Battleship New Jersey: The "Big J" of the Iowa Class

Introduction:

The Battleship New Jersey (BB-62) was the second of the Iowa-class battleships and the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named after the state of New Jersey. Launched in 1942, she served in the Pacific Theater during World War II and was later modernized and reactivated for service in the Korean War and Vietnam War. Decommissioned in 1991, she is now a museum ship in Camden, New Jersey.

Specifications:

• Length: 887 feet (270 meters)
• Beam: 108 feet (33 meters)
• Draft: 36 feet (11 meters)
• Displacement: 45,000 tons (standard) and 57,000 tons (full load)
• Propulsion: 4 Westinghouse geared steam turbines, 16 Babcock & Wilcox boilers
• Speed: 33 knots (61 kilometers per hour)
• Range: 14,000 nautical miles (26,000 kilometers) at 15 knots (28 kilometers per hour)
• Armament: 9 × 16-inch (406 millimeter) Mark 7 guns, 20 × 5-inch (127 millimeter) Mark 16 guns, 80 × 40 millimeter guns, 49 × 20 millimeter guns

Service History:

World War II:

• Participated in the Battle of the Leyte Gulf
• Supported landings in Iwo Jima and Okinawa
• Bombarded Japanese coastal targets

Korean War:

• Provided gunfire support for United Nations forces
• Bombarded North Korean positions

Vietnam War:

• Served as a bombardment ship off the coast of Vietnam
• Fired over 5,000 rounds of ammunition

Decommissioning and Museum Ship:

• Decommissioned in 1991
• Donated to the state of New Jersey
• Opened as a museum ship in 2001

Legacy:

• Battleship New Jersey is the most decorated battleship in US Navy history, earning 19 battle stars.
• She was the first battleship to be reactivated after being decommissioned for 20 years.
• She is one of only two Iowa-class battleships still afloat today.

Unique Features:

• Heavy firepower: Armed with 9 × 16-inch guns, Battleship New Jersey had the most powerful battleship armament in the world at the time of her commissioning.
• Fire control system: State-of-the-art fire control systems allowed her to accurately target enemy ships at long ranges.
• Armor protection: Heavy armor plating protected her against enemy fire.

Comparison to Other Battleships:

Battleship New Jersey was comparable in size and armament to other Iowa-class battleships, such as USS Iowa (BB-61) and USS Missouri (BB-63). However, she had a slightly smaller displacement than the later Iowa-class ships, USS Kentucky (BB-66) and USS Wisconsin (BB-64).

4 Innovative Ideas for Battleship New Jersey

• Interactive Virtual Museum: Introduce an augmented reality (AR) mobile application that allows visitors to explore the ship interactively.
• Historical Reenactments: Host live historical reenactments depicting key events from Battleship New Jersey's service history.
• Educational Programs for Students: Develop educational programs tailored for students of all ages, connecting STEM concepts with the ship's history.
• Shipyard Tours with Guided Commentary: Offer guided tours of the ship's construction, maintenance, and repair facilities, showcasing the engineering feats behind its operation.

Tables

Table 1: Battleship New Jersey Specifications

Table 2: Battleship New Jersey Armament

Table 3: Battleship New Jersey Service Record

Table 4: Battleship New Jersey Honors and Awards