USS North Carolina - The USN's first fast battleship

Today we take a tour of some of the highlights found aboard the battleship USS North Carolina!
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[@Drachinifel]

Pinned post for Q&A :)

[@bkjeong4302]

Which WWII-era capital ship not named Enterprise, and discounting all vessels that were lost in action or vessels that had entered service a long time before WWII, would you have most wanted preserved as a museum ship? Mine is Washington, though Duke of York would also be nice.

[@Aelxi]

Why did the Soviet Navy put a 12" gun on a Destroyer?

[@nitsu2947]

@@Aelxi recoiless rifles

[@nitsu2947]

Were there instances where a battleship used her underwater torpedo tubes ? Edit: i believe my question had been sufficiently answered, thanks for the answers. No need to answer more

[@Aelxi]

@@nitsu2947 Rodney fired one or more at Bismarck.

[@atreyu223]

A personal story: In 1960, the US Navy regretfully announced plans had been made to scrap the North Carolina. However, local Carolinians put together a plan to raise money to buy the ship from the Navy and provide a berth for her. She was to be crowd-funded (before the term even existed) by the people of the state, and the primary money collectors were actually local children. My mother was a schoolgirl at the time and carried around a small box marked S.O.S. (Save Our Ship) North Carolina, where she collected pennies from residents of her rural community and would send the donations back to Raleigh (the capital). Thanks to the efforts of her and thousands of other North Carolinians, $330,000 IN CASH was raised to purchase the ship and provide a forever home for her in Wilmington. The Navy gladly accepted the money and had the North Carolina towed to her current location, where she could be preserved as war memorial for the 10,000 North Carolinians who gave their lives in World War II. Whenever we would visit the ship, my dad would remark to my mom "There's the ship you bought." A worthy investment if there ever was one :)

[@JerryCollins101]

LOL. Being one of those school kids, I told everyone that one of the bolts was mine.

[@69Applekrate]

It's so nice it was saved for the benefit of all of us- past, present and future.

[@dsloop3907]

I was one of the 1st graders that gave pennies to save her. Many years later I gave dollars to replace her deckwood. I would like to be in the bridge there during a hurricane.

[@luckyguy600]

The USS Enterprise was the one 'above all others' that should have been saved from the scrap yard. Terrible decision indeed. See her anchor in P.ennsacola Naval Aviation meuseum.

[@RampantFury925]

It's a shame Washington could not be saved and given a home in Seattle.

[@dmcarpenter2470]

Kingfisher not original to the ship. It crashed into a mountain in western Canada, while flying to Alaska. Wreck was recovered in the early 60s, IIRC, and restored by Vought retirees, then donated to the Memorial.

[@ToreDL87]

Wait, so it was recovered and restored then donated BACK to the ship? Because that WOULD make it original to the ship. 😁

[@Archie2c]

There was a Great planes AVI video that covered it.

[@dmcarpenter2470]

@@ToreDL87 The Kingfisher was never assigned to the ship.

[@strydyrhellzrydyr1345]

Wait.. I think I heard someone to talk about that. Some show ... Pointed to the mountain.. while in Alaska

[@frosty3693]

I believe the original Kingfishers asigned to the ship had main floats built by Vought, while this one and most others had floats built by Edo. The easy way to tell the difference was the Vought floats had "pointier" noses. Of course the floats could be changed and they could even be replaced with wheels for land use.

[@scottdunn2178]

Dad served aboard the USS North Carolina from her commission in April 1941. Dad would have turned 100 this year. He passed in 1997. Thank you for making this video 🇺🇸⚓

[@MOB64]

My father served in gun turret 2 🇺🇸

[@BibleBois]

@@MOB64who was your father? I know many men including my grandfather who served.

[@mattschultzy671]

It was wonderful to meet you, your wife, and your cameraman during your visit. I hope you get a chance to visit us again! If you have a chance to visit again, perhaps we can give you a tour of some of the other less obvious systems, like the system of radio rooms, antennas, and associated equipment. We are currently waiting on some generators that are being repaired to finish getting some of the original transmitters back up and running. We could even put you on the air so you can make some live radio contacts. We already use the original cabling and antennas for live radio events. Great fun!

[@sadwingsraging3044]

Showing Drach a good time gets decades off of any purgatory you might have accrued in this life.👍🏻

[@nathanaelhavlik4293]

It's always so wonderful to see people like you with a passion for preserving the past and educating others on it. Thank you for the good work you are doing!

[@willallen7757]

@@sadwingsraging3044 purgatory is actually a good thing.

[@sadwingsraging3044]

@@willallen7757 beats the hell out of the more temperate climate but not quite paradise.

[@busterdee8228]

When Drach et al show up, good people come out to party. Thanks Matt for your service to this treasure.

