American dreadnought development began with the South Carolina class and Theodore Roosevelt's naval campaigns, while North Dakota proved that the United States could match the leading benchmark. Launched in 1908, only two years after HMS Dreadnought, she combined turbine power with greater broadside firepower. Her later career shows how the utility of an early capital ship changed as technology advanced. Before becoming a target herself, she witnessed the postwar bombing tests against the former German battleship Ostfriesland and continued an unusually important diplomatic career. Her 1917 turbines were removed for USS Nevada's modernization, while North Dakota served as a radio-controlled gunnery target from 1924 to 1930. USS Utah replaced her in that role before North Dakota was struck in 1931 and sold for dismantling that March.
Chapter · 31:48-34:58
From capital ship to radio-controlled gunnery target
North Dakota symbolized a US Navy able to meet the dreadnought benchmark, then ended her career as a radio-controlled target after her 1917 turbines were transferred to USS Nevada.