Ship:Alaska B

14.8

Alaska B

Cruiser | U.S.A. | Tier IX

Tech Tree Position

General

Purchase priceSpecial

Hit Points60,800

Main Battery

305 mm/50 Mk.8 in a turret3 х 3 pcs.

Rate of Fire3 shots/min

Reload Time20 sec

Rotation Speed6 deg/sec

180 Degree Turn Time30 sec

Firing Range19 km

Maximum Dispersion207 m

HE Shell305 mm HE Mk17 mod. 1

Maximum HE Damage4,300

Chance of Fire27 %

Initial HE Velocity808 m/s

HE Shell Weight462.3 kg

AP Shell305 mm AP Mk18 mod. 1

Maximum AP Shell Damage8,900

Initial AP Shell Velocity762 m/s

AP Shell Weight517 kg

Secondary Armament #1

127 mm/38 Mk.12 on a Mk.32 mount6 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range7 km

Rate of Fire10 shots/min

Reload Time6 sec

HE Shell127 mm HE Mk32

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,800

Initial HE Shell Velocity792 m/s

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell5 %

AA Defense

20 mm Oerlikon on a Mk.4 mount34 х 1 pcs.

40 mm/56 Bofors on a Mk.2 mount14 х 4 pcs.

127 mm/38 Mk.12 on a Mk.32 mount6 х 2 pcs.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed33 knot

Turning Circle Radius850 m

Rudder Shift Time13 sec

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range15 km

Air Detectability Range9.7 km

Battle Levels

12345678910

IX

Special

Alaska B — American special premium Tier IX cruiser.

In the late 1930s, the U.S. was designing large ships with 305 mm main battery guns to counter cruisers. The most armored of the presented variants was the CA2G project, which, according to the report, was armored "worse than any battleship, but better than any cruiser." The ship, named USS Alaska, became part of a high-speed carrier squadron that operated in the Pacific Ocean. Alaska protected aircraft carriers during strikes on Tokyo and covered the landing operations at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The ship also participated in the raid on Shanghai.

Alaska B was first sold on Black Friday 2019. Released again for Black Friday 2020 from November 27th until December 4th.

Modules

	Rate of Fire (shots/min)	180° Turn Time (sec)	Maximum Dispersion (m)	Maximum HE Shell Damage (HP)	Chances of HE shells causing a fire on target (%)	Maximum AP Shell Damage (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
305 mm/50 Mk.8 in a turret	3	30	207	4,300	27	8,900		0	0

	Hit Points (HP)	Armor (mm)	Armor (mm)	Main Turrets (pcs.)	Secondary Gun Turrets (pcs.)	AA Mounts (pcs.)	Torpedo Tubes (pcs.)	Hangar Capacity (pcs.)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Alaska B.	60,800	16	325	3	6	34/14/6				0	0

	IDS_SHIP_PARAM_SUO_INCREASE_DIST (%)	Maximum Firing Range (km)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Mk9 mod. 1		0		0	0

	Maximum Speed (knot)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Propulsion: 180,000 hp	33		0	0

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1
Slot 2
Slot 3
Slot 4
Slot 5
Slot 6

Player Opinion

Performance

Warning: The data presented in the AA Defense sidebar section may be incorrect.
Refer to the in-game Port screens for more useful data.

Alaska B is identical to Alaska in all respects, save her paint scheme.

On paper, many aspects of Alaska B will resemble those of her counterparts, Kronshtadt and Azuma. In game, however, captains will find that Alaska B has a play style more similar to that of German heavy cruisers (such as Roon). Armed with nine 305mm guns, she lacks the ability to go "AP only" in battle; something that her Russian counterpart can do quite easily. Captains are highly encouraged to invest in the Expert Loader skill in order to make the most of her main battery. In this respect, Alaska B is quite similar to normal cruisers in that she will regularly change shell types depending on the chosen target.

As far as her armor goes, she keeps the trend of high-tier American cruisers having 27mm plating at their extremities, as well as possessing an overmatch-proof middle deck. Despite having 10,000 fewer hit points than Kronshtadt, Alaska B has similar — if not superior — survivability to due to her armor layout and better stealth. Alaska B also has a below-the-waterline citadel, allowing her to frequently avoid citadel hits at close range. Still her armor is quite weak, and when taking battleship-caliber fire at range, her citadel remains very vulnerable. Captains should keep an eye on enemy battleship positions, and either angle or make use of concealment accordingly.