[@tspencer227]

Hi Drach! North Carolina tour guide here (mostly on the engineering tours). So, a few things: A lot of the reason for the cofferdam is that she's stuck in the mud in the bottom of the Cape Fear River, so moving her out of there is going to be nearly impossible without a significant amount of work. So when the repairs were looking to be done, it was going to be easier to put in the cofferdam than to try and move her. Also, a lot of the equipment in the machinery shop is actually functional, and every now and again staff will do demonstrations of how parts were made on Battleship 101 days. The ship actually generated power at 450V, 3-phase AC through her turbine and diesel generator sets (there's one of each in the engine room you were in), and stepped it down to 120V for things like lighting, instrumentation, hotel loads, etc (there's a transformer in the space there near the aft switchboard you were standing near). Further, there's 400Hz that's used as DC power for things like radio, the fire control computers, rangefinders, and searchlights. The panel you're at with the handwheels is the main throttle board for #3 main engine, the port inboard shaft. Also, the larger handwheel is for the ahead throttle, and the smaller handwheel is for the astern throttle. And it sounds like Nick was showing you around the engine room. He's forgotten more about marine engineering than most of us have ever learned. :) For the sample bottles, the left one is hold lube oil, used anywhere parts are going roundy-roundy, and the right one is fuel oil, atomized and burned in the boilers. There's still fuel in the bunkers, and every now and again somebody comes to pump some out. Fun fact about the steering gear for North Carolina: rudder swing time from stop to stop, extreme one side to the other, was ~35 seconds. As for the parts that are missing: a lot of that ended up on the various Iowas when they were recommissioning back in the 80s (apparently the Navy came through with a couple of big trucks and just grabbed whatever they needed). Thank you so much for touring our ship! Love your channel!

[@gregorywright4918]

"400Hz that's used as DC power" - did you mean 400V?

[@Mike44460]

Walking to a huge manufacturing facility that made steel mill equipment in 1969, I grew up with the machine tools that could make components for the ship. I was just in awe looking at the big gearing in the gearboxes for the screws. The gear cutting machine tools to cut gears that size were complicated to set up. The current wear pattern on the gearing shows the skill in cutting the teeth as well as tolerances that were held in making the gearboxes themselves. The men that fought on her and the ones that built her are of an era never to be duplicated. My first visit was in 1977, and I have been back twice since then. I feel this spring is time for another. See you in May.

[@ostlandr]

@@Mike44460 My Granddad was working at Worthington Turbine during the war. The tolerances they machined to, without any fancy CNC equipment etc. were plus two thousandths of an inch, minus nothing. If you have one of the spare turbines the Navy ordered, you can pretty much name your price. They are in demand for power plants, and one cannot buy turbines of that quality today at any price.

[@Mike44460]

@@ostlandr unmatched skills on machine tools no one can even name today.

[@technovelo]

Perhaps you could answer a silly question - at 27:30, in the compartment containing the rams for the rudder there are large blocks of wood strapped to the walls. I'm very curious as to what they were used for.

[@ph89787]

33:55. Most impressive kill with a 1.1 inch, in my opinion, was when the bow-mounted one on USS Enterprise blew off the wing of a Kate coming out from a torpedo drop at the Battle of Santa Cruz.

[@galbert117]

Major Naysayers: You're useless 1.1! Bow-mounted 1.1 on USS Enterprise: Who decided that?

[@Ralph-yn3gr]

There's also the first two Vals that attacked USS _Yorktown_ that were chopped into tiny little kibbles by her aft 1.1 inch guns. In about 2 minutes, _Yorktown_ shot down the same number of aircraft with two 1.1 inch guns as every gun in Kido Butai during the entire day.

[@GB1Channel]

More dakka

[@That9one1Guy]

@@galbert117 my design is clunky and ineffective? Who decided that? I will be the one to decide.

[@everettbruckerhoff6029]

In defense of the naysayers, Enterprise and her sisters were like the most obscenely capable, overly lucky ships ever built. If anything was gonna pull off a truck shot like that, it would be the Big E.

[@volks-jager]

one of the best looking and proportioned Battleships ever built

[@Lord_Foxy13]

They're much better looking than the Iowa's. It's something about the Iowa class bows

[@marcinfrostymroz]

it's the same proportions that work on sports cars : long front, muscular mid and short back

[@volks-jager]

@@Lord_Foxy13 i agree, i have never liked the look of the Iowa class. they are too long and out of proportion

[@Aelxi]

@@Lord_Foxy13 I feel like Iowa looks are just meh and mediocre.

[@AFT_05G]

To be fair vast majority of battleships built during 1930-40s look proportioned.

[@cutl00senc]

My sister worked on the ship for many years as director of public relations. She was dedicated and worked hard for her captain. RIP Monique F.

[@mikefields3089]

One of the most beautiful ships ever built.

[@Cailus3542]

All of the USN fast battleships were gorgeous.

[@nitsu2947]

Azur Lane sure knows how to capture such beauties

[@erichammond9308]

Tell that to the Japanese businessmen who were visiting Wilmington in the 1980's and were offered a tour - one of them politely declined saying that the last time he saw that ship he was a child and it sailed into view off the coast of his town and promptly levelled the town. But yeah she's a beautiful ship!

[@frosty3693]

@@erichammond9308 Unless it has been removed, if you are driving down Interstate 40 towards Wilmington there is a billboard advertizing the ship. It reads you are in range of the USS North Carolina. It is about 26 miles from the ship, so you are literally in range of the 16" guns.

[@ArenBerberian]

It helps allot that she is in orginal condition and has that nice paint job.

[@NASWOG]

Touring this ship in 2010 was the single event that motivated me to join the Navy. Been a sailor for 9 years thanks to this beautiful ship.

[@Glenn-em3hv]

Worst thing I ever did was getting out of the Navy!!! I joined in 1981 and I could have retired 22 years ago but instead I'm still working at 63!!! Also I was stationed at Pearl harbor and did 2 West packs that were fantastic! I lived in paradise and had it made but I got home sick and went back to Arizona!!! I love Arizona but Hawaii isn't bad!!!

