USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

Parks

The USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, one of America’s finest military parks, is located at 2703 Battleship Parkway, in Mobile, Alabama.

Opened to public in January 1965, the park is dedicated to Alabama veterans who served in World War II, The Korean War, the Vietnam War, and Operation Desert Storm. The park boasts two huge pieces of naval history – the USS Alabama Battleship and the USS Drum Submarine - both belonging to the World War II era.

In addition, the park has an air conditioned Aircraft Pavilion which exhibits fighter and surveillance planes such as the A-12 Blackbird. On the park grounds one can see numerous varieties of massive tanks and other military equipment including tractors, gun mounts, and gunboats.

The USS Alabama (BB-60), the sixth vessel to bear the name of Alabama, was laid at the Norfolk Navy Yard in February 1940. Some two years later, in February 1942, the battleship was launched in a colorful ceremony attended by many national figures. The ship played a major role in World War II and fought in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Until 1946 the ship was "moth balled" in Bremerton, Washington, when it was transferred to the State of Alabama. The ship was decommissioned in 1947.

The USS Drum (SS-228), a Gato-class submarine of the U.S. Navy, was launched in May 1941 by the Portsmouth Navy Yard, New Hampshire. The Drum had done a total of 13 war patrols and was awarded with 12 battle stars for its World War II service. It is credited with sinking 15 ships, a total of 80,580 tons of enemy shipping, eighth highest of all U.S. submarines in total Japanese tonnage sunk.

The Drum was decommissioned in February 1946. From 1947 to 1967, the ship served at Washington, D.C., to members of the Naval Reserve in the Potomac River Naval Command. In April 1969, it was donated to the USS Alabama Battleship Commission, and was opened to the public on July 4, 1969.