Much of Alaska B’s playstyle is based on choosing fights wisely. Although she has great armor — for a cruiser — and solid guns, she will still be out damaged by equal and higher tier cruisers due to her slower rate-of-fire. Her armor loses much of its strength when facing off against high-tier battleships; captains should avoid thinking that her large guns and good armor can allow her to carry an engagement. Early game for Alaska B is much the same as it is for any other cruiser, while in the late game a healthy Alaska B can make the difference between a loss and a win. Learning when Alaska B can safely engage targets in one-on-one duels and win is an important skill for captains looking to maximize her game play.

Pros:

• Large 305mm main battery armament.
• Alaska B’s large health pool, good concealment, and sturdy armor allow her freedom in positioning and the ability to withstand fire from equivalent tier cruisers.
• Strong AA suite can protect her from most enemy aircraft.
• Excellent accuracy on her main battery armament reinforces her role of a cruiser-killer.
• Has access to Surveillance Radar .
• Guns are powerful enough to citadel some battleships.

Cons:

• Increased fire duration (60 seconds) and vulnerability to multiple fires when under HE spam compared to other cruisers.
• Large size and more sluggish maneuverability makes her an easier target for both enemy shells and torpedoes.
• Her large size also makes her an easy target to hit, even when actively maneuvering.
• Armor is not thick enough to let her tank battleship fire and HE spam in open combat. Alaska B can tank fire from most battleships if angled and at range, but several Tier X battleships can still overmatch her plating.
• While she has Surveillance Radar , her extremely long gun reload time of 20 seconds means that players will need to fire accurately and try and get help from teammates when fighting destroyers.
  

Research

As a premium ship, Alaska B doesn't have any upgrades to research.

Optimal Configuration

Upgrades

The recommended upgrades for Alaska B are as follows:

• Slot 1: Main Armaments Modification 1 *
• Slot 2: Surveillance Radar Modification 1 *
• Slot 3: Aiming Systems Modification 1
• Slot 4: Damage Control System Modification 2 *
• Slot 5: Concealment System Modification 1 
• Slot 6: Main Battery Modification 3

Upgrade Slot 1 provides players with two viable choices. Main Armaments Modification 1 is generally recommended; however, for anti-aircraft duties, players should take Auxiliary Armaments Modification 1 .

Upgrade Slot 2 allows players to extend the duration of the Surveillance Radar  consumable if they have the appropriate upgrade available in the Armory. Otherwise, Damage Control System Modification 1  is recommended.

Upgrade Slot 4 provides several viable options. For increased survivability, Damage Control System Modification 2 is a good choice. Many players utilize Steering Gears Modification 1 to increase the maneuverability of the ship, while others will opt for Propulsion Modification 1 in order to get Alaska B moving quickly when stationary. Choosing between these upgrades will be determined by the intended play style.

The default pick for many players in Upgrade Slot 5 will be Concealment System Modification 1 , but as a cruiser, Alaska B also has access to Steering Gears Modification 2 . When stacked with Steering Gears Modification 1 in Upgrade Slot 4, Alaska B becomes highly maneuverable and can sometimes juke and dodge incoming fire at longer ranges. This is a valuable ability to have in the early stages of a match, and captains who feel comfortable eschewing a maximum stealth build are encouraged to try it.

Commander Skills

Unique American commanders with the buffed version of Gun Feeder (-75% instead of -50%) are highly recommended for Alaska B given the long reload of her main battery.

