A Video Shout Out From The Crew Of The USS Alabama

by Lynn McMillen February 13, 2015

written by Lynn McMillen February 13, 2015 0 comments

SILVERDALE, WA-The USS Alabama has two rotating crews, Blue and Gold, which allows the ship to be deployed on missions more often without taxing one crew too much. A typical crew on the submarine is approximately 150 officers and enlisted Sailors.
Since the crew on a submarine is smaller than on most ships, each crew member must have the smarts to do highly technical work. They also need to be versatile enough to do their specific job and at the same time be prepared to do things like fight fires and control flooding in an emergency.
The USS Alabama is one of 14 Ohio class of ballistic missile submarines. The Navy’s ballistic missile submarines, often referred to as “boomers”, serve as an undetectable launch platform for intercontinental missiles. They are designed specifically for stealth and the precise delivery of nuclear warheads if directed by the President. The Alabama is 560 feet long and 42 feet wide and weighs more than 16,500 tons. A nuclear-powered propulsion system helps push the ship through the water at more than 20 knots.
These ballistic missile submarines, which have had their original 30 year service life extended to 42 years, are scheduled to be replaced by the Ohio Replacement submarine. The Navy is currently in the design phase of the replacement project with the first ship set to begin construction in 2021.
During their typical patrols, ships like USS Alabama can spend about three months at sea submerged and rarely seeing daylight. Their job is to complete a patrol completely undetected by potential adversaries.
Submarine service is a stealthy and secretive business by nature and necessity. Sailors onboard routinely conduct sensitive work that can’t be discussed outside the world in which the crew operates.