USS North Carolina (1820) facts for kids
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | USS North Carolina |
| Namesake | North Carolina |
| Ordered | 29 April 1816 |
| Builder | William Doughty (United States naval architect) Philadelphia Navy Yard |
| Laid down | 1818 |
| Launched | 7 September 1820 |
| Commissioned | 24 June 1824 |
| Decommissioned | 1866 |
| Fate | sold, 1 October 1867 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Ship of the line |
| Tonnage | 2633 |
| Length | 196 ft (60 m) |
| Beam | 53.6 ft (16.3 m) |
| Draft | 21.6 ft (6.6 m) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Complement | 820 officers and men |
| Armament | 74 guns, 42 and 32 pounders (19 and 15 kg) |
The USS North Carolina was a huge sailing warship called a ship of the line in the United States Navy. It was designed to be one of the most powerful ships of its time. Congress ordered this ship on April 29, 1816.
The North Carolina was built at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard starting in 1818. It was launched into the water on September 7, 1820. After being fitted out at the Norfolk Navy Yard, the ship was ready for duty. Its first commanding officer, Master Commandant Charles W. Morgan, took charge on June 24, 1824.
Contents
A Powerful Warship
Even though it was called a "74-gun ship," the North Carolina was actually built to hold many more cannons. It had holes for 102 guns! When it was first built, it likely carried ninety-four cannons. These included very heavy 42-pounder (19 kg) and 32-pounder (15 kg) guns.
By 1845, the ship's weapons were updated. It then carried fifty-six 42-pounders, twenty-six 32-pounders, and eight 8-inch (203 mm) cannons. This made a total of ninety powerful guns. Many people at the time thought the North Carolina was the strongest naval ship sailing.
Serving in the Mediterranean
The North Carolina played an important role in the Mediterranean Sea. From April 29, 1825, to May 18, 1827, it served as the main ship, or flagship, for Commodore John Rodgers.
In the early days of the United States, showing off a strong navy was important. It helped a country gain respect and improve its trade with other nations. The North Carolina helped do just that. Commodore Rodgers's group of ships helped set up a trade agreement with Turkey in 1830. This agreement opened up ports in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea for American traders.
Protecting Trade in the Pacific
After its time in the Mediterranean, the North Carolina was put into "ordinary" at Norfolk. This means it was kept in reserve, not actively sailing. On October 30, 1836, it was prepared for a new mission with the Pacific Squadron.
At that time, only the Mediterranean and the western coast of South America had ports big enough for such a large ship. The North Carolina became the flagship for Commodore Henry E. Ballard in the Pacific. It arrived in Callao, Peru, on May 26, 1837.
During this period, there was a war between Chile and Peru called the War of the Confederation. Also, relations between the United States and Mexico were tense. The North Carolina helped protect important American trade ships in the eastern Pacific until March 1839.
Final Years
Because of its huge size, the North Carolina was not as easy to move around as smaller ships. It returned to the Brooklyn Navy Yard in June 1839. There, it served as a receiving ship. A receiving ship is like a floating barracks where new sailors waited for their assignments.
The North Carolina stayed in this role until 1866, when it was again placed in "ordinary." The ship was finally sold in New York on October 1, 1867.
Images for kids
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Lithograph of North Carolina, 1842. Currently in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
