The US Navy’s Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) has announced extensive renovations on the World War II-era USS South Dakota-class battleship ‘USS Alabama (BB 60)’ float.
The USS Alabama, which entered service in 1943, was the last of four South Dakota-class battleships to be constructed.
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After 81 years, the shipyard’s employees are delivering major upgrades to the USS Alabama float.
The float is undergoing such extensive improvements for the first time since it was built in the early 1980s.
NNSY Executive Support Department Command facility manager Ty Haughn said: “The trailer that the Alabama was sitting on had reached its end of service life.
“In addition, the ship itself needed body and structural repair, and to be completely repainted.”
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By GlobalDataThe float will also receive 3D printouts of ports, hatches and gun turrets. The battleship’s new trailer is smaller in size than its previous trailer.
Haughn added: “We have plans to restore the carbon dioxide system to recreate the guns firing and to come up with a system that would simulate diesel engine smoke coming out of the stacks.”
So far, the float has participated in various parades in Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Suffolk, as well as other cities located in Hampton Roads. It will continue to be showcased during events.
The shipyard is also currently working on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), USS Pasadena (SSN 752), and USS San Francisco (SSN 711).
