Alabama

0.6.9.1.1

Alabama

Battleship | U.S.A. | Tier VIII

Tech Tree Position

General

Purchase price12 200

Hit Points63 300

Aircraft

Main Battery

406 mm/45 Mk63 х 3 pcs.

Rate of Fire2 shots/min.

Reload Time30 sec.

Rotation Speed4.5 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time40 sec.

Firing Range21.1 km.

Maximum Dispersion271 m.

HE Shell406 mm HE/HC Mk13

Maximum HE Shell Damage5700

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell36 %

Initial HE Shell Velocity803 m./s.

HE Shell Weight862 kg.

AP Shell406 mm AP Mk8

Maximum AP Shell Damage13 100

Initial AP Shell Velocity701 m./s.

AP Shell Weight1225 kg.

Secondary Armament #1

127 mm/38 Mk3210 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range5 km.

Rate of Fire10 shots/min.

Reload Time6 sec.

HE Shell127 mm HE Mk32

Maximum HE Shell Damage1800

Initial HE Shell Velocity792 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shel5 %

AA Defense

20 mm Oerlikon Mk452 х 1 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second187.2

. . . Firing Range2.01 km.

40 mm Bofors Mk212 х 4 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second190.8

. . . Firing Range3.51 km.

127 mm/38 Mk3210 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second151

. . . Firing Range5.01 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed27.5 knot

Turning Circle Radius710 m.

Rudder Shift Time15.3 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range16.2 km.

Air Detectability Range12.15 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

0.6.9.1.1

Alabama

Battleship | U.S.A. | Tier VIII

Tech Tree Position

General

Purchase price12 200

Hit Points63 300

Aircraft

Main Battery

406 mm/45 Mk63 х 3 pcs.

Rate of Fire2 shots/min.

Reload Time30 sec.

Rotation Speed4.5 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time40 sec.

Firing Range21.1 km.

Maximum Dispersion271 m.

HE Shell406 mm HE/HC Mk13

Maximum HE Shell Damage5700

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell36 %

Initial HE Shell Velocity803 m./s.

HE Shell Weight862 kg.

AP Shell406 mm AP Mk8

Maximum AP Shell Damage13 100

Initial AP Shell Velocity701 m./s.

AP Shell Weight1225 kg.

Secondary Armament #1

127 mm/38 Mk3210 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range5 km.

Rate of Fire10 shots/min.

Reload Time6 sec.

HE Shell127 mm HE Mk32

Maximum HE Shell Damage1800

Initial HE Shell Velocity792 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shel5 %

AA Defense

20 mm Oerlikon Mk452 х 1 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second187.2

. . . Firing Range2.01 km.

40 mm Bofors Mk212 х 4 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second190.8

. . . Firing Range3.51 km.

127 mm/38 Mk3210 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second151

. . . Firing Range5.01 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed27.5 knot

Turning Circle Radius710 m.

Rudder Shift Time15.3 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range16.2 km.

Air Detectability Range12.15 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

VIII

12 200

Alabama — American premium Tier VIII battleship.

One of the South Dakota-class battleships. Alabama boasted powerful AA defenses and sophisticated surveillance systems. She had a sensible armor layout including an internal main armor belt and a solid horizontal protection.

USS Alabama is now preserved as a military museum ship in Mobile, Alabama.

Alabama first went on sale on 31 March 2017 on the NA servers, and on 30 March 2017 on the EU servers.

Modules

	Rate of Fire (shots/min)	180 Degree Turn Time (sec)	Maximum Dispersion (m)	Maximum HE Shell Damage (HP)	Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell (%)	Maximum AP Shell Damage (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
406 mm/45 Mk.6 en una torreta	2	40	271	5700	36	13 100		0	0

	Hit Points (HP)	Armor (mm)	Armor (mm)	Main Turrets (pcs.)	Secondary Gun Turrets (pcs.)	AA Mounts (pcs.)	Torpedo Tubes (pcs.)	Hangar Capacity (pcs.)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Alabama	63 300	6	457	3	10	12/52/10				0	0

	Firing Range Increase (%)	Maximum Firing Range (km)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Mk8 mod. 1	0	21,1		0	0

	Maximum Speed (knot)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Propulsión: 130 000 CV	27,5		0	0

