Bridge and Armored Conning Tower
USS North Carolina was the first US battleship constructed after the long between-wars construction period. Built on a nominal 35000 ton standard displacement required under the London Treaty, she set the basic pattern for all subsequent US Navy battleships. North Carolina was designed to carry 14 inch main guns, but was built with nine- 16 inch, 45-caliber guns after foreign nations did not agree to a 14 inch limitation. North Carolina was the first fast battleship in the US Navy reaching speeds of above the 28 knot range.
North Carolina was laid down at New York Navy Yard on 27 October 1937, launched 13 June 1940, and commissioned 9 April 1941. She operated in the Atlantic for the first part of her career, then transferred to the Pacific in 194, where she operated mainly as an escort for aircraft carriers. She was torpedoed 15 September 1942, suffering 5 fatalities. After a lengthy and distinguished wartime service where she earned 15 battle stars, North Carolina was overhauled and used for training Naval Academy midshipmen. She was decommissioned and laid up in reserve on 27 June 1947.
She was stricken 1 June 1960, donated to the state of North Carolina on 6 September 1961, and preserved as a museum in Wilmington where she remains today.
These photos were taken by my son Bill who visited the ship last week.
Bridge and Armored Conning Tower
USS North Carolina was the first US battleship constructed after the long between-wars construction period. Built on a nominal 35000 ton standard displacement required under the London Treaty, she set the basic pattern for all subsequent US Navy battleships. North Carolina was designed to carry 14 inch main guns, but was built with nine- 16 inch, 45-caliber guns after foreign nations did not agree to a 14 inch limitation. North Carolina was the first fast battleship in the US Navy reaching speeds of above the 28 knot range.
North Carolina was laid down at New York Navy Yard on 27 October 1937, launched 13 June 1940, and commissioned 9 April 1941. She operated in the Atlantic for the first part of her career, then transferred to the Pacific in 194, where she operated mainly as an escort for aircraft carriers. She was torpedoed 15 September 1942, suffering 5 fatalities. After a lengthy and distinguished wartime service where she earned 15 battle stars, North Carolina was overhauled and used for training Naval Academy midshipmen. She was decommissioned and laid up in reserve on 27 June 1947.
She was stricken 1 June 1960, donated to the state of North Carolina on 6 September 1961, and preserved as a museum in Wilmington where she remains today.
These photos were taken by my son Bill who visited the ship last week.