DESIGNING THE U.S.S. NORTH CAROLINA (BB-55) Whe
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Posted On: 07/26/2017 9:51:48 PM
DESIGNING THE U.S.S. NORTH CAROLINA (BB-55)
When the U.S. Congress approved the building of new battleships in the early 1930s, ship designers had to accept compromises imposed by a worldwide treaty. The Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 limited the weight of capital ships (battleships) to 35,000 tons standard displacement and the main guns could not exceed 14 inches. These restrictions meant there were trade offs among the battleship’s armament, armor, speed and endurance.
The United States needed battleships to travel across the Pacific Ocean. And that meant designing a ship’s hull large enough to carry extra fuel and water for the boilers. So the battleship needed a large, heavy steel hull and great engine power (heavy machines) to move it. These factors meant more compromises in armament, armor and so forth. Over 50 designs for the new NORTH CAROLINA-class were prepared and evaluated.
The NORTH CAROLINA was a state-of-the-art battleship for the late 1930s. Design innovations included:
Sweeping flush deck unbroken from bow to stern
Hull shaped to reduce resistance and increase efficiency at high speed
Massive superstructure with multiple platforms for men and equipment
Fire control directors with sweeping fields of vision
Secondary battery (5-inch) guns on or above the main deck in rotating armored mounts
Engine rooms arranged lengthwise, separated by strong watertight bulkheads
The Battleship’s keel was laid on October 27, 1937. The immense steel I-beam was nearly as long as the ship. Smaller I-beams were attached at right angles to form the ship’s ribs and more were attached lengthwise. Steel plates were riveted or welded to the beams to form the hull. Construction lasted more than 2-1/2 years. The hull was so immense by the standards of the day that the building ways at the New York Navy Yard were lengthened and strengthened.
June 13, 1940, the NORTH CAROLINA was launched into the East River, New York.
The NORTH CAROLINA spent another 10 months “fitting out,” a continuation of the building process. A ship is usually launched with the main hull structure done but without the thousands of tons of machinery, weapons and equipment. A fitting out pier had heavy cranes to work alongside the ship from bow to stern.
On April 9, 1941, the NORTH CAROLINA was commissioned. The ship and her company were ready to begin tests and training operations at sea. The event received international news coverage and Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox declared “the NORTH CAROLINA is one of a new line of ships that will give the United States unchallenged supremacy on the seas.”
When the U.S. Congress approved the building of new battleships in the early 1930s, ship designers had to accept compromises imposed by a worldwide treaty. The Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 limited the weight of capital ships (battleships) to 35,000 tons standard displacement and the main guns could not exceed 14 inches. These restrictions meant there were trade offs among the battleship’s armament, armor, speed and endurance.
The United States needed battleships to travel across the Pacific Ocean. And that meant designing a ship’s hull large enough to carry extra fuel and water for the boilers. So the battleship needed a large, heavy steel hull and great engine power (heavy machines) to move it. These factors meant more compromises in armament, armor and so forth. Over 50 designs for the new NORTH CAROLINA-class were prepared and evaluated.
The NORTH CAROLINA was a state-of-the-art battleship for the late 1930s. Design innovations included:
Sweeping flush deck unbroken from bow to stern
Hull shaped to reduce resistance and increase efficiency at high speed
Massive superstructure with multiple platforms for men and equipment
Fire control directors with sweeping fields of vision
Secondary battery (5-inch) guns on or above the main deck in rotating armored mounts
Engine rooms arranged lengthwise, separated by strong watertight bulkheads
The Battleship’s keel was laid on October 27, 1937. The immense steel I-beam was nearly as long as the ship. Smaller I-beams were attached at right angles to form the ship’s ribs and more were attached lengthwise. Steel plates were riveted or welded to the beams to form the hull. Construction lasted more than 2-1/2 years. The hull was so immense by the standards of the day that the building ways at the New York Navy Yard were lengthened and strengthened.
June 13, 1940, the NORTH CAROLINA was launched into the East River, New York.
The NORTH CAROLINA spent another 10 months “fitting out,” a continuation of the building process. A ship is usually launched with the main hull structure done but without the thousands of tons of machinery, weapons and equipment. A fitting out pier had heavy cranes to work alongside the ship from bow to stern.
On April 9, 1941, the NORTH CAROLINA was commissioned. The ship and her company were ready to begin tests and training operations at sea. The event received international news coverage and Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox declared “the NORTH CAROLINA is one of a new line of ships that will give the United States unchallenged supremacy on the seas.”
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