Ingalls Shipbuilding and the Return of USS Wisconsin (BB-64)

Viewed from the stern of the battleship – a symbol of steel rising in the Gulf of Mexico
Amidst the white-capped waves of the Gulf of Mexico, a giant steel silhouette moves forward, strong and proud. That is USS Wisconsin (BB-64) – the legendary battleship of the United States Navy – which has just been reactivated and modernized at the Ingalls Shipbuilding Inc. shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. From the stern, one not only sees a massive structure rushing out into the vast ocean, but also feels the resurrected heartbeat of a once glorious war monument.

The battleship revived from history
USS Wisconsin (BB-64) is an Iowa-class battleship, one of the fastest and most powerful warships ever built. First commissioned in 1944, Wisconsin fought in World War II, the Korean War, and was finally decommissioned in 1958. But the fate of the battleship did not end there.

In the mid-1980s, amid Cold War tensions, the US Navy decided to reactivate and upgrade the Iowa-class battleships. Wisconsin was chosen, and Ingalls Shipbuilding Inc., a military industrial icon on the US south coast, was given the important task.

Ingalls Shipbuilding – the heart of America’s military industry
Located in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Ingalls Shipbuilding Inc. has built and repaired hundreds of warships for the US Navy, from stealth submarines to state-of-the-art destroyers. In the 1980s, when Wisconsin was pulled into the yard, it was a scene both legendary and challenging.

Engineers and workers at Ingalls worked tirelessly – refitting the old-generation war machine with weapons, radar, Tomahawk cruise missile launchers and modern combat control systems, turning an old-generation war machine into a modern-day warship.

Stern View – The Rebirth of an Icon
During a test run off the Gulf of Mexico, a striking image was captured from the stern view of Wisconsin:
The ship, more than 270 meters long, 33 meters wide, and weighing nearly 60,000 tons, was cutting through the water. From behind, the stern soared, white waves shot up from both sides like the wings of a giant iron eagle. The new – upgraded – engine roared in the water, propelling the warship across the ocean like a steel arrow. On the aft deck, the missile launchers stood still but ready to fire.

Sunlight shines on the ship’s curved stern, creating a beautiful line, both soft and powerful. A symbol not only of strength, but also of heritage, engineering and determination.

Sailing Again
After successful testing, USS Wisconsin was officially returned to the fleet in 1988. The warship participated in the 1991 Gulf War, firing cruise missiles at targets in Iraq – marking the last time a battleship fired live ammunition in combat. A new chapter was written, continuing the glorious history.

From the stern perspective – witness to a chapter of steel history
From the rear perspective – where few people often pay attention – USS Wisconsin (BB-64) appears not just a ship, but a living legend. Reborn at Ingalls Shipbuilding, roaming the ocean again, the warship represents not only the strength of the US military, but also the ability of a nation to rise through the ages.