Friday, June 11, 2010

USS North Carolina (BB 55) Part 1

As you go through these pictures, both parts 1 and 2, I challenge you to see if you can figure out the difference between a gun turret and a gun mount.

#3 16-inch/45 caliber turret looking forward from the center line aft.

Kingfisher aircraft sitting in it's cradle on the port side aft.

One of the two quad 40 mm mounts on the stern.

3 16-inch/45 caliber turret closeup of the barrels.

Quad 40 mm gun mount mounted on the top of Main Battery #3.

Officer's station inside Main Battery #3.

Looking out the entrance to Main Battery #3.

A Plexiglas shield shut off access to the forward part of Main Battery #3. The canvas bags in the lower left are simulated bags of gun powder being loaded into one of the 16-inch/45 caliber guns.

Inside the turret, purpose unknown, possible for balancing the turret due to the weight of the barrels sticking out the other end.

Turret tourists.

Turret access.

One 16-inch/45 caliber shell stored on the main deck for informational purposes.

Buttoned up access hatch to a 16-inch/45 caliber turret. The cable wrapped around the barbette is a towing cable as thick as a lrge man's wrist. Wrapping that cable in place would be a lot more fun than I ever wanted to be involved in.

A balsa wood life raft mounted to the side of the turret.

Part of the turret which may have been used as a last resort type of rangefinding as rangefinding was usually done by the fire control people located up higher in the masts.

Watertight door, a lot thinner than a submarine's water tight door. Although I will bet if they come loose in heavy weather than can crease a skull or take off a finger.

Possible future squid making some adjustments.

Hull and ribs showing inside the Engine Room.

Another little alleyway on one level of the Engine Room.

Colors and number of lines on the pipe lagging indicate pipe contents, steam, water , salt water, etc..

Deck grating between levels of the Engine Room.

Reduction Gear.

Engine Room Control Panel.

Another shot of the Engine Room control panel.

More steam lines in Engine Room.

Engine Room steam valves showing reach rods.

Some of the miles of cables run throughout the ship to provide the various types of power needed.

Closeup on a cable run in one of the ship's Engine Rooms.

Ship's Butcher Shop, where meat was cut up.

Ship's Galley, a serving line is in the foreground.

Potato peelers located in the Ship's Galley area.

On the Mess Decks, to the right is a "scuttlebutt" with the bubbler removed. In the back on the left is a electrical distribution box for some type of ship's power.

An interior watertight door located inside the ship.

A speed bag located on the Mess Decks. Boxing was a favored pastime in those days, particularly between sailors and marines.

Nana and grandchildren enjoying a soda on the Mess Decks.

Ship's ventilation air handler located on the Mess Decks.


Sound power phone connections on the deck of the Mess Decks.

Nana, another Old Salt in her own right demonstrates Emergency Steering to her granddaughter.

Rudder angle indicators.

The Ship's Store, the grilled area in the back on the right, on the Mess Decks. In the back on the left, behind the Plexiglas wall, is berthing for some of the ship's Master at Arms. Note the red and white stanchions which support the deck above.

I suspect this is a piece of Damage Control equipment, it appeared to be solid steel and was supported by large brackets.

USS North Carolina (BB 55) Part 2

Seats alongside hull on the Mess Decks. The gray square box under the speaker is part of the 1 MC Announcing System. The cable is a damage control electrical cable mounted for emergency access.

Damage control equipment for fire fighting mounted in the Mess Decks..

Some enlisted berthing, these were five bunks high.

Crews bathroom facilities, sinks on the right, urinals to the rear.

Shipboard enlisted commodes of the trough type.

Sick Bay.

Enlisted Marines Quarters. They were not open for inspection.

20 mm magazines stored in ammo locker.

1.1 inch quadruple gun mount. This mount was an ineffective prewar idea replaced by other weapons over time.

1.1 inch quadruple gun mount info.

#1 16-inch/45 caliber turret from the aft starboard side.

#2 16-inch/45 caliber turret from the starboard side.

Overhead view of dual 20 mm gun mount on main deck.

5-inch/38 caliber dual mount located on port side.

Outside view from aft of 5-inch/38 caliber dual training mount.

Starboard side view of 5-inch/38 caliber dual training mount.

Port side view of 5-inch/38 caliber dual training mount. Used by gun crews to develop loading proficiency with the 5-inch/38 caliber guns.

Armored entrance to ship's conning tower.

Quad 40 mm gun mount located on port side.

Fire Control Tower, if you look closely you can see the weld mark where friendly fire killed three North Carolina sailors. The weld goes straight up just to the right of the cable.

Dual 20 mm gun mount.

#1 and #2 16-inch/45 caliber turrets, port side.

#1 16-inch/45 caliber turret from aft port side.

#2 16-inch/45 caliber turret from forward port side. The turret sits on a "barbette" which is the rounded tube under the turret. The barbette extends to the keel and below decks passageways bend around the 11-15 inch thick barbette.

Paravanes.

Ship's port anchor.

Pelican Hook used to release the anchor.

Teak deck.

Capstan operating station, forward port side.

5-inch/38 caliber dual mounts located on the ship's port side. There are five of these dual mounts located on each side of the ship.

Quad 40 mm gun mount located on top of the #3 16-inch/45 caliber turret.

Forward port side of Kingfisher Observation Aircraft.

Port side of Kingfisher Observation Aircraft.

Stern of USS North Carolina.