In the maelstrom of World War II, where human-made storms of conflict raged across the globe, natural tempests also challenged the mettle of warships and their crews. Among these was the USS Wisconsin (BB-64), an Iowa-class battleship that not only braved the ferocity of battle but also survived the capricious wrath of nature. With its heavy armament and strong hull, the Wisconsin withstood Typhoon Cobra in December 1944 and another vicious storm in June 1945, emerging largely unscathed to continue its mission in the Pacific Theatre.
Commissioned on April 16, 1944, the Wisconsin was a new addition to the naval chessboard, boasting nine 16-inch guns in her main battery and a secondary battery of twenty 5-inch guns. Her arrival came at a pivotal time during the Allied reconquest of the Philippines. The battleship joined Admiral William F. Halsey’s Third Fleet and played an essential role in supporting amphibious landings and conducting escort duty for Task Force 38’s fast carriers during air strikes against key Japanese positions. The Wisconsin played a key role in neutralizing enemy forces in locations like Formosa, Luzon, and the Nansei Shoto, making Japanese facilities mostly ineffective and aiding in the successful progression of operations against the Japanese-held Philippines.
But it was the battle against nature that would prove a formidable test for the Wisconsin and her crew. On December 18, 1944, Typhoon Cobra, with its vicious winds and waves, struck the fleet with catastrophic effects. While three destroyers capsized and sank, claiming the lives of their crewmen, the Wisconsin demonstrated her superior seaworthiness by surviving the storm unscathed. This resilience was not a one-off event, as less than six months later, the battleship would once again face the tempest’s fury. On June 4, 1945, another typhoon lashed the fleet, causing significant damage to several vessels, but again, the Wisconsin rode out the storm without serious harm.
The war progressed, the Wisconsin continued to hammer enemy positions with her big guns. On March 24, 1945, she and her fellow battleships unleashed a pre-landing bombardment on Okinawa, softening up Japanese defenses in preparation for the invasion. The Wisconsin’s guns posed a threat to both enemy land installations and aircraft in the sky. As kamikaze attacks increased, the battleship, armed with anti-aircraft weapons, played a key role in protecting Task Force 58’s carriers from aerial suicide missions.
The final months of the war saw the Wisconsin participate in a series of devastating raids on the Japanese homeland, including air strikes and shore bombardments, which culminated in the surrender of Japan. The battleship’s contribution to the Allied victory was considerable, having steamed 105,831 miles since commissioning, downing three enemy planes, She had refueled 150 destroyers at sea and had participated in pacific naval operation since she joined the fleet in December 1944.
After her relentless service, the Wisconsin’s involvement in the Pacific campaign ended as it dropped anchor in Tokyo Bay on September 6, 1945, part of the occupation force and a symbol of the enduring power and resilience of the United States Navy.
Relevant articles:
– The Battleship Wisconsin, Nauticus
– Battleship USS Wisconsin Sailed Through Two Typhoons and Survived, The National Interest, Dec 12, 2023
– Uss Wisconsin BB-64, USS Wisconsin Association