| USS Massachusetts (BB-59) Seen from the after deck of USS Alabama (BB-60). The muzzles of Alabama’s after 16-inch (406 milimeter)/45 caliber guns are in the foreground. After fitting out, Alabama commenced her shakedown cruise in Chesapeake Bay on Armistice Day, November 11, 1942. As the year 1943 began, the new battleship headed north to conduct operational training out of Casco Bay, Maine. She returned to Chesapeake Bay on January 11, 1943, to carry out the last week of shakedown training. Following a period of availability and logistics support at Norfolk, Alabama was assigned to Task Group 22.2, and returned to Casco Bay for tactical maneuvers on February 13, 1943. With the movement of substantial British strength toward the Mediterranean theater, to prepare for the invasion of Sicily, the Royal Navy lacked the heavy ships necessary to cover the northern convoy routes. The British appeal for help on those lines soon led to the temporary assignment of Alabama and South Dakota (BB-57) to the Home Fleet. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1892.jpg |
| Image Size | 2.45 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 5685 x 4517 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | January 1, 1943 |
| Location | |
| City | Casco Bay |
| State or Province | Maine |
| Country | United States |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | 80-G-K-416 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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