United States Ship Alabama (BB-60), named for the State of Alabama, was the sixth naval fighting ship to bear the name. Built by the Norfolk Navy Yard at Portsmouth, Virginia, it was authorized by Congress on 27 March 1934, its keel was laid on 1 February 1940, it was launched on 16 February 1942, sponsored by Mrs. Lister Hill, wife of Senator Lister Hill of Alabama, commissioned on 16 August 1942, and decommissioned on 9 January 1947. It steamed a total of 217,000 miles. During World War II, it served in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet from August 1942 to April 1943, the British Home Fleet from May 1942 to August 1943, and the U.S. Pacific Fleet from September 1943 to September 1945. Its operations included service with the British Home Fleet, including the Norway invasion feint, the Gilbert Islands Operation, bombardment of Nauru Island, the Marshall Islands Operation, bombardment of Kwajalein Atoll, Asiatic-Pacific raids, the Truk and Marianas attacks, the Palau, Yap, Ulithi and Wolei raids, bombardment of Ponape Island, the Hollandia Operation, the Marianas Operation, bombardment of Saipan Island, the Battle of Philippine Sea, the Palau, Yap and Ulithi raids, the Western Caroline Islands Operation, the capture and occupation of Southern Palau Islands, the Leyte Operation, 3rd Fleet supporting operations in the Okinawa attack, Luzon raids and support of the Mindoro landing, the Okinawa Gunto Operation, air strikes on the Tokyo Plains, Northern Honshu, and Hokkaido, bombardment of Hitachi, Honshu, service of its Bluejacket Company in the 3rd Fleet Naval Landing Force at Yokosuka, and anchoring in Tokyo Bay on 5 September 1945. In combat it fired over 1250 16-inch projectiles during shore bombardments and shot down 22 planes during attacks on carrier task forces, while receiving no enemy damage. After World War II, it remained a unit of the U.S. Pacific Fleet from September 1945 to March 1946 and of the U.S. 19th Reserve Fleet from April to December 1946, then stayed out of commission in reserve from January 1947 to June 1964. Transferred to the State of Alabama on 11 June 1964, it sailed from Seattle under tow on 21 July 1964, transited the Panama Canal on 26 August 1964, arrived at Mobile after 5600 miles under tow on 14 September 1964, and was dedicated and opened to visitors on 9 January 1965.