The USS New Jersey (BB-62), a World War II Iowa-class battleship, is currently being renovated at the Philadelphia Naval Yard to serve as a museum ship. Concurrently, a modern namesake, the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine New Jersey (SSN-796), has been delivered to the U.S. Navy by Newport News Shipbuilding.
I love the Battleship New Jersey and have followed the ship and its associated museum in Camden for many years. When I first toured BB-62 a few years ago, I took almost 800 photos on deck and inside. But just recently, I was able to go on a much more intimate tour.
Often referred to as “Big J” back in the day, USS New Jersey (BB-62) earned the most battle stars for combat actions than her three other Iowa-class sister-ships.
During the Vietnam War, the USS New Jersey, an Iowa-class battleship, played a significant role in naval gunfire support. As one of the largest battleships ever commissioned, its recommissioning in April 1968 marked a unique contribution to the conflict, offering devastating firepower from its nine 16-inch guns to support ground forces.