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NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive

BB-8 USS ALABAMA
1896 - 1919


To Additional Pages

1920 - 1924


Illinois Class Battleship: Displacement 11,565 Tons, Dimensions, 374' (oa) x 72' 3" x 25' (Max), Armament 4 x 13"/35 14 x 6"/40, 4 x 18" tt. Armor, 16" 1/2 Belt, 14" Turrets, 4 " Decks, 10" Conning Tower.Machinery, 10,000 IHP; 2 vertical, Inverted, triple expansion engines, 2 screws. Speed, 16 Knots, Crew 536.

Operational and Building Data: Laid down by Cramp, Philadelphia, on December 2, 1896. Launched May 18, 1898. Commissioned October 16, 1900, Decommissioned August 17, 1909, Recommissioned July 1, 1912, Decommissioned July 1, 1914, Recommissioned April 5, 1917, Decommissioned May 7, 1920. Transfered to War Department, September 15, 1921.
Fate: Used as Target by Army Air Corps, September 27, 1921, in Chesapeake Bay. Hulk sold for scrap, March 19, 1924.
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SizeImage DescriptionContributed
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BB-8 Alabama157k Model of the Alabama (BB-8) at Battleship Park, Mobile, Ala.Courtesy of Judson Phillips.
BB-8 Alabama108kMoored in port, June 1901. Note the large National Ensign, booms rigged out as propeller guards, and semaphore "paddles" on the mainmast.Photo # NH 57755, from the collections of the United States Naval Historical Center.
BB-8 Alabama104kUnderway at low speed, circa 1901.Photo # NH 73784, from the collections of the United States Naval Historical Center.
BB-8 Alabama149kPhotograph taken during the early 1900s and reproduced on a contemporary color-tinted postal card.Photo # NH 57757-KN, from the collections of the United States Naval Historical Center.
BB-8 Alabama64kAlabama (BB-8) as built, circa early 00's.USN photo.
BB-8 Alabama51kColor tinted print of the Alabama (BB-8) in port, circa 00's, before modernization of cage masts. USN photo courtesy of Jack Tretule.
BB-8 Alabama119kCapt. Willard Herbert Brownson commanded of the battleship Alabama (BB-8) from 1902 to 1905. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
BB-8 Alabama125kShip's Gunner and Gunner's Mates, 1903. Note the kitten and parrot mascots, and the comment written on the First Class Gunner's Mate at right.Photo # NH 57497, from the collections of the United States Naval Historical Center.
BB-8 Alabama95kForward turret crew Gunner's Mates pose by the breech of one of the ship's 13"/35 guns, 1903. Note the ex-Apprentice marks (figure "8" knot badges) worn by two of these men.Photo # NH 57494, from the collections of the United States Naval Historical Center.
BB-8 Alabama95kChampion guns crew with Lieutenant Lewis J. Clark, 1903. They are posed with a 13-inch shell, on the foredeck in front of the ship's forward 13"/35 gun turret.Photo # NH 57495.
BB-8 Alabama71kCrew members F. Petry (left) and W.M. Langridge (in gun) pose at the breech of one of the ship's 13"/35 guns, 1903. Note the "A" with figure "8" knot on Petry's shirt.Photo # NH 57496, from the collections of the United States Naval Historical Center.
BB-8 Alabama94k The submarine Plunger (SS-02) hauled out of the water at a Navy yard, circa 1903-1905. Alabama (BB-8) is in the right background. Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cahn, 1990. Photo # NH 102428, from the collections of the United States Naval Historical Center.
BB-8 Alabama79kAlabama (BB-8) seen off New York in 1904. Photo courtesy of maritimequest.com & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
BB-8 Alabama61k Anchored off New York City, 1905. She is flying a rear admiral's flag at her mainmast peak. Photographed by C.C. Langill, New York. USNHC photo # NH 105551, from the collection of Warren Beltramini, donated by Beryl Beltramini, 2007.
BB-8 Alabama59kAlabama (BB-8) anchored off New York City, with several steam launches and other boats alongside, 1905. She is flying a rear admiral's flag at her mainmast peak. Photographed by C.C. Langill, New York. USNHC photo # NH 105573, from the collection of Warren Beltramini, donated by Beryl Beltramini, 2007.
BB-8 Alabama650kPost card of the Alabama (BB-8). Photo courtesy of SK/3 Tommy Trampp. Photo added 07/17/09.
BB-8 Alabama75kAt anchor, 2 May 1907. Note the semaphore "paddles" mounted on her foremast. These were fitted to her mainmast in 1901.Photo # NH 72262, from the collections of the United States Naval Historical Center.
