CSS Alabama (BB-1943)

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In 1935, with the three New Mexico class ordered and building, did the Confederate States Navy designers start on the plans for their 40-45,000 ton fast battleship. The ships that were finally ordered were nearly 100 feet longer than the New Mexico's and had one extra turret which took the armament back to the Georgia class. The biggest difference, and what the extra 10,000 odd tons was used on, was in speed and armour. Finally the designers unleashed the beast, with a greyhounds speed of 33 knots being made on trials with 190,000Shp with the engines capable of 205,000shp in overload for an incredible speed of 34 knots for a battleship. The armour belt remained at 12" while the deck armour went to 7".

The name ship of the class was ordered and laid down in early 1939 with a projected completion date of mid 1944. This was brought back to mid 1943 when the CSN shipyards went to double shifts from 1940 as the country geared up for what seemed an inevitable drawing of the country into another European war.

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