DEEP IN THE HEART OF DIXIE: USS ALABAMA (BB-60)

Famed World War II battleship continues to be a top attraction in its namesake state.

H

er guns are silenced now, and there is no throbbing of her 13,000-hp engines.

Below, in dark passageways, there is no hum of blowers that once cooled her 2500-man crew. As a warship, her career is finished, and had been since she was decommissioned in January 1946. But the USS Alabama is alive just the same: alive as a 35,000-ton memorial to the veterans of Alabama who fought in WW II and Korea. And a fitting memorial she is. Ordered under the 1938 program of Naval construction and laid down in 1940 as a refinement of the earlier North Carolina-class, the Alabama began to take shape as the BB-60, one of four battlewagons designed to incorporate the latest Naval gun systems. With nine 16-in guns as her main battery and 20 5-in guns in ten twin mounts, the Alabama, and her sisters Indiana, Massachusetts, and South Dakota were then considered the fastest, mostformidable battleships in the world. At flank speed they could do better than 28 kts. Their gun laying ability and accuracy was the mostsophisticated known in the pre-radar era. From the keel up, they were conceived in the ritual tradition of battleships; the face of the 16-in turrets boasted armor 18-in thick; the conning tower which hosed the ship’s fire-control nerve center was protected by 16-in of armor; and hull side armor was over 1-ft thick. To combat the growing menace of aerial attack, the superstructure was fitted with bandstands for no less than 56 40mm guns in quadruple mounts, plus 52 20mm Oerlikons in open tubs. This foresight paid off well in the seas off Hollandia, Leyte, and Okinawa, for by war’s end, the Alabama has accounted for knocking down 22 Japanese planes. As the European war drew ever closer, construction was expedited and the Alabama was completed in record

time of 33-months from the day the keel was laid. Launched while MacArthur’s men still fought on Bataan, in February 1942, the ship was priority outfitted and ready for sea trials by early 1943. The $200-million battleship immediately began shakedown training under its first skipper, Capt. George B. Wilson. BB-60 then steamed north to Casco Bay, Main, for exercises and drills, and, finally, maneuvers with the South Dakota. In March 1943, Capt. Fred D. Kirtland became the second commander of the Alabama and conned the vessel to the North Atlantic where, as a unit of the British Home Fleet, she convoyed lend-lease shipping to Murmansk, Russia, and took part in the Norway Invasion Feint against the Nazis. By late August 1943, BB-60 had cleared the Panama Canal and was on her way to join the Third Fleet in Efate, Hew Hebrides. The Alabama’s first Pacific action was the shelling of the Gilbert Islands in November and December and, ultimately, leading fire support to units of the Second Marine Division who made the assault on Tarawa. The vessel then took part in the bombardment of Roi, Nauru, Kwajalein and Mijuro, afterwards going to anchorage for supplies and planning the strikes at the Carolines and Marianas. February 1944 saw the Alabama with units of Task Force 58, shelling the Japanese strongholds in Turk and the Marianas. During

Seen here “Doing what she came to do.”

Despite their size, the ship’s crew accommodation was exceptionally crowded. Alabama’s 1935 enlisted crewmen slept in three- and four-tiered bunks with only 18-in of space between. Privacy was nil in wartime.

these raids, the ships of TF-58 were under heavy enemy air attack (one lasting 13-hrs) and the gunners of the Alabama downed on Japanese Betty. On 1 April, BB-60 took part in the first raids of Palau, Yap and Woleai of the Palaus. Days and nights of 21-24 April where spent supporting MacArthur’s troops at Hollandia, Ataipe, and Humboldt Bay on the north coast

