Wilmington in New Hanover County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Focus on Foc’sle Equipment

U.S.S. North Carolina

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. Focus on Foc’sle Equipment Marker

Inscription.

Focus on Foc’sle Equipment. U.S.S. North Carolina. , Focus on Foc’sle Equipment , The foc’ sle or forecastle is the area of the Main Dock forward of Turret . , , » Anchor Windlass , The two windlasses raise and lower the anchor chains. The motors for these gear driven windlasses are several decks below. , , » Anchor Chains , Each iron link in the chain weighs 80 pounds. The chain is stored several decks below in the chain locker (right). , , » Capstan , There are several sizes of capstans on the Ship. They turn and are used for handling lines. Their gear boxes are driven by electric motors. , , » Bucket Vents , The two bucket vents at the breakwater are air supply and exhaust vents for interior decks in the forward part of the Ship. There are numerous vents of various types throughout the Ship for air exchange. , , » Gooseneck Vent , This vent lets air in and out of water tanks. The purpose is to keep the pressure inside the tanks equalized. , , » Anchor Windlass Controls , The wheel marked "hoist" and "lower" raised and lowered the chains. , The brake wheel has the word "brake." Arrows indicate how to activate the break. , , » Breakwater , The breakwater stretches across the Ship's foc’sle like a low steel shield. It deflected water away from Turret I and the rest of the Main Deck. , , Paravanes: Defense Against Moored Mines , These torpedo-shaped devices are paravanes. The jaws with serrated teeth (right) were used to cut the cables of moored mines. The freed mines floated to the surface. The mine was then detonated by gun fire. , , How They Work , The mines would float to the surface unless tethered to the sea floor. A cable connected the buoyant mine to a heavy weight resting on the sea floor. The length of the cable determined the depth of the mine. , , The Ship rigged paravanes when entering an area suspected of containing moored mines. The riggings consisted of a complex system of supports and cables. The illustrations show the system. , , The paravane was set out from the sides of the Ship. The depth had to be constant and at least five feet below the Keel. The Keel is the very bottom of the Ship. Lines attached to the Bow towed the paravane. When the towing cable encountered a mine cable, the mine cable would slide down along the towing cable and away from the Ship. At the end of the towing line, the mine cable was caught by the serrated teeth and cut.

Focus on Foc’sle Equipment
The foc’ sle or forecastle is the area of the Main Dock forward of Turret .

» Anchor Windlass — The two windlasses raise and lower the anchor chains. The motors for these gear driven windlasses are several decks below.

» Anchor Chains — Each iron link in the chain weighs 80 pounds. The chain is stored several decks below in the chain locker (right).

» Capstan — There are several sizes of capstans on the Ship. They turn and are used for handling lines. Their gear boxes are driven by electric motors.

» Bucket Vents — The two bucket vents at the breakwater are air supply and exhaust vents for interior decks in the forward part of the Ship. There are numerous vents of various types throughout the Ship for air exchange.

» Gooseneck Vent — This vent lets air in and out of water tanks. The purpose is to keep the pressure inside the tanks equalized.

» Anchor Windlass Controls — The wheel marked "hoist" and "lower" raised and lowered the chains.
The brake wheel has the word "brake." Arrows indicate how to activate the break.

» Breakwater — The breakwater

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stretches across the Ship's foc’sle like a low steel shield. It deflected water away from Turret I and the rest of the Main Deck.

Paravanes: Defense Against Moored Mines
These torpedo-shaped devices are paravanes. The jaws with serrated teeth (right) were used to cut the cables of moored mines. The freed mines floated to the surface. The mine was then detonated by gun fire.

How They Work
The mines would float to the surface unless tethered to the sea floor. A cable connected the buoyant mine to a heavy weight resting on the sea floor. The length of the cable determined the depth of the mine.

The Ship rigged paravanes when entering an area suspected of containing moored mines. The riggings consisted of a complex system of supports and cables. The illustrations show the system.

The paravane was set out from the sides of the Ship. The depth had to be constant and at least five feet below the Keel. The Keel is the very bottom of the Ship. Lines attached to the Bow towed the paravane. When the towing cable encountered a mine cable, the mine cable would slide down along the towing cable and away from the Ship.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Focus on Foc’sle Equipment Marker

At the end of the towing line, the mine cable was caught by the serrated teeth and cut.

Erected by Friends of the Battleship North Carolina.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, World II • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 34° 14.19′ N, 77° 57.311′ W. Memorial is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It can be reached from Battleship Road NE south of U.S.S. North Carolina Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 1 Battleship Road NE, Wilmington NC 28401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain and on the Cape Fear Coast.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States

USS North Carolina (BB-55), 1941-1961 image. Click for more information.

via Naval History and Heritage Command, 1944

3. USS North Carolina (BB-55), 1941-1961

Naval History and Heritage Command website entry
Click for more information.

of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Enemies No More (a few steps from this marker); Torpedoes Headed for Formation (a few steps from this marker); 1.1-inch Quadruple Mount Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); 20mm Clipping Room (within shouting distance of this marker); 20MM Anti-Aircraft Guns (within shouting distance of this marker); The Captains of the USS North Carolina (within shouting distance of this marker); United States Army (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named United States Army (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Also see . . . The Battleship, North Carolina Memorial Ship History. (Submitted on April 17, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 17, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 109 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 17, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. 3. submitted on April 22, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.