Kaboom!

Recent travel to visit with family found us in Mobile Alabama for a week with an opportunity to become temporary Mobilians and soak-up the history, food and ambiance of this coastal city.  A boat ride of the delta estuary provided an opportunity to take-in the waterfront, port facilities and Austal Shipyard up-close and personal.  Including this:  The USS Alabama.

USS Alabama (BB-60) is the fourth and final member of the South Dakota class of fast battleships built for the United States Navy in the 1940s.  Her keel was laid February 1, 1940 and was launched February 16, 1942.  She was decommissioned January 9, 1947.  No crew member was lost in combat operations; consequently she is known as Lucky A.

 

Interior of Number two Turret

Her main armament is the 16-inch/45-caliber Mark 6 naval artillery gun.

 

Combat Information Center - Fire Control

The Alabama has three turrets with three 60 foot guns for a total of 9.  Each turret weighs ~1,700 tons and the guns are individually sleeved and can be elevated independently.  This gun was developed in the late 1930s and while it fired the same 2,700 lb shell, the velocity and range was slightly less than the Mark 7 gun used on Iowa-class battleships.  

 

Silk Powder Bags

  

Known for their durability and accuracy these guns had a rate of fire of two rounds per minute and could hurl a shell ~36,900 yards (21 miles) at 45° elevation.  This is one of the longest ranges for naval gunfire ever deployed - the equivalent of hurling a shell from my house, across the bay to land in Oconto.    

 

Powder Hoist

  

  

Spent half a day clambering thru companionways while exploring this piece of history.  If you're ever in Mobile this is a must-see.