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1	[[File:wows icon_modernization_PCM030_MainWeapon_Mod_I_bb1e79efbcc73dfa03a6dd5ae173566ee691b77e3a6587389d6f7ea07eb03588.png", "local": "{\"default\": \"gui|44px|Modificación 1 del armamento principal|link=Ship:Upgrades#Modificaci.C3.B3n.C2.A01_del.C2.A0armamento_principal]]	[[File:wows icon_modernization_PCM031_SecondaryWeapon_Mod_I_5369d8b071df59a515906433ea1fff10a55841495258bcd04d3365467e61e4af.png", "local": "{\"default\": \"gui|44px|Modificación 1 del armamento auxiliar|link=Ship:Upgrades#Modificaci.C3.B3n.C2.A01_del.C2.A0armamento_auxiliar]]	[[File:wows icon_modernization_PCM032_PowderMagazine_Mod_I_9607d8ec91ddcca4a95443845b888fbd9de4cd81df5a30a199d400657a552017.png", "local": "{\"default\": \"gui|44px|Modificación 1 de la santabárbara|link=Ship:Upgrades#Modificaci.C3.B3n.C2.A01_de_la.C2.A0santab.C3.A1rbara]]
Slot 2	[[File:wows icon_modernization_PCM006_MainGun_Mod_II_bffc35efc4e090487fd6110a10a2be1f5d51b7918303f724194817e698055412.png", "local": "{\"default\": \"gui|44px|Modificación 2 de la batería principal|link=Ship:Upgrades#Modificaci.C3.B3n.C2.A02_de_la.C2.A0bater.C3.ADa_principal]]	[[File:wows icon_modernization_PCM012_SecondaryGun_Mod_II_c87da07dc4aebb94da59f3df3f8c2934279decb9677334a1a7e4b1f1c9f9ad04.png", "local": "{\"default\": \"gui|44px|Modificación 1 de la batería secundaria|link=Ship:Upgrades#Modificaci.C3.B3n.C2.A01_de_la.C2.A0bater.C3.ADa_secundaria]]	[[File:wows icon_modernization_PCM018_AirDefense_Mod_III_d3f357c6dc4e5e627a86e17a16432cb38da32bb1b7999b4a7852371491511770.png", "local": "{\"default\": \"gui|44px|Modificación 1 de los cañones AA|link=Ship:Upgrades#Modificaci.C3.B3n.C2.A01_de_los.C2.A0ca.C3.B1ones_AA]]	[[File:wows icon_modernization_PCM028_FireControl_Mod_I_US_c5594545cedeb1f273aecbd98d18c8dbbcc7b0edc9b5e1b8184eacb443991cb5.png", "local": "{\"default\": \"gui|44px|Modificación 1 de la sala de control de la artillería|link=Ship:Upgrades#Modificaci.C3.B3n_1_de_la.C2.A0sala_de_control_de_la.C2.A0artiller.C3.ADa]]
Slot 4	[[File:wows icon_modernization_PCM020_DamageControl_Mod_I_bbc708467bc8f1e6264ac88fb8999ea40660e4b0b94b59ab7b3f1a8b60539ed8.png", "local": "{\"default\": \"gui|44px|Modificación 1 del sistema de control de daños|link=Ship:Upgrades#Modificaci.C3.B3n.C2.A01_del.C2.A0sistema_de_control_de_da.C3.B1os]]	[[File:wows icon_modernization_PCM069_Movement_Mod_I_ca8429dcc45fdad36cdd474a13e5a289d6f7cf27ae32c9f30d42b72b9db493af.png", "local": "{\"default\": \"gui|44px|Protección de la sala de máquinas|link=Ship:Upgrades#Protecci.C3.B3n_de_la_sala_de_m.C3.A1quinas]]
Slot 5	[[File:wows icon_modernization_PCM023_DamageControl_Mod_II_3c6aea0c5bccc94f1d8f1fa52662232afa007d784638ce6e981c8ad3457c63fa.png", "local": "{\"default\": \"gui|44px|Modificación 2 del sistema de control de daños|link=Ship:Upgrades#Modificaci.C3.B3n.C2.A02_del.C2.A0sistema_de_control_de_da.C3.B1os]]	[[File:wows icon_modernization_PCM024_Engine_Mod_II_4b4f4c217cf5cf580f47ccbbf76ecede110c5143055c55ab45a82d19e87423fb.png", "local": "{\"default\": \"gui|44px|Modificación 1 de la propulsión|link=Ship:Upgrades#Modificaci.C3.B3n.C2.A01_de_la.C2.A0propulsi.C3.B3n]]	[[File:wows icon_modernization_PCM025_SteeringGear_Mod_II_523c86ce4c7d228e73ee3d2cb406f4d78a205aa2453fec45b0925dec519bf7c5.png", "local": "{\"default\": \"gui|44px|Modificación 1 del aparato de gobierno|link=Ship:Upgrades#Modificaci.C3.B3n.C2.A01_del.C2.A0aparato_de_gobierno]]	[[File:wows icon_modernization_PCM087_AirSupport_Mod_I_d26ea96903bf2c47669142777cfa61b0285e652ce26304ed9502bc8de35d0ded.png", "local": "{\"default\": \"gui|44px|Modificación 1 del ataque aéreo|link=Ship:Upgrades#Modificaci.C3.B3n.C2.A01_del_ataque_a.C3.A9reo]]
Slot 6	[[File:wows icon_modernization_PCM026_LookoutStation_Mod_I_9bdab08af77f5c612cec2a357353f7b60d37118aaab4763721dd53230f68943b.png", "local": "{\"default\": \"gui|44px|Sistema de vigilancia de torpedos|link=Ship:Upgrades#Sistema_de_vigilancia_de_torpedos]]	[[File:wows icon_modernization_PCM027_ConcealmentMeasures_Mod_I_bda1386ab237032301b6273e655a1998de5bfb50e2c8e59124c8a93d73093f0a.png", "local": "{\"default\": \"gui|44px|Modificación 1 del sistema de ocultación|link=Ship:Upgrades#Modificaci.C3.B3n.C2.A01_del.C2.A0sistema_de_ocultaci.C3.B3n]]	[[File:wows icon_modernization_PCM072_AbilityWorktimeBoost_Mod_I_e6323cc6cf2a0c16e8a3a3ca4db0ceaebbdb868447435dbafea6f580b66ff101.png", "local": "{\"default\": \"gui|44px|Modificación 1 de los consumibles del barco|link=Ship:Upgrades#Modificaci.C3.B3n.C2.A01_de_los_consumibles_del_barco]]

