Original post: 4/22/2018
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) is frozen in time right after WWII. Her state is extremely similar to the Revell model in 1/570 scale, which was available in the museum Gift Shop (but nolonger from their online store). I believe the same molds were used to create the Revell model of her sister the USS Washington, which I’ve built and reviewed on this site.
Visiting the USS North Carolina felt like I’d been shrunk down and was climbing all over my Revell model, though I’d never stepped foot on her before she was so vary familiar!
Post WWII, North Carolina was never upgraded, never modernized (unlike the Iowa’s), all her WWII period AA and radar is still intact, still challenging and scanning the skies.
She is however missing her stern aircraft catapults and her cranes amidships, both probably removed while still in active service.
While her catapults are gone she does have one of only nine surviving OS2U Kingfisher seaplanes that would have been launched from them displayed on deck in the aircraft handling area.
She’s currently getting some needed repairs but this work didn’t impact the enjoyment of my visit. Few area’s are actually closed at any one time and I understand that this conservation work is important to the future of the ship – rust never sleeps…
These pictures are presented to aid anyone building a model of the USS North Carolina or USS Washington (or any US WWII era warship).
I also hope they create interest in visiting and supporting our museum ships in general, once these massive war machines are gone their kind will never be seen again.
Please visit the USS North Carolina Museum Ship Site for more information.
Also preserved as museum ships are the two South Dakota class BBs: USS Alabama and USS Massachusetts, they both look amazing too. I haven’t seen either of them yet, though I hope to visit USS Massachusetts this coming summer.
I also must mention the USS Texas the worlds only surviving dreadnought. It’s web site has been updated and is quite slick and impressive.
No matter why you’re here – please enjoy these pictures, I had a blast taking them.