USS Alaska (CB-1): The Large Cruiser That Looked Like a Battleship

In the closing years of World War II, the United States Navy unveiled one of the most unique and powerful warships ever to fly the American flag: USS Alaska (CB-1). Often described as a large cruiser—or, by those impressed with her size and firepower, a battlecruiser in disguise—Alaska straddled the line between two classes of warships. She was bigger and more heavily armed than any heavy cruiser in service, yet lighter and less armored than the nation’s battleships.

One of the most striking images of Alaska in her short career shows her firing her massive 12-inch guns during a training exercise sometime in 1944–1945. Shrouded in a bold dazzle camouflage pattern designed to confuse enemy gunners, the ship’s broadside echoed across the ocean like thunder. That moment captured what made Alaska both an awe-inspiring symbol of American naval power and a paradox in warship design.

Origins of the Alaska Class

The Alaska class was born out of fear and competition. In the late 1930s, U.S. naval planners worried about reports that Japan was constructing a new type of “super cruiser”—fast, heavily armed warships that could destroy standard heavy cruisers but outpace battleships. Germany, too, had built powerful commerce raiders, and the U.S. wanted something fast enough to hunt them down and strong enough to sink them.

The result was the Alaska-class large cruiser, a type the U.S. Navy designated with the hull code CB for Cruiser, Big. Six ships were planned, but only two—USS Alaska (CB-1) and USS Guam (CB-2)—were completed before the war ended.

A Battleship in Cruiser’s Clothing

USS Alaska was laid down on December 17, 1941, at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, just days after Pearl Harbor. She was launched in August 1943 and commissioned in June 1944.

Her design turned heads. At nearly 808 feet long and displacing over 27,000 tons fully loaded, Alaska was longer than many battleships of earlier eras. Her silhouette, complete with triple-gun turrets and thick armored belt, gave her the imposing appearance of a fast battleship.

But she was technically a cruiser—and her firepower reflected that hybrid role:

Main Battery: Nine 12-inch/50 caliber Mark 8 guns, mounted in three triple turrets.

Secondary Battery: Twelve 5-inch/38 dual-purpose guns, ideal for both surface and anti-aircraft targets.

Anti-Aircraft Suite: A formidable array of 40 mm Bofors and 20 mm Oerlikon cannons, which increased over time to combat the kamikaze threat.

Her 12-inch guns were unique. They fired shells far larger than the 8-inch guns carried by heavy cruisers, yet were smaller than the 14-inch, 16-inch, or 18-inch rifles mounted on battleships. This gave Alaska a fearsome punch—capable of tearing through enemy cruisers with ease—but not quite enough to stand toe-to-toe with a true battleship.

Camouflage and Training

When USS Alaska entered service, she wore one of the Navy’s eye-catching dazzle camouflage schemes. Known as Measure 32/7D, it consisted of jagged geometric blocks of gray, blue, and black designed to distort the ship’s profile. The intent was to confuse enemy rangefinders and make it difficult to judge her speed and course.

Photographs from her training exercises in 1944 and 1945 show Alaska’s turrets roaring in synchronized volleys, sheets of flame and smoke erupting from her guns while her dazzle camouflage rippled against the sea spray. These gunnery sessions not only trained her crew but also displayed the raw spectacle of her power—a bridge between the cruiser and battleship worlds.

Into the Pacific War

After shakedown cruises in the Atlantic, Alaska was dispatched to the Pacific in January 1945, just as the U.S. Navy was entering the climactic stages of the war. She quickly joined the Fast Carrier Task Force (Task Force 58), serving as an escort and anti-aircraft guardian for the fleet’s precious aircraft carriers.

During the invasion of Iwo Jima and later the Okinawa campaign, Alaska proved her worth. Her secondary and AA batteries filled the skies with flak, downing Japanese aircraft—including kamikazes—that threatened the fleet. Her main guns were used for shore bombardment, smashing coastal defenses and airfields with high-explosive 12-inch shells.

Alaska also took part in raids on the Japanese home islands, escorting carrier strikes that hit targets on Honshu. In these operations, she played a dual role: as a protector of the carriers and as a surface threat in her own right, ready to engage any enemy cruiser or battleship that challenged her.

Postwar Duties

When Japan surrendered in August 1945, Alaska transitioned to a peacetime role. She served as a flagship during the U.S. occupation of Korea and China, showing the flag in ports like Shanghai and Tsingtao. Her towering presence and sleek design symbolized American dominance in the Pacific.

Yet her career was shockingly brief. By February 1947—less than three years after commissioning—USS Alaska was decommissioned and placed in reserve. The Navy no longer saw a role for such hybrid ships in the emerging Cold War era. Aircraft carriers had proven decisive, and large cruisers were expensive to operate compared to their limited utility.

Legacy of a Hybrid Warship

Though her active service was short, Alaska left an enduring impression. Naval historians often debate whether the Alaska class was truly needed or simply a product of wartime fear. Critics argue they were expensive “white elephants,” neither battleship nor cruiser, arriving too late to fight their intended Japanese adversaries.

Supporters counter that Alaska and Guam performed admirably, providing valuable anti-aircraft cover, bombardment capability, and morale-boosting firepower. Their speed allowed them to keep pace with carriers, and their big guns gave them an intimidation factor unmatched by any cruiser afloat.

Today, USS Alaska remains a fascinating “what-if” of naval architecture. If the war had continued longer—or if more ships of her class had been built—perhaps the “large cruiser” concept would have developed further. Instead, Alaska stands as a one-off experiment, a warship caught between two worlds.

The Iconic Image

The most memorable image of USS Alaska may still be that of her firing her main battery in training during 1944–1945. The thunderous recoil of her nine 12-inch rifles, framed by the striking dazzle camouflage, symbolized both her immense power and her paradoxical identity. To some, she looked like a battleship. To others, she was a cruiser in name only.

But in that moment—flames bursting from her turrets, the Pacific horizon shaking with the force of her guns—USS Alaska embodied the U.S. Navy’s determination to dominate the seas with unmatched firepower.

Conclusion

USS Alaska (CB-1) was more than just a warship; she was a statement. A symbol of American industrial might, naval experimentation, and sheer presence on the high seas. Though her service life was short, she remains one of the most fascinating vessels of World War II—a ship that looked like a battleship, fought like a cruiser, and ultimately carved her own unique place in history.

From her dazzle camouflage to the unforgettable roar of her 12-inch guns, Alaska’s story is one of innovation, controversy, and power—a reminder that sometimes the most interesting ships are the ones that don’t quite fit into any category at all.