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.