Player Opinion

Performance

Alabama is a Tier VIII American battleship that shares many characteristics with her tech tree counterpart, North Carolina. The most obvious similarity is that both share the identical 16-inch, 45-caliber guns mounted in triple turrets in an A-B-X configuration, as well as firing the same 13,100 damage AP shells. Both battleships also feature powerful suites of anti-aircraft guns that make them unappealing targets for same- or lower-tier aircraft carriers. Captains familiar with North Carolina’s primary, secondary, and AA armaments will feel right at home behind the helm of Alabama.

The big things that set Alabama apart from North Carolina are her torpedo defense system — the best of any American battleship in the game — and her improved handling characteristics. With a two second faster rudder shift time and a 50 meter smaller turning circle radius, she is both better able to dodge incoming torpedoes and better able to withstand damage from any she is unable to avoid. While Alabama and North Carolina share the same bow armor scheme that enables them to better resist incoming fire when bow-on towards enemies, they also share the same citadel location; enemy battleships with broadside shots on Alabama can very easily strip off large amounts of her health, especially at longer ranges.

Captains who enjoy the play style of North Carolina will find Alabama to be an enjoyable ship, and will very much appreciate her improved torpedo protection and turning.

LittleWhiteMouse's Premium Ship Review: Alabama from the NA Forums

Pros:

• Best-in-tier torpedo protection.
• Tight turning circle.
• 16-inch guns fire the same super-heavy shells as Iowa and Montana, so the shell penetration and damage are devastating with good hits.
• Unrivaled AA suite at her tier.
• Very durable when angled.
• Decently fast at nearly 28 knots.

Cons:

• Her 45 caliber gun shells are slow to land on target; extra lead is needed at range (similar to North Carolina).
• Rudder shift — while faster than North Carolina — is still fairly slow.
• Below average armor piercing shell velocity.
• Dispersion can be unfriendly at times, and she can't mount Aiming Systems Modification 1 to improve it.
• Not as well-armored as lower-tier American battleships; flashing her broadside to enemy battleships is suicidal.
• Small volume of secondaries compared to other Tier VIII battleships.

Research

As a premium ship, Alabama doesn't have any upgrades to research.

