North Carolina

13.3

North Carolina

Battleship | U.S.A. | Tier VIII

Tech Tree Position

stock

 top

General

Research price120000 exp

Purchase price9,800,000

Hit Points53,700

Main Battery

406 mm/45 Mk.6 in a turret3 х 3 pcs.

Rate of Fire2 shots/min.

Reload Time30 sec.

Rotation Speed4 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time45 sec.

Firing Range21.14 km.

Maximum Dispersion292 m.

HE Shell406 mm HE/HC Mk13

Maximum HE Shell Damage5,700

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell36 %

Initial HE Shell Velocity820 m./s.

HE Shell Weight862 kg.

AP Shell406 mm AP Mk8

Maximum AP Shell Damage13,100

Initial AP Shell Velocity701 m./s.

AP Shell Weight1225 kg.

Secondary Armament #1

127 mm/38 Mk.12 on a Mk.32 mount10 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range6.6 km.

Rate of Fire10 shots/min.

Reload Time6 sec.

HE Shell127 mm HE Mk32

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,800

Initial HE Shell Velocity792 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell5 %

AA Defense

127 mm/38 Mk.12 on a Mk.32 mount10 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second151

. . . Firing Range5.01 km.

40 mm/56 Bofors on a Mk.1 mount15 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second169.5

. . . Firing Range3.51 km.

20 mm Oerlikon on a Mk.4 mount38 х 1 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second136.8

. . . Firing Range2.01 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed24.42 knot

Turning Circle Radius760 m.

Rudder Shift Time20 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range15.19 km.

Air Detectability Range10.06 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

13.3

North Carolina

Battleship | U.S.A. | Tier VIII

Tech Tree Position

stock

 top

General

Research price120000 exp

Purchase price9,800,000

Hit Points66,000

Main Battery

406 mm/45 Mk.6 in a turret3 х 3 pcs.

Rate of Fire2 shots/min.

Reload Time30 sec.

Rotation Speed4 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time45 sec.

Firing Range23.26 km.

Maximum Dispersion292 m.

HE Shell406 mm HE/HC Mk13

Maximum HE Shell Damage5,700

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell36 %

Initial HE Shell Velocity820 m./s.

HE Shell Weight862 kg.

AP Shell406 mm AP Mk8

Maximum AP Shell Damage13,100

Initial AP Shell Velocity701 m./s.

AP Shell Weight1225 kg.

Secondary Armament #1

127 mm/38 Mk.12 on a Mk.32 mount10 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range6.6 km.

Rate of Fire10 shots/min.

Reload Time6 sec.

HE Shell127 mm HE Mk32

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,800

Initial HE Shell Velocity792 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell5 %

AA Defense

127 mm/38 Mk.12 on a Mk.32 mount10 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second151

. . . Firing Range5.01 km.

20 mm Oerlikon on a Mk.4 mount44 х 1 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second158.4

. . . Firing Range2.01 km.

40 mm/56 Bofors on a Mk.2 mount15 х 4 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second238.5

. . . Firing Range3.51 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed27.5 knot

Turning Circle Radius760 m.

Rudder Shift Time15.2 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range15.19 km.

Air Detectability Range10.06 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

VIII

9,800,000

North Carolina — American Tier VIII battleship.

The first U.S. battleship of the new generation. The key advantage over her predecessors of this type was significantly increased speed. In contrast to preceding ships of the same type, she featured a thinner armor belt, but had very solid horizontal armor protection and a superior AA armament including numerous dual-purpose artillery.

