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NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive

USS ALASKA (CB-1)

       
Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Uniform - Bravo - Delta

CLASS - ALASKA
Displacement 27,000 Tons, Dimensions, 808' 6" (oa) x 90' 9" x 31' 9" (Max)
Armament 9 x 12"/50 12 x 5/38AA, 56 x 40mm 34 x 20mm, 4 AC
Armor, 9" Belt, 12 4/5" Turrets, 1 2/5" +4" +5/8" Decks, 10 3/5" Conning Tower.
Machinery, 150,000 SHP; G.E. Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Speed, 33 Knots, Crew 1517.
Operational and Building Data
Keel laid on 17 DEC 1941 at New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, NJ
Launched 15 AUG 1943
Commissioned 17 JUN 1944
Decommissioned 17 FEB 1947
Stricken 01 JUN 1960
Fate: Sold for scrap to Lipsett Division of Luria Brothers, NY, NY on 30 JUN 1960
Click On Image For Full Size Image Size Image Discription Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Alaska 120k

USS Alaska (CB-1) Photographed during launching at the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, New Jersey, on 15 August 1943.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 57215.

 USNHC
Alaska
04020129		 480k

Very nice photo of the Alaska just after sliding down the ways at the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, New Jersey, on 15 August 1943.

New York Shipbuilding Corporation Photo.

 David Buell
Alaska 156k As built, Port bow overhead. USN
Salem
04020128		 134k Starboard side view, WWII era, location unkown. David Buell
Alaska
04020131		 39k

Shown here being inclined at Camden, New Jersey on June 5, 1944, twelve days before her official commissioning. Port bow view.

The same photo at a higher resolution 04020131a (968k).

New York Shipbuilding Corporation Photo.

 Pieter Bakels
Alaska
04020132		 36k

Shown here being inclined at Camden, New Jersey on June 5, 1944, twelve days before her official commissioning. Forward turret view.

New York Shipbuilding Corporation Photo.

 Pieter Bakels
Alaska
04020135		 44k

Shown here being inclined at Camden, New Jersey on June 5, 1944, twelve days before her official commissioning. Port midships view.

New York Shipbuilding Corporation Photo.

 Pieter Bakels
Alaska
04020133		 45k

Shown here being inclined at Camden, New Jersey on June 5, 1944, twelve days before her official commissioning. Aft Turret view.

New York Shipbuilding Corporation Photo.

 Pieter Bakels
Alaska
04020138		 44k

Shown here being inclined at Camden, New Jersey on June 5, 1944, twelve days before her official commissioning. Aft quarter view.

New York Shipbuilding Corporation Photo.

 Pieter Bakels
Alaska
04020105		 111k

Shown here being inclined at Camden, New Jersey on June 5, 1944, twelve days before her official commissioning. These are good detail shots of the secondary, light A.A. weapon arrangement, aircraft handling facilities, and "fast battleship" type of foremast. This tower foremast coupled with the new 12"/50 caliber main armament helped give them the name "Battlecruiser", while in reality they were large heavy cruisers built without treaty limitations on displacement and armament.

New York Shipbuilding Corporation Photo.

 Pieter Bakels
Alaska
04020106		 134k

Shown here being inclined at Camden, New Jersey on June 5, 1944, twelve days before her official commissioning. These are good detail shots of the secondary, light A.A. weapon arrangement, aircraft handling facilities, and "fast battleship" type of foremast. This tower foremast coupled with the new 12"/50 caliber main armament helped give them the name "Battlecruiser", while in reality they were large heavy cruisers built without treaty limitations on displacement and armament.

New York Shipbuilding Corporation Photo.

 Pieter Bakels
Alaska
04020130		 39k

Looking aft from the bow. Note that all the deck equipment is convered with canvas.

The same photo at a higher resolution 04020130a (1.3mb).

 Pieter Bakels
Alaska
04020134		 43k Looking aft down the port side from foward. Pieter Bakels
Alaska
04020136		 27k Looking forward up starboard side from aft. Pieter Bakels
Alaska
04020137		 37k 40mm Gun Tubs, port side aft. Pieter Bakels
Alaska 22k Starboard bow view on 05 JUL 1944 (dated by Robert Hirst). USN
Alaska 89k

USS Alaska (CB-1) Photographed on 30 July 1944 off the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 57214.

 USNHC
Alaska 92k

USS Alaska (CB-1) Photographed off the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 30 July 1944.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 92282.

 USNHC
Alaska 148k

USS Alaska (CB-1) Photographed from the air on 8 August 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97128.

 USNHC
Alaska 126k

USS Alaska (CB-1) Photographed from USS Missouri (BB-63) off the U.S. east coast during their shakedown cruise together in August 1944. Note her Measure 32 camouflage.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-5580.

 National Archives
BB-63 Missouri 111

Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia - Warships at the Base piers, circa August 1944. Among them are: USS Missouri (BB-63), the largest ship; USS Alaska (CB-1), on the other side of the pier; USS Croatan (CVE-25), and destroyers of the Fletcher and "Four-Pipe, Flush-Deck" classes at the next pier.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-190547.

