Rear Admiral, M.F. Draemel, Commandant of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, introduces Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Ralph, A. Bard, who speaks to large group of Navy Yard personnel and visitors and spectators. The occasion is the launching of the second USS Wisconsin (BB-64) on December 7, 1943. Governor of Wisconsin, Walter S. Goodland and his wife are present. Mrs. Goodland is the official sponsor.
Mrs. Walter S. Goodland, wife of the Governor of Wisconsin, holds a bottle of champagne, preparing to christen the battleship, USS Wisconsin (BB-64). Rear Admiral, M.F.Draemel, Commandant of the Navy Yard advises her how to swing the bottle and then steps away so Governor Goodland can stand next to Mrs. Goodland for photographs
The horn of the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) sounds loudly, as Mrs. Walter S. Goodland, wife of the Governor of Wisconsin, successfully breaks a bottle of champagne over the ship's bow and it starts down the ways. She is assisted by Rear Admiral M.F. Draemel, Commandant of the Navy Yard. The ship's horn continues to sound throughout the launching. Navy yard personnel and spectators all cheer.
Steel used for ship building and war materiel manufacture in the United States during World War 2. Shipbuilding at a dock. Sign says “U.S. Naval Advance Base Depot”. A steam locomotive pulls a 16 inch naval gun from a war production factory. Men move newly made Navy torpedo via overhead conveyor. Men building torpedoes in a factory. A huge engine is being lifted by an overhead crane. War production workers on factory floor building items for U.S. Navy. A United States Naval officer speaks with a factory executive. Narrator mentions importance of scrap metal for use in ship building. The launching of the Iowa-class battleship, USS Wisconsin (BB-64), in the Philadelphia Navy Yard on December 7, 1943. Assisted by Rear Admiral Melo F. Draemel, Mrs. Margaret Roche-Goodland, wife of Wisconsin Governor Walter S. Goodland, successfully breaks a bottle of champagne over the ship's bow. The USS Wisconsin starts down the dry dock during launch.