A whole afternoon on 'Wisky'
AJAYA'S CRUISE
Phil & Nikki Hoskins
Sat 7 Nov 2009 14:15
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Well the Battleship Wisconsin to be precise but
affectionately called Wisky - to be explained later.
I had always had a childhood wish to walk the decks
of a battleship. Born too late to have the opportunity to see one at home,
the USA is the only place that seems to have saved any from the scrapyard. In
fact Wisconsin is currently still on the reserve list, unlike her
remaining Iowa class sisters that are now floating museums located in
various States around the USA. She is kept in a relative state of
readiness with constant humidity conditions prevailing below
decks ready to be brought back into service should the need arise,
which quite frankly is unlikely. In fact she will shortly be de-listed again and
handed over to the people of Norfolk to remain as the focal point of the
Nauticus Centre here in Norfolk. But as the Navy currently 'own' the ship
visitors are free to walk the decks and talk to the 'Docents', who are experts
on the ship, giving their time free.
Launched in the last years of WW2 as one of the
very distinctive Iowa class battleships she did see active service in the war
but never engaged any other ship directly. Her main use seems to have been to
lob 1 ton shells over distances of up to 30miles at various targets in the
Middle & Far East including the 6 day war. For these engagements she proudly
wears various motifs on her 16" gun turrets. She enjoyed a new lease
of life in the Reagan years, being brought back into service at a cost of 380
millon dollars - no wonder he was such a popular president! She is a ship
from a bygone era.To a warship enthusiast she is hallowed territory, to an eco
warrior she is a 45,000 ton floating nightmare, that would have left a
carbon footprint visible from outer space!
    Nikki being shown round the foredeck by a
friendly fire
hydrant
Phil eyes up some new anchor chain for Ajaya
    A 16"shell with the powder charges on the
rack behind -
ouch!
The officers dining hall viewed through a porthole
  5" gun turrets on each
side
The control bridges
  And finally - that name - Wisky. See
below.........
 A collision with an accompanying ship in trials off
the east coast caused damage to the bows of the new battleship. The bow section
of the sistership USS Kentuky which was in build was 'borrowed' and fitted
to the Wisconsin in a record 48 hours enabling the ship to enter the
war.
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