 National Archives
Alaska 75k

USS Alaska (CB-1) Photographed in the summer or fall of 1944, probably in the Hampton Roads area, Virginia. Copied from an original print included in the Fifth Naval District's "War Diary of Open Intelligence Branch of District Intelligence Office".

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 97268.

 USNHC
Alaska 117k

USS Alaska (CB-1) Photographed underway on 11 September 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97127.

 USNHC
Alaska 74k

USS Alaska (CB-1) Photographed off the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 12 November 1944.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 57213.

 USNHC
Alaska 45k

USS Alaska (CB-1) Photographed on 13 November 1944 after receiving post-shakedown alterations.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 57212.

 USNHC
Alaska 102k

USS Alaska (CB-1) Photographed from the air on 13 November 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97126.

 USNHC
Alaska 151k

USS Alaska (CB-1) A detailed view of the forward superstructure and the aircraft catapults, circa 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97129.

 USNHC
Alaska 119k

USS Alaska (CB-1) Aerial view probably taken in the Pacific in 1945.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 67516.

 USNHC
Salem
040201p01		 567k

A painting of USS Alaska (CB-1) arriving in San Francisco Bay, Jan 1945 by artist Wayne Scarpaci.

From the collection of Reginald Franklyn USMC, USS Alaska (CB-1) 1944-1946.

 Wayne Scarpaci
Alaska 73k USS Alaska (CB-1) Overhead view of the Alaska as seen on January 13, 1945. This overhead photo shows her traditional cruiser layout. By the time she entered service in late 1944, all the cruisers, that she was built to defeat, were gone. She and her sister, the USS Guam (CB-2), served the carrier task forces well, lending their powerful anti-aircraft defenses and high speeds to protect the fleet. USN
Alaska 112k USS Alaska (CB-1) - Marines atop their 5"/38 gun mount during firing practice, circa February 1945. To the left as lookout is Corporal Osborne Cheek, and in the local control position as mount captain is Platoon Sergeant George W. Ewell. Note the local control ring sight and the binoculars and sound powered telephones worn by Ewell.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-3037.

 National Archives
Alaska 92k
USS Alaska (CB-1) firing 5"/38 guns on 5 February 1945, one day before the ship arrived at Ulithi and joined the fast carrier task force. Note "flak" bursts in the left distance.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-3031.

 National Archives
Alaska 104k USS Alaska (CB-1) - Gunner's Mate First Class Carrick N. Thomas passing a clip of four 40mm rounds through a hatch in a 40mm handling room. Photographed on 6 March 1945, during the Iwo Jima operation.
Note the green, red, and white color coding on the projectiles, the room's white paint, and the red battle lamp.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-3733.

National Archives
Alaska 118k USS Alaska (CB-1) - Crew of a 40mm quad antiaircraft machine gun mount loading clips into the loaders of the left pair of guns. Taken on 6 March 1945, during the Iwo Jima operation. The man at the right is Seaman Second Class Richard Roberts, and the gun captain (in the phone talker's helmet) is Gunner's Mate Second Class Glenn F. Groff.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-3740.

 National Archives
Alaska 151k USS Alaska (CB-1) - One of the ship's Curtiss SC-1 floatplanes taxiing up to the landing mat streamed alongside, to be picked up by the aircraft crane. Photographed on 6 March 1945 during the Iwo Jima operation.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives 80-G-K-3725.

 USNHC
Alaska   USS Alaska (CB-1) - Recovering a Curtiss SC-1 floatplane on 6 March 1945, during the Iwo Jima operation. The aircraft is awaiting pickup by the ship's crane after taxiing onto a landing mat. The pilot was Lieutenant Jess R. Faulconer, Jr., USNR.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives 80-G-K-3747.

 National Archives
Salem
040201p02		 567k

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.

From the collection of Charlie St. George, USS Alaska (CB-1) 1944-1946.

 Wayne Scarpaci
Alaska 76k USS Alaska (CB-1) April 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). USN
Alaska 77k USS Alaska (CB-1) seen from the USS Enterprise (CV-6) as they both maneuver to enter Ulithi atoll before the invasion of Okinawa. USN
Salem
04020126		 256k USS Alaska (CB-1) (left) and USS Washington (BB-56) (right) awaiting the cutting torch in Newark NJ in 1961. David Buell
Salem
04020127		   USS Alaska (CB-1) (Foreground) and USS Washington (BB-56) (rear) awaiting the cutting torch in Newark NJ in 1961. David Buell
USS ALASKA (CB-1) History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry on the U.S. Navy Historical Center website.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Contact Name: Mr. Charles S St George
Address: 25 Leon Pl Fredonia, NY, 14063-1313
Phone: 716-672-4432

Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.
Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway Cruiser Pages By Andrew Toppan.
USS Alaska (CB-1) website.
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Last updated on 02/03/2008