U.S.S. North Carolina - Battleship of the Wilmington Waterfront

The view across the Cape Fear River from the waterfront of the historic city of Wilmington, North Carolina, is dominated by one of the most famous warships in American history - the battleship U.S.S. North Carolina.

Built as the United States warily watched World War II cover the glove, the North Carolina was commissioned just months before Pearl Harbor as a state of the art fast battleship. The most powerful weapon in the world when she was launched, the battleship was sent to the Pacific front, where she took part in every major naval campaign in that sector of the war.

By the time World War II ended, the U.S.S. North Carolina and her crew and earned 15 battle stars. The ship's massive array of guns downed at least 24 enemy aircraft and took part in nine bombardments of Japanese shore positions. In her role as escort for the vital American carrier U.S.S. Enterprise, she was credited with saving the Enterprise and hundreds of her crewmen by shattering an attacking force of Japenese planes with severe anti-aircraft fire.

These are just the highlights of the North Carolina's remarkable six year career as an active American warship. Now a museum and memorial to North Carolina's World War II veterans, the ship is a remarkable attraction easily accessible from Wilmington and the entire Cape Fear region. To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/battleshipnorthcarolina.