USS North Carolina (BB-55) was the first of 10 battleships to join the American fleet in WWII.
When the keel of the North Carolina was laid in October of 1937, she was the first battleship to be constructed in sixteen years. She became the first of ten fast battleships to join American fleet in World War II. North Carolina (BB-55) and her sister ship, Washington (BB-56), comprised the North Carolina class. There were many more classes to follow the North Carolina class.
At the time that she was commissioned on April 9th, 1941, she was considered to be the world's greatest sea weapon. She was armed with nine 16-inch 45 calibur guns in three turrets and twenty 5-inch 38 calibur guns in ten twin mounts, providing a formidable weapons platform. Her wartime complement consisted of 144 commissioned officers and 2,195 enlisted men, including about 100 Marines.
At the time that she was commissioned on April 9th, 1941, she was considered to be the world's greatest sea weapon. She was armed with nine 16-inch 45 calibur guns in three turrets and twenty 5-inch 38 calibur guns in ten twin mounts, providing a formidable weapons platform. Her wartime complement consisted of 144 commissioned officers and 2,195 enlisted men, including about 100 Marines.
VITAL STATISTICS OF THE USS NORTH CAROLINA (BB-55)
Hull Number:
BB 55
Keel Laid:
October 27, 1937
Launched:
June 13, 1940
Commissioned:
April 9, 1941
Decommissioned:
June 27, 1947
Length:
728' ⅝" long
Extreme Beam:
108 feet 3 7/8 inches wide
Mean Draught:
31 feet 7 inches normal, 35 feet 6 inches maximum
Displacement:
36,600 tons standard, 44,800 tons full load
Complement:
2,339 (144 officers and 2,195 enlisted)
Speed:
28 knots
Armament:
9: 16-inch/45 caliber guns
20: 5-inch/38 caliber guns
60: 40mm/56 caliber guns
48: 20mm/70 caliber guns
During WWII, North Carolina (BB-55) was involved in every major naval offensive in the Pacific area of operations, and as a result earned a total of 15 battle stars. In the Battle of the Eastern Solomon's in August of 1941, the ships anti-aircraft barrage helped save the carrier Enterprise, establishing the primary rols of the fast battlehship as the protector of the aircraft carriers. One of her Kingfisher polors performed heroically during the strike on Truk when he rescued 10 downed Navy avators on April 30th, 1944.
In all, North Carolina carried out 9 shore bombardments, sank an enemy troopship, destroyed at least 24 enemy aircraft, and assisted in shooting down many more. Her anti-aircraft guns helped halt or frustrate scores of attacks on aircraft carriers. She steamed over 300,000 miles.
The Japanese claimed through radio announcements on six separate occasions that the North Carolina had been sunk, she survived many close calls and near misses with one hit when a Japanese torpedo slammed into the battleship's hull on September 15th, 1942. The quick response on behalf of the crew allowed the mighty ship to keep up with the fleet. By the end of the war, the ship had only lost ten men in action and only 67 were wounded.
In all, North Carolina carried out 9 shore bombardments, sank an enemy troopship, destroyed at least 24 enemy aircraft, and assisted in shooting down many more. Her anti-aircraft guns helped halt or frustrate scores of attacks on aircraft carriers. She steamed over 300,000 miles.
The Japanese claimed through radio announcements on six separate occasions that the North Carolina had been sunk, she survived many close calls and near misses with one hit when a Japanese torpedo slammed into the battleship's hull on September 15th, 1942. The quick response on behalf of the crew allowed the mighty ship to keep up with the fleet. By the end of the war, the ship had only lost ten men in action and only 67 were wounded.
The North Carolina was decommissioned on June 25th, 1947 after serving as a training vessel for midshipmen. She was placed in the Inactive Reserve Fleet in Bayonne, New Jersey for the next fourteen years. In 1958 there was an announcement that she would be scrapped, which led to a statewide campaign by the citizens of North Carolina to save the ship, and bring her back to her home state. The Save Our Ship (SOS) campaign was successful and the Battleship arrived in her current berth on October 2nd, 1961. On April 29th, 1962 she was dedicated to its WWII veterans, and the 10,000 North Carolinians who died during the war, as the State's memorial.
USS NORTH CAROLINA TODAY
Visitors to the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial can tour the main deck of the ship, many interior compartments, and some of the gun turrets. Self-guide tours normally require two hours. One may easily see the city of Wilmington from the deck. There is an admission charge. Visitors may also view one of the nine surviving OS2U Kingfisher aircraft in the world, located on the stern of the ship. This particular aircraft was salvaged from a British Columbia, Canada mountainside in 1964 and donated by Lynn Garrison.It was restored by Vought Aeronautics retirees in Grand Prairie, Texas. Various events are held at the memorial including the annual Fourth of July fireworks display from the adjacent battleship park and spaces may be rented for special events. A Roll of Honor in the Wardroom lists the names of North Carolinians who gave their lives in service in all the branches of the military during World War II. The site is accessible by car or a short water taxi ride originating from downtown Wilmington and also features a gift shop, visitors center and picnic area.