This Floating Museum Fought in 4 Wars, Got 19 Battle Stars, and Sailed Over 50,000 Combat Miles

USS New Jersey, Camden

The USS New Jersey didn’t just fight in every major conflict from World War II through the Gulf War. She’s also the most decorated battleship in U.S. Navy history and a record for the biggest guns ever put on an American warship.

Here’s the story of America’s longest serving battleship, now an amazing museum in Camden.

President Roosevelt Named BB-62

New Jersey received her name directly from President Franklin D. Roosevelt as repayment for political support from Charles Edison, then-Governor of New Jersey.

Governor Edison had strongly advocated for building the Iowa-class battleships, helping Roosevelt secure crucial votes during the 1940 presidential election.

When construction began on September 16, 1940, Edison, who had since left his Navy post, personally welded the first two keel plates together.

Philadelphia Shipyard’s New Jersey Launch

New Jersey slid down the shipyard ways on December 7, 1942, exactly one year after the Pearl Harbor attack, and received her commission on May 23, 1943.

Check out the 53,000 square feet of teak on the main deck. Carolyn Edison, wife of New Jersey Governor Charles Edison, christened the mighty vessel.

Building this naval behemoth cost approximately $100 million (equivalent to $1.8 billion in 2020) and required nearly 33 million hours of labor.

New Jersey Fought Across The Pacific Theater

After spending late 1943 in training operations throughout the western Atlantic and Caribbean, New Jersey headed to Pacific combat in early 1944.

Alongside USS Iowa, she passed through the Panama Canal on January 7, 1944, joining the Fifth Fleet for Pacific operations.

New Jersey participated in the invasions of the Marianas Islands and engaged in the major naval battles for Leyte Gulf.

Her guns bombarded Japanese positions at Truk, Mili Atoll, and Ponape while protecting carrier forces conducting raids across the region.

Admiral Halsey Commanded The Pacific Fleet

For six crucial months from August 1944 through January 1945, New Jersey served as Admiral William “Bull” Halsey’s Third Fleet flagship.

From her bridge, Halsey directed the Navy’s main fleet during the Battle of Formosa and the invasion of Peleliu, Leyte, Mindoro, and Luzon.

New Jersey is also the only ship to serve both Admiral Raymond Spruance and Admiral Halsey (the greatest Pacific Fleet commanders in WWII).

Leyte Gulf Decisions Made Aboard BB-62

During the massive Battle for Leyte Gulf in October 1944, New Jersey became the center of strategic controversy for Halsy’s fleet.

Halsey had taken the bait of a Japanese decoy fleet, leaving vulnerable transport ships exposed to attack by Japanese surface vessels.

Despite this tactical error, American forces achieved a decisive victory at Leyte Gulf, effectively destroying Japan’s naval capabilities.

Typhoon Cobra Inspired Pulitzer-Winning Novel

While serving under Admiral Halsey’s flagship in 1944, New Jersey weathered the devastating Typhoon Cobra that struck the Third Fleet.

The violent storm in the Philippine Sea damaged numerous ships and resulted in several vessels being lost to the powerful winds and waves.

This harrowing experience later provided authentic background for Herman Wouk’s acclaimed novel “The Caine Mutiny,” which won the Pulitzer Prize.

Korean War Called The Battleship Back

The Korean conflict brought New Jersey back in November 1950. She completed two combat tours along the Korean peninsula in 1951 and 1953.

On May 20, 1951, she fired on targets near Wonsan, with only Turret 1 facing critical damage though a sailor did die and several were wounded.

Throughout both Korean tours, New Jersey delivered crucial naval gunfire support to United Nations ground forces fighting along the peninsula’s coastline.

Vietnam Made BB-62 The Only Battleship In That Conflict

Only New Jersey received orders to support American operations during the Vietnam War so the Navy recommissioned her in April 1968.

By September she had arrived off Southeast Asian shores where she conducted regular bombardments along the South Vietnamese coast until April 1969.

On September 30, 1968, New Jersey opened fire on targets near the 17th Parallel, marking the first time battleship guns had fired in combat since the Korean War.

Speed Tests Clocked The Battleship At 35.2 Knots

After her Vietnam-era modernization, New Jersey demonstrated remarkable speed by achieving 35.2 knots (about 40.5 mph), maintaining this pace for six hours.

The 1968 modernization program removed all obsolete 20mm and 40mm anti-aircraft guns, replacing them with modern electronic warfare systems.

To operate more efficiently, her crew was reduced to approximately 1,550 personnel, roughly half the number required during World War II operations.

President Reagan Brought BB-62 Back In 1982

Following President Reagan’s 600-ship Navy expansion program in the 80s’, New Jersey returned to active service, commissioning in December 1982 at Long Beach.

The transformed WWII-era battleship added armored box launchers for 32 Tomahawk cruise missiles, and MK 141 quad cell launchers for 16 Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

While maintaining her original nine 16-inch guns, these missile systems gave the historic vessel contemporary strike capabilities.

Battle Group Romeo Centered Around The Battleship

During her 1986 deployment, New Jersey received command of a naval task force, Battle Group Romeo, rather than serving as part of a carrier group.

The battleship and her escorts patrolled from Hawaii to Thailand, serving as the primary presence in the western Pacific from May through October.

Her battle group included the cruiser USS Long Beach, destroyer USS Merrill, frigates USS Copeland and USS Thach, and the replenishment oiler USS Wabash.

During this cruise, she operated in the sensitive Sea of Okhotsk near Soviet territory, demonstrating American naval reach.

See This Mighty Warship in Person

Big J is now anchored at 100 Clinton St, Camden, NJ.

Inside, you can do everything from climbing into the gun turret, sit in Admiral Halsey’s chair, and even stay overnight complete with breakfast in one of America’s most magnificent battleships.

Self-guided tours run daily from 10 AM to 5:30 PM, with the last boarding at 4 PM.

Read More From This Brand:

• Batsto Village, New Jersey
• Thomas Edison National Historic Park
• The Atlantic City Boardwalk