Great White Fleet112kChart from a contemporary newspaper, showing the route to be taken by the Atlantic Fleet's battleships and their associated Torpedo Flotilla, from their December 1907 departure from Hampton Roads, Virginia, until their planned arrival at San Francisco, California, in the spring of 1908. Text below the chart indicates that it was published in mid-December 1907.U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 106219. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. Collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis.
Great White Fleet 345k The "Great White Fleet" steaming in column, probably while departing Hampton Roads, Virginia, at the start of their cruise around the World, December 1907. Kansas (BB-21) is at left, followed by Vermont (BB-20). USN photo # N-0000X-001 courtesy of navy.mil. Photographed by C.E. Waterman, Hampton, Va.
Eighteen-inch Torpedo 64k Eighteen-inch Torpedo (Whitehead type).
On board a U.S. Navy battleship of the Illinois class (BB-7 / 9) or Maine Class (BB-10 / 12), circa 1907-1908. This view may have been taken during the "Great White Fleet" World cruise.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 106066. Collection of Chief Quartermaster John Harold.
Hard-Hat Diver 72k "Hard-Hat" Diver descending from the stern of a launch alongside a battleship, circa 1907-1908. Note the 6"/50 broadside gun mounted in the battleship's hull side.
This ship is either Illinois class (BB-7 / 9) or Maine Class (BB-10 / 12) or Virginia class (BB-13 / 17) battleship.
This view may have been taken during the "Great White Fleet" World cruise.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 106072. Collection of Chief Quartermaster John Harold.
Great White Fleet112kChart from a contemporary newspaper, showing the route of the Atlantic Fleet's battleships from their 29 January 1907 departure from Trinidad until their arrival at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 12 January 1908. It emphasizes the offshore course taken to avoid strong westerly currents off the northeastern coast of South America.U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 106221. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. Collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis.
Straits of Magellan290k The "Great White Fleet" in the Straits of Magellan, 1908, from a painting by Henry Reuterdahl.Photograph courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
Great White Fleet129kChart from a contemporary newspaper, showing the movements of the Atlantic Fleet's battleships from their 8 February 1908 passage of the western part of the Straits of Magellan until their arrival at Callao, Peru, on 20 February 1908.U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 106227b. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. Collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis.
Fleet at Long Beach 507k The fleet at San Diego, Calif., 5, May 1908.
What looks like two Connecticut (BB-18 / 22 -25) class battleships to the left; a Virginia (BB-13 / 17) class battleship in the center with what might be three other Connecticut class battleships in the immeadiate distance; two Illinois (BB-7 / 9) class battleships are on the right corner, behind them are the two Kearsarge (BB-5) class battleships and a Virginia or Connecticut class battleship in the right corner of the photo.
Library of Congress photo # pan 6a33626,by W. D. Lambert; submitted by Tom Kermen.
Great White Fleet 192k The "Great White Fleet" lies in San Francisco Bay on 6 May 1908.
Nearest ship is an Illinois class (BB-7 / 9) battleship. Ahead of it are what appears to be two Maine class (BB-10 / 12) battleships.
Photo by Louis Bostwick, courtesy of greatwhitefleet.info, by William Stewart.
BB-8 Alabama114kAlabama (BB-8) in 1908 off San Diego, California. Note her name across the top of her bridge.Photo # NH 73315 / USN.
BB-8 Alabama512kAlabama (BB-8) in a California port, 1908. The photo is from a collection called "California Reception to the Fleet 1908. USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Naval Review in San Francisco Bay, 17 May 1908 155k Panoramic photograph by the Pillsbury Picture Company showing the review of the "Great White Fleet" on 17 May 1908 by Secretary of the Navy Victor A. Metcalf, embarked in Yorktown (PG-1), which is steaming toward the left in the right center of the image. Three destroyers are in the line nearest to the camera (from left to center), with either Hopkins (DD-6) or Hull (DD-7) in the center and Lawrence (DD-8) next astern. Eleven battleships are present, in the rows on the opposite side of Yorktown's course, and seven Pacific Fleet armored cruisers are in the most distant row. Photo # NH 105310, from the collections of the U.S. Naval Historical Center.