USS North Carolina is now preserved as a military museum ship in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Modules

	Rate of Fire (shots/min)	180° Turn Time (sec)	Maximum Dispersion (m)	Maximum HE Shell Damage (HP)	Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell (%)	Maximum AP Shell Damage (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
406 mm/45 Mk.6 in a turret	2	45	292	5,700	36	13,100		0	1,200,000

	Hit Points (HP)	Armor (mm)	Armor (mm)	Main Turrets (pcs.)	Secondary Gun Turrets (pcs.)	AA Mounts (pcs.)	Torpedo Tubes (pcs.)	Hangar Capacity (pcs.)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
North Carolina (A)	53,700	13	406	3	10	38/15/10				0	1,700,000
North Carolina (B)	66,000	13	406	3	10	44				57,500	4,000,000

	IDS_SHIP_PARAM_SUO_INCREASE_DIST (%)	Maximum Firing Range (km)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Mk8 mod. 1		0		0	590,000
Mk8 mod. 2		0		26,500	1,800,000

	Maximum Speed (knot)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Propulsion: 100,000 hp	24.4		0	380,000
Propulsion: 115,000 hp	27.5		15,000	900,000

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1
Slot 2
Slot 3
Slot 4
Slot 5

Player Opinion

Performance

The biggest transition in American battleship game play, North Carolina is the first fast battleship of the American line. She is a welcome change of pace for players used to the 21 knot top speed of New York, New Mexico, and Colorado, and is a radical departure from the pudgy appearance and mediocre firing range of her dreadnought predecessors.

North Carolina boasts speed, protection, armament, and handling that represent improvements in ship design made over the span of a 15-year gap in American battleship construction that began in the mid-1920's. Her fully upgraded top speed of 28 knots is immediately noticeable, and while other Tier VIII battleships like Bismarck, Tirpitz, and Amagi can still outrun her, the gap in speed is limited to a only few knots. North Carolina is more than capable of keeping up with her team and using her excellent range to begin punishing enemy units while they close.

While North Carolina can fire at long ranges, her dispersion is irritating and the muzzle velocities of her 16-inch, 45 caliber guns are slower than the 50 caliber guns found on Iowa and Montana. Her shells seemingly take forever to return to earth at ranges past 13-14 km, meaning that captains must use additional lead when firing at far off targets. Frustratingly, she cannot equip Aiming Systems Modification 1 to improve her dispersion, either. She has the worst torpedo protection out of all Tier VIII battleships; captains must be very cautious about putting North Carolina into a position where enemy destroyers will focus torpedoes on her.

Still, there are some nice trade-offs. Unlike many ships, her stock configuration is relatively solid, and when fully upgraded her anti-aircraft suite is brutally punishing to enemy planes. When fully-rigged for stealth — via Concealment Systems Modification 1 and the Concealment Expert commander skill — her surface detection range drops to a positively ludicrous 12.1 km. This frequently allows North Carolina to maneuver unseen and strike at unsuspecting cruisers and battleships from an angle they did not anticipate. It also allows her to cease fire and escape when necessary; she is very easy to citadel while broadside to enemy ships (even cruisers!), so care must be taken when turning around under fire.

With careful positioning and heads-up play, North Carolina is an solid all-around Tier VIII battleship.

Pros:

• Handles very differently from her predecessors.
• Highest range of any Tier VIII battleship.
• Unrivaled AA suite at her tier.
• Very durable when angled.
• Decently fast at nearly 28 knots.
• 16-inch guns fire the same super-heavy shells as Iowa and Montana, so the shell penetration and damage are devastating with good hits.

Cons:

• Rudder shift is fairly slow.
• Below average armor piercing shell velocity.
• Dispersion can be unfriendly at times, and she can't mount Aiming Systems Modification 1 to improve it.
• Large citadel and not as well-armored as Colorado; flashing her broadside to enemy battleships is suicidal.
• Small volume of secondaries compared to other Tier VIII battleships.
• Extremely poor torpedo defense at only 19% (compared to Amagi’s 28% and Bismarck’s 22%).

Research

Experience gains should be allocated to Hull (B) first, the Engine upgrade module next, and lastly to the Fire Control System buff to North Carolina’s range.

