World War II Database

1.  Alan Chanter says:
7 Aug 2013 01:09:29 AM

The North Carolina class (BB-55 USS North Carolina and BB-56 USS Washington) were the first American battleships to be built after the lifting of the Washington Treaty limitations. The original design, however, observed the 1936 London Treaty which restricted the maximum size of main armament to 14in (356mm). When Japan refused to ratify this agreement triple 16in (406mm) turrets were installed in place of the planned quadruple 14in turrets in both North Carolinas and subsequently in all later US Battleships. The heavier armament resulted in a 2 knot reduction in speed, but protection, although planned only to resist 14in fire, proved more than adequate in service.

The nine 16in, 45 cal. guns, which could fire a 2,700lb (1,225kg) shell to 36,900 yards (33,741m) at maximum elevation of 45 degrees, were mounted in three triple turrets, two forward and one aft. Twenty 5in(127mm ) DP guns in twin turrets were concentrated amidships and a crane and two catapults for three aircraft were on the aft quarterdeck. By 1945 the need to provide greater protection from air attack led to the replacement of the original air defence armament (sixteen 28mm AA and twelve 0.5in machine guns) with about ninety-six 40mm and thirty-six 20mm AA guns.