Optimal Configuration

Upgrades

As a Tier VIII American battleship with access to five upgrade slots, the following upgrades are recommended for Alabama:

• Slot 1: Auxiliary Armaments Modification 1, as battleship main batteries are rarely destroyed and this would be more helpful towards anti-air focused builds.
• Slot 2: Artillery Plotting Room Modification 1 for players that feel that the range is insufficient or lacking when compared to North Carolina, or AA Guns Modification 2 for players focused on anti-air build; works well in conjunction with Advanced Firing Training.
• Slot 4: Damage Control System Modification 1 for decreased fire and flooding chances.
• Slot 5: Steering Gears Modification 2, to improve agility and ability to dodge incoming enemy torpedoes.
• Slot 6: Concealment System Modification 1 works very well in conjunction with Concealment Expert skill and camouflage.

Commander Skills

For the Level 1 skills, there is no clear-cut choice as to which skill to pick first. Skills such as Preventative Maintenance and Priority target may help in terms of survivability, while other skills like Expert Loader may help in cases where a different target suddenly appears and you need to swap shell type.

For the Level 2 skills, Expert Marksman is priority. The Alabama's turrets are quite slow, as with most battleships, and Expert Marksman will help remedy that. Other skills that may be useful are Adrenaline Rush for faster reload at low health and High Alert to get Damage Repair Party up faster.

For the Level 3 skills, Superintendent should be the first choice. The extra heal is extremely handy to have in a battleship that may take a lot of damage from tanking enemy shells. Basic Firing Training is also helpful making the ship's AA even better than it already is. Basics of Survivability and Vigilance are also useful for survival purposes.

For the Level 4 skills, either Concealment Expert or Advanced Firing Training are excellent first choices to take. Concealment Expert is useful for disengaging from fights and disappearing into stealth or for making flanking maneuvers against the enemy fleet. Advanced Firing Training extends the range of your excellent AA, allowing the Alabama to shoot down enemy planes from farther out and better protecting yourself and your allies from potential aerial attacks. If desired, Manual Fire Control for AA Armament is an option for those who want to be an extra nuisance to enemy planes, however Advanced Firing Training is the better first pick for an AA build Alabama. Fire Prevention is also an option for players who feel that they take too much fire damage and would like to minimize fire damage as much as possible.

Recommended Commander Skills
Cost (points)	Endurance		Attack		Support		Versatility
1	Priority Target Situational Awareness indicator will show the number of opponents currently aiming at you with main battery guns. ★★	Preventative Maintenance -30% to the risk of incapacitation of modules. ★	Expert Loader -50% to reload time when shell type is switched. ★	Aircraft Servicing Expert +5% to HP of carrier-based aircraft. -10% to servicing time of carrier-based aircraft.	Direction Center for Catapult Aircraft +1 catapult aircraft. -20% to the speed of catapult aircraft. ★★	Dogfighting Expert +10% to average damage per second of fighter for each tier of difference between them. +10% to fighters ammunition.	Incoming Fire Alert Indicator of long-range enemy artillery fire. ★	Evasive Maneuver -20% to detectability of strike aircraft when returning to the carrier. +75% to HP of strike aircraft when returning to the carrier. -30% to airspeed of strike aircraft when returning to the carrier.
2	High Alert -10% to reload time of Damage Control Party consumable. ★★	Jack of All Trades -5% to reload time of all consumables. ★	Expert Marksman +2.5 deg/sec to traverse speed of guns with a caliber up to 139mm. +0.7 deg/sec to traverse speed of guns with a caliber above 139mm. ★★★	Torpedo Acceleration +5 knots to torpedo speed. -20% to torpedo range.	Smoke Screen Expert +20% to the radius of the smoke screen.	Expert Rear Gunner +10% to average damage per second of self-defense armament for aircraft with rear gunners.	Adrenaline Rush -0.2% to reload times of all types of armament for each 1% of total health lost. ★★	Last Stand The ship remains able to move and maneuver while the engine or steering gears are incapacitated.
3	Basics of Survivability -15% to time of repair, fire extinguishing, and recovery from flooding. ★★	Survivability Expert +350 HP for each ship tier.	Torpedo Armament Expertise -10% to reload time of torpedo tubes. -20% to servicing time of torpedo bombers.	Emergency Takeoff Makes it possible to launch and recover aircraft while the ship is on fire. +100% to aircraft servicing time while aircraft carrier is on fire.	Basic Firing Training -10% to reload time of main battery guns with a caliber up to and including 139mm and all secondary battery guns. +20% to average damage per second of AA defense. ★★★	Superintendent +1 additional charge to all consumables mounted on a ship. ★★★	Demolition Expert +2% to chance of fire on a target caused by a main caliber shell, secondary shell, or bomb. ★	Vigilance +25% to detection range of enemy torpedoes. ★
4	Manual Fire Control for Secondary Armament -15% to the maximum dispersion of shells for the secondary armament of Tier I-VI ships. -60% to the maximum dispersion of shells for the secondary armament of Tier VII-X ships.	Fire Prevention -7% to the risk of fire. The maximum number of fires on a ship is reduced to three. ★★	Inertia Fuse for HE Shells +30% to the armor penetration capacity of HE shells. -3% to chance of fire on target caused by HE shells.	Air Supremacy +1 fighter per squadron. +1 bomber per squadron.	Advanced Firing Training +20% to firing range of main battery guns with a caliber up to 139mm and all secondary battery guns. +20% to AA defense firing range. ★★★	Manual Fire Control for AA Armament +100% to average damage per second of AA guns with a caliber exceeding 85mm against a designated target. ★★	Radio Position Finding Shows the direction to the nearest enemy ship (that isn't an aircraft carrier). The enemy player is alerted that a bearing has been taken on their ship.	Concealment Expert -10% to the detection radius of destroyers. -12% to the detection radius of cruisers. -14% to the detection radius of battleships. -16% to the detection radius of aircraft carriers. ★★★
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful       ★★ - Frequently Useful       ★ - Occasionally Useful      No stars - Not Useful

