Analysis of BATTLES FOUGHT ON THE USS NORTH CAROLINA
The USS North Carolina entered World War II in 1941 and participated in every major naval offensive in the Pacific area. She earned a total of 15 battle stars, 8 different battle ribbons, 7 medals, and one Presidential Unit Citation from the Philippines. During her first battle in August of 1942, exposure became imperative when the Japanese gathered powerful forces at the Battle of the Eastern Solomon’s, to destroy the American ships (B. Blee, p.46). North Carolina B-55 was guarding the carrier Enterprise when dive bombers began fiercely attacking the ship. “The Battleship’s anti-aircraft barrage helped save the carrier Enterprise, thereby establishing the primary role of the fast battleship as protector of aircraft carriers” (History, BattleshipNC). The USS North Carolina worked sufficiently utilizing all assists to save the carrier Enterprise, therefore becoming known as the protector of aircraft carriers. During the Battle of the Eastern Solomon’s, the North Carolina shot down seven planes and accelerated the attacks of many more (B. Blee, p.46). This was North Carolinas first battle during World War II however she participated in many more battles that made a significant impact during this time period.
On September 15, 1942 the Japanese sent a torpedo that slammed into the North Carolina Battleship’s hull 20 feet below the waterline. The ship lost 10 men and 67 were wounded in the strike of the torpedo. However the crew worked quickly and she was able to keep up with the fleet. (History, BattleshipNC) After incidents such as this, she spent a lot of her time at Pearl Harbor receiving repairs and upgrades throughout the years. “After overhaul at Pearl Harbor, North Carolina rejoined the carriers for a month of airstrikes and naval bombardment on the Japanese home islands. Along with guarding the carriers, the North Carolina fired on major industrial plants near Tokyo, and her scout plane pilots performed a daring rescue of a downed carrier pilot under heavy fire in Tokyo Bay” (Navysite). The USS North Carolina was used to fire down major planes near Tokyo during our fight with the Japanese. It is here that the pilots preformed the rescue of a downed plane which would have resulted in causality, because of the heavy fire bestowed upon the United States pilot.
North Carolina suffered many damages and attacks however she successfully remained intact. She assisted many fleets during battle and was meant to provide protection for other ships. During World War II she protected air craft carriers, rescued downed pilots, refueled destroyers, and carried out ship bombardments.
Photo from: Battleships. Retrived from http://scaleshipyard.com/Catalog%20Pages/battleships.html
On September 15, 1942 the Japanese sent a torpedo that slammed into the North Carolina Battleship’s hull 20 feet below the waterline. The ship lost 10 men and 67 were wounded in the strike of the torpedo. However the crew worked quickly and she was able to keep up with the fleet. (History, BattleshipNC) After incidents such as this, she spent a lot of her time at Pearl Harbor receiving repairs and upgrades throughout the years. “After overhaul at Pearl Harbor, North Carolina rejoined the carriers for a month of airstrikes and naval bombardment on the Japanese home islands. Along with guarding the carriers, the North Carolina fired on major industrial plants near Tokyo, and her scout plane pilots performed a daring rescue of a downed carrier pilot under heavy fire in Tokyo Bay” (Navysite). The USS North Carolina was used to fire down major planes near Tokyo during our fight with the Japanese. It is here that the pilots preformed the rescue of a downed plane which would have resulted in causality, because of the heavy fire bestowed upon the United States pilot.
North Carolina suffered many damages and attacks however she successfully remained intact. She assisted many fleets during battle and was meant to provide protection for other ships. During World War II she protected air craft carriers, rescued downed pilots, refueled destroyers, and carried out ship bombardments.
Photo from: Battleships. Retrived from http://scaleshipyard.com/Catalog%20Pages/battleships.html
Kingfishers
B-55 was famous for using their Kingfishers who were known as "their eyes in the sky". According to my own travels to the USS North Carolina I discovered that their purpose was to help patrol for enemy submarines, spot for gun fire, tow targets for anti-aircraft, patrol for enemy submarines, drop messages to ships at sea, fly mail runs to ports, make flights for radar calibration, and rescue airmen in distress. The development of Kingfishers began in 1937, when the United States Navy called for a "rugged and dependable observation plane to be used during the war. It had to be able to withstand the rigors of the war occurring throughout the seas. I also learned that the The USS North Carolina carried two Kingfisher planes on board. The Aviation Detachment department of the USS North Carolina arrived several months after her commissioning on August 23, 1941 (USS North Carolina). It consisted of 23 men to maintain, fly, repair, photograph, and become radiomen or gunners. The Kingfishers held a huge importance to the North Carolina Battleship and preformed as the eyes in the sky to protect the Battleship from the enemy on a daily basis.
Photo From: Personal Photo from the USS North Carolina (Shona Gilmer)
Photo From: Personal Photo from the USS North Carolina (Shona Gilmer)