Alaska-class cruiser

* 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

### Role

* Ship to ship combat
* Command ship

### Affiliation

* United States of America
	+ United States Navy

> “You don’t always need to have the biggest guns, sometimes you just need to have one of the biggest guns.” - Commander Denim Jones
>
>

The ***Alaska-class cruisers*** were a group of 6 large cruisers built for the United States Navy during World War II. Only two of the vessels, *Alaska* and *Guam*, would be completed before the end of the war, and while three would be canceled in 1943, the third vessel, *Hawaii*, would be finished shortly afterward.

The first two vessels would decommissioned as their sister was accomplishing her trials. Hawaii herself would serve until 1955, seeing action during the Korean War. The three ships as whole would nearly be scrapped during the early 1960s, but were spared the torch for their possible use as battle force command vessels. As such, they were repaired to extend their time in reserve.

They would later be reactivated during the 1980s as a part of the 600-ship navy plan, during which they would be equipped with modern radar and missile systems. *Alaska* and *Guam* would later see action during the Gulf War, where the two vessels would assist the Iowa-class battleships *Missouri* and *Wisconsin* with bombardment of Iraqi fortifications, as well as the Sol Campaign where they, alongside *Hawaii*, would provide fire support during the Battles of Tokyo, Los Angeles, and Charleston. The three ships would once again be decommissioned soon after the end of the Clone Wars, and would be removed from the Naval Register two years later. After this, *Hawaii* would be scrapped, whilst the first two vessels would be donated for use as museum ships.

## History

**1940s to 1950s**

Main Article: Alaska-class cruiser

**1960**

During the early sixties, the three ships were scheduled to be scrapped, as they were considered too expensive to operate for what they offered. However, it was eventually decided that they would be a cheaper alternative to the *Iowa*-class to reactivate if such as situation were to arise. As such their 40mm and 20mm cannons were removed and maintenance was performed to keep the vessels in good condition.

**1980s to 1990s**

At the onset of the Reagan administration, the 600-ship navy plan was initialized, which called for the United States to have a naval battle force of at least 600 vessels. This would lead to the reactivation of several older warships such as *Iowa*-class battleships and the *Alaska*-class cruisers. In their reactivation refit, the *Alaska’s* would recieve the newest radar systems, along with Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Tomahawk land-attack missiles, and have a pair of their 5-inch naval rifles removed. *Alaska* would be recommissioned first on June 6, 1984, *Guam* on October 23, 1986, and *Hawaii* on August 12, 1988.

They would come to be known during this period as “America’s Battlecruisers” by the press to counter the Soviet *Kirov*-class, despite their official designation as large cruisers. They would also be known, along with the *Iowa-*class as “America’s Modern Battle-line”, referring to the fact that the vessels boasted the most powerful naval guns in service at the time.

In 1991, *Alaska* and *Guam* would be deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation: Desert Storm along with the battleships *USS Missouri* and *USS Wisconsin*, in order to facilitate a deception that there was to be an amphibious landing off the coast of Kuwait. This would lead to the ships firing their main battery in anger for the first time since the Second World War. For the next 3 weeks following January 17, several Iraqi bunkers and other defensive installations would be destroyed by the *Alaska’s*. After the end of the war they would be recalled back the US for refit and overhaul, where they would spend the next eleven months.

**Clone Wars**

Like other vessels of the 600-ship navy, the *Alaska’s* were retained in the fleet due to the declining relations between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems and later, the outbreak of the Clone Wars. In June of 1994, *Alaska* would be retained on the west coast of the United States and *Hawaii* on the east coast, while *Guam* was deployed to Japan along with a Battlegroup consisting of the carrier *USS Forrestal*, the battleship *USS Missouri* and over a dozen escorts. This was done to assist the *USS Midway* battlegroup with supporting Japanese forces against a potential extraterrestrial attack in Asia.

This would come to pass in the form of the Battle of Tokyo, where Guam would provide local fire support to ground forces, while *Missouri* and the *JS Yamato* engaged the main CIS troop concentration points in the center of the city.

During the latter stages of the engagement, a force of twenty-four Hyena-droid bombers would penetrate the *Guam’s* escorts defense screen and bear down on the ship. While nineteen would be shot down quickly, five would launch a salvo of twenty proton torpedos at the ship before being destroyed. Of those torpedos, seven would be destroyed before impact, while the remaining thirteen would hit the ships aft section. This would lead to the destruction of her port and center aft 5-inch turrets. However, her aft 12-inch mount would remain virtually intact save a large number of scorch marks, and the ship would remain on station to provide fire support.

As for *Alaska*, she would not receive any damage during the Battle of Los Angeles nor *Hawaii* during the Battle of Charleston. *Guam* would return the United States in the aftermath of the Sol Campaign, where she would undergo a refit and overhaul for the damage she received, and *Alaska* would head to San Francisco to take part in a victory parade alongside the *USS Missouri*, and the aircraft carrier *USS Kitty Hawk* on September 30th.

**Post-Clone Wars**

In the aftermath of the Clone Wars, large ocean going battle-fleets were considered too economically expensive to operate, and as such the *Alaska*-class cruisers were decommissioned. They would return to the mothball fleet in Philadelphia, where they would remain for the next two years.

**Museum Ships**

In 1999, all three vessels would be stricken from the Naval Register and made open for use as museum ships. *Hawaii* would be sold to the Galactic Empire as part of Project: Kraken, whilst *Alaska* and *Guam* would be turned into museums in Tampa, Florida and Portland, Oregon respectively.

## Gallery

Overhead view of Alaska as seen on January 13, 1945. This overhead photo shows her traditional cruiser layout.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.Hawaii off Korea, circa 1952.Alaska and Guam in reserve, date unknown.Alaska underway after her modernization, circa 1983.Guam and USS Fletcher under attack during the Battle of Tokyo, circa August 23, 1994.

## Appearances

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