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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
CRUISERS
ALASKA battlecruisers (1944)


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Alaska 1944

Ships


No Name Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate
CB1 Alaska 435 New York SB, Camden 17.12.1941 15.8.1943 176/1944 stricken 1.6.1960
CB2 Guam 436 New York SB, Camden 2.2.1942 12.11.1943 17.9.1944 stricken 1.6.1960
CB3 Hawaii 437 New York SB, Camden 20.12.1943 11.3.1945 --- suspended 9.1947, sold 1.1960
CB4 Philippines 438 New York SB, Camden --- --- --- cancelled 24.6.1943
CB5 Puerto Rico 439 New York SB, Camden --- --- --- cancelled 24.6.1943
CB6 Samoa 440 New York SB, Camden --- --- --- cancelled 24.6.1943


Technical data


Displacement standard, t

29779

Displacement full, t

34253

Length, m

241.3 wl 246.4 oa

Breadth, m

27.8

Draught, m

9.70 full load

No of shafts

4

Machinery

4 sets General Electric geared steam turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers

Power, h. p.

150000

Max speed, kts

33

Fuel, t

oil 3619

Endurance, nm(kts)12000 (15)
Armour, mm

belt: 229 - 127, main deck: 102 - 97, upper deck: 36, splinter deck: 16, barbettes: 330 - 278, turrets: 325 - 127, CT: 269 sides, 127 roof

Armament

3 x 3 - 305/50 Mk 8, 6 x 2 - 127/38 Mk 12, 14 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 1.2, 34 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, 2 catapults, 4 seaplanes (SOC, OS2U)

Electronic equipmentCB1, 2: SK, 2x SG-1, 2x Mk 8, 2x Mk 12.22 radars
Complement

1517



Standard scale images


<i>Alaska</i> 1944
Alaska 1944
<i>Alaska</i> 1944
Alaska 1944


Graphics


<i>Alaska</i> 1944
Alaska 1944


Project history

Big cruisers Alaska and Guam owing to their sizes and armament frequently referred to a class of battleships, however they conduct the origin from the 'Washington' cruisers, being their direct successors. The origin of these ships is obliged to several factors. First, with a beginning of war in Europe all treaties limitations became invalid, secondly financing of new shipbuilding programs did not meet Congress back action, thirdly, at that time the concept of "supercruiser" which could come to replace existing 'Washington' cruisers with 203mm main guns was popular. Designing (for her even the new CB subclass was created) was begun in 1940. As result of disappeared limits, ship became very huge. The requirement of high speed predetermined the big slenderness of the hull that not allowed to ensure a little effective underwater protection, besides presence of just only one rudder instead of two (that practized on battleships) predetermined bad manoeuvrability. On early design stages protection was assumed only against 203mm shells (except magazines, traditionally better protected), but then armour was strengthened, and as a result ships had immune zone under fire of 305mm guns in the range of 90-120 cables at a relative 60° bearing. It was originally supposed to arm ships by 8 305/50mm guns in twin and triple turrets, however as a result they have decided to place all guns in triple turrets to not waste time on working out of turrets of two types.

Under the FY1940 programme building of six ships of class was provided (CB1-6), however by 1943 the relation to this project begun to change for the worse, and three ships were cancelled. Building of СВ3 Hawaii was suspended in 1947

Ship protection

Main 134m belt was 4.6m high. It was 229mm thick (127mm at lower edge) and inclined at 10° to vertical. It was closed by 260mm bulkheads. Steering gear compartment had 270mm sides and bulkheads. Underwater protection was 3.0-2.4m deep. Main deck was 102-96mm thick over machinery and 108mm over magazines. 19-16mm splinter deck was one level lower and 36mm upper deck was one level higher. Steering gear had 38mm roof. Thickness of second deck over steering gear was 102mm. Barbettes were 330-278mm thick. Turrets had 325mm faces, 152-133mm sides, 133mm rears and 127mm crowns. CT had 269mm sides and 127mm roof.

Modernizations

None.

1.1946, both: 3 x 3 - 305/50 Mk 8, 6 x 2 - 127/38 Mk 32, 14 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 34 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 2 catapults, 4 seaplanes, SK, 2x SG-1, 2x Mk 8, 2x Mk 12.22 radars

Naval service

No significant events.