USS BB-60 " ALABAMA" BATTLESHIP 1942

Description

USS Alabama is one of four battleships of the South Dakota Class built during World War II. She was launched on February 16, 1942. She then proceeded, in the company of her sister USS South Dakota (BB-57), to assist the British Fleet in the North Atlantic, providing convoy escort. In August of 1943 she was sent In the Pacific, Alabama served in many roles. She sailed with the carriers as an anti-aircraft escort, shooting down 22 kamikaze attackers. Her 16-inch guns provided shore bombardment in places such as the Marshall Islands, Saipan, and the Japanese homeland, near Tokyo. In 1962 Alabama was struck from the Naval Vessel Register. The State of Alabama expressed interest in her as a memorial, and raised the funds necessary to bring her to Mobile. In September of 1964 she was towed from Bremerton to Mobile, and placed in the berth she rests in today. She was opened to the public on January 9, 1965. (Scale : 1/350e)