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NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive

BB-8 USS ALABAMA
1920 - 1924


To Additional Pages

1896 - 1919


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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BB-8 Alabama61k A white phosphorus bomb explodes on a mast top, while the Ex-Alabama (BB-8) in use as a target in Chesapeake Bay, 23 September 1921. An Army Martin twin-engine bomber is flying overhead. Photo # 57483, from the collections of the United States Naval Historical Center.
BB-8 Alabama112kEx-Alabama (BB-8) is hit by a phosphorus bomb, while serving as a target for U.S. Army bombers in Chesapeake Bay, September 1921. An Army DH-4 type single-engine bomber is flying nearby. Photo # 924, from the collections of the United States Naval Historical Center.
BB-8 Alabama83kEx-Alabama (BB-8) showing the effect of a phosphorus bomb, while serving as a target for U.S. Army bombers in Chesapeake Bay, 27 September 1921. An Army Martin twin-engine bomber is flying overhead. Also visible, in the foreground, is a Navy F5L seaplane. Wrecks in the distance are the old battleships San Marcos (furthest to the left) and Indiana (BB-1). This photograph has been hand-tinted in colors. Photograph # NH 263-KN, from the collections of the United States Naval Historical Center.
BB-8 Alabama43kEx-Alabama (BB-8) sunken wreck in Chesapeake Bay, photographed from off her starboard side, circa 1921. She had been used as a target for Army bombing tests in September of that year. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 57491. Donation of Lewis L. Smith, 1960.
BB-8 Alabama88kEx-Alabama (BB-8) serving as a bombing target in Chesapeake Bay, 27 September 1921. A U.S. Army Martin twin-engine bomber is flying in the right foreground. Wrecks in the distance are the old battleships San Marcos (furthest to the left) and Indiana (BB-1), both of which had previously been used as targets. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # 80-G-424471. Donation of Lewis L. Smith, 1960.
BB-8 Alabama104k View on board the sunken wreck of the Ex-Alabama (BB-8) in Chesapeake Bay, after she had been used as a target for Army bombing tests in September 1921. This photograph looks forward from amidships, showing a boat crane, collapsed smokestacks and other wreckage. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 52586. Donation of Lewis L. Smith, 1960.
BB-8 Alabama86kEx-Alabama (BB-8) officers pose on the ship's after deck in September 1921, immediately before the commencement of the bombing tests in which the former Ex-Alabama was the target. Third from left, wearing an old-style uniform and large binoculars, is Lieutenant Commander Olaf M. Hustvedt, USN, who was then assigned to the Bureau of Ordnance. USNHC # NH 104540. Photo from the 1909-1924 album of Vice Admiral Olaf M. Hustvedt, USN (Retired). Courtesy of Rick Hauck, 2006. Photo added 10/06/07.
BB-8 Alabama114kEx-Alabama (BB-8) officers pose on the ship's after deck in September 1921, immediately before the commencement of the bombing tests in which the former Ex-Alabama was the target. Third from left, wearing an old-style uniform and large binoculars, is Lieutenant Commander Olaf M. Hustvedt, USN, who was then assigned to the Bureau of Ordnance. USNHC # NH 104541. Photo from the 1909-1924 album of Vice Admiral Olaf M. Hustvedt, USN (Retired). Courtesy of Rick Hauck, 2006. Photo added 10/06/07.
BB-8 Alabama82kMontage of six photographs taken during the early phases of September 1921 aerial bombing tests in which the former Ex-Alabama (BB-8) was the target. These views show the ship before the bombing began, a U.S. Army Martin bomber laying a smoke screen near the ship, and smoke screens near the ship and enveloping her.USNHC # NH 104538. Photo from the 1909-1924 album of Vice Admiral Olaf M. Hustvedt, USN (Retired). Courtesy of Rick Hauck, 2006. Photo added 10/06/07.
BB-8 Alabama99kMontage of six photographs taken during the September 1921 aerial bombing tests in which the former Ex-Alabama (BB-8) was the target. These views show the ship under attack with phosphorus bombs. In two of the photos (middle-right and lower-left) the sunken hulk of ex-Indiana (BB-01) is visible in the left distance.USNHC # NH 104539. Photo from the 1909-1924 album of Vice Admiral Olaf M. Hustvedt, USN (Retired). Courtesy of Rick Hauck, 2006. Photo added 10/06/07.
BB-8 Alabama86k Montage of six photographs taken during the September 1921 aerial bombing tests in which the former Ex-Alabama (BB-8) was the target. These views show the ship being enveloped by a smoke screen during the second day of the tests, a simulated torpedo attack by four U.S. Army Martin bombers, the explosion of two 300-pound bombs on the ship's forecastle, and damage caused by the explosion of those bombs. USNHC # NH 104542. Photo from the 1909-1924 album of Vice Admiral Olaf M. Hustvedt, USN (Retired). Courtesy of Rick Hauck, 2006. Photo added 10/06/07.
BB-8 Alabama114kMontage of six photographs taken during the September 1921 aerial bombing tests in which the former Ex-Alabama (BB-8) was the target. These views show demolition bomb attacks on the ship, which was sunk in shallow water as a result of damage received from these and other bombs.USNHC # NH 104543. Photo from the 1909-1924 album of Vice Admiral Olaf M. Hustvedt, USN (Retired). Courtesy of Rick Hauck, 2006. Photo added 10/06/07.
BB-8 Alabama57kEx-Alabama (BB-8) serving as a bombing target in Chesapeake Bay, 27 September 1921. A U.S. Army Martin twin-engine bomber is flying in the right foreground. Wrecks in the distance are the old battleships San Marcos (furthest to the left) and Indiana (BB-1), both of which had previously been used as targets. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 57492. Donation of Lewis L. Smith, 1960.
BB-8 Alabama57kView on board the sunken wreck of the Ex-Alabama (BB-8) in Chesapeake Bay, after she had been used as a target for Army bombing tests in September 1921. This photograph looks forward from to starboard of the forward 13"/35 gun turret, showing the deck blown upward as a result of a bomb explosion inside the bow. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 52583. Donation of Lewis L. Smith, 1960.
BB-8 Alabama52kView on board the sunken wreck of the Ex-Alabama (BB-8) in Chesapeake Bay, after she had been used as a target for Army bombing tests in September 1921. This photograph looks forward from the stern, showing the after 13"/35 gun turret and "cage" mainmast. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 52584. Donation of Lewis L. Smith, 1960.
BB-8 Alabama50kOfficers examine damage on the ship's deck, during bombing tests in which she was the target, September 1921. The smoke may come from remnants of a phosphorus bomb. At left, with his back to the camera, is Lieutenant Commander Olaf M. Hustvedt, USN, who was then serving with the Bureau of Ordnance.USNHC # NH 104544. Photo from the 1909-1924 album of Vice Admiral Olaf M. Hustvedt, USN (Retired). Courtesy of Rick Hauck, 2006. Photo added 10/06/07.
BB-8 Alabama118k Ship's hulk being scrapped at the Union Shipbuilding Company, Baltimore, Maryland, 2 June 1928. Alabama (BB-8) had been sunk in bombing tests in September 1921 and had to be raised for scrapping. Note the cofferdam used to seal her hull amidships, and the dished-in side plating caused by near-miss bomb explosions. Photograph # 19-N-11926, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

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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