"North Carolina" and "Washington" remained in active duty in the years immediately after the war, possibly because they were more comfortable and less cramped than the four "South Dakota"s. The ships received alterations during this period; the Ship Characteristics Board (SCB) directed in June 1946 that four of the quadruple-mounted 40 mm guns be removed, though only two were actually taken off each ship. The 20 mm weapons were also reduced at some point so that both ships were decommissioned with sixteen twin mounts. "North Carolina" and "Washington" were decommissioned on 27 June 1947 and subsequently moved to the reserve fleet.