BB-8 Alabama93k Off New York City, during the October 1912 Naval Review.Photo # NH 57753, from the collections of the United States Naval Historical Center.
Caperton 140k Admiral William B. Caperton became Commander in Chief, Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Alabama (BB-8), flagship, in 1913 and after a year's service in that command, he assumed command in November 1914 of Cruiser Squadron, Atlantic Fleet, Washington (ACR-11), flagship. In 1915 he transfered his flag to Tennessee (ACR-10), and later to Dolphin (PG-24), he commanded the Naval Forces that intervened at Haiti in 1915-1916; was Commander Naval Forces, Vera Cruz, in 1915; and commanded Naval Forces intervening and suppressing the Santo Domingo Revolution in 1916.Digital ID: ggbain # 15823. Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
BB-8 Alabama55kCommander Edward H. Watson, USN spent most of World War I in command of the transport Madawaska and battleship Alabama (BB-8), receiving the Navy Cross for his "exceptionally meritorious service" in the latter. Photograph dated 10 May 1915.
His career was washed up after his court martial for the Honda Point Grounding. Considering the ships had no radar and steaming in a heavy fog but there always has to be a fall guy. It does not mention when he was promoted to Captain but I would assume he held the rank while in command of the Alabama.
Photograph # 24-P-90 from the U.S. Navy Bureau of Personnel Collections in the U.S. National Archives & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
BB-8 Alabama56kAlabama (BB-8), Illinois (BB-7) and Maine (BB-10) in the Canal Zone, Balboa. Port Captain's office in rear-the building with many windows. The other buildings are the Mechanical division, shops, etc. Circa 1915 plus.From the collection of Charles Munson. Courtesy Doris & Chuk Munson.
BB-8 Alabama46kWhen the United States entered World War I, Admiral Albert Parker Niblack took command of Division 1, Atlantic Fleet, with Alabama (BB-8) as flagship 5 April 1917, and was appointed Rear Admiral 31 August. Niblack assumed command of Squadron 2, Patrol Force, 23 October and served in this post through the Armistice.Digital ID: ggbain # 15930. Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
BB-8 Alabama101kUnderway on 19 May 1918, following the removal of some of her midships six-inch guns.Photograph # 19-N-1-11-3, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
BB-8 Alabama104kUnderway, circa 1918, showing modifications made to the ship during the First World War.Photo # 60570, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
BB-8 Alabama84kOff Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1918. USN Library of Congress Photo # LC-D4-34060.
Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 138k Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania.
Ships in the Navy Yard's Reserve Basin, circa spring 1919. Panoramic photograph taken by Keystone Photo Studios, 817 So. Broad St., Philadelphia. The following ships can be identified from among those present:
Rowan (DD-64)); Preston (DD-19); Macdonough (DD-09); Patterson (DD-36); St. Louis (C-12); Ohio (BB-12); SC-342; SC-344; Alabama (BB-8); Kearsarge (BB-5); Illinois (BB-7); Ozark (Monitor -7); Kentucky(BB-6); and Hancock(AP-3) .
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 98604, from the collection of Eugene Bennett, donated by his daughter, Jene B. Hart, September 1988.
Reserve Basin 77k Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, Warships in the Reserve Basin, 18 November 1919, as seen by a Philadelphia Evening Ledger photographer. Ships are (from left to right): Wisconsin (BB-9); Illinois (BB-7); Alabama (BB-8); a Pittsburgh class armored cruiser; two battleships, probably Connecticut class; Stringham (DD-83); Craven (DD-70); Maury (DD-100); and Sigourney (DD-81). Photo # NH 42524, from the collections of the United States Naval Historical Center.

Additional Alabama Images
4 General Views Of Alabama From The Library Of Congress Server.

USS ALABAMA BB-8 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The Hazegray & Underway Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Not Applicable To This Ship
Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway Battleship Pages By Andrew Toppan.
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