USS Alabama, BB60

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_Derfflinger_
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USS Alabama, BB60

Post by _Derfflinger_ »

Bad news. Among many other terrible things, Hurricane Katrina did some damage to the USS Alabama, BB60, and her surroundings. See the following news release from Mobile's Battleship Memorial Park:

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HURRICANE KATRINA SLAMS BATTLESHIP MEMORIAL PARK Monday, Aug 29, 2005

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USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park has suffered immense damage from Hurricane Katrina as the killer storm ripped through the Central Gulf Coast area during the morning hours on Monday, August 29, 2005. A storm surge of at least 10 feet coupled with triple digit winds has dealt the Park a crippling blow. The unofficial surge is the largest ever recorded in Mobile Bay.

Initial damage assessments show that Battleship ALABAMA (BB-60) has shifted position and is listing some 5+/- degrees to the portside or landside. The aft concrete gangway leading up to the ship has been critically damaged. The Aircraft Pavilion has significant damage to all sides and may be a complete loss. Many aircraft and displays inside the Pavilion have been severely damaged. Submarine USS DRUM (SS-228) has apparently suffered little, if any, damage.

Although the Pavilion and Gift Shop were completely boarded for protection, Katrina’s winds, with a 108 mile-per-hour blast recorded at the Park while the Wind Guage was still operational, ripped the boards from both buildings. Breaches to the Pavilion exterior are numerous. The Gift Shop glass walls were broken, with two feet plus of water in the building, which houses the Ticket Office, Gift Shop, Inventory Stock Room, and Snack Bar.

As this report is being written in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane passing through Mobile, a minimum of five feet of water covers the entire Park as well as Battleship Parkway. Water is lapping at the bottom of the I-10 bridges. Downtown Mobile has severe flooding.

The entire Battleship family, which includes Park employees, Battleship Commission members, and especially her World War II crewmen, are optimistic about the Park's recovery. Park officials have pledged a full restoration to make the Park bigger and better in light of this natural disaster.

A more detailed release will be posted after a more in-depth analysis when water goes down in the Park and Internet access is available.

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Even though "Big Al" is obviously stoutly built, one had to be concerned about her watertight integrity. I'm wondering if they were able to close up everything, and if all the watertight doors still were. She obviously took on some water as she has a 5-degree list to port. And, there is no doubt that a ten-plus foot wall of water will move a battleship! The surge wave hit her on the starboard side.

Derf
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Ulrich Rudofsky
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Post by Ulrich Rudofsky »

The USS Alabama is "permanently" moored in Mobil Bay and rode out the storm there.

http://ussalabama.com/html/news/index.c ... ary_key=43

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=USS+Alaba ... rt=0&hl=en
Ulrich
turlock
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Post by turlock »

I'd conclude she was holed for sure, but Alabamians love their ship and you can bet they will dry dock her. Texas and Massachussetts have all had extensive repairs, including recent dry docking. At last check, North Carolina was slated to be done late this decade.
I was on Massachussetts in '75. At that time an employee told my group she had 113 leaks, all of which would have been corrected at her recent major overhaul.
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Re: USS Alabama, BB60

Post by Tiornu »

Alabama is listing because of a shift in the mud under her. The ship itself was not damaged or flooded in any significant way.
I understand all the airplanes are listed as "repairable."
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_Derfflinger_
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Post by _Derfflinger_ »

There are some pictures posted showing damage resulting from hurricane Katrina to USS Alabama, BB60, and the surrounding Battleship Memorial Park. You can clearly see the resulting list to port of the ship, from shifting mud under the hull, not necessarily from water taken on board. She was hit by an 11-foot storm surge wave.

Go to http://www.ussalabama.com

Derf
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