Camouflage

As a premium ship, Alabama comes included with Type 10 camouflage that lowers her detection radius, reduces the accuracy of incoming shells, and increases the amount of experience she earns.

Signals

As with most ships, the Alabama has 8 slots for signal flags. The most important are the flags that enhance your survivability, which are India Delta, Sierra Mike, and India Yankee. There is also the option to mount November Echo Setteseven to enhance your already formidable AA or November Foxtrot to shorten the reload of consumables. After that, you can choose to mount flags that impact xp and credit income, such as Zulu, Zulu Hotel, Papa Papa, Equal Speed Charlie London, and Dragon Flag.

Recommended Signal Flags
Combat
November Echo Setteseven +10% average damage per second of all anti-aircraft mounts. +10% average damage per second of self-defense armament for aircraft with rear gunners. ★★	Mike Yankee Soxisix +5% to secondary battery maximum firing range. -5% to maximum dispersion of secondary battery shells. -5% to secondary battery loading time. ★	India X-Ray +1% chance of causing a fire for bombs and shells with a caliber above 160mm. +0.5% chance of causing a fire for bombs and shells with a caliber below 160mm. +5% to the risk of your ship's magazine detonating.	Juliet Whiskey Unaone +15% chance of causing flooding. +5% to the risk of your ship's magazine detonating.	Victor Lima +1% chance of causing a fire for bombs and shells with a caliber above 160mm. +0.5% chance of causing a fire for bombs and shells with a caliber below 160mm. +4% chance of flooding (against your ship).	Hotel Yankee -20% to damage received when ramming the enemy. +50% to damage dealt when ramming the enemy. ★
November Foxtrot -5% reload time on all consumables. ★	Sierra Mike +5% to the ship's maximum speed. ★★★	India Delta +20% to the amount of HP recovered when the Repair Party consumable is used. ★★★	Juliet Yankee Bissotwo -20% to flooding duration. ★	India Yankee -20% to fire duration. ★★	Juliet Charlie -100% to the risk of your ship's magazine detonating. ★
Economic
Zulu +20% credits earned for the battle. ★★	India Bravo Terrathree -10% to the cost of the ship's post-battle repair. ★	Equal Speed Charlie London +50% XP earned for the battle. ★★	Zulu Hotel +50% Commander XP earned for the battle. ★★	Papa Papa +300% Free XP earned for the battle. ★
Special
Wyvern +50% credits earned for the battle. ★★★	Red Dragon +100% XP earned for the battle. +100% Commander XP earned for the battle. ★★	Dragon Flag +333% Commander XP earned for the battle. ★★	Ouroboros +777% Free XP earned for the battle. ★	Hydra +50% XP earned for the battle. +150% Commander XP earned for the battle. +250% Free XP earned for the battle. ★★
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful       ★★ - Frequently Useful       ★ - Occasionally Useful      No stars - Not Useful

Gallery

• 

  Two Alabamas prepare for battle.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

  Both Alabamas demolish an enemy Gearing class destroyer.