Optimal Configuration

Commander Skills

Recommended Commander Skills
Cost (points)	Endurance		Attack		Support		Versatility
1	Priority Target Situational Awareness indicator will show the number of opponents currently aiming at you with main battery guns. ★★	Preventative Maintenance -30% to the risk of incapacitation of main turrets, torpedo tubes, steering gear, engines. ★	Expert Loader -50% to reload time when shell type is switched. ★	Air Supremacy -5% aircraft restoration time.	Direction Center for Fighters +1 fighter to carrier fighter squadrons or catapult fighters.	Improved Engine Boost +10% Aircraft engine boost time.	Incoming Fire Alert Indicator of long-range enemy artillery fire. ★	Last Gasp Completely restores the engine boost for the last attack flight of the carrier's planes.
2	High Alert -10% to reload time of Damage Control Party consumable. ★★	Jack of All Trades -5% to reload time of all consumables. ★	Expert Marksman +2.5 deg/sec to traverse speed of guns with a caliber up to 139mm. +0.7 deg/sec to traverse speed of guns with a caliber above 139mm. ★★★	Torpedo Acceleration +5 knots to torpedo speed. -20% to torpedo range.	Smoke Screen Expert +20% to the radius of the smoke screen.	Improved Engines +2.5% Squadron speed.	Adrenaline Rush -0.2% to reload times of all types of armament for each 1% of total health lost. +0.2% squadron speed for each 1% of total health lost. ★★	Last Stand The ship remains able to move and maneuver while the engine or steering gears are incapacitated.
3	Basics of Survivability -15% to time of repair, fire extinguishing, and recovery from flooding. ★★	Survivability Expert +350 ship HP for each ship tier. +15 aircraft HP for each ship tier.	Torpedo Armament Expertise -10% to reload time of torpedo tubes.	Aircraft Armor Reduces continuous damage to aircraft in all AA defense zones. -10% continuous damage.	Basic Firing Training -10% to reload time of main battery guns with a caliber up to and including 139mm and all secondary battery guns. +10% to continuous damage from AA guns. ★★★	Superintendent +1 additional charge to all consumables mounted on a ship. ★★★	Demolition Expert +2% chance of HE shells causing a fire on target. +1% chance of rockets causing a fire on target. +5% chance of HE bombs causing a fire on target. ★	Vigilance +25% to detection range of enemy torpedoes. ★
4	Manual Fire Control for Secondary Armament Tightens dispersion of shells from secondary batteries. -15% for Tier I-VI ships. -60% for Tier VII-X ships. Manually selected target only.	Fire Prevention -10% to the risk of fire. The maximum number of fires on a ship is reduced to three. ★★	Inertia Fuse for HE Shells +30% to the armor penetration capacity of HE shells. -1% chance of fire on target caused by shells <=139mm. -3% chance of fire on target caused by shells >139mm.	Sight Stabilization Speeds up the aiming of a carrier's aircraft. +5% attack aircraft aiming speed. +5% torpedo bomber aiming speed. +10% dive bomber aiming speed.	Advanced Firing Training +20% to firing range of main battery guns with a caliber up to 139mm and all secondary battery guns. +15% damage/sec. within the explosion radius of shells fired from long-range AA defenses. ★★★	Massive AA Fire Instantaneous Damage +100%. Priority AA sector cooldown +50%.	Radio Position Finding Shows the direction to the nearest enemy ship. The enemy is alerted that a bearing has been taken.	Concealment Expert -10% to the detection radius of all ships and aircraft. ★★★
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful       ★★ - Frequently Useful       ★ - Occasionally Useful      No stars - Meh     Χ - Not recommended

Camouflage

Type 1, 2, or 5 camouflage can be equipped for credits; Types 2 or 5 are recommended at a minimum to reduce the accuracy of incoming shells.

Players who wish to spend doubloons can equip North Carolina with Type 18 camouflage that lowers her detection radius, reduces the accuracy of incoming shells, reduces her repair costs, and increases the amount of experience she earns.

