USS North Carolina

[Shar2]

USS North Carolina

Squadron At Sea Series book

Just released by Squadron Signal Publications this soft cover book is in the standard A4 landscape format. The 136 pages are filled with photographs and very descriptive text from the very beginnings to the USS North Carolinas current status as a museum ship in Wilmington, NC. The brief introduction tells the history of the ships name and the previous ships who wore it. It then goes on to tell how the ship was designed under the difficulties of the Washington and London treaties. There appears to be one slight error in the statement that she was due to be built with 12 14inch guns in three triple turrets which doesn’t quite compute. Other than this error the rest of the text describes every picture very well.

Whilst most of the photographs are in black and white there are some exceptional colour pictures from the WWII. The pictorial history starts at the very beginning, in the design office, then onwards to keel laying and most points of the build until this great battleship is launched, fitted out and onboard during the two sea trials. The book then looks in depth at the North Carolina in each of her configurations, showing how she was modernised throughout her life. The photographs show every little detail over all parts of the ship. There are also several colour plates showing the various colour schemes the ships wore in peace and in war.

Conclusion

This is another excellent book from Squadron Publications. Superb photographs, interesting, descriptive text and detailed drawings make this a very useful resource and will be invaluable to modellers and historians alike.

Review sample courtesy of