Alabama’s “Mighty A” Warship Museum Earned 9 Battle Stars & Never Lost a Crew Member in Combat

The USS Alabama (BB-60) in Mobile Bay

They called her the “Heroine of the Pacific” and “Mighty A.” This steel giant fought in the Pacific war, survived kamikaze attacks, and now stands guard on the Gulf Coast.

At 680 feet long and weighing 35,000 tons, she was among the largest ships in the U.S. Navy during WWII. You can now walk through her nine decks and see what life was like aboard this massive warship.

The Mighty A’s Mighty Weapons

The USS Alabama was nicknamed ‘The Mighty A’ due to its impressive size and firepower. Nine huge 16-inch guns sat in three turning turrets on the USS Alabama, able to rotate almost all the way around.

These powerful weapons could shoot 2,700-pound shells at targets so far away that the gunners couldn’t even see them (up to 21 miles) over the horizon.

The Mark 6 guns fired shells at speeds of over 2,500 feet per second, making them one of the most powerful naval weapons of their time.  The turrets housing these guns were protected by armor up to 18 inches thick.

What Different Parts of the Ship Were Called

Over 6,000 sailors served aboard the USS Alabama during her active service from 1942 to 1947. The crew called her “Lucky A” because not a single sailor died from enemy fire during her missions.

They called the dining area “Wardroom” because it was where everyone gathered to relax. The engine room was called the “maneuvering room”, which housed four steam turbines (temperatures could exceed 120°F). 

It Has Its Very Own Ice Cream Machine

Ice cream became a staple morale booster for sailors after the U.S. Navy banned alcohol consumption in 1914. The USS Alabama had something special that most other warships didn’t, an ice cream machine that could produce 10 gallons a minute.

The ship’s kitchen cooked 7,500 meals for 2500 hungry people. To combat food spoilage in the Pacific heat, Navy cooks relied heavily on canned and dehydrated foods, such as powdered eggs and spam.

The USS Alabama Had Advanced Tech on Deck

The USS Alabama used the latest technology of the 1940s to navigate the oceans. The bridge had special compasses, radar screens, and calculators that helped plot the ship’s course.

In the combat control room, the SK-2 could spot planes from over 100 miles away. The ship’s fire control system had 26-foot-long optical rangefinders that helped gunners hit their targets, while special mechanical computers in the plotting rooms calculated exactly where to aim the guns.

Powered By a Mind-Boggling 130,000 Horsepower

Eight massive Babcock & Wilcox boilers helped run the USS Alabama’s four steam engines, creating enough power to light up a small town. All this power, equal to 130,000 horses, pushed the huge ship through rough seas at over 27 miles per hour.

The ship’s fuel tanks could hold up to 6,000 tons of oil for extended operations. Special machines recycled 80,000 to 100,000 gallons of fresh water every day so the ship could stay at sea for long periods.

16,000 Tons of Armor

It survived Typhoon Cobra in December 1944, a storm that produced waves estimated at 60 feet (about 6 stories tall). The USS Alabama’s total armor protection weighed over 16,000 tons, covering turrets, bulkheads, and decks.

The armor plates were up to 12 inches thick, made primarily from Class A and Class B Special Treatment Steel. The USS Alabama had over 1,100 compartments, many of which were watertight. The deck armor was 6 inches thick in some places, protecting the ship from aerial bombs.

Advanced Comms and Morse Code

The USS Alabama’s radio rooms had the best communication equipment available during World War II. The ship also used flags and powerful lights to send messages when radio wasn’t an option. Naval radio operators had to be highly trained in Morse code, and some could send messages at speeds of 25+ words per minute.

Fought in Two War Theaters

Part of Task Force 58 and later Task Force 38, the warship engaged Japanese forces across the Pacific, including the Okinawa campaigns.

She helped troops land on beaches in the Marshall Islands and fought in major battles in the Leyte Gulf. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea, she helped protect U.S. aircraft carriers from Japanese air attacks in the “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot.”

You Can Walk Inside This 45,000-Ton Steel Giant

Now she rests at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile Bay, where people can walk through her rooms and see the actual equipment that sailors used during World War II. Stand right next to the ship’s 5 biggest guns, which fired shells weighing up to 2,700 pounds.

You can see the ship’s original machinery that powered its 130,000-horsepower steam turbines. A World War II submarine docked next to the USS Alabama, remains open in spring.

Special Exhibits Inside the USS Alabama

Inside the museum, history comes to life through detailed exhibits on World War II, showcasing everything from battle strategies to the deeply personal stories of the brave men who served aboard.

Letters, uniforms, and photographs offer a glimpse into their lives at sea. The Living History Crew Drills transport you back in time while actors dressed in authentic WWII uniforms demonstrate how sailors operated the ship in combat.

Visiting the USS Alabama

Address: 2703 Battleship Parkway, Mobile, AL 36602, USA

Entry Fee (as of this writing):

• Adults (12+): $18
• Children (6-11): $6
• Seniors (55+), Military (Active or Retired with ID): $15
• Children under 5: Free
• Parking Fee: $5 per vehicle

Hours of Operation: Open daily from 8 AM – 5 PM (except major holidays)