[@joebombero1]

Would you recommend the Navy for a young boy thinking about joining for the GI Bill to later pay his way through college?

[@doktorwyzzerd]

FINALLY! Im a Wilmington NC native, I grew up playing on the North Carolina on school field trips, scout trips and just regular visits. Here shes simply known as The Battleship. My mother donated to the fund to bring her to Wilmington in the early 60s. When I was a kid most of the 40mm mounts were open to the public so my friends and I would get on them, train the guns on wilmington across the river and pretend to bombard the town. Man I miss the 80s. Little known fact, the museum shop had the best Slush Puppy machine in town.

[@thadrobinson8343]

You wrote my comment for me! The Slush Puppy machine was an unforgettable part of the Battleship experience. I remember a billboard for the Battleship sound-and-light show around where 133 split off from 117 south of Castle Hayne.

[@doktorwyzzerd]

@@thadrobinson8343 I remember that billboard too, wasnt it for the sound and light show? i remember it had the battleships guns blazing.

[@thadrobinson8343]

@@doktorwyzzerd Yep, that's the one!

[@alastor8091]

Damn, wish I could've done that growing up.

[@andrewvanatta1569]

At least one of the 40mm mounts is still open for anyone who wants to pretend to be an antiaircraft gunner. When I first visited the ship I was about 10 and I could just barely crank the gun mount around. It was a lot easier when I was there last year at age 40.

[@sixstringedthing]

Had a chuckle at Drach singing Crowded House, that was unexpected. Shame about the weather but thanks for a another "come on a ship tour with me", I love these!

[@bosjoegaming]

I've been waiting for this video! I visited USS North Carorlina for the first time last fall with a friend who is a retired Navy Officer. We both ran around the ship completely nerding out over all the hardware! My friend was suprised by my level of knowledge. Of course, I learned most of my hardware knowledge from your videos! The only thing we had to ask about turned out to be a replacement piston for launching the float plane mounted to a wall in one of the mess spaces. I had planned to meet you during your visit to this ship since I live fairly close to it, but life got in the way! Thanks for your excellent videos, Drach!

[@JasonBellrealestate]

I was born and raised in Scotland, which has a long tradition of shipbuilding. When I visited USS North Carolina with my dad, Bob Bell, he was well impressed with the ship. We exploried the ship, and his favorite part was the machinery spaces. The most impressive thing to me is that this ship was designed without the use of any digital computers. She is a testament to knowledge, skill and engineering. What a battleship!

[@CorePathway]

I visited North Carolina at age 12, still remember laying and training a quad 40 with my dad. That was a good day.

[@Cheka__]

You didn't have to use your AK.

[@timgagliano621]

@@Cheka__ the Lakers beat the SuperSonics.

[@OatBread]

BB55 my beloved! I visit her in Wilmington Nc every summer ❤

[@larsdejong7396]

Now I'm seriously worried about your personal life, if you call a battleship "my beloved". 🤨

[@OatBread]

@@larsdejong7396 I call her my beloved because I visit her all the time and I was first introduced to her when I was 2, everyone in my family loves her and my great grandfather has pictures from her in the pacific. I studied about her growing up and she is such a fascinating ship that you should see in person!

[@ED-ti5tc]

I understand what you're saying. I was there in December 2022. Love it!

[@larsdejong7396]

@@OatBread I get it. But "my beloved" goes multiple steps to far.

[@OatBread]

@@larsdejong7396 I understand it’s a ship, but as someone who grew up driving over a bridge everyday to see her you get to appreciate her design. I don’t know why your so upset that my favorite ship is a battleship especially since this is a naval community. Lmao

[@davidtryon6157]

NC native here...thank you for showing off the old girl, Drac! Got to visit her a few times in my life and I still think she is the most beautiful of the US fast battleships.

[@tiberiusgracchus4222]

North Carolina native here. I've been onboard the USS NC several times. It's a beautiful ship and a fun way to spend a couple of hours. They used to do a light show in the evenings, not sure if that still happens. I know the finances have been tough at times but I'm glad they've managed to maintain the ship so far.

[@DMoNCFL]

yeah, they cut the sound and light show in the 90s I think. I still have childhood memories of that.

[@tiberiusgracchus4222]

@@DMoNCFL I remember that the light show happened at dusk and you are basically in a marsh so the mosquitos were so bad my dad made us leave...lol.

[@bobsakowski8298]

My son and I had come down the day Drach was there, and it certainly was a deluge! Ironically, it was the only day that month that we had gotten any substantial rain at all!

[@williammorris584]

The volunteers and staff do a wonderful job with this great ship. I visit her more or less yearly from my home away from home, beautiful Ocean Isle Beach; still noticing new things on nearly every trip. I believe the teak decking was replaced around 2013, and many articles of memorabilia are still being produced from the original teak for sale.

[@captaincharlemagne]

Walked her decks and was amazed she is one of my favorite warships and was the first museum ship I visited. Got a lot of great pictures of things I saw one of my favorite things was how she has the bell from the Tennessee-class armored cruiser the proceeded her right there on the deck. That day I will always remember. Although will admit you showed me some stuff that I wasn’t able to see when I visited her on my trip. So thank you Drach

[@patrickjames8050]

Being retired I need to get off my rear and hit the road to visit these ship museums around the country. Love your dedication Drach. 🤠🤠🤠🤠🤠

[@sadwingsraging3044]

Don't forget USS LST-325 in Evansville IN!

