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The USS Alabama is one of the most decorated American battleships to serve in the US Navy. During World War II, the Alabama, or the "Mighty A" as it was known to the men who served on her, won nine battle stars for heroic service during the Battles of Leyte, Okinawa, Gilbert Islands, etc., in the Pacific Theater.
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The USS Alabama is a South Dakota-class destroyer that was commissioned on August 16, 1942. She is 311 feet and 8 inches long, with a 27-foot-wide beam, and weighs 35,000 tons empty (45,000 when full and battle ready). Close to 2,500 men served on the Alabama at a time. The Alabama is armed to the teeth with 48 40mm guns, 52 20mm guns, 20 38-calibers, etc.
My sister and I arrived at the USS Alabama at about noon on a hot Wednesday afternoon. We stopped in the souvenir shop to pay for our way onboard the Alabama, and I was going to buy some postcards and a thimble for my friend Leslie, but Erika suggested we get onboard in order to avoid the crowd of schoolchildren who were also touring the Alabama that day. I put down the souvenirs, and Erika and I got on the ship.
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One can easily get lost on the Alabama because it is so huge, but the park makes it easy for visitors to see the ship by giving you a choice of three routes: Route A, red arrows, below decks; Route B, green arrows, forward below decks; and Route C, yellow arrows, upper decks to level 0-8. Erika and I chose the latter Yellow Route to tour. Erika and I had gotten maps of the yellow route to follow on our tour; it guides you all over the ship and through the museum below deck.
The museum has many very interesting exhibits on the history of the Alabama and the US Navy during World War II. There are also exhibits on the enemy navies we faced during the war that are very interesting, too. The ships quarters are furnished with mannequins and shows what life was like for a navy man during WWII. The captain was on call almost 24/7 and rarely was in his quarters. It was so hot in there when we visited it that I couldn't help but say, "It's so hot in here, I can't blame him for wanting to be on deck!" The stairs from deck to deck are narrow and steep, and I was imagining what it was like for the sailors when they were in battle.
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It will cost you $10 to tour the USS Alabama; Aviation Museum; and if you want, the USS Drum Submarine nearby. Upon entering the park, you must pay a $2 parking fee, but the steep ticket is well worth it, as the money goes to support the upkeep of the park.