 USS Alabama (BB-60), 1 December 1942, in camouflage. Note trunked tower foremast and funnel, similar to that used in the design of the later Iowa-class battleships.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Ordered | 1 April 1939 |
| Builder | Norfolk Naval Shipyard |
| Laid down | 1 February 1940 |
| Launched | 16 February 1942 |
| Commissioned | 16 August 1942 |
| Decommissioned | 9 January 1947 |
| Stricken | 1 June 1962 |
| Nickname(s) | "Lucky A" |
| Honors and awards | Nine Battle Stars |
| Fate | Museum ship since 11 June 1964 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | South Dakota-class (1939) battleship |
| Displacement | 35,000 long tons standard |
| Length | 680 ft (210 m) |
| Beam | 108.2 ft (33.0 m) |
| Draft | 36.2 ft (11.0 m) |
| Propulsion | oil-fired steam turbines, 4 shafts |
| Speed | 27.5 kn (31.6 mph; 50.9 km/h) |
| Range | 15,000 nmi (17,000 mi; 28,000 km) at 15 kn (17 mph; 28 km/h) |
| Complement | 1,793 officers and men |
| Sensors and processing systems | radar |
| Armament | list error: <br /> list (help) 9 × 16 in (410 mm)/45 cal Mark 6 guns 20 × 5 in (130 mm)/38 cal guns 24 × Bofors 40 mm guns 22 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannons (ever-increasing) |
| Aircraft carried | OS2U Kingfisher scout planes |
USS Alabama (BB-60) was a South Dakota-class battleship of the United States Navy.
Design
editEarly career
editConstruction upon Alabama began on 1 February 1940, when her keel was laid down at the Norfolk Navy Yard. She was launched two years later, on 16 February 1942, and commissioned into the Navy six months after that (16 August). After the process of fitting out was completed, she began her shakedown cruise in Chesapeake Bay before moving north to Casco Bay, Maine in the beginning of January 1943. Returning to Chesapeake on 11 January, she completed her shakedown there.[N 1] After receiving required repairs in the Norfolk Navy Yard, she steamed to Casco Bay once more, where she joined her sister South Dakota on 13 February for tactical maneuvers.[1][2]
With the Royal Navy preparing to transfer many of its capital ships to the Mediterranean Sea to support Operation "Husky", the Allied invasion of Sicily, Alabama and South Dakota were instructed to sail to the British Isles. Beginning on 2 April, the battleships—escorted by five destroyers—proceeded through Little Placentia Sound in Argentia while on their way to Scapa Flow, which they reached on 19 May. After a short time of training, South Dakota and Alabama were deployed in early June to cover a reinforcement of the island of Spitsbergen, north of both Norway and the Arctic Circle. In July, Alabama took part in Operation "Governor", which attempted to simultaneously draw attention away from Operation "Husky" and bring the German battleship Tirpitz to battle.[1][2]
On 1 August, Alabama and South Dakota, along with escorts, set course for the United States. They reached Norfolk nine days later; after a hurried overhaul, she again set sail, this time for service in the Third Fleet as part of the Pacific War. After reaching Efate on 14 September, she took part in training and exercises into November, when she moved to Fiji in preparation for Operation "Galvanic". After escorting the fast carriers, she was present for the invasions of Tarawa, Betio and Makin.[1][2]
Notes
editFootnotes
editReferences
edit- "Alabama". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
- Garzke, William H.; Dulin, Robert O. (1976). Battleships: United States Battleships in World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0870210998. OCLC 2414211.