South Dakota-class Battleship

South Dakota-class Battleship

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United States

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This article refers to the entire South Dakota-class; it is not about an individual vessel.

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South Dakota-class Battleship Interactive Map

South Dakota-class Battleship Operational Timeline

1 Apr 1939	The order for the future battleship Alabama was issued.
5 Jul 1939	The keel of the battleship USS South Dakota (BB-57) was laid down at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard in Camden, New Jersey, United States.
20 Jul 1939	The keel of battleship Massachusetts was laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Company in Quincy, Massachusetts, United States.
1 Feb 1940	The keel of battleship Alabama was laid down at Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, United States.
16 Feb 1942	Battleship Alabama was launched at Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, United States, sponsored by Henrietta McCormick Hill, the wife of US Senator J. Lister Hill.
20 Mar 1942	South Dakota was commissioned into service.
30 Apr 1942	Indiana was commissioned into service.
12 May 1942	Massachusetts was commissioned into service.
16 Aug 1942	USS Alabama was commissioned into service with Captain George B. Wilson in command.
26 Oct 1942	At the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, US forces achieved victory but saw USS Enterprise, USS South Dakota, and USS San Juan damaged. Aircraft carrier USS Hornet (Yorktown-class) was badly damaged from aerial bombs and torpedoes and then finally hit by three Type 93 torpedoes launched from Japanese destroyers Akigumo and Makigumo which caused her to sink 30 minutes later. On the Japanese side, carriers Shokaku and Zuiho were damaged by dive bombers from USS Hornet and USS Enterprise, respectively.
28 Oct 1942	Destroyer USS Shaw transferred survivors of USS Porter to battleship USS South Dakota while en route Efate in the New Hebrides.
11 Nov 1942	USS Alabama began her shakedown cruise in the Chesapeake Bay on the east coast of the United States.
11 Jan 1943	USS Alabama arrived at Chesapeake Bay on the east coast of the United States from Casco Bay, Maine, United States.
13 Feb 1943	USS Alabama arrived at Casco Bay, Maine, United States.
2 Apr 1943	USS Alabama departed the United States for Britain.
19 May 1943	USS Alabama arrived at Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
1 Aug 1943	USS Alabama was detached from the British Royal Navy Home Fleet and departed Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
9 Aug 1943	USS Alabama arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, United States.
19 Aug 1943	USS Alabama completed a scheduled overhaul at Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, United States.
20 Aug 1943	USS Alabama departed Norfolk, Virginia, United States.
25 Aug 1943	USS Alabama transited the Panama Canal.
31 Aug 1943	USS Yorktown (Essex-class) and TF 15 arrived at the launching point about 128 miles from Marcus Island in the early morning, spent most of that day launching fighter and bomber strikes on Marcus Island before beginning the retirement to Hawaii that evening.
14 Sep 1943	USS Alabama arrived at Havannah Harbor, Efate Island, New Hebrides Islands.
7 Nov 1943	USS Alabama arrived at Fiji.
11 Nov 1943	USS Alabama departed Fiji in support of the Gilbert Islands operation.
20 Nov 1943	USS Alabama provided naval gunfire support for the US landing at Betio, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands.
26 Nov 1943	During the night, USS Alabama fired anti-aircraft guns against incoming Japanese raids.
8 Dec 1943	USS Alabama bombarded Nauru, expending 535 406-millimeter rounds. During the bombardment, destroyer USS Boyd received a hit from a Japanese coastal gun; the medical staff aboard USS Alabama treated three wounded sailors from USS Boyd.
12 Dec 1943	USS Alabama arrived at Efate Island, New Hebrides Islands.
5 Jan 1944	USS Alabama departed Efate Island, New Hebrides Islands.
12 Jan 1944	USS Alabama arrived at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
21 Jan 1944	USS Alabama arrived at Funafuti, Ellice Islands.