Signals

Recommended Signal Flags
Combat
Juliet Charlie -100% to the risk of magazine detonation. ★	Juliet Yankee Bissotwo -20% to flooding duration. ★	India Yankee -20% to fire duration. ★★	Hotel Yankee -20% to damage received when ramming the enemy. +50% to damage dealt when ramming the enemy. ★	Victor Lima +1% chance for HE bombs and shells with a caliber above 160mm causing a fire. +0.5% chance for bombs and smaller shells causing a fire. +4% chance of torpedoes causing flooding.	India X-Ray +1% chance for HE bombs and shells with a caliber above 160mm causing a fire. +0.5% chance for bombs and smaller shells causing a fire. +5% to the risk of your ship's magazine detonating.
Juliet Whiskey Unaone +15% chance of causing flooding. +5% to the risk of your ship's magazine detonating.	Mike Yankee Soxisix +5% to secondary battery maximum firing range. -5% to maximum dispersion of secondary battery shells. -5% to secondary battery loading time. ★	November Echo Setteseven +5% continuous AA damage at all ranges. +5% damage from flak bursts. ★★	Sierra Mike +5% to the ship's maximum speed. ★★★	November Foxtrot -5% reload time on all consumables. ★	India Delta +20% to the amount of HP recovered when Repair Party  is used. ★★★
X-Ray Papa Unaone +10% action time of a Smoke Generator .	Sierra Bravo +10% action time of Hydroacoustic Search  -10% reload time of Defensive AA Fire .

Note: Use of the Juliet Charlie signal makes detonation impossible.

Gallery

Historical Info

Construction

New York Naval Yard; New York, United States

Laid down: 21 October 1937

Launched: 13 June 1940

Commissioned: 9 April 1941

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Specifications

37,484 tons displacement, standard

222.12m length

33.01m beam

10.04m draft

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Machinery

8 boilers, 4 turbines

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Performance

28 knots at 121,000 shaft horsepower

17,450nm at 15 knots

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Armor

Main belt: 305mm

Decks: 127mm

Bulkheads: 280mm

Barbettes and Turrets: 406mm barbette, 406mm face,
   250mm side, 300mm rear, 178mm roof

Conning tower: 406mm

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Armament

Main

Nine (3x3) 406mm guns

Secondary

Twenty (10x2) 127mm guns

Anti-Aircraft

Sixteen (4x4) 28mm guns

Twelve (12x1) 12.7mm guns

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Aircraft

Three Vought OS2U Kingfisher floatplanes, two catapults

History

Design

The North Carolina class was a class of two fast battleships, North Carolina and Washington, built for the United States Navy in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The navy was originally uncertain whether the ships should be fast enough to counter the Japanese Kongo class, which was believed by the United States to be capable of 26 knots (30 mph; 48 km/h), or should sacrifice speed for additional firepower and armor. The Second London Naval Treaty's requirement that all capital ships have a standard displacement of under 35,000 long tons (35,560 metric tons) prevented the desired objectives from being fully realized within its limits, and the navy considered over fifty designs before one was chosen.

Towards the end of this lengthy design period the General Board of the United States Navy declared its preference for a battleship with a speed of 30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h), faster than any in US service or under construction, with a main battery of nine 14-inch (356 mm)/50 caliber Mark B guns. The board believed that such ships could fulfill a multitude of roles, as they would have enough protection to be put into a battle line while also having enough speed to escort aircraft carriers or engage in commerce raiding. However, the acting Secretary of the Navy authorized a modified version of a different design, which in its original form had been rejected by the General Board. This called for a 27-knot (31 mph; 50 km/h) ship with twelve 14-inch rifles in quadruple turrets and protection against guns of the same caliber. In a major departure from traditional American design practices, this design accepted lower speed and protection in exchange for maximum firepower. After construction had begun, the United States became concerned over Japan's refusal to commit to the caliber limit of the Second London Naval Treaty, so they invoked the "escalator clause" of that pact and increased the class' main armament to nine 16-inch (406 mm)/45 Mark 6 caliber guns from the original twelve 14-inch guns.

Service

Both North Carolina and Washington saw extensive service during the Second World War in a variety of roles, primarily in the Pacific theater where they escorted fast carrier task forces and conducted shore bombardments. North Carolina shot down between seven and fourteen Japanese aircraft in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, and later sustained a torpedo hit from Japanese submarine I-15. During the naval battle of Guadalcanal —which was a chaotic night engagement — Washington’s radar-directed main batteries fatally damaged the Japanese battleship Kirishima and caused her to sink next day. In February 1944, Washington crushed her bow in a collision with battleship Indiana. Following repairs, Washington rejoined her sister for the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

After the end of the war, both ships took part in Operation Magic Carpet, the withdrawal of American military personnel from overseas deployments. The vessels were laid up in the reserve fleet until the early 1960s, when North Carolina was sold to her home state as a museum ship, and Washington was broken up for scrap.

