BB North Carolina

[Mark VII]

This is the best wide shot. Because of heavy rains and flooding, there was no way to get a nice shot from land. Oh well, thats all folks............terry

[USSAmerica]

Fantastic shots, Terry!  Thanks for sharing!

I visited the Alabama in Mobile 12 years ago.  I've now lived in NC for 7.5 years and have yet to visit USS NC.  I need to take my son, soon!

[TalonCG2]

OK, that is just awesome! Thank you for taking the time to post those up. Simply amazing.

Anyone know of a listing of ships on display like this? I'd like to find out if there are any within a couple hours drive from me here in Florida.

I'm off to Google I guess [;)]

[TOMLABEL]

Many thanks Mark, for posting these pictures! It's good to see that they are taking care of her. I visited her 2 years ago and was very impressed at how well she has been preserved ( I hadn't been there since I was a kid)! I bought a piece of the original teak deck to display with my Trumpy NC.

Here's a pic of me back in the mid '70's at the NC. This is back when they had stands where you could watch a night show of the battle and see flames shoot out of the main gun barrels. When the torpedo hit the NC, there would be a big water splash near the bow. Gosh - I wish we had video recorders back then!!!! This exhibition has long since ended, but they do have picutures of the event on the BB herself.

Obviously, they have changed the paint scheme on the kingfisher and the Showboat since this pic was taken!

TOMLABEL

[TOMLABEL]

At least Charlie (I think that is his name) was still there when I was there 2 years ago. He was also there in the 70's when the above pic was taken.

[Mark VII]

Great photo!

ORIGINAL: TOMLABEL


Here's a pic of me back in the mid '70's at the NC.

[Mark VII]

Gators were mentioned which was one of the reasons why I was not interested in wading through shallow flood water to get a wide shot from the land just off the bow.

ORIGINAL: TOMLABEL

At least Charlie (I think that is his name) was still there when I was there 2 years ago. He was also there in the 70's when the above pic was taken.

[jazman]

Thanks for posting these. That ship looks in fine trim.

[Boozecamp]

Great pics!  A shame her sister isn't in the same condition in Puget Sound somewhere. 

[gunnergoz]

Very nice photos and it is good to see her in such well-maintained condition.  I was on the Alabama in Mobile Bay back in the early '80's and she was in pretty decent condition then - wonder how she is now?  The Navy had actually just stripped out one of the 16" mechanical/analog fire control computers on the Alabama to be shipped to one of the then reactivating Iowas, so the Alabama, at least, was being used as a spare parts locker of sorts.   I think their 16" guns were of a different mark than those on the Iowas, but apparently they could modify the computer to compensate.  IIRC it was the size of a pool table but it was made of a solid steel outer casing and inside was filled with a horrendous collection of brass gears and shafts.  Later, I got to see one of the Iowas when it visited Subic Bay in the Philippines; I think it was the New Jersey but I don't recall after all this time.  Anyway, I was just up the road at Cubi Point at the time and it was a worthwhile visit.  She was in much the same condition within as is the North Carolina now...not bad, considering.

[fbs]

ORIGINAL: Yank

She looks like she's in much better shape than some of the WWII ships I have toured recently. For example, here in Massachussets we have the USS Massachusetts in Fall River and the USS Salem (CA) on display in Quincy. Both are literally falling apart, especially the USS Salem which is in deplorable condition. It's very sad to see these magnificnet ships decaying - Salem was once the flagship of the Med Fleet (6th?). I believe both are privately run operations and there is obviously not sufficient money to properly preserve them.

I can see the need in the not so distant future to have the Salem sent off to the breakers before she literally rusts to death at her berth.

Don't lose hope. HMS Warrior was just an oil pontoon, and now is being restored to pristine conditions (with a lot of rebuilding, that is). Restoration can work miracles (specially if the ship doesn't actually need to go out to sea).

Now, if there was one ship that is truly heartbreaking to see scrapped, that was the Goeben. I would have gone all the way to Turkey just to visit her, but she's completely gone now. Similarly to Enterprise (CV 6), I can't believe there was not enough interest to preserve her.


Cheers,
fbs

[John Lansford]

USS North Carolina just recently underwent a big rehab job, cleaning and painting everything and replacing some of the teak decking.  The NC legislature balked a bit about coming up with the money but eventually authorized it.  I've visited her many times and always enjoy getting to walk her decks.  Only a few hours away helps too!

[pompack]

Surface Fire Control Computer from USS Alabama 2007

[eMonticello]

ORIGINAL: gunnergoz

Very nice photos and it is good to see her in such well-maintained condition.  I was on the Alabama in Mobile Bay back in the early '80's and she was in pretty decent condition then - wonder how she is now?  The Navy had actually just stripped out one of the 16" mechanical/analog fire control computers on the Alabama to be shipped to one of the then reactivating Iowas, so the Alabama, at least, was being used as a spare parts locker of sorts.   I think their 16" guns were of a different mark than those on the Iowas, but apparently they could modify the computer to compensate.  IIRC it was the size of a pool table but it was made of a solid steel outer casing and inside was filled with a horrendous collection of brass gears and shafts.  Later, I got to see one of the Iowas when it visited Subic Bay in the Philippines; I think it was the New Jersey but I don't recall after all this time.  Anyway, I was just up the road at Cubi Point at the time and it was a worthwhile visit.  She was in much the same condition within as is the North Carolina now...not bad, considering.

There are still a few gun barrels at the Naval Surface Weapons Center in Dahlgren. If you google map the NSWC Credit Union address near the gun range, you'll see a few of the 16" gun barrels and the test gun (17320 Dahlgren Rd). Here's another link of interest. http://wikimapia.org/13653329/USS-Penns ... un-barrels

[TDeacon]

(from "Yank"): <quote>She looks like she's in much better shape than some of the WWII ships I have toured recently. For example, here in Massachussets we have the USS Massachusetts in Fall River and the USS Salem (CA) on display in Quincy. Both are literally falling apart, especially the USS Salem which is in deplorable condition. It's very sad to see these magnificnet ships decaying - Salem was once the flagship of the Med Fleet (6th?). I believe both are privately run operations and there is obviously not sufficient money to properly preserve them. <unquote>

I visited Massachusetts last year, and she didn't look that bad. Similar to the North Carolina in these pictures.

Mark H.

[Fallschirmjager]

Gorgeous
I need to make the trip over to see her

Besides the Boise my #2 favorite ship from AE

Are their any Brooklyn class CLs that survive?

[eMonticello]

USS Little Rock (Cleveland Class) is the only surviving Light Cruiser in the US. http://www.buffalonavalpark.org/USSLittleRock.html

[Mark VII]

A CL, DD and a sub! Looks interesting should I ever go near Buffalo. Depending on how far they let you go below decks, that could take most of a day.

ORIGINAL: eMonticello

USS Little Rock (Cleveland Class) is the only surviving Light Cruiser in the US. http://www.buffalonavalpark.org/USSLittleRock.html