North Carolina class battleship: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The United States Navy built two North Carolina-class battleships:

• USS North Carolina (BB-55)
• USS Washington (BB-56)

North Carolina and her sister ship Washington were the first Post-Washington Treaty battleships as well as the first of the fast battleships. Before this class, the United States Navy favored staying power and fire power over speed. The North Carolina class had a speed of 27 knots versus the 21 knots of the pre-treaty Colorado Class.

General Characteristics

• Displacement: 35,000 tons (stand); 45,700 tons (mean war service)
• Length: 729 feet
• Beam: 108 feet
• Draft: 27 feet - North Carolina
• Draft: 38 feet - Washington
• Speed: 27 knots
• Armament: nine 16-inch, 20 five-inch, 16 1.1-inch machine guns
• Max cruising radius:
  • 5,740 miles @ 25 knots
  • 16,320 miles @ 15 knots
• Horsepower: 121,000 (shaft)
• Drive: 4 screws; geared turbine
• Fuel: 7,554 tons oil (max)