Naval Encyclopedia News Today

Before Alaska became a state, the U.S. Navy named a new fleet of battlecruisers in its honor. The Alaska class included six planned ships, but only the USS Alaska and USS Guam were completed. Built to counter German and Japanese threats, these ships were significantly larger than previous cruisers.

In the crucible of the Second World War, the United States Navy found itself rapidly evolving to meet the challenges of a global conflict. A striking product of this transformation was the creation of the Alaska-class cruisers, a trio of warships that stirred debate from their inception to their early retirement and continue to fascinate…