USS North Carolina (BB-55) Country: USA Type: Battleship Service: 1941 - 1947 Ordered: 1 August 1937 Laid down: 27 October 1937 Launched: 13 June 1940 Commissioned: 9 April 1941 Decommissioned: 27 June 1947 Fate: Memorial 29 April 1962 Honours and awards: 15 Battle Stars Fate: Museum ship

The two North Carolina class battleships were amongst the first post-Washington Treaty battleships as well as the first of the US Navy fast battleships. Some treaty restrictions, specifically those imposed by the Second London Naval Treaty, remained in force and in the initial design the displacement of these new ships was not to exceed 35,000 tons. While not as heavily armored as battleships of other nations, the North Carolina class featured a more powerful main battery, strong anti-aircraft armament, and excellent fire control.

USS North Carolina (BB-55) was a battleship of the United States Navy, the lead ship of her class. The Washington was her sister ship. The North Carolina saw extensive combat in the Pacific theater during World War II. Postwar, she was decommissioned at New York 27 June 1947. Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register 1 June 1960, North Carolina was transferred to the people of North Carolina 6 September 1961. The ship was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986.