Showboat Arrives
Some 85 years ago today, Brooklyn Navy Yard, 9 April 1941. The first American battleship commissioned in 18 years.
On the 1st anniversary of the German invasion of neutral Denmark and Norway, across the ocean in New York, a class-leading super battleship came to life. And, of note, she had a Chicago-born skipper, the son of Norwegian immigrants.
USS North Carolina (BB 55), the third ship to carry the name in the U.S. Navy, was commissioned this day in 1941, with her plank owner skipper, Capt. Olaf Mandt Hustvedt (USNA 1909), taking command of the most modern battlewagon in the fleet– packed with so much new technology that she was quickly dubbed “The Showboat.”
USS North Carolina during commissioning ceremonies at the New York Navy Yard, 9 April 1941. NH 44717
USS North Carolina commissioning ceremony, at the New York Navy Yard, 9 April 1941. Photographed by M. Rudolph Vetter. NH 96673-KN
USS North Carolina quarterdeck scene, during commissioning ceremonies at the New York Navy Yard, 9 April 1941. NH 44718
USS North Carolina officers and crew salute as the flag is raised for the first time, during commissioning ceremonies at the New York Navy Yard on 9 April 1941. NH 44719
Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox shakes hands with Captain Olaf M. Hustvedt, ship’s CO, during North Carolina’s commissioning ceremonies at the New York Navy Yard, 9 April 1941. At right is North Carolina Governor J.M. Broughton. NH 44721
USS North Carolina via 1938 Janes
North Carolina completed her shakedown in the Caribbean before the Pearl Harbor attack and, after intensive war exercises, entered the Pacific on 10 June 1942, with a long war ahead of her. Although fighting across the Pacific and being officially reported as sunk at least six times by the Japanese, she was a lucky vessel, suffering just 53 casualties.
North Carolina received 12 battle stars for her World War II service (15 campaigns according to her War History) and, in mothballs for 15 years after the conflict, was donated to the people of her home state and opened as a memorial and floating museum.
Hustvedt, who was on Admiral King’s staff by Pearl Harbor and then on Ingersoll’s, went on to become Commander, Battleships, Atlantic Fleet, in 1943, then commanded Battleship Division 7 in the Pacific. He retired from the Navy in 1946 as a vice admiral, completing 41 years of service. He passed in 1978, aged a ripe 92, and is buried at Arlington, Section 7, Site 9044.