The fourth and final battleship in the South Dakota class, the USS Alabama served in both the Atlantic and Pacific during World War II, participating in many of the most famous battles of the war. Armed with nine 16-inch guns, 20 5-inch guns, and a myriad of 40 mm and 20 mm weapons, Alabama was one of the most powerful warships afloat. This volume illustrates the modifications and improvements made to the ship during her service, and the battles fought by her men. The battleship today is a floating museum and veterans memorial moored in Mobile Bay in her namesake state of Alabama. Additional detailed photos capture the workings of this powerful, complex warship. Through carefully researched archival documents and photographs, the history of this iconic warship and the men who crewed it is presented in this profusely illustrated volume. AUTHOR: The maritime books by David Doyle, author of over 175 books, are noted for their thorough coverage of historic vessels and his celebrated ability to locate scarce vintage imagery. SELLING POINTS: . History of the design, development, and deployment of the famed WWII battleship USS Alabama . Begins with the keel-laying and chronicles the construction, launch, commissioning, and WWII combat history . Superb colour images of the preserved battleship at its Mobile Bay, Alabama, museum 240 colour and b/w illustrations