USS Alaska (CB-1)

* 1980s
* 1940s

	+ 12.8 in (330 mm) face, 5 in (130 mm) roof, 5.25–6 in (133–152 mm) side and 5.25 in (133 mm) rear
* Conning tower:
	+ 10.6 in (270 mm) with 5 in (130 mm) roof

### Armament

* As Built:
	+ 9 × 12"/50 caliber Mark 8 guns (3×3)
	+ 12 × 5"/38 caliber dual purpose guns (6x2)
	+ 56 × Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft guns (14x4)
	+ 34 × Oerlikon 20 mm anti-aircraft cannons (34x1)
* 1980s refit:
	+ 9 × 12"/50 caliber Mark 8 guns (3x3)
	+ 8 × 5"/38 caliber dual purpose guns (4x2)
	+ 24 × BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles (6x4)
	+ 16 × RGM-84 Harpoon Anti-Ship missiles (4x4)
	+ 4 x 20mm Phalanx CIWS

### Crew

* As Built:
	+ ~2,200
* 1980s:
	+ ~1,500

## History and Usage

### Commissioned

* June 17, 1944
* June 6, 1984

### Decommissioned

* February 17, 1947
* December 16, 1997

### Fate

Preserved as a museum ship in Tampa, Florida

### Affiliation

* United States of America
	+ United States Navy

### Present for Battles/Events

* Battle of Iwo Jima
* Battle of Okinawa
	+ Operation: Ten-Go
* Operation: Desert Storm
* Battle of Los Angeles

### Nickname

* *Bigger-Than-Texas*
* *Ali*

***USS Alaska (CB-1)*** is the lead ship of the *Alaska*-class of cruisers designed for the United States Navy during World War II. Despite being commissioned relatively late in the war, she would see heavy action during the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She would be decommissioned in the post-war era, however she would later be reactivated during the 1980s as part of the 600-ship navy plan. She would later see action during both the Gulf War, and the Sol Campaign. During the post-Clone Wars drawdown of military forces, she would once again be decommissioned. Afterward she would donated for use as a museum in Tampa, Florida.

## History

**Construction**

**World War II**

**Reserve Fleet**

**Reactivation**

**Clone Wars**

**Post-Clone Wars**

**Museum Ship**

## Gallery

Alaska photographed during launching at the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, New Jersey, on August 15, 1943.Overhead view of Alaska as seen on January 13, 1945. This overhead photo shows her traditional cruiser layout.Alaska firing her 5"/38 guns on February 5, 1945, one day before the ship arrived at Ulithi and joined the fast carrier task force. Note "flak" bursts in the left distanceApril 16, 1945 photo that shows the Alaska cruising in company with the USS Intrepid (CV-11). The Intrepid is smoking from an earlier kamikaze strike and is getting ready to retire back to Ulithi for repairs. The plane is a Helldiver returning to the USS Bennington (CV-20).USS Alaska (CB-1) seen from the USS Enterprise (CV-6) as they both maneuver to enter Ulithi atoll before the invasion of Okinawa.A painting of USS Alaska (CB-1) protecting the burning USS Franklin (CV-13) on 19 Mar 1945 of the coast of Japan. In the background are (L-R) USS Guam (CB-2), USS Franklin (CV-13), and USS Santa Fe (CL-60). The painting is by artist Wayne Scarpaci.Alaska (right) and USS Guam (left) in reserve, date unknown.Alaska underway after her modernization, circa 1983.

## Appearances

* *The Greatest Generation*
* *Not So Long Ago, Not So Far Away* (first appearance)
* *Book One: An Uplifting War*