), and Charles S. Sperry (DD-697). The group transited the Panama Canal on 2-3 October and on 4 October Wisconsin conducted anti-aircraft gunnery exercises in the Gulf of Panama. Later that day, Wisconsin in concert with Pasadena , Moore , Collett , Haynsworth , Waldron , and Charles S. Sperry , departed for San Diego, Calif. En route Wisconsin conducted live-fire exercises and anchored in San Pedro Bay on 12 October. The battleship remained at anchor until 14 October when she got underway for Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii in company with Pasadena , North Carolina (BB-55), Charles S. Sperry , Waldron , and Haynsworth . While underway to Hawaiian waters, the battleship again conducted gunnery exercises. On 20 October Wisconsin moored at Pearl Harbor. That same day she reported to Commander, Task Force (TF) 15 for training in accordance with her orders. On 24 October Wisconsin got underway for gunnery training exercises. From this date through 1 November the battleship conducted multiple main battery and anti-aircraft gunnery exercises. From her return to Pearl Harbor on 1 November through 29 November, Wisconsin remained at Pearl Harbor. On 25 November, Rear Adm. Edward W. Hanson, Commander Battleship Division (BatDiv) 9 broke his flag in Wisconsin .

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Wisconsin II (BB-64)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.