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Shakedown Cruise & Fitting Out; April 1941 - May 1942
June 1942 - 1943
1944 - 1945
Postwar - 1961
1962 - Present
| Click On Image For Full Size Image | Size | Image Description | Contributed By And/Or Copyright |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 336k | Page 1 of a 2 page letter from Admiral J.M. Reeves, the senior member of the General Board of the Navy Department to Sec.Nav Charles A. Swanson to give to President Franklin D. Roosevelt stating the case for 16" main armament over 14", dated 17 May 1937. FDR did not want the U.S. to be the first power to violate the Washington & London Naval treaties concerning gun limitations. | Photo and text from the article "Gun Calibers & Battle Zones; The USN's Foremost Concern During the 1930's", by Professor Malcolm Muir Jr., courtesy of Warship International, pg. 26. No. 1, 1980. | |
 | 423k | Page 2 of a 2 page letter from Admiral J.M. Reeves, the senior member of the General Board of the Navy Department to Sec.Nav Charles A. Swanson to give to President Franklin D. Roosevelt stating the case for 16" main armament over 14". FDR did not want the U.S. to be the first power to violate the Washington & London Naval treaties concerning gun limitations. | Photo and text from the article "Gun Calibers & Battle Zones; The USN's Foremost Concern During the 1930's", by Professor Malcolm Muir Jr., courtesy of Warship International, pg. 26. No. 1, 1980. | |
 | 154k | Table of Immunity Zones of a 14" vs a 16" shell in a letter from Admiral J.M. Reeves, the senior member of the General Board of the Navy Department to Sec.Nav Charles A. Swanson to give to President Franklin D. Roosevelt stating the case for 16" main armament over 14". FDR did not want the U.S. to be the first power to violate the Washington & London Naval treaties concerning gun limitations. | Photo and text from the article "Gun Calibers & Battle Zones; The USN's Foremost Concern During the 1930's",by Professor Malcolm Muir Jr., courtesy of Warship International, pg. 27. No. 1, 1980. | |
 | 92k | Model of the North Carolina Class (BB-55) without her propulsion system and skegs, 30 May 1937. | Photo from National Archives & Record Administration (NARA), Record Group (RG-19N) Box 33. Courtesy of Dan Treadwell. | |
 | 94k | Model of the North Carolina Class (BB-55) with her propulsion system and skegs, 30 May 1937. | Photo from National Archives & Record Administration (NARA), Record Group (RG-19N) Box 33. Courtesy of Dan Treadwell. | |
 | 93k | Keel laying at Brooklyn Navy Yard, NY. Lt Gov. William P Horton driving 2nd rivet. 27 Oct. 1937. | NARA (National Archives Record Administration) photo courtesy of battleshipnc.com. | |
 | 107k | Keel laying at Brooklyn Navy Yard, NY. 27 Oct. 1937. | NARA (National Archives Record Administration) photo courtesy of battleshipnc.com. | |
 | 76k | Hull test model for the 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. | USNHC # NH 93907. | |
 | 1.5k | Rammer and Hydraulic Drive Assembly, General Arangement Plan # 216402 for Battleships of the North Carolina Class (BB-55 / 56), dated 26 Sept. 1939. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
 | 73k | Brooklyn Navy Yard NY. On building ways a few days before launching. | NARA (National Archives Record Administration) photo courtesy of battleshipnc.com. | |
 | 95k | Brooklyn Navy Yard NY. On building ways three days before launching, 11 June 1940. | NARA (National Archives Record Administration) photo courtesy of battleshipnc.com. | |
 | 245k | Launching Booklet of the North Carolina (BB-55), 13 June 1940. | Photo contributed by Robert M. Cieri. | |
 | 148k | Slideing down the building ways, as she is launched at the New York Navy Yard, 13 June 1940. Note the slope of her side armor, angled outward 15 degrees to increase its effective thickness against incoming enemy shells. | USNHC # NH 44899. | |
 | 55k | June 1940, shortly after launching. | USNI / USN photo. | |
 | 103k | Brooklyn Navy Yard, NY. Rudder rolled into place on rudder post. Steel cable on corner of turn tasble plate ready to turn rudder to 32°outboard angle so that rudder stock and crosshead may be installed as one unit, 19 August 1940. | NARA (National Archives Record Administration) photo courtesy of battleshipnc.com. | |
 | 117k | Brooklyn Navy Yard NY. 3 gun turret, hook on ready to lift aboard by hammerhead crane, 7 Sept. 1940. | NARA (National Archives Record Administration) photo courtesy of battleshipnc.com. | |
 | 84k | Brooklyn Navy Yard NY. Shipping 3 gun turret, 7 Sept. 1940. | NARA (National Archives Record Administration) photo courtesy of battleshipnc.com. | |
 | 112k | Brooklyn Navy Yard NY. Right Hand gun being lifted off dock for Turret # 2, 9 Nov 1940. | NARA (National Archives Record Administration) photo courtesy of battleshipnc.com. | |
