We drove the 150 miles from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama. In Mobile, we visited the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, situated on the western shore of Mobile Bay.
Yesterday was a very adventurous day exploring THE BIG ‘A’ as they call the retired WWII battleship, USS Alabama. The 100-acre Memorial Park also features the full size WWII Submarine, the USS Drum and the Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion with 27+ rare and historic aircraft on static display.
Both ships are open for self-guided or pre-organised guided tours and both vessels are US National Historic Landmarks.
Yesterday was a very adventurous day exploring THE BIG ‘A’ as they call the retired WWII battleship, USS Alabama. The 100-acre Memorial Park also features the full size WWII Submarine, the USS Drum and the Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion with 27+ rare and historic aircraft on static display.
Both ships are open for self-guided or pre-organised guided tours and both vessels are US National Historic Landmarks.
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| USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park on the shores of Mobile Bay, Mobile, Alabama |
We clambered all over both vessels from top to bottom, the USS Alabama has 12-decks open for inspection, we went from deck to deck, up and down steep ladders and exploring all the spaces. I have never been on a Battleship or Submarine previously, so I was like a kid in a lolly shop.
These Americans sure know how to put a sensational Museum together, nothing like it any where else in the world. And you don't have to look very far to find heroes, the spirit of military pride is alive and well here. Not only did they exhibit the Battleship & Submarine they also had in addition, 27+ various aircraft on display including a B-52 Bomber and an SR-71 Blackbird aircraft parked in the car park.
These Americans sure know how to put a sensational Museum together, nothing like it any where else in the world. And you don't have to look very far to find heroes, the spirit of military pride is alive and well here. Not only did they exhibit the Battleship & Submarine they also had in addition, 27+ various aircraft on display including a B-52 Bomber and an SR-71 Blackbird aircraft parked in the car park.
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| The view from the flying bridge of the USS Alabama towards the bow and over her two forward 16"/45 cal gun turrets |
I really do not think these accompanying photos need too much explanation, however check out the thickness of the door that protects the ‘BIG BRASS’ on the Battle Bridge.
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| David doing a size comparison test on the 16" thick watertight doors that protect the 'Big Brass' on the ship's battle bridge |
I wonder how the Korean ‘Rocket man’ feels when he looks at the armament on this vessel that was commissioned in August of 1942. These days this is only a toy compared to what the Americans have floating around the world.
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| David is standing beside one of the 16”/45 caliber projectiles Each turret's three barrels were 66ft long each projectile weighed anything from 850kgs to 1,200kgs |
Nine 16”/45 caliber guns (mounted in 3 main turrets) accurate to 21 miles. Technically called 'three gun' turrets and not 'triple' because each barrel could be elevated and fired independently. Additional armament were twenty 5”/38 caliber guns (5 twin mounts per side). Forty-eight 40mm guns (12 mounts), fifty-two 20mm guns. Absolutely ‘AWESOME’ total firepower.
[above] David is standing beside one of the 16”/45 caliber projectiles, here you can actually see how ‘BIG’ the rounds are and they were extremely accurate at down range enemy targets up to 21 miles away.
The USS Drum was deployed into the Pacific theatre of WWII, sinking several Japanese warships and providing vital reconnaissance for the assaults on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She is the oldest US Navy submarine on open display to the public. There is no way that I would be a sub-mariner, those guys had real BIG BALLS to sign up for the silent service onboard a Submarine.
During her war service in the South Pacific, the USS Drum visited Australia on several occasions with Brisbane, Queensland being the liberty port and the Brisbane Submarine Base at New Farm, being the replenishment & refitting station.
[above] David is standing beside one of the 16”/45 caliber projectiles, here you can actually see how ‘BIG’ the rounds are and they were extremely accurate at down range enemy targets up to 21 miles away.
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| The WWII-era Submarine USS Drum |
The USS Drum was deployed into the Pacific theatre of WWII, sinking several Japanese warships and providing vital reconnaissance for the assaults on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She is the oldest US Navy submarine on open display to the public. There is no way that I would be a sub-mariner, those guys had real BIG BALLS to sign up for the silent service onboard a Submarine.
During her war service in the South Pacific, the USS Drum visited Australia on several occasions with Brisbane, Queensland being the liberty port and the Brisbane Submarine Base at New Farm, being the replenishment & refitting station.
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| Forward torpedo room, makes you appreciate what tight working and living quarters the brave crews had |
The USS Drum was commissioned in November of 1941. She is 311’ 4” long with a beam of 27’4”. Her crew consisted of 7 officers & 65 enlisted men. She earned 12 Battle Stars during World War II.
She completed 14 war patrols and is credited with sinking 15 enemy vessels. The total tonnage sank ranks the USS Drum as the eight highest scoring US submarine of WWII.
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| USS Drum's enlisted crew's berthing quarters. Definitely not as luxurious as the Qantas crew rest on the Boeing 747 that I had the pleasure of during my flying days |
Leaving Alabama behind, we entered the state of Florida today on our way south to Fort Myers, located on the Gulf of Mexico Coast of Florida. I am sitting here at the moment in a roadside rest area not far from Tallahassee, the capitol of Florida.
We are headed down south to see how American icon Industrialists, Henry Ford & Thomas Edison used to spend their winters at their winter estates in Florida. Back in 1916, Henry Ford bought land in downtown Fort Myers, next door to Edison, his mentor. Now, both estates serve as museums that honor their founders and remind all of us about what they overcame and what they accomplished.
That’s all for now until we explore the Ford/Edison winter estates in Fort Myers, Florida.
Cheers for now.
Warbo.
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