The USS Alaska (CB-1) was a formidable vessel with impressive specifications. Although officially classified as a large cruiser, her construction and capabilities were so extraordinary that she could easily be mistaken for a battleship. Alaska boasted remarkable speed and formidable armament. However, her impact on the Second World War was limited by her delayed commissioning and significant alterations made under wartime conditions, diverging from the circumstances envisioned during her initial order.
History behind the Alaska-class of large cruisers
The USS Alaska served as the flagship of the Alaska-class large cruisers. Initially planned as a family of six vessels, only Alaska and the USS Guam (CB-2) were completed, with a third vessel canceled during construction.
These cruisers, the largest built by the United States during World War II, held a unique position between conventional cruisers and battleships. Unlike traditional cruisers, which are fast, heavily armed and thinly armored, the Alaska-class represented a middle ground that provided substantial firepower.
Before the outbreak of the war, cruisers were restricted by the Washington Naval Treaty to 10,000 tons and 8-inch guns. In the late 1930s, intelligence indicated that Japan was constructing large “super cruisers” surpassing any operated by the US. With aircraft carriers not yet dominating naval warfare, the US Navy responded by developing its own large cruisers to counter these formidable Japanese vessels.
All the ships in the class, including those not constructed, were named after US territories, reflecting their distinctive status between battleships and cruisers.
Alaska-class specs
Even though there were only two Alaska-class large cruisers constructed, they were mighty vessels. At 808 feet long, they were about as long as the German battleship Bismarck, and with a displacement of 34,000 tons were heavier than Essex-class carriers. Powered by eight Babcock and Wilcox boilers, the Alaska-class could reach speeds of up to 38 MPH and had a range of 12,000 nautical miles.
As aforementioned, they were heavily-armed. The vessels’ main battery consisted of nine 12-inch/50 Mk 8 naval guns and two forward turrets in a superfiring position and one aft. Six turrets housed another 12 five-inch/38 dual-purpose guns, while 56 quad-mounted Bofors 40 mm guns and 34 single-mounted 20 mm Oerlikon guns served as the ships’ light anti-aircraft defense.
Compared to battleships of the same era, the Alaska-class featured relatively thin armor, but it was by no means poor. Their belt armor was 229 mm thick, while the armor on their deck was 102 mm thick. Their turret faces featured 325 mm-thick armor. This was much less than vessels like the Japanese battleship Yamato or the USS Missouri (BB-63), but was comparable to older and smaller battleships.
Combat in the Pacific Theater had changed come 1944
Construction commenced in December 1941, just days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and the USS Alaska was commissioned on June 17, 1944. However, by this time, the original purpose of countering Japanese commerce raiders had proved impractical, and the dynamics of maritime power had undergone substantial changes.
During the initial order for Alaska, heavily armed ships dominated the seas. Yet, by mid-1944, the unquestionable ascendancy of aircraft carriers had emerged. Even the most formidable battleships were vulnerable to airborne attacks from hundreds of miles away, lacking sufficient defenses. Lightly-armored vessels, like those of the Alaska-class, were particularly exposed.
Consequently, they were repurposed as fast carrier escorts, entrusted with the crucial mission of safeguarding carriers from both aerial and maritime threats.
The USS Alaska (CB-1) supported US action on Iwo Jima and Okinawa
In early 1945, the USS Alaska played a crucial role in supporting the US landings on Iwo Jima, providing protection for the USS Enterprise (CV-6) and Saratoga (CV-3). She subsequently joined up both with the USS Yorktown (CV-10) and Intrepid (CV-11) to conduct airstrikes on Okinawa.
During the Battle of Okinawa, Alaska experienced her first taste of combat, facing a fierce Japanese air strike against the US fleet. In the heat of battle, she successfully shot down two Japanese aircraft, including one attempting to crash into Intrepid.
One night in March 1945, Alaska unleashed a barrage of firepower on Minamidaitō, firing forty-five 12-inch shells and 352 five-inch shells. Then, on April 11, she downed one Japanese aircraft and likely another, possibly a Kugisho MXY7 Ohka 22.
The USS Alaska (CB-1) was ultimately decommissioned
For the remainder of the Second World War, the USS Alaska conducted similar missions, before spending time as part of the occupation force in Japan. She transported US soldiers home as part of Operation Magic Carpet, and was removed from active service in August 1946. Just under a year later, on February 17, 1947, Alaska was decommissioned.
A few studies were done to see if Alaska and Guam could be repurposed, but it was found this would be too expensive an endeavor. As such, both were stricken from the Naval Vessel Register and scrapped in the early 1960s.
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Despite arriving late to the war (and without much purpose), the USS Alaska was put to work and scored a number of victories, kept her crew safe and earned an impressive three battle stars.