
08/13/2025
The **USS Alabama (BB-60)**, a formidable World War II battleship turned museum ship, has weathered both the fury of war and the forces of nature. Commissioned in 1942 and later decommissioned in 1947, she found a second life in 1964 as a memorial and museum, permanently docked in **Mobile, Alabama**. Over the decades, the 35,000-ton (approx. 80 million pounds) warship has become a symbol of resilience—not just from her wartime service, but from her endurance through numerous Gulf Coast hurricanes.
One of the most dramatic tests of her strength came on **September 1, 2005**, in the aftermath of **Hurricane Katrina**. The massive storm surge and powerful winds shifted the USS Alabama in her berth, causing the entire battleship to **list approximately 8 degrees**—a remarkable movement for a vessel of her size and weight. The shift disrupted her moorings and underscored the raw power of nature, even against steel giants built for war.
Despite the damage, the USS Alabama remained afloat and was eventually stabilized, a testament to her enduring design and the commitment of those who preserve her. Today, she continues to serve not as a weapon of war, but as a living classroom and monument to the sailors who served aboard her, embodying both the legacy of naval power and the resilience of a community dedicated to remembering history.