Recommended Commander Skills
Cost (points)	Attack				Defense
1	Grease the Gears +15% main battery traverse speed. ★★	Swift Fish +5% torpedo speed.	Consumable Specialist −7.5% cooldown time of all Consumables except:  Damage Control Party   Repair Party .	Gun Feeder -40% time to switch shell type. ★★	Incoming Fire Alert Receive a warning of a salvo fired at your ship from more than 4.5km.	Last Stand The ship remains able to move and maneuver - slowly - while the engine or steering gears are incapacitated.
2	Demolition Expert +1% chance of main and secondary HE shells causing a fire. +15% to the fragmentation damage area of HE ordnance fired at submarines.	Fill the Tubes -10% torpedo tubes reload time.	Consumables Enhancements +10% action time of Hydroacoustic Search, Surveillance Radar, Smoke Generator, & Engine Boost.	Eye in the Sky Spotting Aircraft: • +2 charges • -50% cooldown time.	Priority Target The detection indicator will show the number of enemies targeting you with main battery. ★★	Focus Fire Training In an active priority AA sector: •  +1.5% (to 5%) immediate damage. •  +25% continuous damage. •  +1 flak burst per salvo. −10% aircraft preparation time. −15% reload time of Airstrike armament..
3	Heavy HE and SAP Shells +10% HE and SAP shell damage. +15% ship detectability guns 149mm and up.	Pack a Punch +15% torpedo damage. +20% secondary battery range..	Adrenaline Rush -0.2% reload time of all armaments per 1% HP lost +0.2% AA continuous damage per 1% HP lost. ★★	Heavy AP Shells +5% damage for AP shells 190mm and larger. ★★	Superintendent +1 charge to all consumables. ★★	Survivability Expert +450 HP per ship tier.
4	Top Grade Gunner -10% reload time of secondary batteries If enemy ship is spotted within detectability range, -8% reload time of main battery. ★★	Outnumbered If there are fewer allies than visible enemies within the ship's base main caliber firing range: +8% ship speed -10% main battery dispersion. ★★	Radio Location Shows the direction to the nearest enemy ship. The enemy is alerted that a bearing has been taken..	Inertial Fuse for HE Shells +25% armor penetration of HE shells Base fire chance reduced by half.	Concealment Expert -10% detectability range of the ship.	AAA & ASW Expert +25% continuous AA and flak damage. +15% damage inflicted by depth charges. While AAA is active: −50% ship consumables reload time..
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful      ★★ - Frequently Useful      ★ - Occasionally Useful     No stars - Not Useful

Consumables

Alaska B can equip the following consumables:

• Slot 1: Damage Control Party 
• Slot 2: Defensive AA Fire  – 4 charges or Hydroacoustic Search  – 3 charges
• Slot 3: Surveillance Radar  – 3 charges or Catapult Fighter  – 3 charges or Spotting Aircraft  – 4 charges
• Slot 4: Repair Party  – 3 charges

Camouflage

As a premium ship, Alaska B comes with Default permanent camouflage and a set of permanent combat bonuses.

Signals

Alaska captains should mount standard signal flags to improve the ship's performance in battle. Sierra Mike () flags are highly recommended to increase the ship's top speed. India Delta () and India Yankee () flags should be mounted to improve the ship's survivability. November Foxtrot () flags can also be mounted to decrease consumable cooldown time.

Recommended Signal Flags
Combat
Charlie Kilo +5% ship HP; +2.5% squadron HP.	Juliet Yankee Bissotwo -20% to flooding duration. ★	India Yankee -20% to fire duration. ★★★	Hotel Yankee -20% to damage received when ramming the enemy. +50% to damage dealt when ramming the enemy. ★	Victor Lima +1% chance for HE bombs and shells with a caliber above 160mm causing a fire. +0.5% chance for bombs and smaller shells causing a fire. +4% chance of torpedoes causing flooding. ★	India X-Ray +1% chance for HE bombs and shells with a caliber above 160mm causing a fire. +0.5% chance for bombs and smaller shells causing a fire. ★
Juliet Whiskey Unaone +15% chance of causing flooding.	Mike Yankee Soxisix +5% to secondary battery maximum firing range. -5% to maximum dispersion of secondary battery shells. -5% to secondary battery loading time. ★★	November Echo Setteseven +5% continuous AA damage at all ranges. +5% damage from flak bursts. ★★	Sierra Mike +5% to the ship's maximum speed. ★★★	November Foxtrot -5% reload time on all consumables. ★★	India Delta +20% to the amount of HP recovered when Repair Party  is used. ★★★
X-Ray Papa Unaone +10% action time of a Smoke Generator .	Sierra Bravo +10% action time of Hydroacoustic Search  -10% reload time of Defensive AA Fire .

Gallery

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Historical Info

USS Alaska B, 1944

Construction

Builder: New York Shipbuilding Corporation;
   Camden, New Jersey, United States

Laid down: 17 December 1941

Launched: 15 August 1943

Commissioned: 17 June 1944

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Specifications

29,779 tons displacement, standard

34,253 tons displacement, full

246.4m length

27.8m beam

9.7m draft (full load)

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Machinery

Eight (8) Babcock & Wilcox Boilers

Four (4) General Electric Steam Turbines

3,619 tons of oil

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Performance

33 knots at 150,000 shaft horsepower

12,000 nm at 15 knots

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Armor

Main belt: 229mm

Decks: 71.12mm inboard, 76.2mm outboard,
   on 25.4mm plating

Bulkheads: 260mm

Barbettes: 330mm

Turrets: 325mm

Conning tower: 269mm

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Armament

Main

Nine (3x3) 12"/50 (305mm) Mk.8

Secondary

Twelve (6x2) 5"/38 (127mm) Mk.34 mod.4

Anti-aircraft

Fifty-six (14x2) 40mm/56 Bofors Mk.2

Thirty-four (34x1) 20mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.4

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Aircraft Facilities

Two (2) Catapults

Aircraft

Four (4) OS2U Kingfisher Observation floatplanes
   or SC Seahawk Scout seaplanes

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Complement

1,517 officers and sailors

USS Alaska (CB-1) at anchor on 13 November 1944.