Historical Inaccuracies

• North Carolina’s original anti-aircraft complement of four quad 1.1"/75 (28 mm) cannons and twelve .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns are missing.
• Actual propulsion is 121,000 hp. There was no 100,000 hp downgrade.
• Actual speed was 28 knots in 1941 and 26.8 knots in 1945.
• The Measure 22 camouflage applied to North Carolina from 1945-1946 is missing.

Historical Gallery

• 

  The 32,250-long-ton (32,770 t) design "A" was one of the first proposals. Unlike "B" and "C", it was far below the treaty-mandated limit of 35,000 long tons (36,000 t). It would have carried nine 14-inch (356 mm) guns in its main battery; although all of the turrets were forward of the superstructure, the guns could still fire forward provided that they were elevated to 4.5 degrees or more. The secondary battery planned was twelve 5-inch (130 mm) were unusually arranged in triple mounts.

• 

  "F" was an attempt to create a viable combination of an aircraft carrier and a battleship. With regards to the treaty limits, the design had an extremely comfortable margin with a standard displacement of 31,750 long tons (32,260 t; 35,560 short tons). Three catapults were mounted on the bow, while a hangar located under that would contain ten bombers with wings folded. Two non-superfiring turrets would be mounted aft, both holding four 14-in guns.

• 

  "VII" harked back to the days of the slow battleships; with a top speed of 22 knots (25 mph; 41 km/h), it would have been only 1 knot (1.2 mph; 1.9 km/h) faster than the old ""standard" battleships. The weight gained from reducing the speed was added back in firepower and protection: "VII" would have had twelve 14-inch/50 caliber guns in four triple turrets and an immune zone against its own 14-inch gun between 21,400 and 30,000 yards (12.2 and 17.0 mi; 19.6 and 27.4 km).

• 

  "XVI" was one of the final proposals; after "XVI-C" was rejected, a modified version of this design was chosen for the North Carolinas. There were a few major differences between this and the final plan. For example, all exhaust was eventually trunked into two funnels as opposed to one, and the 5-in/38 caliber secondary battery was composed of all dual-mounted guns (no single).

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  A cut-away diagram of the 16-inch turrets on board the North Carolina class.

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  USS North Carolina’s (BB-55) No. 2 machinery space under construction, seen from the port side of the ship on 16 January 1939; the No. 4 boiler has just been installed.

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  The launch of USS Washington (BB-56), 1 June 1940.

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  North Carolina fitting out, April 1941.

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  One of Washington‍’​s main gun turrets is installed upon the ship; note how thick the barbette is, ranging from 11.5 to 16 inches (290–410 mm).

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  North Carolina seen from the air on 17 April 1942.

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  North Carolina fires a three-gun salvo from her number one turret.

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  King George VI of the United Kingdom (left column, walking towards camera) on board Washington, 7 June 1942. An OS2U Kingfisher is in the background.

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  Washington‍’​s tower foremast, seen on 18 August 1942 at the New York Navy Yard; note the SG surface search radar located on the top.

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  I-15‍​’s torpedo opened a gaping hole in North Carolina‍ '​s hull, October 1942.

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  The severe damage done to Washington‍’​s bow after her collision with Indiana, February 1944.

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  Washington steaming at high speed in Puget Sound during post-overhaul trials, 10 September 1945.

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  North Carolina underway on 3 June 1946. By this time, many of the light anti-aircraft weapons (Bofors 40 mm and Oerlikon 20 mm) mounted during the war had been removed, while more modern radars had been mounted on her forefunnel and mainmast.

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  Fireworks exploding over North Carolina in 2008, during ceremonies commemorating the commissioning of the submarine USS North Carolina (SSN-777).

Ships of U.S.A.

Battleships