ANALYSIS OF CONSTRUCTING THE NORTH CAROLINA BATTLESHIP
For naval architects in the early 1930's, limitations for designing battleships were still in effect under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 (B. Blee, p.3). This made it very difficult for engineers to construct the USS North Carolina to be an effect battleship that could damage the enemy and help win the war. A battleship’s most important assets were armament, armor, speed, and endurance (B. Blee, p.3). The USS North Carolina had to be built with these characteristics to be an effective ship because one of her main purposes was to help protect air craft carriers and larger carrier ships. After the designers of the North Carolina B-55 and her sister ship Washington B-56 created over fifty design variations of the ship, their plan was finally approved by the General Board of the Navy (B. Blee, p.3). In October of 1937 the North Carolina was completed and became the first out of ten dashing battleships to join the Americans in World War II (History, BattleshipNC). She was commissioned on April 9, 1941 and was considered the world’s greatest sea weapon (History, BattleshipNC).
Weaponry and armament
"North Carolina proved a formidable weapons platform, armed with nine 16-inch/45 caliber guns in three turrets and twenty 5-inch/38 caliber guns in ten twin mounts" (History, BattleshipNC). The innovation in these weapons was a first for many wartime battleships which put the USS North Carolina ahead of many and she was built to succeed as one of the best in history. According to Captain Ben Blee, "the effect of these innovations was to give the North Carolina and her sister ship the USS Washington, a modern, formidable bearing that severed warning to any potential enemy of their advanced capabilities as fighting ships" (B. Blee, p.6). Captain Blee, states that these advancements would help the USS North Carolina achieve her full potential and would help support the United States Navy during wartime as a fighting ship. According to my own travels to the Battleship I learned that the battleship itself was constructed of a full armament and was equipped with an armor belt. This was placed on the battleships hull to help protect the center portion of the ship below the center and main decks. Inside this box like structure, a "citadel," the ship's vital components are protected from the shells of opposing battleships, torpedoes and bombs. The decks are made of steel plate, designed to help protect the ship from high explosive bombs (USS North Carolina Battleship) The Aircraft carriers were a beneficial attribute to the USS North Carolina and were used often in battle and the ship was known for using its Kingfishers during battle.
Photos from: Personal Photos from the USS North Carolina (Shona Gilmer)
Photos from: Personal Photos from the USS North Carolina (Shona Gilmer)