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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 83074:  USS North Carolina at sea, circa April-May 1941

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIP TYPES -- BATTLESHIPS --

North Carolina Class (BB-55 & BB-56),
1937 Building Program

The two battleships of the North Carolina class, the first U.S. Navy big-gun warships authorized in nearly two decades, were built with Fiscal Year 1937 appropriations. Their 35,000-ton standard displacement was the maximum allowed under the Naval Limitations treaties then in effect, as were the ships' main batteries of twelve 14-inch guns in three quadruple turrets. However, when the treaty collapsed after Japan's withdrawal in 1936, the design was revised to take nine 16"/45 guns in triple turrets instead, though armor remained at a level intended to protect against 14-inch shellfire at expected battle ranges.

The North Carolina's were completed in 1941 and underwent extensive shakedowns to control initial teething problems and to prepare ships and crews for combat. They served throughout World War II, mainly in the Pacific, where they were valuable members of the surface battle force and the aircraft carrier task groups. Their 27-knot maximum speeds allowed them to keep station with the fast carriers under most circumstances, and their heavy anti-aircraft batteries were effective in reducing the threat of Japanese air attacks on the "new queens' of the sea", the aircraft carriers.

The new battleships' big guns were mainly used to bombard targets ashore. They were in action against enemy capital ships just once, on 15 November 1942, when Washington fatally disabled the old Japanese battleship Kirishima off Guadalcanal. Their armor was never seriously challenged by hostile gunfire, but a September 1942 Japanese submarine torpedo hit gave North Carolina's underwater protection system a severe test.

Both ships were placed in reserve shortly after the end of World War II, and stayed in "mothballs" until the early 1960s, when the Navy decided they were no longer needed for possible active duty. North Carolina then became a memorial and museum, while Washington was scrapped.

The North Carolina class included two ships, both constructed at east coast Navy Yards:

  • North Carolina (BB-55), built at the New York Navy Yard. Keel laid in October 1937; launched in June 1940; completed in April 1941.
  • Washington (BB-56), built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania. Keel laid in June 1938; launched in June 1940; completed in May 1941.

    North Carolina class design characteristics:

  • Displacement: 35,000 tons (standard)
  • Dimensions: 729' (length overall); 108' 4" (maximum beam)
  • Powerplant: 115,000 horsepower steam turbines, producing a 27 knot maximum speed
  • Armament (Main Battery): Nine 16"/45 guns in three triple turrets
  • Armament (Secondary Battery): Twenty 5"/38 guns in ten twin mountings (ten guns on each side of the ship)

    This page features a small selection of photographs of North Carolina class battleships, plus images related to these ships' basic design features, and provides links to more extensive pictorial coverage of the individual ships.

    For coverage of other classes of U.S. Navy battleships, see: Battleships -- Overview and Special Image Selection.

    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 68516

    North Carolina class battleship (BB 55-56)


    Outboard profile and plan drawings from a wartime recognition manual, showing the ships (somewhat inaccurately) as fitted late in World War II.
    Ships of this class were USS North Carolina (BB-55) and USS Washington (BB-56).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 460 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 83074

    USS North Carolina (BB-55)


    At sea during her shakedown cruise, circa April-May 1941.
    Note what appears to be false-bow-wave camouflage forward, possibly the result of wave action on her new paint.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Maher Collection.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 80988

    USS North Carolina (BB-55)


    At sea off the U.S. east coast, 17 April 1942.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 126KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: 19-N-89065

    USS Washington (BB-56)


    Running post-overhaul trials in Puget Sound, Washington, on 10 September 1945.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 137KB; 740 x 620 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 93907

    Hull test model for the BB-55 (North Carolina) class battleships


    Hull model numbers 3557, 3556 and 3460, photographed at the Experimental Model Basin, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., 5 October 1938.
    These models show the "twin skegs", supporting the inboard propeller shafts, that were developed for this battleship design. Flow lines are marked on hull model numbers 3557 and 3556.

    Copied from the Bureau of Ships monograph "United States Battleship Designs for World War II", dated 1 June 1946.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 505 pixels

     

    For more views of North Carolina class battleships, see:

  • USS North Carolina (BB-55); and
  • USS Washington (BB-56)

    For coverage of other classes of U.S. Navy battleships, see: Battleships -- Overview and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 9 May 2000
    Coding updated 26 March 2001