Design

The Alaska-class of large cruisers could be seen as an extension of the creative exercises undertaken by many navies during the treaty-era of ship construction in order to work around the imposed limitations. The impetus behind this specific class of cruisers were to counter the deployment of Germany’s Deutschland-class panzerschiffes and Japan’s Design B-65 cruisers under consideration in the late 1930s: ships that were designed to counter heavy cruisers. Subsequently, in 1938 the General Board of the Navy directed the Bureau of Construction and Repair to initiate studies into designing a ship with the directive to counter these “super cruisers”.

Although superficially resembling the doctrine behind the implementation of battlecruisers in European navies in the early 20th century, the US Navy officially considered this group of surface ships to be quite different. In their eyes, the battlecruisers of old were considered complementary capital ships to battleships; trading armor for speed in order to chase down combatants that the battleships couldn’t catch. These “large cruisers” were seen as up-scaled heavy cruisers; this doctrine showed its influence in the design process. Officially, the class used a unique designation — “CB” — to reflect their status. Furthermore, the proposed ships were named after US territories, reflecting their intermediate nature between cruisers and capital ships.

Due to the inexperience of never having previously designed a “large cruiser”, the entire process was wrought with uncertainty. One of the initial design targets considered was a standard displacement of 25,000 tons; a position between heavy cruisers and battleships. To expedite the process, a plethora of design cues were taken from heavy cruisers. The main armament arrangement was identical, plus the secondary and anti-aircraft suite was very similar to the Baltimore-class of cruisers (despite having a much larger hull). Akin to the New Orleans-class cruisers, the aviation facilities were placed in the center of the ship (as opposed to the stern, like on newer-generation heavy cruisers and battleships). Amusingly - like heavy cruisers - only a single large rudder was considered, which resulted in a poor turning circle bested by battleships and fleet carriers.

Other shortcuts were adopted, included replicating the propulsion machinery of the Essex-class carriers, since they were of similar displacement to the Alaska-class. The combination of 8 boilers and 4 turbines generated 150,000 shaft horsepower and propelled the ships to over 31 knots. The only design similarity to battleships would be the implementation of a columnar tower-style superstructure in order to place fire-control systems high enough to take advantage of the longer ranges attainable by the main armament.

The Alaska-class equipped nine 12-inch, 50 caliber Mark 8 rifles as the main armament, similar to the “cruiser killers” being implemented by the Axis navies. Designed solely for the Alaska-class, they took advantage of ballistic technology being implemented in the early 1940s. For instance, the implementation of a multistage powder hoist allowed for each rifle to hurl a 500kg shell upto 35,000m every twenty to twenty-four seconds. In accordance with the belief that the Alaska-class would be trading gunfire with other cruisers, the armor scheme centered around a nine-inch (228mm) armored belt that would ensure protection against shells up to 11” (279mm) in caliber. But in order to save tonnage, the decision was made to not equip the class with any underwater protection systems; instead, this luxury was reserved for carriers and battleships. This would render the class highly vulnerable to torpedoes, mines, and any short-falling shells. Truly, they were cruisers in the guise of battleships.

The design of the class was finalized in September 1940, and six were ordered as part of the naval expansion programs undertaken by the US Navy prior to their entry into World War II. USS Alaska (CB-1), named after the then-Territory of Alaska, was laid down ten days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor at Camden, New Jersey by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation. She was launched 15 August 1943 and was formally commissioned into the US Navy on 17 June 1944.

Service

USS Alaska (CB-1) was the first of only two completed "large cruisers" designed primarily to counter Japanese heavy cruisers. Unfortunately, Alaska did not make it to the eastern Pacific in time to take part in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the last large-scale sortie the Imperial Japanese Navy could muster. After commissioning, she sailed to the Caribbean for a shakedown cruise, trials, and exercises for the rest of 1944.