of New Guinea. Then steaming at top speed, the Alabama returned to the Carolines in time to participate in the bombardment and strikes on Panape and Truk on 29-30 April and 1 May. For 7-hrs on 13 June, the battleships of the Third Fleet bombarded Saipan while minesweepers cleared the landing lanes for small assault craft. On 15 June, troops moved ashore under the protective fire of the “big boys” and the Alabama downed another enemy plane. The Alabama steamed with Task Group 56.7 during the battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944, and her group downed nine enemy planes. Final results of this action was 476 Japanese planes destroyed out of 545 sighted. After attacking bases in the Carolines (25-27 July) in support of the Marianas operations, the Alabama moved into the Guam area for pre-invasion and D-day bombardments. She continued this support until the island was secured in early August, 1944. While undergoing an 18-day refueling and supply period at Eniwetok, Capt. (later R/Adm.) Vincent R. Murphy took command of BB-60. Under Capt. Murphy, the Crew at work at one of the “big gun” stations. Alabama took part in a series of attacks and raids that completed the capture of the Southern Carolines and the Palaus. From the advance base of Ulithi Atoll, Alabama with other ships continued operations in the Western Pacific in the Leyte Operation. Throughout October, BB-60 escorted the carriers as their planes shattered Japanese installations in the Philippines, Formosa, the Pescadores, and the Ryukyu Islands. Jap air attacks on the Carrier-battleship force were furious and persistent; however, Alabama helped drive off all attacks without damage to herself or carriers in her group. Moving southward, the ships launched strikes at the Philippines, shooting down three enemy planes and damaging a fourth. With the enemy moving strong forces into the area, Alabama became a member of Adm. Halsey’s force which fought the battle off Cape Engano on 25 October 1944 as a part of the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The battle removed the Japanese threat to Allied landings in the Philippines and cleared the path for further operations. While in the area of Mindoro (Philippines), the Alabama rode out a typhoon, so severe that it cost the Fleet three destroyers. On Christmas Eve 1944, the Alabama’s crew had a sailor’s dream come true - a communique was received assigning the ship to dry-dock duty on the West Coast. On the return

trip to the States, Capt. William B. Goggins boarded BB-60 at Pearl Harbor and assumed command when the ship arrived at Bremerton, Washington. Two years of continuous operation in the forward area was brought to a standstill while the Alabama was overhauled and its crew scattered across the country on long-dreamed-about leaves. In May 1945, the Alabama steamed out to join the Fleet at Ulithi. As a member of the Third and Fifth Fleet, she participated in the Okinawa Funto supporting raids on the Japanese home islands. While US carrier-base planes carried out strikes on Kyushu, Japan, enemy planes tried vainly to break through the formation for suicide raids. On the morning of 14 May 1945, several Japanese planes penetrated defenses and a Kamikaze plunged through low clouds into Adm. Mitscher’s flagship, USS Enterprise. Of the four other planes which attacked the surface formation, Alabama’s gunners shot down two, which crashed withing 1000-yds of the ship. On 5 June, the Alabama rode out its second typhoon. This gigantic tropical storm cost the cruiser Pittsburgh 100-ft of its bow, but five-days later, BB60, still highly operational, joined in the bombardment of Missami Daito Junia.

Steaming out to join the fleet.

Lost...104 ft of bow on the USS Pittsburgh

The Third Fleet’s biggest venture was soon to come, and the Alabama joined Adm. Halsey’s task force en route for the home islands of Japan. On 17 July 1945, BB-60 got a crack at the enemy in an intimate way. Her principal target was an engineering works on Honshu Island, about 50-mi north of Tokyo. BB-60 fired some 1500tons of shells into mills and factories under cover of darkness,

and was credited with demolishing the targets assigned her. Still at sea when the war ended, the Alabama, after 67-days of continuous steaming, dropped anchor in Tokyo Bay. She remained there for two-weeks while her landing force assisted in the occupation of the Yokosuka-Tokyo area On 20 September 1945, the Alabama sailed from Tokyo and, at Okinawa, took on some 700 returning Pacific veterans for the States. In all, the Alabama earned nine Battle Stars for her Asiatic-Pacific area service including the Navy Occupation Service Medal Pacific.

When Gov. George C. Wallace learned in 1964 that Alabama was to be scrapped, he immediately made a plea that the veteran battlewagon be donated to the State of Alabama as a shrine. The Navy agreed, but stated that the ship would be made available “as is” at the Bremerton, Washington, reserve ship facility.

Alabamans everywhere contributed to a $1,000,000 campaign to bring the warship the 5600-mi from Seattle to Mobile - the longest tow on record. School children alone contributed over $100,000 in nickels and dimes to the cause. The site

selected for the 75-acre park would make an ideal location for a shrine of this type, but to get the Alabama berthed at its new home, a 4-mi channel had to be first dredged to the head of Mobil Bay. On 9 January 1965, the dedication ceremonies were held and the ship was opened to the public.

END

Bud Shortridge I welcome any and all comments