When I was in the Navy stationed aboard USS Stephen W. Groves FFG-29 home ported at Naval Station Pascagoula I made a couple trips to Mobile to tour the ship. She is a beast compared to that little frigate I served on.
As a kid maybe 6 years old in cub scouts we got to sleep on the ship and take a tour. My dad an ex army vet cried that night, I still remember it light yesterday.
Took the tour with my grandfather and brother. Gramps was a veteran of the pacific campaign, radioman second class. Five years later I was on a plane headed to great lakes recruit training.
I was among the kids that collected nickels and dimes to bring the Bama home. I have since been to Battleship Park more than a dozen times. If you are ever nearby it is a "must see" trip. The park is beautifully maintained and has an aerial hanger with some great planes (including a SR-71) as well as the USS Drum, a Gato class sub that has been immaculately restored. They have an excellent website with some great photos.
I’m on vacation in Fort Walton right now. We came down from Oklahoma through Louisiana and Mississippi, stopped in Mobile for the ship and friends. SR-71 there was absolutely beautiful. And everything else there was just awesome. Well, today we went up to Eglin AFB’s museum. They have an SR-71 there as well. We walked outside and it started raining pretty hard, so our group of 10 ran under it (you were totally allowed to get up by these planes) and just waited out the rain and took pictures under her wing. It was surreal, honestly. And really funny. Like, even the idea that I’d get to see one was silly but cool that I did in Mobile. But uh… to be within inches of one and sitting out a rain cloud too? 😂 Like a dream come true. Here is one of the most secret aircraft in America’s history at one point, and I’m just having a blast hanging out chatting away with family under her. That plane has been places I will never see and been part of stuff that will only be talked about years from now, if ever…. And I’m under it. There’s probably a greater meaning in there somewhere. Even when things are stormy and not as easy as they could be, I’m safe under the wing of an old faithful eye in the sky. God, I’d say. But yeah. It was an experience. 🙂
I have walked the decks of the Alabama. She’s a proud, beautiful ship. I did a self got a tour through her being a navy veteran. I know how to get a ship. She’s a beautiful old girl it served her proudly she rest in peace.
I toured BB-60 two times and it is an excellent museum ship. It you’re in Mobile don’t miss the chance to tour her and the other interesting ships and military hardware at the park!
I am 63 years old, I remember touring the USS Alabama when I was 10. Back then, my younger brothers and I climbed all over it and inside her hull and turrent's. She was awesome, and is my favorite US Navy warship.
Walter, it's funny that I am 63 also and remember touring the USS Massachusetts when I was 9 or 10 where my brother and I climbed everywhere too. We especially liked training the 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun mounts back and forth and up and down.
Slept on board this ship when my son was in the cub scouts in 2000. You don't realize how big these ships really are until you get on them and explore. It's a real treat. I recommend it to anyone. Thanks for the video.
Love this naration, The Alabama an her sisters are bristleing with fire power. These battle wagons send a statement, " You want a Fight come and get it" 😮
Bama is a damn cool ship and an absolute unit! little me got to visit her on a summer road trip with my parents around 30 years ago. id like to go back and spend the night on board. ROLL TIDE!
The Alabama and the whole battleship park are so nice and well maintained! The ship is beautifully restored and painted as are all of the other military exibits there such as the USS Drum submarine and the A-12 Blackbird spy plane and B-52 bomber among many many others. It is worth the trip from anywhere.
Also, the USS Alabama is the only American battleship to receive medals from the Kremlin in Russia for its participation protecting convoys to Russia during WW2.
They were 100% 16 in/45 cal Mk 6's. New Jersey has the Mk 7 (16 inch/50 cal) which had to be specifically designed for the Iowa class due to a miscommunication between the Bureau of Ordnance and the Bureau of Construction and Repair. Check out Navweaps.com - www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_16-45_mk6.php - this info is backed up by navsource, Naval Heritage and Command and the websites of the current museum ships that have these weapons (North Carolina, Massachusetts & Alabama). The Mk 6 16 in/45 cal are definitely the guns installed on Alabama. Here is the Navweaps information on the 16 in/50 cal Mark 7 naval gun - www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_16-50_mk7.php - and even Wikipedia supports all of this information.
When I was in the Navy stationed aboard USS Stephen W. Groves FFG-29 home ported at Naval Station Pascagoula I made a couple trips to Mobile to tour the ship. She is a beast compared to that little frigate I served on.
As a kid maybe 6 years old in cub scouts we got to sleep on the ship and take a tour. My dad an ex army vet cried that night, I still remember it light yesterday.
Did the same, man. Troop 82 from Daphne. Good memories.
Cried for what?
Took the tour with my grandfather and brother. Gramps was a veteran of the pacific campaign, radioman second class. Five years later I was on a plane headed to great lakes recruit training.
