American battleship histories. American naval battleship USS Alabama. Battleship website dedicated to the history of USS Alabama from their launch to their participation in major wars also notice board for naval historians & families of ex-crew of USS Alabama.

Then last of four Battleships of the South Dakota class. USS Alabama was launched on the 16th February 1942 and completed in August 1942. Her first duties were Convoy protection duties in the Arctic. USS Alabama along with USS South Dakota arrived at Scapa Flow, in June 1943 to allow two Royal Navy Battleships to go to the Mediterranean to cover the Sicily Landings. After serving in this role they both went to the Pacific as part of the Task group 58.2 and took part in the attacks on Japanese bases  in the Marshall Islands in January 1944. USS Alabama then took part i the US main fleet actions in the Pacific these were the battle of the Philippine sea, Gilbert islands Truk, Saipan, Palau, Guam Luzon, Taiwan, Okinawa and the bombardment of the Japanese home Islands.  This role was well suited to the big guns of the Battleships. USS Alabama was damaged in a Typhoon off Okinawa on the 5th June 1945 and was decommissioned in January 1947 and finally stricken in June 1962, she was saved from being scrapped to become a permanent memorial at the naval base of Mobile in the State of Alabama.

BB60 USS Alabama, 1st December 1942

Order Code BB60

USS Alabama, 1943.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP5039

Displacement: 37,970    Speed: 27.5 knots   Compliment: 1793