[@MeatloafCat]

As neat as it would be to have a mk48 torpedo included with the display at 13:00, I imagine getting it to that particular part of the ship might involve some rather ambitious geometry.

[@JoramTriesGaming]

To me, to you :D

[@RedXlV]

Or just disassembling the torpedo and reassembling it after it's in the room.

[@MeatloafCat]

@@RedXlV I wish someone had mentioned that earlier...

[@psychologicaltirefire8190]

If you get the chance during your 2nd U.S. adventure. Check out the Chicago Museum of Science & Industry. I imagine you know why, with them having the U-505. For the uninitiated, the U-505 is the other remaining Type IX U-Boat in preservation with U-534 in England. However, U-505 is an excellent indoor exhibit with a paid tour of the interior of the vessel. Not to mention, the rest of the museum is amazing too, especially the Apollo 8 and Aurora 7 capsules. It's the largest museum of science in the western hemisphere. The other two U-Boats are U-995 of the Type VIIC class in Kiel, Germany. With U-2540 of the Type XXI class in Bremerhaven, Germany.

[@JamesF0790]

I love that the U-505 was being made a museum and they contacted German companies asking for parts. These were all the original manufacturers and they all sent them whatever they needed free of charge because they wanted there to be an example of their work.

[@defaultuserid1559]

I enjoyed this because I visited the NC in the 80s and it looked neglected and run down. A lot of areas were closed off that you can visit today on a regular tour. There were fundraising efforts at the time to improve the situation which apparently worked out very well. You really did hit an unusual patch of rainy weather, even for North Carolina.

[@timf2279]

Same I was there in 1985 and had the same impression. A lot of people don't understand the continued maintenance these ships require and most are privately funded.

[@ericcartrette6118]

I remember what you are talking about. The gangplank was narrow and the ship was run down. When I visited again in the nineties, things had improved drastically. I think it cost $16 dollars per person then to board the ship. That money was put to good use. I was there a few years ago and the ship looks great! The last couple of times we went, I'm pretty sure admission was free? But they certainly welcome donations. In the '80's, I remember looking over the side of the gangplank and seeing allegators looking up at us. It made an impression! 🤣

[@timf2279]

Alligators and gang plank lol.

[@trevorn9381]

@@timf2279 The decks were in bad shape with a lot of rotten spots and spots they had patched with concrete. I think some people from the government of Myanmar (formerly Burma) visited NC and toured the battleship and donated enough teak lumber to re-deck the ship.

[@jamesklee]

As an American (just now getting into naval history) I'm extremely grateful you made it stateside to visit these vessels. I'll be sure to support these exhibits as opportunity arises. Thanks for letting us vicariously get a look at them!

[@chrismaverick9828]

It's cool they had Babcock & Wilcox boilers. I've lived all my life about 30mins away from their Barberton, Ohio factory, and even just down the road from it at one point. My grandpa worked there after the war and up until 1985 or so when he retired. He worked in their nuclear energy division and on a lot of the sub reactor vessels. he never said much about it, but I'm pretty sure he did most of the Ohio-class in his final years there.

[@DRAGNET-pn5vf]

THERE USE TO BE A BABCOX/WILCOX PLANT HERE IN WILMINGTON, NC BACK IN THE DAY. I THINK IT CLOSED IN LATE 1970'S OR EARLY 1980'S. ✌️👍🏻

[@tspencer227]

@@DRAGNET-pn5vf and we're pretty sure the boilers were built at that plant- they were called "Carolina Express" boilers in the original documentation.

[@randymagnum143]

McDermott Technologies was their R&D division?

[@roddymoore]

The Show boat! I grew up in coastal NC and I think my first school trip was down to Wilmington to visit this ship. As a wee boy, you can imagine how impressive that was for me. Thank you for your vids and interest. As an old man, it confounds me why GB has not preserved more of it's naval history. Greetings from Germany. And thank you again.

[@ahseaton8353]

She got the nickname "Showboat" during her original sea trials. She had serious vibration problems, especially at high speed. It made many trips between the Brooklyn Navy Yard and the Atlantic for many many sea trials. New Yorkers thought it was just sailing back and forth for "show" since it was the first battleship built since WWI. Even then, they never really solved all of the vibration problems.

[@trevorn9381]

The Brits should have kept at least one King George V class battleship and the HMS Vanguard.

[@charlesjames1442]

Bausch & Lomb! One of the major works that built optical instruments for the US Navy. The old Rochester optical works is long gone, though you can still see the foundations on Google Maps next to the Genesee river. I have a few of the many, many thousands of binoculars that they fabricated during the war. They are the pinnacle of optical production. I just got a SARD (Square D) 7x50 glass back from Cory Suddarth. They were 1942 build for the Navy bureau of aeronautics and have been mil spec overhauled. Good for another century.

[@John.B.Jenkins]

Drach! For REAL?!? This is Awesome! I was literally just showing my 9 year old son the 5mol on the North Carolina Class ships. We went back in August to visit her and he just started asking me about the visit last night. Love the synchronicity!

[@ramal5708]

The thing about NC is that her service during the war is overshadowed by the Washington (the one that got away from preserving as museum ship). But personally I am glad we still have one NC class BB still exist in the world, also two of South Dakotas and all of the Iowas could still be visited and touched.

[@fernandoavalos3626]

Overshadowed?? No idea what you are talking about? NC is the most decorated battleship in existence today!

[@michealham3208]

The Washington earned 13 battlestars while NC earned 15, most of any BB during WWII, only NJ has more due service in Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf.

