Since 2010 the USS Milwaukee has been on the radar of many Wisconsinites. Today I had the opportunity to take a short tour - after the background check of course. This small ~389 foot ship, with an amazingly small crew of 50, has a whopping 113,710hp! Allowing it to get up and go to speeds of 45 knots (52 mph, 83 km/h) in less than 2.5 min, and a 13.5 foot draft, making it the smallest, fastest, and most versatile ships the USN has to offer.

Starboard side bridge wing of the USS Milwaukee.

Security was tight. Not only was the ship surrounded by a large fence, but continually watched by Milwaukee Police and Naval Personnel wielding pistols and shotguns, on land and water.

Peering through a fence at the new USS Milwaukee.
Exterior view of the Mark 46 Mod II 30 mm Gun Weapon System.
Interior cutaway view of the Mark 46 Gun Weapon System seen during a tour of the USS Milwaukee.

Whilst I waited for my tour to start, a large tent with a few replicas and some knowledgeable sailors kept me entertained.

I was surprised to learn that these small turrets, now seen on many of our ships, actually have a way to fire locally; as well as remotely. Supposedly used as a backup. Being over 6ft tall, I highly doubt I could even try to fit in there though.

A story that must be told:

Before boarding the ship, whilst derping around taking photos, a massive gust of wind flung my Sprecher baseball cap from my head. One of our tour guides; a navy Petty Officer, lurched from the back of the group! Sprinting towards my cap; which was now flying though the wind at great speed, closer and closer to the waters edge. He saved it from ultimate doom (Lake Michigan) just in the nick of time!

Walking the flight deck of the Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Milwaukee, through the partially open hanger door.

This ship has a 1.5x larger flight deck compared to others in the fleet, and through the garage-like door in the stern of the ship, was this large aircraft hanger, where two Seahawks could be stowed.

The hangar aboard the USS Milwaukee.

Below the hanger is a large bay opening to the water. This allows them to navigate boats right up next to the ship, with a lift from the surface of the water to the opening of the door.

Oh! And, I guess they currently had 12 sailors housed in that grey box in the background!

Navy personnel explaining the mission bay of the USS Milwaukee.

We have had a couple of very windy days this week, and even with massive steal pillar breaks and 5 lines tied to either end of the ship, you could definitely feel the sway. You can see the unique structure of the Milwaukee Art Museum in the background, which also makes an appearance in the ship's coat of arms.

A view of the Milwaukee skyline from the USS Milwaukee.

This is a BAE MK 110 57mm gun. This little guy brings a lot of punch with 200 rounds per minute! supposedly it also allows the gunner to choose, whilst in flight, if the round will explode before or after penetrating armor.

Looking down the barrel of the BAE Mk110 57mm deck gun aboard the USS Milwaukee.

The personnel, security, and team that put this tour together were the nicest of people, and I'm so glad I got the opportunity, thank you all!

Learn more about the USS Milwaukee here!

The First Navy Jack whipping in the harsh November winds aboard the USS Milwaukee.