HI everyone, I'm new here.

My Grandfather served on the USS Alaska battleship during WWII. He was on it as it left port just prior to Pearl Harbor being bombed in 1941. I have recently gotten into going through my family history and I decided to start with the most reclusive info about anyone in my family...my Grandfather. My Grandfather came to America as an immigrant in the early 1900's from Italy through Ellis Island. His name when he died was Joseph Vollero. He lived his life and died in New York. I do not know the exact last name he used and it might vary from Vallero to Valeo to Volero to Valloro. Nobody in my family (including my Grandmother) know exactly what it was. But back to my question. I was wondering if I could get some logs that showed all the crew that served on the USS Alaska or know a site that would have that sort of information. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks.

-Gradius [img]graemlins/moh.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/moh.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Ship's logs are stored in Mechanicsburg Pennsylvaina. You can request copies via a Freedom of Information Act.
A few notes:
The USS Alaska CB 1 wasn't commissioned until 17 June 1944. It wasn't in existance (it was under construction) when Pearl Harbor happened. The Alaska is a large cruiser, not a battleship or battlecruiser. The Alaska served in the Pacific during the last year or so of the Pacific War.
If you know your Grandfather's service number and full name you can also FOIA a copy of his service record.
Also try ussalaskacb-1.com
That is the reunion site, etc.

Wasint the Alaska the Last US battleship made i thought that was what i read!

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The Alaska is a large cruiser. It is not a battleship nor is it a battlecruiser. It's hull construction followed that of then current practice for cruisers as did its armor arrangement.
Think of it as a 12" gunned very heavy cruiser.

But weren't Crusers limited to 8" rifles under the disarment treaties. And also all US Crusers were named after Cities and Alaska is a state and is therefore saved for a battleship. Plus in the Book Victory At Sea Alaska is stated as a class of battleship!!!

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Technical information
Type Large cruiser
Class 'Alaska'
Displacement 34253 BRT*
Length 809 feet*
Complement 1769 men*
Armament 9 12\"/50 guns (3x3).
12 5\"/38 DP guns (6x2).
56 40mm AA (14x4).
34 20mm AA (34x1).*
Max speed 33 knots
Engines Geared turbines, 4 shafts*
Power 150000 SHP*
Notes on class Peace-time complement was closer to 1370 men.

This class of 6 ships (2 completed) was designed to counter the German pocket-battleships and Japanese armoured cruisers. They were not successful as they were almost as expensive to build and run as the Iowa class battleships but much less armoured.*

US Navy ships of the 'Alaska' class

USS Alaska (CB 1)
USS Guam (CB 2)
USS Hawaii (CB 3) - never built.

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

But man my book says its a battleship!!!

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I'm afraid to tell you that not all what books say it's true. Specially if they're Ambrose or Irving's... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

I miss read and its by WWII vets. It's technically a battlecruser and they mixed those with the Battleships. Second i Was right its not a hevey cruser but a large Cruser(officaly).

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No, the Alaska class were large cruisers and, that designation was adopted from the original heavy cruiser designation that they were given during design. That change occured with the Fleet Expansion Act of 19 July 1940. The original design designation by BuShips was CA 2 (Heavy Cruiser designation) with the original design scheme listed as CA2G (these schemes went from CA2A to I and later several new ones HH, MM, 3 for example were added). They were never popular ships with their captains or the Navy in general.
The Alaska's were never considered "Battlecruisers."

w/e Thats waht they called em in two books that i own!

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