The USS North Carolina (BB-55) was a battleship of the United States Navy, and its history is a rich tapestry of wartime service, technological advancements, and naval prowess.
The construction of USS North Carolina commenced at the New York Naval Shipyard on October 27, 1937, with its keel being laid down. After completing its hull, the battleship was launched on June 13, 1940, and officially commissioned into the fleet on April 9, 1941, during a ceremony graced by Governor J. Melville Broughton of North Carolina. Captain Olaf M. Hustvedt assumed command as the ship's first commanding officer.
North Carolina underwent a shakedown cruise in the Caribbean Sea and spent the following months in training exercises, coinciding with the period of U.S. neutrality at the outset of World War II. However, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the battleship intensified its battle training in preparation for Pacific War operations.
In April 1942, North Carolina's first operational task involved deployment to Naval Station Argentia on April 23, part of a force aimed at intercepting the German battleship Tirpitz should it attempt to break into North Atlantic convoy lanes. However, Tirpitz remained in Norway, and North Carolina was soon replaced by the battleship South Dakota. This allowed North Carolina to set sail for the Pacific in mid-1942, passing through the Panama Canal on June 10 alongside the aircraft carriers Wasp and Long Island, as well as nine destroyers.
By June 15, North Carolina joined Task Force 18, centered around the USS Wasp, comprising four cruisers, nine destroyers, and under the command of Rear Admiral Leigh Noyes, marking the battleship's active involvement in Pacific War operations.
Guadalcanal:
North Carolina was part of Task Force 16, alongside the aircraft carrier Enterprise, the heavy cruiser Portland, the light cruiser Atlanta, and six destroyers, in support of the Guadalcanal campaign. This force operated under Task Force 61, commanded by Vice Admiral Frank Fletcher. The primary objective was to cover the 1st Marine Division's landing on Guadalcanal and seize the airfield under construction by the Japanese.
During the campaign, North Carolina provided cover for Enterprise during the initial invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi on August 7. The ship remained with Enterprise to defend against Japanese air attacks. Fear of Japanese torpedo bombers led to the withdrawal of carrier groups the next day. While the initial landing faced minimal resistance, a Japanese cruiser squadron launched a significant attack on the Allied naval forces during the Battle of Savo Island on August 9, resulting in a major defeat.
North Carolina played a vital role in subsequent operations, including the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on August 24–25. The ship detected a Japanese counterattack and contributed anti-aircraft fire to defend Enterprise. Despite a close encounter with enemy dive bombers, North Carolina emerged unscathed, showcasing its effectiveness in air defense.
Following Enterprise's repair period, North Carolina was reassigned to Task Force 17 to protect Saratoga off Guadalcanal. The ship encountered two attempted torpedo attacks by Japanese submarines, with one inflicting damage.The Japanese submarine I-19 unleashed a devastating torpedo salvo, hitting and sinking the carrier USS Wasp and the destroyer USS O'Brien, while also inflicting severe damage on the battleship USS North Carolina, making it one of the most damaging torpedo salvos in submarine warfare history.
After sustaining damage from a torpedo hit, North Carolina underwent repairs in Pearl Harbor from September 30 to November 17. Upon returning to the South Pacific, the battleship resumed its duties, screening carriers and participating in convoy operations to the Solomon Islands throughout 1942 and into 1943. These efforts included covering troop transports and contributing to naval operations during the Guadalcanal campaign.
In March, North Carolina underwent a refit in Pearl Harbor, receiving upgrades to its radar and fire control systems. Returning to the South Pacific, the battleship joined Task Force 36, covering amphibious assaults during Operation Cartwheel in late June and early July, aimed at isolating the Japanese stronghold at Rabaul. The ship's continued service in the Pacific theater showcased its resilience and contribution to Allied naval operations.
Marshall Islands:
On November 10, the fleet organized into Task Force 50 (TF 50) for the assault on the Gilberts, with North Carolina joining Task Group 50.2 (TG 50.2) alongside Enterprise. This mission supported the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign, focusing on Makin, Tarawa, and Abemama. The group, including Massachusetts, Indiana, two light carriers, and six destroyers, conducted raids starting on November 19. North Carolina provided cover for the carriers during these strikes.