On 8 January 1945, Alaska departed California for Hawaii, reaching Pearl Harbor on the 13th. She joined Task Group 58.5, a part of the screening force for Task Force 58, the well-known Fast Carrier Task Force. Alaska was tasked with screening USS Enterprise (CV-6) and USS Saratoga (CV-3) as the fleet departed for Japan. Following air strikes on Tokyo on 10 February, Alaska was transferred to Task Group 58.4 and assigned to support the assault on Iwo Jima. She screened carriers off Iwo Jima for 19 days, then returning to Ulithi to replenish. Remaining with Task Group 58.4, her next mission was the Battle of Okinawa, where she was to screen USS Yorktown (CV-10) and USS Intrepid (CV-11). It was here that Alaska had her first taste of real combat; the Japanese launched a major retaliatory airstrike on the Allied fleet; Alaska was credited with shooting down two Japanese bombers, one as it attempted to crash into Intrepid. The next day, USS Franklin (CV-13) was crippled by bomb hits and a devastatingly successful kamikaze strike. Alaska — alongside her sister USS Guam (CB-2) and in conjunction with two other cruisers and several destroyers — detached to form Task Group 58.2.9 to escort Franklin back to the safety of Ulithi, after repairs were undertaken to ensure Franklin could make the journey. En route to Ulithi, Franklin again came under attack from another bomber, and her escorts failed to shoot it down. Gunfire from one of Alaska’s 5”/39 Mk 28 Mod 2s guns caused flash burns on nearby sailors, but none died. These constituted the only causalities suffered by Alaska during the war. Alaska took lead of the fleet escorting Franklin, and the following day, her air search radar helped Allied fighters intercept and destroy a Japanese heavy fighter. Alaska and her task force reached Ulithi on 22 March, and she detached to rejoin TG 58.4.

Returning to Okinawa,Alaska continued to screen for the aircraft carriers participating in the subjugation of the island. On 27 March she carried out her first bombardment on the island of Minamidaitou in southern Okinawa. After refueling, she returned to Okinawa to support the landings when they began on 1 April. Throughout April, Alaska claimed several confirmed aircraft kills and several more assists. She arrived back in Ulithi on 14 May to resupply, where she then joined Task Group 38.4, bound again for Okinawa, where Alaska resumed her anti-aircraft defense role. Alaska and Guam bombarded the southern Okinawan island of Oki Daitou, before the fleet steamed for Leyte Gulf for rest and maintenance until mid-July. Alaska then was assigned to Cruiser Task Group 95 alongside Guam, and she steamed for the East China and Yellow Seas to sink Japanese shipping vessels. Her last major wartime service was a raid into the estuary of the Yangtze River off Shanghai to strike Japanese airfields. Both these were met with limited success. Alaska returned to Okinawa, where she remained until the end of the war.

On 30 August 1945, Alaska departed Okinawa for Japan as part of the Seventh Fleet occupation forces. She sailed from Incheon, Korea, to Tsingtao, China, where she supported the 6th Marine Division in their occupation of the area until mid-November; she then returned to Incheon to embark soldiers as part of Operation Magic Carpet. After disembarking soldiers at San Francisco, she left for the Atlantic, returning to the Boston Navy Yard on 18 December 1945. She left Boston on 1 February 1946 for Bayonne, New Jersey, where she would be berthed in reserve. While she was removed from active service on the 13 August 1946, she was not decommissioned until mid-February 1947. There she remained largely forgotten for over a decade, until in 1958 the Bureau of Ships did two feasibility studies to see if Alaska and Guam were suitable for conversion to guided missile cruisers. The conversion process was deemed too expensive, and the proposal was abandoned. Both ships were stricken on 1 June 1960, and sold for scrap to on the 30th. Alaska was awarded four medals, including the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three battle stars.

Historical Gallery

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  USS Alaska (CB-1) underway.
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  A close-up of Alaska’s forward main gun turrets.
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  A view on Alaska’s hull shortly after her hull was launched.
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  Alaska shortly after the war.

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References

1. USS Alaska (CB-1) - Wikipedia
2. Alaska-class cruiser - Wikipedia

Ship Change Log

• Available for testing by supertesters in the game starting from update 0.8.10.
• Available for purchase in the Premium Store during the Black Friday sale from November 29 to December 6, 2019. Could also drop from Black Friday containers.
• Update 0.9.0:
  • Fixed camera errors during the game.
• Update 0.10.0:
  • The firing range of the secondary battery was increased to 6.95 km.

Ships of U.S.A.

Cruisers