The North Carolina class demonstrates what a nominal 35,000-ton standard-displacement limit could still produce, even though the completed design ran somewhat heavier. Its nine 16-inch guns matched Nelson and Rodney's main battery, while its 28-knot speed made it a fast battleship. American boiler and machinery development gave it a major advantage over the older British ships. A continuous construction program would have given Royal Navy designers and yards more chances to absorb similar improvements before the Second World War.
Notable Point · 5:49-7:42
What North Carolina delivered within 35,000 tons
North Carolina combines nine 16-inch guns, 28-knot speed, and improved machinery to show how much continuous design development mattered inside a treaty ceiling.