By December 8, North Carolina was reassigned to Task Group 50.8 (TG 50.8) along with battleships Massachusetts, Indiana, South Dakota, and Washington, all under Rear Admiral Willis Lee's command. The task group bombarded Nauru in preparation for the next phase of operations in the Marshalls. North Carolina later escorted carrier Bunker Hill during strikes on Kavieng, New Ireland, in late December.
As Task Force 58 (TF 58) formed under Rear Admiral Marc Mitscher on January 6, 1944, North Carolina remained an escort within Task Group 58.2 (TG 58.2) for the fleet's carriers. During the Battle of Kwajalein, the battleship initially supported carrier operations before joining the bombardment group targeting Roi-Namur with Washington, Indiana, and Massachusetts. North Carolina's actions during this attack led to the sinking of a cargo ship in the harbor.
Following the success in the Gilberts and Marshalls, TF 58 focused on further raids in the central Pacific to pave the way for the assault on the Mariana Islands. In late March, the fleet launched attacks on Palau and Woleai, with North Carolina downing a Japanese aircraft during these operations. The fleet then supported the US Army's landing at Hollandia in New Guinea before conducting another attack on Truk, where North Carolina shot down another Japanese plane.
During these operations, two of North Carolina's Kingfisher floatplanes participated in a rescue mission, with one capsize incident and eventual rescue by the submarine Tang. The battleship, along with other battleships as Task Group 58.7 (TG 58.7), bombarded Pohnpei on May 1, targeting Japanese defenses and airfield installations.
Following these extensive campaigns, North Carolina sailed to Pearl Harbor for repairs to its rudder, marking a significant chapter in its active involvement in the Pacific theater during World War II.
The Marianas Islands:
After completing repairs to its rudder, North Carolina rejoined the fleet at Majuro as preparations were underway for the Marianas campaign. Upon arrival, the battleship was assigned back to Task Group 58.7 (TG 58.7), which was divided among the four carrier task groups. On June 6, North Carolina, alongside Task Force 58 (TF 58), set sail for the initial assault on Saipan, marking the beginning of the campaign.
During the operation, in addition to providing protection for the carriers, North Carolina engaged in bombarding Saipan to support minesweepers clearing paths to the invasion beach. Its shells targeted Tanapag Harbor, leading to the sinking of several small vessels and the destruction of supply dumps on the island.
On June 15, as Marines landed on Saipan, a Japanese counterattack targeted the fleet. However, most attacking aircraft were intercepted and shot down by carriers' combat air patrols, with North Carolina contributing to downing one enemy plane. The successful landing breached Japan's inner defensive perimeter, prompting a significant counter-offensive from the Japanese 1st Mobile Fleet, the main carrier strike force.
As the Japanese fleet approached, North Carolina and TF 58 steamed to confront it on June 18, resulting in the Battle of the Philippine Sea on June 19-20. Positioned west of the carrier groups, North Carolina and other battleships, along with cruisers and destroyers, screened the fleet against potential threats. During the intense engagement primarily fought by carriers, North Carolina and Washington were among the first to open fire on approaching Japanese aircraft.
The battle saw a significant victory for the US fleet, inflicting heavy losses on the Japanese with hundreds of aircraft destroyed and three carriers sunk. North Carolina's anti-aircraft fire contributed to downing two Japanese planes during the battle. Following the successful operations off the Marianas, North Carolina remained stationed in the region for two weeks before being detached for an overhaul at Puget Sound Navy Yard.
After completing repairs in October, North Carolina missed much of the Philippines campaign. It rejoined the fleet at Ulithi on November 7, where it joined Task Group 38.3 (TG 38.3) as part of the fast carrier task force, now under Third Fleet command after transitioning from Fifth Fleet. The carrier operations focused on strikes against Japanese positions on Leyte, Luzon, and the Visayas in support of Army operations onshore. During these operations, North Carolina successfully shot down a kamikaze suicide aircraft.