[@trevorn9381]

@@fernandoavalos3626 If I remember correctly the USS Washington was the only US Battleship to ever sink an enemy battleship.

[@solusanimefan]

I remember this ship vividly from childhood. My family visited it in the early 2000s. I remember looking down and seeing alligators. I was only probably 4 or 5 years old, but I do remember the guns, and I feel like back then she was painted in her Gray configuration and not the dazzle.

[@luckyguy600]

and the large gar fish that look pre-historic ! I wouldnt want to fall in there.

[@bertbaker7067]

Great video, appreciate all your work making these. I visited this ship when I was 10 or 11 and it was awesome. This was the late 90s and we could move through the public areas of the ship without a tour guide. I remember getting turned around and eventually walked into a room finding myself on the wrong side of the "off limits to the public signs." It was great. And on the way out we saw a 10 foot alligator sunning itself next to the parking lot access road.

[@meanstavrakas1044]

My third visit to the USS North Carolina was in the summer of 1990. At that time the HMS Bristol was making her last trip to the States and was anchored across the channel from the Battleship. The Royal Navy was giving tours to civilians. We saw both boats on the same day and had a lot of fun.

[@doktorwyzzerd]

On the 20mm oerlikons sighting, I visited the north carolina once during some kind of memorial event, there were marines on board in period uniforms demonstrating the weapon systems and they had something very interesting which I had no idea existed… a period holo sight for the oerlikons! It was pretty much like a period aircraft sight, same kind of target ring, similar size.

[@StephenEagles85]

That sounds like the Mk 14 gyroscopic lead-computing gunsight. There were variants that were also used to act as the director for Bofors or 1.1" mounts

[@doktorwyzzerd]

I think youre right, Im pretty sure the speakers said that it was lead computing. It was somewhat bulky, had a large battery pack.

[@dmcarpenter2470]

Those events are noted as Battleship Alive, on the schedule. The Spring event has the best turnout, as that coincides with the Crew Reunion.

[@madrabbit9007]

If you ever get aboard the Texas you HAVE TO check out the "Prophylactic Room!" All sailors going on leave had to stop off there and the period signage is hilarious!

[@Aelxi]

Sad that sniper Washi wasn't saved. At least I can visit her sister. 0:52 *"greatest of the ambush predators"* Washington would be proud 1:37 bruh you brought Brit weather with you

[@grahamstrouse1165]

There’ve been loads of movies made about Pearl Harbor & Midway. Guadalcanal could be a great subject for a 10-13 episode streaming series. Maybe see if Amazon or Apple is interested. They’ve got deeper pockets than Netflix or Disney.

[@robertenglehardt9706]

Thanks for supporting our ship! Haven’t been there in years- will make the short trip soon!

[@grandconqueror2446]

Grandfather would take me to visit her every summer (grew up in North Carolina.) At one point I believe you were allowed to move one of the 40mm Bofor mounts around, which I was able to do successfully when I was 5... Nonetheless she's kinda the ship that started my love of all things naval related

[@gizmophoto3577]

I remember cranking one of the guns around during a tour in the ‘60s.

[@BishopStars]

I got to visit this one a few months ago, the first battleship I've ever boarded. They did a great job on the repairs, and she's in beautiful shape.

[@EDKguy]

Grew up in Buffalo where there is a cruiser and a Fletcher class destroyer. Visit North Carolina this fall and was totally amazed at the size and technology of this historic ship.

[@ostlandr]

Visiting there as a kid, I was amazed at how tiny the USS The Sullivans was. I was like, people crossed the ocean in this thing?

[@RodneyGraves]

That was a line shaft bearing. The Thrust Bearings are usually quite close to the reduction gears.

[@dr.rotwang]

Visited this old gal two years ago. It is so worth the visit. You can spend hours there seeing everything, reading everything, running up and down between all the levels. IF you are within even a few states distance go visit. You will not be disappointed.

[@cleverusername9369]

My home state's battleship! We are extremely proud of our Showboat

[@patricks.6812]

My grandfather was one of her crew members, and I was fortunate enough to go to a ships reunion with him in 2019 before he passed away. He had a walking stick made from the deck planking when it was replaced.

[@stevemolina8801]

I visited this ship many years ago while stationed on a DE out of Charleston SC. As a Gunners make and mount captain in a 5"54 mk 42 gun, I got into a 5" mount on the NC it struck me as to how crowded and stuffy it had to be. The Mk 42 only had two crewmen in it one inside as mostly an observer, and the mount captain in the bubble who could operate and fire the gun with a joystick. I never did get to fire it. Thanks for a great presentation.

[@antoninuspius1747]

Speaking of buying teak from the ship, in the San Fransisco Bay Area there are several restaurants completely panelled in teak from ships scrapped from the "Moth Ball Fleet" in Suisun Bay. Quite an impressive appearance.

[@Idahoguy10157]

There were A LOT of retired ships in the mothball fleet. I’d never thought about that teak wood. My time in the navy I only saw active duty one ship with teak decking. USS Sperry AS-12. Which was a WW2 ship

[@samsignorelli]

Funny how you mention a sword made of battleship steel. Until the war in Ukraine, there was a maker of gear for the Olympic sport of fencing called Vniti that made outstanding foil and epee blades...and the steel was old Soviet naval steel! Wonderful blades...I sell the gear for a living and used to push Vnitis on people who kept breaking their own blades....damn things lasted forever since they were "Strong, like tractor!" "Why is my epee glowing?" "Ah....it made from Kursk!"

