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Click On Image For Full Size Image | Size | Image Description | Contributed By And/Or Copyright |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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59k | Front cover of the commissioning program. | Ron Reeves | |
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59k | Back cover of the commissioning program. | ||
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156k | As built, Starboard bow overhead. | USN | |
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134k | Starboard side view, WWII era, location unknown. | David Buell | |
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945k |
Starboard side view at anchor, date and location unknown. U.S. Navy photo, National Archives. |
David Buell | |
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607k | Starboard side view while underway, date and location unknown. Possibly during sea trials due to the apparent speed and many men on deck. | David Buell | |
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561k |
Port side view while underway, possibly soon after commissioning. National Archives photo. |
David Buell | |
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631k |
Port bow view while at anchor, possibly soon after commissioning. National Archives photo. |
David Buell | |
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484k |
Port side view while at anchor, possibly soon after commissioning. National Archives photo. |
David Buell | |
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610k |
Port side view while underway, possibly soon after commissioning. National Archives photo. |
David Buell | |
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39k |
Shown here being inclined at Camden, New Jersey on 5 June 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 | |
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36k |
Shown here being inclined at Camden, New Jersey on 5 June 1944, twelve days before her official commissioning. Forward turret view. New York Shipbuilding Corporation Photo. |
Pieter Bakels | |
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44k |
Shown here being inclined at Camden, New Jersey on 5 June 1944, twelve days before her official commissioning. Port midships view. New York Shipbuilding Corporation Photo. |
Pieter Bakels | |
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45k |
Shown here being inclined at Camden, New Jersey on 5 June 1944, twelve days before her official commissioning. Aft Turret view. New York Shipbuilding Corporation Photo. |
Pieter Bakels | |
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44k |
Shown here being inclined at Camden, New Jersey on 5 June 1944, twelve days before her official commissioning. Aft quarter view. New York Shipbuilding Corporation Photo. |
Pieter Bakels | |
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111k |
Shown here being inclined at Camden, New Jersey on 5 June 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 | |
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134k |
Shown here being inclined at Camden, New Jersey on 5 June 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 | |
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39k |
Looking aft from the bow. Note that all the deck equipment is covered with canvas. The same photo at a higher resolution 04020130a (1.3mb). |
Pieter Bakels | |
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43k | Looking aft down the port side from forward. | Pieter Bakels | |
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27k | Looking forward up starboard side from aft. | Pieter Bakels | |
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37k | 40mm Gun Tubs, port side aft. | Pieter Bakels | |
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22k | Starboard bow view on 05 July 1944 (dated by Robert Hurst). | USN | |
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89k |
USS Alaska (CB 1) Photographed on 30 July 1944 off the Philadelphia Navy Yard. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 57214. |
USNHC | |
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92k |
USS Alaska (CB 1) Photographed off the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 30 July 1944. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 92282. |
USNHC | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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74k |
USS Alaska (CB 1) Photographed off the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 12 November 1944. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 57213. |
USNHC | |
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45k |
USS Alaska (CB 1) Photographed on 13 November 1944 after receiving post-shakedown alterations. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 57212. |
USNHC | |
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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 | |
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129k | Moored, location unknown, probably 1945 as shw no longer is no longer in Camo. | David Buell | |
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572k |
Starboard side view while underway, 1945, location unknown. U.S. Navy photo, National Archives. |
David Buell | |
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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 | |
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119k |
USS Alaska (CB 1) Aerial view probably taken in the Pacific in 1945. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 67516. |
USNHC | |
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567k |
A painting of USS Alaska (CB 1) arriving in San Francisco Bay, January 1945 by artist Wayne Scarpaci. From the collection of Reginald Franklyn USMC, USS Alaska (CB 1) 1944-1946. |
Wayne Scarpaci | |
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73k | USS Alaska (CB 1) Overhead view of the Alaska as seen on 13 January 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 | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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112k | As seen from USS Taluga (AO 62), March 1945. From the collection of Ensign Lloyd LaVack. | Tommy Trampp | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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109k | 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 | |
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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 | |
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76k | USS Alaska (CB 1) 16 Apri, 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 | |
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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 | |
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265k |
Starboard quarter view while moored, post war, possibly Bayonne, NJ. while undergoing deactivation. National Archives photo. |
David Buell | |
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161k | Guam (left) and Alaska (right) moored in Bayonne, NJ, date unknown. | David Buell | |
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367k | ex-Alaska (CB 1) being towed to breakers on June 30, 1961.. | Daniel Hacker | |
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89k | ex-Alaska (CB 1) being towed to breakers on June 30, 1961.. | Daniel Hacker | |
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98k | ex-Alaska (CB 1) being towed to breakers on June 30, 1961. | Daniel Hacker | |
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103k | ex-Alaska (CB 1) being towed to breakers on June 30, 1961. | Daniel Hacker | |
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132k | ex-Alaska (CB 1) (left) and ex-Washington (BB 56) (right) awaiting the cutting torch in Newark NJ 30 June 1961. | Daniel Hacker | |
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246k | USS Alaska (CB 1) (left) and USS Washington (BB 56) (right) awaiting the cutting torch in Newark NJ in 1961. | David Buell | |
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242k | USS Alaska (CB 1) (Foreground) and USS Washington (BB 56) (rear) awaiting the cutting torch in Newark NJ in 1961. | David Buell |
Commanding
Officers
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|||
Name/Rank | Class | Final Rank | Dates |
Fischler, Peter Kalsh, CAPT | 1918 | RADM | 06/17/44 - 01/27/45 |
Noble, Kenneth Hill, CAPT | RADM | 01/27/45 - 12/18/45 | |
Grant, James Donald Livingston, CDR | 12/18/45 - 04/46 | ||
Hoffman, Edward Earle, CDR | 04/46 - 08/18/46 | ||
Wilcox, George W., CDR | 08/18/46 - 1947 | ||
Deitz Sr., James S., CDR | 1947 - 02/17/47 |
(Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves - Photos courtesy of Bill Gonyo)
USS ALASKA (CB 1) History
View This Vessels DANFS
History Entry on the U.S. Navy Historical Center website.
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.
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