25 Jan 1944	USS Alabama departed Funafuti, Ellice Islands.
29 Jan 1944	USS Alabama bombarded Japanese positions on Roi, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
30 Jan 1944	USS Alabama bombarded Japanese positions on Namur, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
12 Feb 1944	USS Alabama departed to escort US carriers for the raid on Truk, Caroline Islands.
16 Feb 1944	USS Alabama escorted carriers while carrier aircraft attacked Truk, Caroline Islands.
17 Feb 1944	USS Alabama escorted carriers while carrier aircraft attacked Truk, Caroline Islands.
21 Feb 1944	While at sea, USS Alabama's secondary gun mount No. 9 accidentally fired into secondary gun mount No. 5, killing 5 and wounding 11.
22 Feb 1944	USS Alabama patrolled in waters southeast of Saipan, Mariana Islands.
26 Feb 1944	USS Alabama arrived at Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands.
3 Mar 1944	USS Alabama became the flagship of Vice Admiral Marc Mitscher of the US Navy Fast Carrier Task Force at Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands.
8 Mar 1944	USS Alabama was relieved as the flagship of Vice Admiral Marc Mitscher of the US Navy Fast Carrier Task Force at Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands.
22 Mar 1944	USS Alabama departed Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands.
29 Mar 1944	USS Alabama shared the credit in the downing of at least one Japanese aircraft which were attempting to attack US carriers.
30 Mar 1944	USS Alabama escorted US carriers as carrier aircraft attacked Japanese positions at Palau, Yap, Ulithi, and Woleai in the Caroline Islands.
13 Apr 1944	USS Alabama departed Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands.
4 May 1944	USS Alabama arrived at Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands.
12 Jun 1944	USS Alabama escorted US carriers as carrier aircraft attacked Japanese positions on Saipan, Mariana Islands.
13 Jun 1944	USS Alabama bombarded Japanese positions on Saipan, Mariana Islands.
14 Jul 1944	USS Alabama, flagship of Rear Admiral E. W. Hanson, departed Eniwetok, Marshall Islands.
21 Jul 1944	USS Alabama escorted US carriers as carrier aircraft attacked Japanese positions on Guam, Mariana Islands.
11 Aug 1944	USS Alabama arrived at Eniwetok, Marshall Islands.
30 Aug 1944	USS Alabama departed Eniwetok, Marshall Islands.
6 Sep 1944	USS Alabama escorted US carriers as carrier aircraft attacked Japanese positions in the Caroline Islands.
7 Sep 1944	USS Alabama escorted US carriers as carrier aircraft attacked Japanese positions in the Caroline Islands.
8 Sep 1944	USS Alabama escorted US carriers as carrier aircraft attacked Japanese positions in the Caroline Islands.
12 Sep 1944	USS Alabama escorted US carriers as carrier aircraft began attacking Japanese positions in the Philippine Islands.
13 Sep 1944	USS Alabama escorted US carriers as carrier aircraft began attacking Japanese positions in the Philippine Islands.
14 Sep 1944	USS Alabama escorted US carriers as carrier aircraft began attacking Japanese positions in the Philippine Islands.
21 Sep 1944	USS Alabama escorted US carriers as carrier aircraft began attacking Japanese positions in the Manila Bay area in the Philippine Islands.
22 Sep 1944	USS Alabama escorted US carriers as carrier aircraft began attacking Japanese positions in the Manila Bay area in the Philippine Islands.
24 Sep 1944	USS Alabama escorted US carriers as carrier aircraft began attacking Japanese positions in the central area of the Philippine Islands.
28 Sep 1944	USS Alabama arrived in Saipan, Mariana Islands.
1 Oct 1944	USS Alabama arrived at Ulithi, Caroline Islands.
6 Oct 1944	USS Alabama departed Ulithi, Caroline Islands.
14 Oct 1944	USS Alabama shot down three attacking Japanese aircraft while operating south of Taiwan.
22 Oct 1944	USS Indiana arrived at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for an overhaul.
25 Oct 1944	USS Alabama supported landing operations on Leyte, Philippine Islands.
30 Oct 1944	USS Alabama arrived at Ulithi, Caroline Islands.
3 Nov 1944	USS Alabama departed Ulithi, Caroline Islands.
24 Nov 1944	USS Alabama arrived at Ulithi, Caroline Islands.
6 Dec 1944	USS Indiana departed Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