• 

  Alabama bounces an enemy North Carolina battleship's shells.

• 

  North Carolina is nearly rammed by Alabama.

• 

  Alabama destroys an enemy Minotaur in one salvo.

• 

  Alabama and North Carolina touch tips.

• 

Historical Info

Construction

Norfolk Naval Shipyard; Virginia, United States

Laid down: 20 July 1939

Launched: 16 February 1942

Commissioned: 16 August 1942

---

Specifications

37,970 tons displacement, standard

207.26m length

32.96m beam

8.91m draft

---

Machinery

8 boilers, 4 turbines

---

Performance

27.5 knots at 130,000 shaft horsepower

15,000 nautical miles at 15 knots

---

Armor

Main belt: 310mm

Lower belt: 25-310mm

Decks: 152mm armored deck, 38mm weather deck,
   16mm splinter deck

Bulkheads: 280mm

Barbettes and Turrets: 440mm barbette, 457mm face,
   241mm side, 305mm rear, 184mm roof

Conning tower: 406mm side, 184mm top

---

Armament

Main

Nine (3x3) 406mm guns

Secondary

Twenty (10x2) 127mm dual purpose guns

Anti-Aircraft

Twelve (3x4) 28mm guns

Twelve (12x1) 12.7mm guns

---

Aircraft

Three (3) Vought OS2U Kingfisher floatplanes, two catapults

History

Design

The South Dakota-class battleships were the next evolution in battleship design from the previous North Carolina-class. Still designed in the late 1930s, they remained under the limitations imposed by the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty and the subsequent 1936 London Naval Treaty. Originally conceived to be more additions to the North Carolina-class ships, it was decided to delay their design by a year in order to implement some solutions to the shortcomings discovered on the preceding “fast-battleship” class.

The South Dakotas were the first “fast-battleship” class of the US Navy to implement sloped armor plating to address the issue of high angle oncoming shells from plunging fire, especially from 406mm shells. Due to the design itself being of an advanced phase already when this decision was made, only the main armor belt — located interior of the ship — was able to be angled inwards by 19 degrees, which stretched from the main deck down to the bottom plates. Moreover, the bottom plate armor and other major longitudinal armor sections were thickened in comparison to the North Carolina-class.

As a consequence of the additional armoring to increase the survivability of the South Dakota-class ships, they had to be made shorter to meet the displacement restrictions of 35,000 tons imposed by the Washington Naval Treaty. Subsequently, whey were roughly 14 meters shorter than their predecessors of the North Carolina class. The design requirements for the South Dakotas still required them to maintain the same top speed of 27 knots as the North Carolinas; more powerful propulsion systems were required and some creative design choices were made in order to fit everything into the more compact hull as a result. The machinery compartments were re-organized in order to squeeze in all of the boilers, turbines, and accompanying evaporating and distilling equipment, as opposed to North Carolina’s more dispersed engineering arrangement. Furthermore, the machinery rooms themselves took up to two deck spaces, as the boilers were placed on a level above the rest of the machinery to allow the propeller shafts — connected to their respective turbines — to run their full length, unhampered. One interesting design feature resulted from the changes: the bottom hull ended well before the stern of the ship, and the two outer propeller shafts formed a “skeg”, or an enclosure, around the inner propeller shafts. This had the added benefit of providing additional protection from torpedo damage.

The superstructure of the South Dakota-class was taller and narrower than previous American battleships. Due to the concentration of propulsion machinery in the midsection, the design required only one funnel as opposed to the usual two, saving some deck space. From the onset the South Dakota-class were designated the role of fleet flagships, therefore a flag bridge was placed above the ship's command bridge in the conning tower specifically for this purpose.

USS Alabama (BB-60), last of the South Dakota-class battleships, was laid down at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard on 1 February 1940, launched 16 February 1942, and commissioned exactly 6 months later on 16 August 1942.

