Destination Unknown 23: USS Alabama

Day 210

Last year we began compiling a list of places that we would like to visit during our trip. One place that was of interest to me was the battleship USS Alabama in Mobile, Alabama (say that with the accent now). On Sunday, the day after we arrived, we made an attempt to visit the battleship.

When we arrived, we were surprised to see a long line of traffic in front of the battleship parking lot, with a few police cruisers parked in the centre lane directing traffic. Initially we thought there must be an accident close to the entrance. When we came closer, we noticed the parking lot to the museum was packed. Being Remembrance Day on Friday we figured they must have had an event going on. We could have stayed and worked our way in, but we decided to return on a quieter day and turned around.

Today we felt would be a better day to visit the battleship and made our way back to Mobile (say it with the accent again). Prior to leaving our local area, we were told by the KOA staff about a small hole in the wall restaurant that serves the best breakfasts and decided to give it a try this morning. With a little hesitation when we found it, we decided you only live once and headed in. The restaurant did not disappoint on both facts, it was a hole in the wall, and it served the best breakfast.

When we arrived at the USS Alabama, our hopes of it being a slower day was correct and found a parking stall close to the entrance. When we entered the building prior to the ship, we were provided with a brief history of the Alabama. The USS Alabama entered service in 1942 and was briefly deployed to the British, tasked with protecting convoys to the Soviet Union. In 1943, it was transferred to the Pacific for operations against Japan; the first of these was the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign that began in November of that year. While operating in the Pacific, it served primarily as an escort for the fast carrier task force to protect the aircraft carriers from surface and air attacks. It also frequently bombarded Japanese positions in support of amphibious assaults. The Alabama also took part in the Mariana and Palau island campaign, the Philippines campaign, the Battle for Okinawa and a series of attacks on the Japanese mainland. In 1947 the USS Alabama was decommissioned and stricken from the roster in 1962 and slated to be scrapped. In 1964 the state of Alabama raised enough money to purchase the battleship for $800,000 for the purpose of turning it into a museum.

Reileighs Cafe… when we entered one of the locals eating sat us at a table since the waitress was in the kitchen.

USS Alabama

40mm Anti Aircraft guns. Capable of shooting 80 rounds a minute.

The ship was prepared for anything and had spare parts scattered all over the ship. Along one section of the ship there was spare barrels for the 40mm guns.

Diagram of the 50mm guns

Inside one of the 50mm turrets.

There was twenty 50 mm turrets on the ship. In order to keep a fresh supply of ammunition coming from the ammunition storage, lifts were placed around the storage allowing the crew to sending ammunition to any guns that needed it.

50 mm ammunition storage.

The USS Alabama was armed with nine 406 mm guns

Inside the turret of the 406 mm rear gun.

406 mm shells

Lowest part of the 406 mm turrets where the powder is loaded in sets of three and sent up to the gun above.

Loading the gun powder.

Powder blocks ready to be sent up to the gun.

Moving around the ship, it was clear when you came across one of the large turrets.

This room is the battle bridge. During an enemy attack the captain commanded the ship from inside this compartment where he and his crew were protected by 16-inch thick armour plate.

Surgical dressing station.

Along with a doctors office, surgical dressing stations, infirmary and dispensary, the ship had its own operating room.

There was two brigs on the ships. The primary was on the lowest deck below the water line, the second brig was above the water line and was used if the ship was in a combat zone, just in case the hull was breached, sailers would have time to free the prisoners.

Main brig on the lower levels.

Two weeks in the brig for striking a superior husband.

The USS Alabama had a compliment of 2500 crew members and in order to feed everyone three meals a day, the staff had to work around the clock in four shifts.

Chief Petty Officer mess hall.

Bakery.

Organic garbage disposal room. These two contraptions ground up the garbage and flushed overboard and underwater so that it would not leave a trail behind.

Non-organic refuse could not be jettisoned into the sea. Instead it was incinerated here at night so the smoke could not be seen by the enemy.

Washroom and sinks.

The ships crappers were just rows of metal troughs with toilet seats across it. I’m guessing that sea water was continuously flowed through the troughs and carried the waste overboard. It would suck to be at the end of the line on this puppy! 🤮

The ship truly was a fleeting city. Onboard they had a cantinas (corner store) for items that was not supplied by the navy.

Radar and detection systems room.

Dido

In order to sleep the 2300 crew, beds and hammocks were everywhere.

The Navy took the health of the crew very seriously, all mess gear was heavily sanitized and the drinking water was constantly checked.

Engine room had four General Electric steam turbines.

Barber shop.

This is the wood shop where wood parts of the ship were repaired or replaced. Notice the bunks along the walls.

Ice cream was a rare commodity. Only the larger ships had a Gedunk which was basically a soda and ice cream shop.

A section of the battleship was for the marines. The marines were used for beach assaults when required. Above would be the sleeping quarters for the marines.

Along the walls of the marines section of the ship they had their riffles cleaned and ready to go when they were called on.

Captains quarters.

Captains dinning hall.

The ship had every type of machine shop you could think of and the crew of the shops had the skill to fabricate any part of the ship that was necessary to keep it running.

The ship had its own print shop. Every night the shop would print the next days actions and any other pertinent information the crew would need.

Photography was often used on Navy vessels. The photo lad provided identification cards for the crew, military photos of enemy ships and aircraft for identification and photos documenting battles. A few photos from this lab made it to times magazine.