[@ostlandr]

Quite a number of years ago, I passed up the opportunity to purchase a sword blade made from a billet of steel that was somehow diverted from the construction of the hull of USS Seawolf. Very nice blade, same pattern and size as my favorite weapon. Weird looking blue-gray steel. The smith told me "This is the only sword you will ever find guaranteed to 480 meters." Still kicking myself.

[@samsignorelli]

@@ostlandr "Still kicking myself." As well you should!!

[@Angrymuscles]

Showboat! My favorite of my nation's battleship children. I hope you treated her well as she genuinely is a lady. Regretfully we don't have a battleship USS South Carolina as a museum, but at least the Carolinas are well represented here. We Gamecocks and Tigers tip our hats to the Tarheels that gave their lives for our country.

[@williamstyers4264]

Maybe my dear neighbors to the south don't have a battleship but please don't overlook a chance to visit the Patriot's Point Site. Fine collection of ships to visit there.

[@garydubose7067]

Living in South Carolina, I first visited this ship in 1964 when I was three years old. I've been hooked on the subject of battleships ever since. Love the channel!

[@AdamosDad]

15:03 Aboard the Heavy cruiser USS Newport News CA-148 we rode out a typhoon in the late 60's that ADM Halsey would have been proud of. I saw an inclinometer go to 45 degrees, it rather scared some of us because we were told if it ever went there that the ship would capsize, and the turrets would fall off and perhaps right the ship. I ass a 3rd class electronics tech, got the job of antenna repair some of which included pulling dead fish out of a platform probably near 100 feet from the water line. It took a hell of a storm to put a cruiser in that condition, so it would have been much worse to bring a battleship to that condition.

[@grahamstrouse1165]

They’re doing a terrific job keeping her in shape. The dazzle camo looks terrific!

[@christopherridle7670]

It's been many years, but I was lucky enough to visit USS North Carolina three times. I enjoyed looking out of the range finder on the aft 16 inch turret. I sighted-in on a USCG cutter docked across the channel. Also, across the channel, on Front Street, is I Love NY Pizza. They have an outstanding lasagna pizza. Loved it. I miss North Carolina.

[@davidvik1451]

20:52 is a picture of a line shaft or spring bearing. In these the shaft is running on oil lubricated white metal (babbitt) in spherical mountings to compensate for any flexing of the hull. There may be several of these between the reduction gear and the stern tube depending on the length of the shaft. The thrust bearings in this ship are integral to the reduction gear, mounted on the forward end of the bull gear shaft.

[@RJN82]

There are few experiences more awe inspiring than standing behind the wheel and looking over the two forward main turrets while imagining what it's like cruising in a storm or calm seas. Memories for a lifetime.

[@billharrall5654]

Sorry for this late note. Recently, you toured the Olympia in Philadelphia. Some of your video included a little tugboat in the background named the Jupiter with the letter 'M' on its smokestack. It was originally owned by my great-grandfather Emil Meyle founder of the Independent Pier and Lighterage Company. He owned several tugs including the Saturn and the Trojan which I once got to steer as a child with my dad. Of course now the company is defunct and I believe that the pier is now a heliport. Thank you for this wonderful series.

[@dougwayland8176]

I have had the pleasure to have visited the USS Texas, USS Alabama and the USS New Jersey making a trifecta of ages of the Battleship. Love your channel.

[@rachelcarre9468]

Gosh, she has been maintained to a fantastic standard!

[@zoperxplex]

The North Carolina is closer to it's original design then the New Jersey which has undergone a considerable amount of modernization.

[@HDBoyWonder]

This also is true for the USS Alabama, a South Dakota class museum ship berthed in Mobile, Alabama. It looks like a shorter Iowa class. Great fast battleship tour.

[@bob80q]

Maybe because the Iowas were the only ones active after World War II.

[@Brock_Landers]

My grandparents met at the Babcock and Wilcox steel and boiler works in Beaver Falls, PA during WWII.

[@peteranderson037]

The margin of safety on boiler #4 is exactly 50% between the hydrostatic test pressure and the designed pressure. A 50% margin of safety is typically considered low in engineering terms, you usually see a MoS of 100% to 200% or even higher. You typically see 50% in aviation where weight is critical. Then again there is probably a bit of overhead between the hydrostatic test pressure and the calculated yield point.

[@pork_cake]

I noticed this too! For modern household/commercial/light industrial boilers, standard hydrostatic test pressure is 200% of working pressure. I wonder what life was like in the QA department over at Babcock & Wilcox in the 30s and 40s!

[@sgtcote1]

I just toured the USS North Carolina today, and while I am a USCG vet I didn't know half of what you helped explain what I saw.. Thank you for posting and helping out this vet. It was such an honor walking her decks and learning some of her history. I'm so thrilled she was rescued from the scrap yard.

[@ronaldhenderson8569]

Great work Drach, thanks. Kingfisher did not serve in North Carolina, but was stranded on a Canadian hillside during the 1942-1944 Alaska campaign. Her wreck was discovered by hikers. She was restored and donated to BB55. I believe there are only 7 of these remaining intact in the world.

