Wisconsin (BB 64) - Naval Cruise Book

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and the ship had become known as the grey lair of the devil bomb. After five consecutive months on the bomb line, we were happy to see the U-S-S IOWA steam into the harbor. Vfe exchanged infor- mation for two days, transferred the Flag, were re- lieved, and set sail for the island of Guam. We learned at Guam that we had been sent to test a floating drydock. We set a record that day. The WISCONSIN is the largest ship ever to be supported by a drydock of that type. After our brief stay at Guam we proceeded to Pearl Harbor, our first liberty port since leaving Japan. We stayed two days, enjoying the water and sun- shine of Waikiki Beach and the delights of the Royal Hawaiian, Surf Rider, and Moana Hotels. We then set our course for California. The '4Wiscy tied up at Long Beach, California, in late April for another two-day rest stop. This was our first taste of Stateside liberty in over six months. Things had not changed much While we were away, but we had been away long enough to be homesick. We were out to make up for lost time. It was won- derful. The trip to the Canal Zone was marked by sun bathing and many days of holiday routine. We rest- ed one day in Panama City and then transited the Canal. ' We arrived in Norfolk in early May amid a fleet of tugs shooting great geysers of water into the air. A large crowd waited on the pier, We moored, and in short order the brows were put in place and the great reunion was underway, It was One of those , los rare emotion-filled moments which will never be forgotten. For the next month we basked in the warm sun of Norfolk and again became accustomed to the State- side way of doing things. Early in June 1952 we left for Annapolis, Mary- land, to take aboard the Naval Academy Midship- men, then returned to Norfolk for the NROTC Mid- shipmen. With our 750 c'Middies7' we sailed for Greenoch, Scotland. Three weeks and many, many drills later we arrived at our first port of call. We had live days to get acquainted with Greenoch and Glasgow and the hospitable Scots. All of us made many friends in Scotland, and it was with a touch of nostalgia that we sailed for Brest, France. Liberty there was fine, and most Of us took the opportunity to go to Paris on three-day sightseeing tours. Paris was truly the fascinating city we had been led to believe she was. The days WCIC spent seeing the sights and after dark we learned first-hand about Paris night-life. Our next stop was the Navy Underway Training Command at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After a brief stay there we sailed for Norfolk, and another pCri0d at home. Three weeks later we got underway to take part in . . .

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y if The cruise began in late August 1952. Once again we found ourselves en route to Greenoch, Scotland. This time the harbor was the assembling point for the entire NATO fleet. We were given three days, lib- erty and had a chance to renew acquaintances in Greenoch and Glasgow. Operation Mainbrace began in earnest. For nearly two weeks we steamed under simulated wartime con- ditions. During the operation we cruised north of the Arctic Circle and became members of the Order of the Blue Noses in two senses-membership and fact. It was cold! Mainbrace ended in late September. We anchored at Oslo, Norway, for iive glorious days of rest and recreation. We were in the mood for liberty, and Oslo was just the place for it. During our return to the States we participated in what was known as Operation Immigrant, a foul- weather operation. After a week, we arrived home in Norfolk once more. The next two weeks were spent preparing the ship to move into the Naval Shipyard at Portsmouth, Vir- ginia. Vife went into the yard on schedule in mid- October and remained there for four months. This period saw the WISCONSIN undergo many changes. We were completely overhauled and brought up-to- date in every respect. We had the unew lookw upon leaving the yard in February 1953. Capt. Foley reads his orders oapt. nruton reads his orders 110 Capt. Foley takes the Conn l 1