USS New Jersey
The USS New Jersey is an Iowa Class Battleship that was built at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in 1942 and officially commissioned the next year under the command of Captain Carl F. Holden. She was the second ship to be named after the state.
The crew of the New Jersey trained and performed routine exercises until January 7, 1944 when the ship set sail for Funafuti, Ellice Islands. She participated in the battle over the Marshall Islands until February, and helped prepare the area for the ground troop invasion. In February of 1944, the New Jersey became the official flagship for the Fifth Fleet. She was immediately put into use against the Japanese fleet that were attempting to retaliate following the Marshall Islands battle. The New Jersey then returned to the Marshall Islands on February 19.
Then in April, 1944, the New Jersey was called to battle again. She supported the ground invasions for several locations that had been occupied by Japanese soldiers. In June, the New Jersey participated in the battle in the Philippine Sea, which was a tremendous victory for the United States. She soon sailed to Pearl Harbor, and became the flagship for the Third Fleet. She sailed and fought with the fleet in many locations during the Pacific War, and was a major factor in fighting off enemy ships and airplanes.
By October, the Japanese had hatched a plan to try to trick US battleships from their territories with an attack that was intended to give Japanese ships an opportunity to sail into the San Bernadino Strait. Fortunately this attack was discovered to be a decoy, and the plan was thwarted. The New Jersey was part of the fleet that faced off against the Japanese ships that were attempting to breach the San Bernadino Strait, and forced them to turn back in defeat.
On October 27, the New Jersey and other ships faced a savage attack by the Japanese. They were attacked by kamikaze pilots, but managed to ward off their attackers with minimal damage and loss to the crew. The situation could have easily led to a disastrous loss, but the brave crew members turned it into yet another victory. Their next stop for the New Jersey was Okinawa, where the crew provided support for the ground invasion and fought off enemy aircraft.
After some time at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, the New Jersey returned to the Fifth Fleet as the flagship. She sailed to Japanese waters in mid September and stayed there to provide support until January 28, 1946, when she was relieved by the USS Iowa. She made her way to San Francisco, carrying close to one thousand troops who were ending their tour of duty.
Following World War II, the New Jersey was decommissioned in 1948, but this would only last until 1950 when she was reommissioned for the Korean war under Captain David M. Tyree. By May she was in Korea and spent two tours of duty there. The New Jersey was a very active participant in the war effort, and in July the crew achieved the very distinguished honor of an exhibition for perfect firing. This occurred after a battle in which the crew managed to destroy five gun emplacements with five attacks from that resulted in direct hits.
The New Jersey fought in many battles throughout the remainder of her time in Korea. The crew became known for their efficiency and ability to hit and destroy their targets with amazing accuracy. In August, a truce was called and the crew was able to enjoy a respite from the war efforts. The ship returned home and was later decommissioned in August of 1957.
Once again, this was not to be the end for the New Jersey. On April 6, 1968 she was recommissioned at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard under the command of Captain J. Edward Snyder. Her armaments were updated with new technology, and she set out for active duty as the only remaining battleship still in use.
September 30th marked the first firing of the New Jersey's guns in more than sixteen years. The ship spent six months providing support to the troops in Vietnam. In 1969, Korean fighters attacked a surveillance plane near Japan, and the New Jersey was ordered there to prepare for battle. By the time she arrived, things were already being managed, and the ship was allowed to return to the United States. She was docked in Long Beach on May 5th, and soon after the ship was officially inactivated.
Even this was not to be the end of the New Jersey. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan took an interest in the ship, and he once again commissioned the New Jersey. She was given 326 million dollars worth of work and awarded a crew of 1,500 men. She was fitted with advanced weaponry, and put into action in Beirut in 1984. The ship and crew continued their legendary excellence in battle, and over time the New Jersey earned the distinguished of honor of receiving more battle stars than any other ship.
Today the New Jersey resides in Camden, New Jersey, and is open to the public as a museum facility where people can learn about the soldiers who sailed and fought on the ship. The crew of the New Jersey faced many hardships, including a toxic substance called asbestos. Asbestos was used in many products found on ships, most notably within insulation materials. It was later discovered that exposure to asbestos can lead to diseases such as mesothelioma cancer, which is life threatening. Anyone who worked on the New Jersey while it contained this hazardous substance should seek immediate medical attention to find out if they have been afflicted with an asbestos related disease.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
