Posted on 08/11/2012 12:09:22 AM PDT by doug from upland
USS Wisconsin (BB 64)
- decommissioned -
WISCONSIN was the fourth IOWA - class battleship and the second ship in the Navy to bear the name of the state. Stricken from the Navy list on March 17, 2006, the WISCONSIN is now preserved at the Nauticus Maritime Center in Norfolk, Va.
General Characteristics:
Keel laid: January 25, 1941
Launched: December 7, 1943
Commissioned: April 16, 1944
Decommissioned: July 1, 1948
Second commissioning: March 3, 1951
Second decommissioning: March 8, 1958
Third commissioning: October 22, 1988
Third decommissioning: September 30, 1991
Builder: Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, PA
Propulsion system: eight boilers, four geared turbines
Propellers: four
Length: 889 feet (271 meters)
Beam: 108 feet (32.9 meters)
Draft: 35,7 feet (10.9 meters)
Displacement: Light: approx. 46,000 tons
Full: approx. 57,000 tons
Speed: 33 knots
Aircraft: no hangar, but parking area for four SH-3 or four SH-60
Crew 1988 - 1991: 65 officers and 1,501 enlisted
WWII Crew: 134 officers and 2,400 enlisted
Last armament: eight armored box launchers for Tomahawk, four Mk 141 Harpoon miss
ON YOUTUBE - FIRING ITS GUNS FOR THE LAST TIME
I think its a very good choice on Mitt Romney’s apart!
I dislike him intensely but you can’t fault his pick of Paul Ryan.
Wisconsin has been the state center in national conservative reforms. I would have liked Scott Walker to be the Veep but this is a solid choice that will bring the party together.
He needed to win over conservatives and this is is a good sign for a campaign that lacked a clear direction.
Imagine if Paul Ryan strode to the podium and announced the VP is PALIN...then Palin takes the stage utters “Game on!”...and walks off....NOW THAT IS ROGUE!...LOL
Or she puts her hand across her brow and says “I can see victory from here.. THIS TIME.”
I remain skeptical... that the choice is Ryan... that the Romney campaign would have so many loose lips this late in the process... that the USS Wisconsin is the giveaway that Ryan is the choice... I’m just not convinced.
Heck, if it’s an IOWA class ship, then why isn’t that a hint that the “undisclosed” veep candidate (per Drudge, there is one) is none other than Iowa Rep. Steve King?
The ship was built in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,so why isn’t that a hint that the “undisclosed” candidate is also from Pennsylvania? No,I don’t mean exSenator Arlen Sphincter. Newt Gingrich was born in PA.
Just sayin’ it’s odd that the beans are spilled the night before the big announcement.
Thanks doug from upland.
Yes, Ryan is an excellent budget plan person, but as usual,
Romney has no sense of political charisma for the trail. Ryan is as interesting as Romney to the general public.
Political gaffes and incompetence reign at the Romney camp.
Would this continue in a presidency? [imaginary horrors?]
On my way down there from Gloucester County right now@ 0445 EST.
Watch for the Ryan/USS Wisconsin head fake.. the pick still could be Gov. McDonnell.
I disagree with you and the lamestream media regarding the “political gaffes”
This is a awesome VP pick. Also, Ryan will rip Biden a new one in the VP debates.
Seeing an Iowa-class BB should rightly be on everyone’s bucket list. They are spectacular.
None moreso, imho, than Wisky. Missouri has poetic symbolism going for her (being the surrender ship for the Pacific theater in WWII she’s moored in Pearl Harbor facing the Arizona, where the war started) and New Jersey has nostalgia with being located at her birthplace.
But Wisky is positioned to absolutely DOMINATE the Norfolk Waterfront. The visual framing of her as you approach her coming down E. City Hall Ave. is a real jaw-dropper.
Romney is so typical. A guy with finance and numbers-This will be going around the country- how is this exciting for young people and the base and grandma? Too bad we were not getting Palin. I feel bad since to me, she is the clear choice. This insider strategy is the same old thing. The beltway gang will be so happy since no new blood will be coming in. Why do it this way-Mccain brought Palin out on stage and she electrified the people. The stuff on Drudge looks like overkill.
If you ever find yourself in Norfolk she is worth a visit!
Next to Wiskey is the Nauticus Museum. Hanging from the ceiling is a balance with a VW Beatle on one scale and a round from her big guns on the other side in perfect balance. The Wisconsin could launch that round over 25 miles and consistently put it on target. It's very impressive to think of having exploding volkswagons raining down on you from a ship that is well over the horizon. You can't see who's shooting these at you, you don't hear the firing you just get lit up seconds after you hear the air ripping apart from the incoming shell.
Go Hawks !
I went to Norfolks specifically to see the Wisconsin.
She isn’t near ready to be seen.
You can walk her decks and that’s about it.
I was dissappointed. If you want to see a battleship go to Wilmington and see the North Carolina.
One day Wisconsin may be ready, but it isn’t that day yet.
Now for Ryan, there are pro’s and con’s no one Romney picks will be considered suitable for all.Ryan is as good a pick as nay, we will have to wait and see how the Democrats cut him up before we can decide.And he will be cut up and bad mouthed and accused of every act of evil they can think of.
It’s the Democrats way.
Until just recently Wisky was still considered a recall/deactivation asset for the USN. She was down at Nauticus as part of a special agreement with Norfolk to both have her on display while keeping her in shape to be reactived if needed. As such, except for special occasions and tours she was kept sealed. Even tho access was limited it was certainly a MUCH better situation than with the USS Iowa which was tucked rusting away in Susuin Bay.
We need a "battlwagon" strategy and excellent tactics to win this election against the left....
... And their professional sycophant-liars in MSM...
Awesome. My father was stationed on the USS Wisconsin - BB64 during WWII.
The USS Iowa is now on display in San Pedro CA. The Pacific Battleship Center has been a resounding success.
As an aside, I was with my Veteran father when the ship opened to the public, they had a day reserved for Veterans and their families to have complete run of the ship. Was incredible.
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