Service History

Alabama’s first assignment was in the Atlantic; the Royal Navy was focused on the Mediterranean Sea in a build-up effort to support the Invasion of Sicily ("Operation Husky"), and they lacked the capital ships to protect their northern convoys. Requesting help from their American allies, Alabama and her sister ship USS South Dakota sailed for the Orkney Islands to join the British Home Fleet. Her first duties were as a convoy escort, until July 1943 when she participated in “Operation Governor”: a diversion exercise executed around Southern Norway in an attempt to draw Germany’s attention away from the Allies’ true target of Sicily (the Kriegsmarine never responded to the challenge). Alabama’s and South Dakota’s service with the British Home Fleet ended on 1 August 1943, and the duo plus their screening destroyers detached from the Home Fleet and steamed for Norfolk, Virginia. Alabama would undergo ten days of refits and repairs before setting sail for the Panama Canal and Pearl Harbor in the Pacific.

Following a month and a half of exercises with fast carrier task groups, Alabama moved to Fiji before setting sail again on 11 November 1943 to take part in “Operation Galvanic”, the assault on the Japanese-held Gilbert Islands. She screened the fast carriers, only opening fire with her AA guns when enemy aircraft approached her formation. Her first shelling operation, however, was on 8 December 1943, as Alabama and five other fast battleships bombarded the Japanese-held island of Nauru, causing severe damage to the vital phosphate-producing facilities. Alabama spent the rest of the year on carrier escort duty or standby, not returning to the front lines until 1944.

Alabama returned to action as a part of “Operation Forager”: the first invasion of the Marianas Islands focused on re-capturing the island of Guam. Alabama again rotated between carrier escorts and coastal bombardments, often alongside South Dakota. Later in 1944 she moved to join the screening fleet of USS Essex in “Operation Stalemate II”, serving in the Caroline Islands again before later moving to the Philippines and screening carriers striking the Japanese-held islands in the central Philippines. Between October and December 1944, Alabama was heavily invested in the Battle of the Philippines: serving as the lead ship in USS Enterprise’s screen during October; then screening the fast carrier strike forces as they attacked Japanese airfields around Luzon throughout November; and finally departing for home on 17 December 1944. Along with the rest of Task Force 38, she was battered by Typhoon Cobra on the way, and three of her destroyer escorts were lost.

Alabama returned to Pearl Harbor in early April 1945, following several months of repair and refit at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. She departed with Task Force 58 on 9 May 1945, bound for the Ryukyu Islands to support forces that had landed on Okinawa in early April that year. Screening allied carriers, Alabama served on the front lines from May through to July, her final combat operation being the coastal bombardment of industrial areas near Tokyo on mainland Japan, including the first night bombardment by battleships of Japanese industry on Japanese soil. She spent the rest of the war on standby, receiving word on 15 August of the Japanese capitulation, and she later entered Tokyo Bay in early September to receive men that had occupied Tokyo. Following her return to the United States — via Okinawa — Alabama took taking part in Navy Day celebrations in San Francisco harbor on 27 October 1945, and remained on standby until sailing for the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for inactivation overhaul.

Alabama was decommissioned on 9 January 1947, and joined the United States Pacific Reserve Fleet, remaining there until she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 June 1962. Citizens of the state of Alabama formed the “USS Alabama Battleship Commission”, which raised funds to secure the preservation of Alabama as a wartime memorial. She was awarded to the state of Alabama on 16 June 1964, and was towed to her permanent berth at Mobile, Alabama. Arriving in Mobile Bay on 14 September 1964, Alabama has remained "in service" as an open museum ship ever since.

Historical Gallery

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  Alabama being launched, February 1942.

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  Alabama in Casco Bay, Maine, during sea trials. Note the Measure 12 camouflage.

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  A colorized photo of Alabama in Casco Bay, Maine.

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  A view of the forward main battery of Alabama. The snow and Measure 12 camouflage suggests this photo was taken during sea trials but before repainting in Norfolk.

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  Note the Measure 22 camouflage which has been applied.

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  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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  Alabama fires a salvo during exercises with the British Home Fleet in 1943.

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  Alabama escorting the Independence-class carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26) en route to the Marshall Islands.

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  Cleveland Indians All-Star pitcher Bob Feller poses by a 40 mm quadruple anti-aircraft gun mount, probably on board USS Alabama in 1943.

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  Alabama cruising with her screen of escorting destroyers in April 1944; USS Knapp (DD-653) is in the foreground.

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  Alabama in what appears to be Measure 11 camouflage. Visible radar systems suggest this photo was taken in 1943 or 1944.

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  A boiler room view inside Alabama.

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  Alabama at permanent berth.

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  Alabama as a museum ship in Mobile Bay, circa 1985.

Ships of U.S.A.

Battleships