The very hardest part of its coming to Wilmington was turning a 729 foot battleship in a 500 foot wide river in order to get into its berth. In the spring of 1960, a 690 foot Panamanian-flagged freighter sailed up the Cape Fear River. Like the North Carolina, it also drew 30 feet (the CFR is 32 feet deep).
The experienced Captain B.M. Burris of Southport was put in charge of piloting the USS North Carolina.
On September 26, 1961, ocean-going tugs Diane L. Moran and Margaret Moran began towing the ship to its final destination. All fuel and water tanks had been pumped out for increased bouyancy.
By September 30th, the flotilla was off Frying Pan Shoals by the mouth of the Cape Fear River and waiting for a flood-tide to enter it. But, plans to arrive downtown on October 1st were delayed a day. Storms were threatening at sea and the Coast Guard tug Cherokee had its towline entangled on the bottom of the river which cause temporary damage to the winch.
Come Monday, the North Carolina proceeded up the river, with plenty of school kids on hand who had skipped school.
Ramming Speed! --GreGen
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
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