It was one of the largest warships ever built by the United States Navy- with enough firepower to level a city, a hand in three armed conflicts and over six decades of service life.
Despite being part of a dying breed, the USS Wisconsin (known as “Wisky”), was a legend that stood out from many battleships, particularly when it came to dealing with incoming fire.
Named after the state of Wisconsin, Wisky was initially planned before the war, but would not be ready to go until Dec. 7, 1943, the second anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
A floating tub of armor bristling with cannons, the Wisconsin was equipped with nine 16-inch (406 mm)/50 cal Mark 7 guns, which could fire 2,700 lb (1,200 kg) armor-piercing shells hurtling some 20 miles across the land or sea, often with stunning accuracy. In addition to the Mark 7s, the ship also sported 20 5-inch (127 mm)/38 cal guns in ten twin turrets, which could fire at targets up to 10 miles away.
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