USS North Carolina (BB-55) - Bilder og videoer

USS Nord-Carolina (BB-55) er det ledende skipet i slagskipene i North Carolina-klassen og det fjerde krigsskipet i den amerikanske marinen som er oppkalt etter delstaten North Carolina. Det var det første nybygde amerikanske slagskipet som ble tatt i bruk under andre verdenskrig, og deltok i alle større marineoffensiver i Pacific Theatre of Operations; Dens 15 kampstjerner gjorde henne til det mest dekorerte amerikanske slagskipet under andre verdenskrig.

Kilde: USS North Carolina på Wikipedia

USS Nord-Carolina (BB-55) was the lead ship of the North Carolina class of fast battleships, the first vessel of the type built for the United States Navy. Built under the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, the ship was laid down in 1937 and launched in 1940. She was commissioned in April 1941 and served in the Pacific Theater of World War II. She participated in several major naval battles, including the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. She also provided shore bombardment support for amphibious landings and raids. She earned 15 battle stars for her service and was one of the most decorated American battleships of the war.
USS North Carolina was decommissioned in June 1947 and placed in reserve. In 1960, she was towed to Wilmington, North Carolina, where she became a museum ship and a memorial to the sailors and marines who served in the war. She is still open to the public and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. She is also a National Historic Landmark and one of the most visited attractions in North Carolina. She is considered one of the best preserved and most authentic examples of a World War II-era battleship.