 | 79k | Brooklyn Navy Yard NY. Lowering gun into Turret #2 between bulkheads, 9 Nov 1940. | NARA (National Archives Record Administration) photo courtesy of battleshipnc.com. | |
 | 104k | Brooklyn Navy Yard. Turret #3, 16" gun installation within a few inches of installing yoke, 18 Nov. 1940. | NARA (National Archives Record Administration) photo courtesy of battleshipnc.com. | |
 | 123k | North Carolina nearing completion in the New York Navy Yard, 1941. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
 | 52k | North Carolina (BB-55) underway at New York early in 1941. N.Y. & Phila pooled their resources in constructing the North Carolina class battleships. New York prepared all plans except for turret plans, rotating shell rings, and lower roller path weldment drawings, which were prepared in Phila. The propeller plans were all done at Philadelphia as were most of the plans for improved internal bracing to alleviate the vibration problems. Although these ships were ordered on 24 June with 14-inch guns, the Roosevelt administration announced its decision to increase the main battery to 16-inch on 10 July. Detailed weight calculatuions, including changes for the new main battery, weren't completed by the Bureau of Construction & Repair until October 1937. These calculations showed a "readjustment of the longitudinal center of gravity was required in order that proper trim conditions could be assured throughout their probable range of service loadings and that the full loads of liquids (fuel oil or replacing sea water ballast) could be carried. This readjustment of longitudinal center of gravity involved moving the major part of the contents of the vessel forward two frames (8.0 feet) relative to the outer hull. As plan work had already started, and since the change was absolutley required, the New York Yard was instructed by the Bureau..."to proceed with the development of plans on the above basis..." The SecNav on 15 January 1938 authorized a one month extension in the building period for each ship. | Photo USNHC # NH 50138 and text from the article "Gun Calibers & Battle Zones; The USN's Foremost Concern During the 1930's", by Professor Malcolm Muir Jr., courtesy of Warship International, pg. 28. No. 1, 1980. Additional text courtesy of Ron Smith. | |
 | 77k | The U.S. Navy's first post WW I design battleship, North Carolina (BB-55) fitting out at New York Navy Yard in early 1941. The stern of the new destroyer Edision (DD-439) appears to the left & the old destroyer Reuben James (DD-245) appears on the right foreground. Note: Reuben James is in Measure 2 camouflage. The photo does not do much to show the true nature of the camouflage. Three private yards competed with two Navy Yards for construction of the North Carolina ; Bethlehem Shipbuilding corp; New York SB Corp; & Newport News SB & DD Co. submitted bids of about $46 - 50 Million each, though Newport News stated that it could only accept the work if it were granted a "cost-plus 3.5%" price rather than a fixed price. The Bureaus of Construction & Repair & of Engineeering recommened that Newport News bid be disqualified and recommended that North Carolina be assigned to New York and Washington (BB-56) to Philadelphia (each bidding only about $37M). The set of recommendations was approved and messages making the formal construction awards were sent on 24 June 1937 to the two Navy Yards. | Photo USNHC # NH 50754 and text from the article "Gun Calibers & Battle Zones; The USN's Foremost Concern During the 1930's", by Professor Malcolm Muir Jr., courtesy of Warship International, pg. 28. No. 1, 1980. Additional camouflage text courtesy of Ron Smith. | |
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176k | Sailors and Navy officers standing beneath the 16-inch forward guns of the battleship North Carolina (BB-55), on the East river after she left the Brooklyn Nay Yard after her commissioning on 9 April 1941. | Photographer: George Strock, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life. Photo added 11/24/08. | |
 | 200k | The North Carolina (BB-55) at anchor 19 or 20 August 1941 in New York harbor just before she leaves for military trials, Measure 12 camouflage. | U.S. Navy Photograph submitted by Ron Titus, courtesy of Ingersoll-Rand. Corp. Photo i.d. courtesy of Ron Smith. | |
 | 651k | North Carolina (BB-55) final fitting out in New York harbor Nov. - Dec. 1941. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
 | 127k | North Carolina (BB-55) final fitting out in New York harbor Nov. - Dec. 1941. Ship is about to launch observation plane from starboard catapult. | USN / USNHC # NH 80988. Photo i.d. courtesy of Ron Smith. | |
The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.
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