10 Dec 1944	USS Alabama departed Ulithi, Caroline Islands.
14 Dec 1944	USS Alabama escorted US carriers off Luzon, Philippine Islands as carrier aircraft began attacking Japanese positions in the area.
17 Dec 1944	USS Alabama departed waters off Luzon, Philippine Islands.
18 Dec 1944	Heavy seas caused by Typhoon Cobra damaged the two OS2U Kingfisher floatplanes aboard USS Alabama.
18 Dec 1944	Many ships from the United States Third Fleet, Task Force 38 sailed into Typhoon Cobra in the Philippine Sea. Three destroyers and 790 men were lost.
24 Dec 1944	USS Alabama arrived at Ulithi, Caroline Islands.
18 Jan 1945	USS Alabama entered a drydock at Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, United States.
25 Feb 1945	USS Alabama exited a drydock at Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, United States.
17 Mar 1945	USS Alabama departed Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, United States.
4 Apr 1945	USS Alabama departed California, United States.
10 Apr 1945	USS Alabama arrived at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
28 Apr 1945	USS Alabama arrived at Ulithi, Caroline Islands.
9 May 1945	USS Alabama departed Ulithi, Caroline Islands.
14 May 1945	USS Alabama shot down two of the several Japanese aircraft that attempted to attack US warships; she also shared credit with anti-aircraft crews of other ships for the downing two other aircraft during the attack.
4 Jun 1945	Many ships from the United States Third Fleet, primarily Task Groups 38.1 and 30.8 sailed into Typhoon Connie south of Japan. No ships were lost but 7 men lost their lives.
5 Jun 1945	USS Alabama suffered minor damage from a typhoon.
1 Jul 1945	USS Alabama set sail for the Japanese Home Islands.
9 Aug 1945	Medical staff aboard USS Alabama visited destroyers USS Ault and USS Borie to provide medical assistance.
5 Sep 1945	USS Alabama entered Tokyo Bay, Japan.
20 Sep 1945	USS Alabama departed Japan.
15 Oct 1945	USS Alabama arrived at San Francisco, California, United States at about 1200 hours.
27 Oct 1945	USS Alabama hosted 9,000 civilian visitors at San Francisco, California, United States.
29 Oct 1945	USS Alabama departed San Francisco, California, United States and arrived at San Pedro, which was also in California.
27 Feb 1946	USS Alabama departed San Pedro, California, United States for Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, United States.
9 Jan 1947	USS Alabama was decommissioned from service at Naval Station Puget Sound, Seattle, Washington, United States.
31 Jan 1947	South Dakota was decommissioned from service.
27 Mar 1947	Massachusetts was decommissioned from service.
11 Sep 1947	Indiana was decommissioned from service.
1 Jun 1962	Battleship Alabama was struck from the US Naval Register while at Seattle, Washington, United States.
11 Jun 1964	Battleship Alabama was named a museum ship while at Seattle, Washington, United States
16 Jun 1964	Battleship Alabama was turned over to the government of the state of Alabama, United States while at Seattle, Washington, United States.
7 Jul 1964	The government of the state of Alabama, United States ceremonially took over ownership of battleship Alabama at Seattle, Washington, United States.
14 Sep 1964	Battleship Alabama arrived, by tow, at Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile, Alabama, United States.
9 Jan 1965	Battleship Alabama was open to visitors as a museum ship.
14 Jan 1986	Battleship Alabama was entered into the US National Register of Historic Places.
9 Jan 2006	Battleship Alabama, having been closed due to storm damage, re-opened as a museum ship.

Photographs

Hull test model for South Dakota-class battleships at the Experimental Model Basin, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC, United States, 1938

Diagram of a main battery 16-inch gun turret for the South Dakota-class of US battleships

Keel laying of battleship Alabama, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, United States, 1 Feb 1940

South Dakota under construction at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Camden, New Jersey, United States, 1 Apr 1940

See all 160 photographs of South Dakota-class Battleship

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South Dakota-class Battleship