World War I
As war began in Europe, North Carolina departed Boston on 7 August 1914 to protect Americans in the Near Eastby helping them evacuate and return to the United States. She rendezvoused with the USS Tennessee off Cape Cod before crossing the Atlantic. After calling at ports of England and France, she cruised constantly between Jaffa, Beirut, and Alexandria, her presence a reminder of the might of still neutral America. She returned to Boston on 18 June for overhaul.
Reaching Pensacola, Florida on 9 September, North Carolina contributed to the development of naval aviation through service as station ship. On 5 November, she became the first ship ever to launch an aircraft (a Curtiss Model F) by catapult while under way. This experimental work led to the use of catapults on battleships and cruisers through World War II, and to the steam catapults on present-day aircraft carriers.
When the U.S. entered the war, North Carolina sailed north to escort troop transports plying between Norfolk and New York.
Read more about this topic: USS North Carolina (ACR-12)
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