The fleet continued its attacks through mid-December, intensifying during the invasion of Mindoro on December 15. However, a devastating Typhoon Cobra struck three days later, causing severe damage to the fleet, though North Carolina itself was not seriously harmed.
Returning to Ulithi, the fast carrier task force launched strikes on Formosa, French Indochina, occupied China, and the Ryukyu Islands in January 1945. North Carolina remained part of TG 38.3 for these operations, including attacks on northern Formosa and Luzon to target reserves of kamikazes.
In February, North Carolina escorted carriers during attacks on Honshu to disrupt Japanese air forces in preparation for the Iwo Jima invasion. The fleet, under Fifth Fleet command, launched strikes on the Tokyo area before moving on to hit other islands in the Bonin chain. During the assault on Iwo Jima, North Carolina provided fire support for the marine assault.
Following Iwo Jima, the fleet conducted air attacks on the Home Islands in preparation for the Okinawa invasion. North Carolina participated in raids on Tokyo, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, continuing through March. In April, it rejoined the fleet and shot down several kamikazes during intense air attacks, albeit sustaining accidental friendly fire casualties.
The fleet continued operations against Japan until the Japanese surrender on August 15. North Carolina contributed to the initial occupation force and conducted patrols until September 5 before returning to the United States as part of Operation Magic Carpet, transporting troops home.
Arriving in Boston in October after transiting the Panama Canal, North Carolina underwent overhaul and conducted training operations off the east coast, including a training cruise for midshipmen in the Caribbean in mid-1946. Notably, North Carolina was the only American treaty battleship to see significant service post-war.
Decommissioning:
The USS North Carolina was decommissioned on June 27, 1947, in New York and was placed in reserve. During its period out of service, the Navy explored various plans for modernizing or repurposing the ship. In 1954, initial studies focused on enhancing the ship's speed to 31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph), which necessitated a considerable reduction in displacement and a more potent propulsion system. While removing the rear turret could resolve the displacement issue, there wasn't adequate space in the hull to accommodate the power plant required to achieve the desired speed.
Another proposal involved converting North Carolina into a helicopter carrier, which would entail stripping all main and secondary guns (except for the forward turret to maintain balance) and installing a flight deck capable of accommodating twenty-eight helicopters, along with a battery of sixteen 3-inch (76 mm) guns. However, the Navy determined that constructing a new, purpose-built helicopter carrier would be more cost-effective, leading to the abandonment of this project.
The ship remained in the Navy's inventory until it was officially stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on June 1, 1960, earmarked for scrapping. James Craig, a North Carolina resident, initiated a campaign to save the vessel, taking inspiration from the successful preservation of the old battleship Texas by the Battleship Texas Commission. Craig persuaded Governor Luther H. Hodges to request a delay in the ship's scrapping, rallying support to raise the required $250,000 to prepare a site, tow the ship, and ready it for public visits.
With the assistance of WRAL TV station's "Save Our Ship" advertisem*nt campaign and several state newspapers, Craig surpassed the fundraising goal, collecting over $330,000. Following this success, the choice of location became the next consideration, with Southport, Morehead City, and Wilmington among the options. Wilmington was ultimately selected due to its inland position, offering greater protection against hurricanes.
Still Needed in 1980:
In the early 1980s, when the Navy decided to reactivate the four Iowa-class battleships, including the USS North Carolina, parts were salvaged from these preserved vessels along with other battleships like Alabama and Massachusetts. These components were used to restore the Iowas to operational status, particularly focusing on engine room components that were no longer available in the Navy's inventory.
This cannibalization process involved carefully extracting vital machinery and equipment from the preserved battleships to provide crucial spare parts and components for the reactivation of the Iowa-class vessels. The scarcity of certain engine room components in the Navy's stockpile made it necessary to utilize parts from these historic ships to ensure the successful return of the Iowas to active service.
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