[@stephenbond1990]

If anyone is interested the KZbin channel Rex's Hangar has a video on the Kingfisher floatplane as well as a few other USN floatplanes including the failed replacement for the Kingfisher, the Seamew, here's a link to their Kingfisher video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmiXfYSir7l3bpY Edit: Now that I've got to the part of the video on the 1.1" AA gun and to reply to Drach's comments on the issues with reloading, footage of one of these being fired in action does exist and it is quite a job to reload one of these things. I think Drach may have used that footage during a Drydock question on either Midway or USS Enterprise at one point. Double Edit: I actually found the video on KZbin and even better, It's in Colour! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKKyqqFmaN6hesU

[@jamesanderson3160]

I spent a lot of my childhood exploring this ship with my cousin and grandfather. A lot of good memories here and I’m sure it’s where the spark for my love of ships began! Thank you so much for giving the showboat the spotlight she deserves! Really enjoyed this and all the content you make brother!

[@hughroadie2291]

Hi Drach,… the bearing you are describing at about time 22 minutes is a “line shaft bearing,” not a thrust bearing. There are a number of line shaft bearings on each shaft, they support the weight of the shaft.

[@93FORDMUSTANG]

My favorite american BB. Ive been aboard her several times. Always an amazing experience

[@AsbestosMuffins]

after watching the NJ's recent video on the reduction gear, those things are absolutely amazing and basically every article on geared turbines understates how difficult they are to get working

[@tobiasGR3Y]

I originally planned to visit the North Carolina upon my graduation from college, like when I visited the Alabama and Drum when I graduated the high school. Covid dashed that; but I'm patient, more than eager and can't wait to see her... *So no spoilers, gotta save this video for another day!*

[@garfieldfarkle]

Well done, Drach, I think it would be a good idea to link with a previous video on the USS North Carolina. She's a beauty to be aboard.

[@Perfusionist01]

Drach, I was SHOCKED in your description of the 1.1 in AA guns being replaced by 20mm Oerlikons! The 1.1 in was intended to be the mid-range AA weapon, being backed up by .50 cal Brownings (original outfit). The .50s were replaced by 20mm, and many more 20mm were added. The 1.1 in was superseded by the 40mm Bofors in various mountings. The 1.1 was the most common medium-range AA of US ships through most of 1942 with the 40mm appearing on South Dakota and other new or refitted ships. For instance, the USS Fletcher went into battle with a single 1.1 in on the after deck house, backed up by several 20mm mounts. In later years she class recived 40mm mounts replacing the 1.1s and adding more for a common outfit of five twin mounts. Anyway, nice video. I still need to go see the North Carolina. I fondly remember my visit to the Alabama.

[@alastor8091]

Its crazy to see places i drive by so often in my home city through a foreigner's eyes. This video makes me think I should give her another tour. You never really know what you have until someone else is amazed by it.

[@Yogibear-ib3rt]

Fascinating and well done tour of this amazing Battleship. I've seen tours and have extensively toured the USS Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. Most curators have not done a tour as extensively as you have. Well done.

[@Octonipple]

It was great meeting you when you came to visit. I was the one heavily tattooed guy that looked out of place in the group. Hope you come back to visit again!

[@biscuitninja]

As a hydraulics and steam guy... The sections on the boilers and pressures was much enjoyed

[@madisonritter7734]

been on this ship and each time i take a boat from work to downtown i get to see this ship

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Lucky you!

[@sse_weston4138]

First battleship museum I ever visited! It was back before they constructed the cat walk all around her, so it is high time I revisit her.

[@batticusmanacleas510]

I used to work at a place on the Riverfront in Wilmington, NC. I had the privilege of looking across the Cape Fear and seeing her everyday on my way to and from work. Never got tired of looking.

[@maxwedge5683]

The beauty of these battleships was that they were never "updated". They retain the same configuration they were originally built with. The North Carolina retains the original secondary batteries and AA guns they depended upon during WWII. Great video.

[@Bobfelli]

Hi Drach. Very informative video. I was a Nuclear trained Machinists Mate in the US Navy. Served on the USS Wisconsin as a Navy Reservist in 1990. A couple of corrections. The Astern Turbine is actually on these Same shaft as the LP turbine and in the same housing. This is true o n all four shafts. This is one of the reasons why it takes so long to stop the ship. The shaft bearing you showed is a line shaf bearing. All internal shaft bearings are oil bath babbit bearings. The Thrust bearings are located further aft in adjoining compartments similar to the Iowa class. The 1.1" Chicago Pianos were replaced with the 40mm Bofors on this and all other ships. I was also a volunteer on the USS Texas for 12 years. She had several 1.1" quad mounts until the 1988 to 1990 drydocking and restoration. The quad 40mm mounts on the Texas were from the USS Missouri.

[@busterdee8228]

You did a bang up job foiling the weather that was trying to foil you. I had a stock car motor stuffed into a boat of a street car. I noticed that I could see the gas gauge move when I fed her the onions, so I thought I'd do the math: 2 gallons to the mile. That was a short-lived project.

[@billrhodes5603]

I Worked on this ship In the mid eighties and early nineties. One of my jobs, relief night watchman, Give me access to the keys To the areas of the ship that were unavailable to everyone else. Much spilunking in pitch black areas of the ship was done. Spending the night alone pretty creepy.

[@frankfischer1281]

This type of tour gives one a better appreciation of the size and complexity of these powerful weapons of war. And having Drach as a guide is certainly a plus. Thank you.

[@peteranderson037]

The 20mm Oerlikons had removable holographic sights, not too dissimilar to the ones used on modern small arms. The original ones were expensive in their day and extremely rare today. I think the North Carolina museum has one or two in their possession that they break out for special occasions.

