Battleship North Carolina

[BB-55 during construction]
The USS North Carolina, BB-55, was commissioned 9 April 1941 at a cost of $76,885,750 to the United States Navy.
She was the first of the North Carolina class of WW2 battleships, with the USS Washington being her sister ship. As part of the Navy's new fast, heavily-armed (sixteen inch gunned) battleships, she gained much attention within the first year after commissioning, gaining her the name "Showboat."
When launched, the Ship housed 144 Commissioned Officers and 2,195 Enlisted Men (and 100 Marines).
[Shipmates, day of commissioning]
BB-55 was involved in every major naval offensive (except the Battle of Midway and of Coral Sea) in the Pacific, earning 15 battle stars. The North Carolina became the most decorated Battleship in the war.
During the battle at the East Solomon Islands in August 1942, the Ship helped save the USS Enterprise, thus providing that the main objective of Battleships to protect Carriers.

[General Quarters drill]
On 30 April 1944, one of the BB-55's Kingfisher pilots rescued 10 Navy pilots shot down at the battle near Truk.

[The Showboat, after the torpedo hit]
The USS North Carolina participated in 9 shore bombardments, sank an enemy troopship, destroyed at least 24 enemy aircraft, and assisted in shooting down numerous more while sailing its over 300,000 miles during the war.
On 15 September 1942 the Ship's hull was struck by an enemy torpedo. This made numerous Japanese ships report that they had sank the USS North Carolina. But luckily, the Ship continued on after receiving repairs at Pearl Harbor.

During the war, 10 men were killed in action and 67 were injured while aboard the ship.
After serving as a training vessel for midshipmen, the Ship was decommissioned 27 June 1947. BB-55 was then sent to the inactive fleet in Bayonne, New Jersey for 14 years.
After rumors spread of the Ship being scrapped, the state of North Carolina came together and started the "Save Our Ship" rally. School children, young adults and those who had grown up loving the ship gave any money they could to save the Showboat from this horrible fate.
On 2 October 1961, the USS North Carolina was placed in its present resting place in the Cape Fear River, in Wilmington, North Carolina. On 29 April 1962, the USS North Carolina became the states memorial to all World War Two veterans.
The USS North Carolina is open 365 days a year for tours to the public.
Proudly there is group of honorable individuals that come together to make the USS North Carolina Living History Crew. Throughout the year, there are many times you can find this group aboard the ship reenacting various stations throughout the ship. If you are interested in joining, please ask for more information.
For More Information on Visiting the Ship, History, and everything else please visit the Battleship North Carolina Website at http://www.battleshipnc.com/index.html!

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