Continuing our military theme, we drove into Mobile to tour the USS Alabama, a World War II battleship that now lives at Battleship Memorial Park. The Alabama actually had a pretty short active life, being commissioned in 1942 and de-commissioned in 1947, but she earned 9 Battle Stars-awards given for meritorious participation in battle.
I was very surprised to see that the turrets were open, and we could go inside. I sure am glad I am not the person who had to be in there when the fighting was going on!
I am sure sitting at the guns while wandering the “museum” ship feels a little different than it would have for the sailors during the war.
In the same park is the USS Drum, a World War II vintage submarine. The tour of this vessel felt like walking down a narrow tube, as compared to the battleship. This ship was built in Portsmouth New Hampshire, a place I am very familiar with.
After first coming aboard, each seaman has to “pass a test” before he is considered to be a teammate, and to have any usefulness, by his peers.
He has to learn every switch, valve, pipe and piece of equipment on the submarine, what it does and how to operate it. Once he qualifies, he earns his Dolphins, and becomes a member of a very small, elite group of sailors/submariners.
The USS Drum is responsible for sinking 15 Japanese ships during World War II. This is a picture of an actual ship that she sank.
