USS Alabama (BB-60)
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.
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| History | |
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 United States
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| Namesake: | State of Alabama |
| Ordered: | 1 April 1939 |
| Builder: | Norfolk Naval Shipyard |
| Laid down: | 1 February 1940 |
| Launched: | 16 February 1942 |
| Sponsored by: | Henrietta McCormick Hill |
| Commissioned: | 16 August 1942 |
| Decommissioned: | 9 January 1947 |
| Struck: | 1 June 1962 |
| Nickname(s): | "Lucky A" |
| Honors and awards: |
9 Battle Stars |
| Status: | Museum ship since 11 June 1964 at the Battleship Memorial Park |
| 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: |
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| Aircraft carried: | OS2U Kingfisher scout planes |
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USS Alabama (battleship)
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USS Alabama at permanent berth.
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| Built | 1964 for museum |
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| NRHP Reference # | 86000083 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | 14 January 1986 |
| Designated NHL | 14 January 1986 |
USS Alabama (BB-60), a South Dakota-class battleship, was the sixth ship of the United States Navy named after the US state of Alabama.Alabama was commissioned in 1942 and served in World War II in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. She was retired in 1962. In 1964, Alabama was taken to Mobile Bay and opened as a museum ship the following year. The ship was added to the National Historic Landmark registry in 1986.
Alabama was laid down on 1 February 1940 by the Norfolk Navy Yard, launched on 16 February 1942, and sponsored by Henrietta McCormick Hill, wife of J. Lister Hill, the senior Senator from Alabama. Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox, spoke at the launching ceremony: "As Alabama slides down the ways today, she carries with her a great name and a great tradition. We cannot doubt that before many months have passed she will have had her first taste of battle. The Navy welcomes her as a new queen among her peers. In the future, as in the past, may the name Alabama ever stand for fighting spirit and devotion to a cause." Alabama was commissioned on 16 August 1942, with Captain George B. Wilson in command.
After fitting out, USS Alabama commenced her shakedown cruise in Chesapeake Bay on 11 November 1942. As the year 1943 began, the new battleship headed north to conduct operational training out of Casco Bay, Maine. She returned to Chesapeake Bay on 11 January to carry out the last week of shakedown training. Following a period of availability and logistics support at Norfolk, Alabama was assigned to Task Group 22.2 (TG 22.2), and returned to Casco Bay for tactical maneuvers on 13 February 1943.
With the movement of substantial British strength toward the Mediterranean theater to prepare for the invasion of Sicily, the Royal Navy lacked the heavy ships necessary to cover the northern convoy routes. The British appeal for help on those lines soon led to the temporary assignment of Alabama and South Dakota to the Home Fleet. On 2 April 1943, Alabama, as part of Task Force 22 (TF 22), sailed for the Orkney Islands with her sister ship and a screen of five destroyers. Proceeding via Little Placentia Sound and Naval Station Argentia, Newfoundland, the battleship reached Scapa Flow on 19 May, reporting for duty with Task Force 61 and becoming a unit of the British Home Fleet. She soon embarked on a period of intensive operational training to coordinate joint operations.
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Wikipedia