Special Visitor
Former Crew Member's Family Visits the Showboat
We had a special visitor aboard today ... Michael Pone (and his wife), nephew of Leonard Pone who was killed in the torpedo attack. Huge thanks to Joe Calla (tour guide) for showing them around the Battleship. And to Kim Simcox (Museum Director, who took them through the torpedo area. And to Steve who prepared the area for visiting. Another fine team effort
The Torpedo Story ...
On September 15, 1942, Japanese submarine I-19 quickly fired six long-range torpedoes at the U.S. carrier WASP. Three torpedoes struck their target causing such damage that the task force commander ordered WASP to be sunk that night. The remaining three torpedoes raced on across several miles into a second carrier force. One torpedo slammed into the U.S. destroyer O’BRIEN that would break up several weeks later due to severe hull damage.
Another torpedo blasted NORTH CAROLINA on her port (left) side just forward of the thick armor belt designed to protect her from torpedoes. The enormous blast shook the Ship and crew and sent tons of oil and water skyward. Tons more water quickly flooded into the resulting 32 by 18 foot hole causing the Ship to lean, a situation the crew quickly corrected by purposefully flooding compartments on the opposite side. Five men were killed and 23 were wounded.
Killed in Action:
Albert Speers Geary (washed overboard)
Ingwald Nels Nelson
Leonard Edward Pone
William Osborne Skelton
Oscar Callaway Stone
Welcome to the Battle Star Collection
Buying from The Battle Star Collection means owning a piece of American History! You share in the story and support of the most highly decorated American Battleship in the Pacific Theater during World War II, which earned 15 battle stars.
Friends Teamwear
Show your support for the Friends of the Battleship North Carolina. Shop online at our "Official" Battleship Teamwear Store. Proceeds of all sales go to support the Friends of the Battleship North Carolina.
Meet The Showboat
A Virtual Learning Experience
Meet the Showboat from Home!
The "Meet the Showboat" series is a great way to interact with the Battleship from the comfort of your own home. Be sure to look at all of the topics that are available--there is something for everyone!
Battleship volunteers RDML Ron Henderson, USN, Retired, LtCol John Munn USMC, Retired, CDR Charles Gore USN, Retired, LCDR Mike Bowers, USN, Retired, and Alex Dydula invite you to join them in an opportunity to "Zoom In" with an expert on Battleship NORTH CAROLINA. Each virtual program lasts 30-45 minutes followed by time to engage with the presenter. The programs are free but online registration is required as limited space is available. https://tickets.battleshipncfriends.org/Info.aspx?EventID=18
In 2020, the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA received a NC CARES: Humanities Relief Grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council, www.nchumanities.org. Funding for NC CARES has been provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act economic stabilization plan.
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Friends of the Battleship North Carolina
Consider a Friends membership and be an official part of the most decorated World War II battleship. Annual memberships start as low as $45.
Details can be found here.
#NCFirsts
This week we've been highlighting #NCFirsts and some of the ways that the NORTH CAROLINA led the way
- First to have our secondary battery -- 5-inch guns -- in rotating armored mounts rather than casemates (small openings in the hull).
- Launched with a superstructure, whereas earlier battleships had tripods and cage masts.
- First with a sweeping flush deck, unbroken from bow to stern.