NAVYPEDIA

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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 equipment	CB1, 2: SK, 2x SG-1, 2x Mk 8, 2x Mk 12.22 radars
Complement	1517

Standard scale images

Graphics

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.