Been on the Alabama What a great ship. Got to go back and do it again.
I was among the kids that collected nickels and dimes to bring the Bama home. I have since been to Battleship Park more than a dozen times. If you are ever nearby it is a "must see" trip. The park is beautifully maintained and has an aerial hanger with some great planes (including a SR-71) as well as the USS Drum, a Gato class sub that has been immaculately restored. They have an excellent website with some great photos.
I’m on vacation in Fort Walton right now. We came down from Oklahoma through Louisiana and Mississippi, stopped in Mobile for the ship and friends.
SR-71 there was absolutely beautiful. And everything else there was just awesome.
Well, today we went up to Eglin AFB’s museum. They have an SR-71 there as well. We walked outside and it started raining pretty hard, so our group of 10 ran under it (you were totally allowed to get up by these planes) and just waited out the rain and took pictures under her wing.
It was surreal, honestly. And really funny. Like, even the idea that I’d get to see one was silly but cool that I did in Mobile. But uh… to be within inches of one and sitting out a rain cloud too? 😂
Like a dream come true. Here is one of the most secret aircraft in America’s history at one point, and I’m just having a blast hanging out chatting away with family under her. That plane has been places I will never see and been part of stuff that will only be talked about years from now, if ever…. And I’m under it.
There’s probably a greater meaning in there somewhere. Even when things are stormy and not as easy as they could be, I’m safe under the wing of an old faithful eye in the sky. God, I’d say.
But yeah. It was an experience. 🙂
What a proud record. A fine ship. I'd love to visit her some day.
I have walked the decks of the Alabama. She’s a proud, beautiful ship. I did a self got a tour through her being a navy veteran. I know how to get a ship. She’s a beautiful old girl it served her proudly she rest in peace.
But she's not dead.
I toured BB-60 two times and it is an excellent museum ship. It you’re in Mobile don’t miss the chance to tour her and the other interesting ships and military hardware at the park!
I am 63 years old, I remember touring the USS Alabama when I was 10. Back then, my younger brothers and I climbed all over it and inside her hull and turrent's. She was awesome, and is my favorite US Navy warship.
Walter, it's funny that I am 63 also and remember touring the USS Massachusetts when I was 9 or 10 where my brother and I climbed everywhere too. We especially liked training the 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun mounts back and forth and up and down.
Toured her with my father back in the mid 70s. One of my great memories with my Dad who passed in 77.
Slept on board this ship when my son was in the cub scouts in 2000. You don't realize how big these ships really are until you get on them and explore. It's a real treat. I recommend it to anyone. Thanks for the video.
9 battle stars ? Man seen a lot of action.
Love this naration, The Alabama an her sisters are bristleing with fire power. These battle wagons send a statement, " You want a Fight come and get it" 😮
They were definitely the "find out" part of the equation.
Bama is a damn cool ship and an absolute unit! little me got to visit her on a summer road trip with my parents around 30 years ago. id like to go back and spend the night on board.
ROLL TIDE!
My favorite big gun battlewagon! She was commissioned on Aug.16 1942 my birthday is the same Aug. 16 a personal fun fact
The Alabama and the whole battleship park are so nice and well maintained! The ship is beautifully restored and painted as are all of the other military exibits there such as the USS Drum submarine and the A-12 Blackbird spy plane and B-52 bomber among many many others. It is worth the trip from anywhere.
A very informative article.
Been on her too. She's a beautiful grand old lady.
I live 100 miles north of mobile. I've had the pleasure of visiting that ship many times from small child to old man
headed down there in a couple of weeks.
God bless the Alabama and her crew
I get to see this beautiful lady every day. She's a beast.
Tough lady!!
Also, the USS Alabama is the only American battleship to receive medals from the Kremlin in Russia for its participation protecting convoys to Russia during WW2.
Daar kom die Alibama, die Alibama he kom oor die see 🎶
My father was on this ship in ww2
👍🏽
I wish she was there instead of the So Dak at Guadacanal so we had a competent adversary
ERROR: At 1:30 Its stated that her guns were 16" 45 cal guns. Her guns were the same as New Jersey 16" 50 cal guns.
They were 100% 16 in/45 cal Mk 6's. New Jersey has the Mk 7 (16 inch/50 cal) which had to be specifically designed for the Iowa class due to a miscommunication between the Bureau of Ordnance and the Bureau of Construction and Repair. Check out Navweaps.com - www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_16-45_mk6.php - this info is backed up by navsource, Naval Heritage and Command and the websites of the current museum ships that have these weapons (North Carolina, Massachusetts & Alabama). The Mk 6 16 in/45 cal are definitely the guns installed on Alabama. Here is the Navweaps information on the 16 in/50 cal Mark 7 naval gun - www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_16-50_mk7.php - and even Wikipedia supports all of this information.
Wish this wasn't a computer talking