American battleship USS Alabama (BB-60) 1940-

North Carolina-class

South Dakota-class

Iowa-class

Part of the South Dakota-class consisting of the South Dakota, Massachusetts, Indiana and Alabama, preceded by the North Carolina-class and succeeded by the Iowa-class. The design process for this class started in March 1937 with the design for 2 battleships accepted by the Secretary of the Navy on 23 June and a more definitive version on 4 January 1938. Building ordered on 1 April 1939, laid down by the Norfolk Naval Shipyard on 1 February 1940, launched by Henrietta McCormick Hill on 16 February 1942, commissioned on 16 August 1942, decommissioned on 9 January 1947, stricken on 1 June 1962 becoming a museum ship on 1 June 1962. Nicknamed Lucky A.

General class technical details. Displacement 35.000 (standard)-44.519 (full load) tons and as dimensions 203 (waterline)-201 (overall) x 33 x 11,0 metres or 666’-680’ x 108’2” 36’2”. The machinery consisted of steam turbines delivering 130.000 shp allowing a speed of 27 knots. With a speed of 15 knots was the range 15.000 nautical miles. Crew numbered 1.793 men. The armour consisted of a 31cm/12.2” thick belt, a 15cm/5.8-6.1” thick deck, 28cm/11” bulkheads and the barbettes, turrets and conning tower protected by respectively 29cm/11.3”-44cm/17.3”, 46cm/18” faces) and 41cm/16”. The armament consisted of 3x3-41cm/16” 45 cal Mark 6 guns, 10x2-12,7cm/5” 39 cal dual purpose guns, 24-4cm/1.6” Bofors guns and at least 22-2cm/0.79”Oerlikon cannons. Could carry OS2U Kingfisher floatplanes.