[@gregorywright4918]

Holographic? I thought they were ring-bead types.

[@peteranderson037]

@@gregorywright4918 They were equipped with those at first but they were replaced with Mark 14 gyro-stabilized lead computing reflexive sights about halfway through the war.

[@rifleman2c997]

US fast battleships have such a proper look.

[@mrp55net]

Truly "Purpose" built.

[@grahamstrouse1165]

From a purely aesthetic persecutive the NCs, Iowas & SDs are all absolute stunners. Same goes for the Alaska class super-cruisers. America built some VERY sexy battleships in the ‘30s & ‘40s.

[@tmutant]

YES!!!! I've been wanting to see your take on the USS North Carolina! I'm from NC and am fascinated with the history of the ship.

[@k.zekeswaringen2122]

When visiting North Carolina - this is a must see attraction. The staff are very informed & it is a fun activity for the entire family to enjoy & explore this large battleship. Thank you for posting this exellent presentation !!

[@dimezrecon]

Visited Family in NC this week. Had to stop by the BB NC to channel my inner Drach. Got Teak and Steel to support the Musuem. Thanks for what you do!

[@ColKorn1965]

I lived a few miles from her and we visited a lot when I was a kid. Love her. Thank you for this presentation

[@BleedingUranium]

3:12 Oh man, that centreline flyover is breathtaking, what a unique perspective. :O

[@jth877]

I was there around the same time. We were not allowed above the main deck due to the renovation work. Was bummed about that. My previous visit was in 1983 when I was 7. Glad they are making an investment into the ship. I did my part and walked away with a piece of the original deck. The amount of original artifacts is what makes NC so special.

[@nomar5spaulding]

I'm at the bit discussing fuel consumption at different speeds in gallons per mile. I used to be a professional mariner. We measured our fuel consumption in tons per hour. A ton of diesel fuel is very roughly about 330 gallons (I think). The ships I worked on normally operated between 16-20 knots, and if you made me pick an average, I would say probably about 18.5 knots. I used to have to enter in a log book every day how many tons of fuel we consumed in the 24h period. My memory on this is getting a bit dicey but I seem to recall around 120-150 tons per day being petty common. We would do something like 100 gallons per mile in a super rough estimate. Keep in mind, this isn't even a "back of the envelope" calculation. This is a "standing in my PJs in my kitchen and cooking" calculation. It's very rough.

[@jamesbednar8625]

AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME VIDEO!!!!!!!! I work on Fort Riley, KS, and had the opportunity to go to Fort Bragg, NC (or whatever it is called now) for Temporary Duty (TDY) in early 2000s. Was at Bragg for a week and had a weekend to try and entertain myself. Looked at a map of the state of North Carolina and noticed that Wilmington, NC, was not that far away. Got into my rental car and made the drive just to visit this battleship and Kittyhawk, where the Wright Brothers flew their airplane. Was a fantastic experience just to roam around this battleship and actually had free reign of the ship. Can remember going into the 16"-gun turrets (at least one of them), all over the place above decks, and most places below decks as well. Was allowed to go to the portion of the ship that ate the torpedo where that area is supposedly "haunted" - did not notice/experience paranormal probably because was more interested in the ship and such. Also can remember that I took a butt-load of photos in order to build a plastic model of this ship - still a work in progress. Anyway, THANKS!!! for bringing back some pleasant memories!!!!

[@HighClover]

I live about 45min from the USS North Carolina I go to the museum quite a bit she's a beautiful ship

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Big shout-out to the state of North Carolina for putting so much time, thought & effort into this battleship museum! ❤️

[@phillipbouchard4197]

Hi Drach. Enjoyed your video of North Carolina especially the drone footage. Reminded me of my visit to the ship in April of 1991 just prior to the 50th Anniversary celebration of her commissioning in April of 1941. Unfortunately I was enroute to Florida on vacation and could only spend two hours aboard. I hope to visit her again at some point. Just had a " Firepower Tour" on board Massachusetts with Dr. John Scholes in November of 2022 which lasted for four hours. We covered a lot of ship but will have to continue it again hopefully this year. Glad to see someone with your expertise visiting all our great museum ships and hope you come again as I would like to meet you. Thanks for the video !

[@marinablueGS]

Visited the USS North Carolina a few years ago, very much enjoyed our visit! We had a great time wandering around.

[@GeneralJackRipper]

I'm amazed at how little trash is lying around. You look at other museum ships and they have heaps and piles of old stuff in storage all over the place, but this one looks like she could put out to sea in short notice and be clear for action.

[@ostlandr]

When I visited the USS Little Rock back in the '80s, there were large areas off-limits to the public, and it was obvious to even a little kid that the ship was being held in a state in which she could be quickly returned to service. I presume that's no longer the case in 2023.

[@Arphalia]

An excellent video as usual, someday I hope to visit the ship in person.

[@owenwoodall5642]

April 30, 1944 during an attack on Truck, North Carolina lost both Kingfishers. In the process though, 10 men were saved. Lt. J.J. Dowdle landed in the lagoon but his Kingfisher was blown over by the rough seas. Lt. John Burns rescued Dowdle and his radio man. During the course of the afternoon, Burns needed up saving 9 other men. When he got to USS Tang, he was out of fuel and one of the pontoons was ruptured. The Kingfischer was sunk by Tang. By the time Tang picked up them up there was Burns, Aubrey Gill his radio man, and nine other men.