Battleship Memorial Park

(Page One)

Mobile, Alabama

visited June, 2001

USS Alabama (BB-60) DANFS

I arrived in Mobile (stop #5 on the great 2001 Ship Tour) on a sunny Saturday afternoon following a drenching in Atlanta the previous night. The motel next door is appropriately entitled the Battleship Inn, and after checking in, immediately went next door to greet this survivor of the South Dakota class.

The Alabama is in very good condition overall, although in the future she may need a redecking such as the North Carolina received in 2001. She sits on Mobile Bay convoyed by USS Drum (SS-228) and a new pavilion that is home to a collection of 23 aircraft including a gigantic B-52 just off the parking lot. Battleship Park also features a fine collection of military equipment including field pieces and tanks. The Alabama is also escorted by alligators, one of whom was basking in the sun just off the port bow.

On board the Alabama you can tour 16" and 5" turrets, visit a barbette, many spaces belowdecks including the engine room, and as an unexpected touch, climb clear up to level 8 in the fire control tower. The Alabama also retained her stern crane and one catapult, giving a nice couterbalance to the helipads found on today's modernized Iowas.  

Battleship Memorial Park is a must-see for anyone visiting Mobile.

The Photos

(click on thumbnails to show the larger image)

al02.jpg (34564 bytes) al03.jpg (39928 bytes) al04.jpg (26110 bytes) al05.jpg (28461 bytes) al06.jpg (31083 bytes) al07.jpg (28489 bytes)

al08.jpg (26535 bytes) al09.jpg (33479 bytes) al10.jpg (33363 bytes) al11.jpg (42527 bytes) al12.jpg (45082 bytes) al13.jpg (44407 bytes)

al14.jpg (31874 bytes) al15.jpg (32792 bytes) al16.jpg (34257 bytes) al17.jpg (39948 bytes) al18.jpg (39974 bytes) al19.jpg (35872 bytes)

al20.jpg (36287 bytes) al21.jpg (40347 bytes) al22.jpg (52617 bytes) al23.jpg (52366 bytes) al24.jpg (48698 bytes) al25.jpg (57317 bytes)

al26.jpg (47341 bytes) al27.jpg (49572 bytes) al28.jpg (48372 bytes) al29.jpg (30793 bytes) al30.jpg (32683 bytes) al31.jpg (33290 bytes)

al32.jpg (39021 bytes) al33.jpg (30277 bytes) al34.jpg (33478 bytes) al35.jpg (33849 bytes) al36.jpg (31135 bytes) al37.jpg (21365 bytes)

al38.jpg (27966 bytes) al39.jpg (36814 bytes) al40.jpg (41927 bytes) al41.jpg (42934 bytes) al42.jpg (36217 bytes) al43.jpg (43886 bytes)

al44.jpg (34347 bytes) al45.jpg (30383 bytes) al46.jpg (27298 bytes) al47.jpg (26254 bytes) al48.jpg (30647 bytes)

fc-alabama.jpg (42390 bytes)


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Battleship USS Alabama


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