The USS North Carolina (BB-55) was the lead ship of the North Carolina-class of fast battleships—the first vessel of that type built for the U.S. Navy.
Built during the time of the Washington Naval Treaty, the North Carolina’s design was limited in displacement and armament. However, the United States turned to a clause in the Second London Naval Treaty to increase the main battery from its original armament of twelve 14-inch guns in quadruple turrets to nine 16-inch guns in triple turrets.
The ship was laid down in 1937 and completed in April 1941—before the United States entered World War II.
Walter Winchell Called Her The Showboat:
The battleship was nicknamed the “Showboat,” primarily because of her frequent, visible appearances in and out of New York Harbor during her 1941 shakedown cruise and sea trials.
The nickname was cemented by radio personality Walter Winchell, who cited the ship’s impressive, showy appearance and connected it to the popular Broadway musical Show Boat, which was playing at the time.
The US Only Built Two North Carolina-Class Battleships:
The United States only constructed two of the North Carolina-class battlewagons—the North Carolina and the USS Washington (BB-56).
The Washington would earn 13 battle stars for its World War II service, as it took part in landings and sea battles off Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, and Guam. She was involved in the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the invasions of Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
Image from the deck of USS Iowa taken by Harry J. Kazianis back in August, 2025. National Security Journal Image. All Rights Reserved.
She would be retired and decommissioned in 1947, and sold for scrap in 1960.
Meet The USS North Carolina, The First Of The “Fast Battleships”:
Due to Washington Treaty restrictions, the North Carolina-class displaced only 35,000 tons. The ships were 728 feet long and traveled at 28 knots.
After the ships were authorized, the United States invoked the escalator clause in the Second London Naval Treaty of 1936, which permitted an increase to 16-inch guns from the planned 14-inch guns if any member-nation refused to sign the treaty—Japan refused.
The specs for the North Carolina were:
Displacement: Standard: 35,000 long tons (35,562 tons)
Full load: 44,800 long tons (45,519 tons)
Length: 728 ft 9 in (222.12 m)
Beam: 108 ft 4 in (33.02 m)
Draft: 32 ft 11.5 in (10.046 m)
Installed powerplant: 8 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 121,000 shp (90,000 kW)
Propulsion: 4 × General Electric steam turbines, 4 × screw propellers
Speed: 28 knots (32 mph)
Range: 17,450 nmi (20,080 miles) at 15 knots (17 mph)
Complement: 1,800 officers and crew
Armament:
9 × 16 in (406 mm)/45 caliber Mark 6 guns
20 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 caliber dual-purpose guns
16 × 1.1 in (28 mm) anti-aircraft guns
18 × .50-cal machine guns
Armor:
Belt: 12 in (305 mm)
Gun turret: 16 in (406 mm)
Deck: 5.5 in (140 mm)
Conning tower: 14.7 in (373 mm)
Aircraft carried: 3 × Vought OS2U Kingfisher floatplanes
Combat History Of The USS North Carolina:
After her shakedown cruises, the North Carolina briefly served in Europe before being transferred to the Pacific.
The battleship took part in the Guadalcanal campaign during the rest of that year and part of 1943. Its action included the initial landings there and participation in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons in August 1942.
While defending against air attacks by the Japanese on the carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6), the North Carolina was credited with shooting down between five and seven aircraft with its five-inch guns.
She was damaged by Japanese submarine I-19 during a torpedo attack on September 15—an attack that also fatally damaged the USS Wasp (CV-7). Five sailors were killed, but there was little serious damage to the ship. She remained on station but returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs.
In November 1943, the North Carolina assisted in capturing enemy positions in the Gilbert Islands. It was part of Task Force 50, which included the battleships Massachusetts (BB-59) and Indiana (BB-58), a pair of light carriers, and six destroyers. The North Carolina covered the carriers while they raided the islands of Makin, Tarawa, and Abemama.
In 1944, the North Carolina took part in the invasion of Kwajalein and then raids on Truk, Japan’s central staging base in the Central Pacific. The raid, conducted as part of Operation Hailstone, inflicted serious damage on the Japanese, sinking or destroying 39 ships, destroying 211 aircraft, and damaging another 104 planes.
In June 1944, the battleship took part in the invasion of Saipan and the subsequent Battle of the Philippine Sea, as well as carrier strikes in November and December in the Western Pacific.
North Carolina continued supporting the inevitable westward movement of U.S. forces in 1945, participating in the invasions of Iwo Jima in February and Okinawa in March and April.
The battleship provided valuable fire support for the invasions and screened carriers during raids throughout the combat zone, including attacks on the Japanese home islands.
She was off the coast of Japan in August when one of her Kingfishers picked up a shot-down pilot in Tokyo Bay.
After the Japanese surrender in September, the North Carolina returned to the United States in October 1945 and operated in the Atlantic until she was inactivated in 1946. The North Carolina-class battleships had more than acquitted themselves in combat.
She was decommissioned in June 1947 and assigned to the “mothball” fleet until stricken from the Navy list in June 1960.
The following year, the North Carolina was transferred to the state of North Carolina to become a memorial and museum at Wilmington, where she remains to this day. The tour of the battleship is very worthwhile, and it is still in great condition.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
