USS New Jersey BB-62

The USS New Jersey was an Iowa-class battleship launched on December 12, 1942, and first commissioned on May 23, 1943. Nicknamed "Black Dragon" and the "Big J," she was converted into a museum ship after she was decommissioned for the last time, and now rests in Camden, New Jersey.

For her services in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and Lebanese Civil War, and the Persian Gulf, she earned a total of nineteen battle starts. She was also awarded a Navy Unit Commendation for her Vietnam service.

The USS New Jersey during World War II

Upon entering service in World War II, the USS New Jersey first traveled to Funafuti in the Ellice Islands, from there making her way to the Marshall Islands as part of the United States Fifth Fleet. She provided support by screening aircraft carriers from attack as planes carried out strikes against Kwaialen and Eniwetok, enabling troops to land on January 31, 1944.

She subsequently took part in Operation Hailstone, a two-day strike against Japanese bases on the island of Truk in the Carolines. Next the USS New Jersey sailed with the USS Lexington to strike against Mille, and then participated in strikes in the Palaus and Woleai. Her next war cruise operated out of Majuro, where she provided support for air carriers at locations in New Guinea. In June she was at Saipan and Tinian, and participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, at which the Japanese lost an estimated 400 planes. She then provided support for additional strikes in the Palaus and Guam as her final act in the conquest of the Mariana Islands.

Next, the USS New Jersey became the flagship of the United States Third Fleet, and after setting sail on August 30 was based out of Ulathi for the next eight months, lending her support in the Philippines. During these months, carrier forces were stationed around the Philippines, Okinawa, and Formosa, making strikes at strategically important targets such as shipping bases and airfields. In mid-October, strikes were begun in preparation for landings at Leyte.

The Battle of Leyte Gulf, generally thought of as the largest naval battle of WWII, was over on October 26, after which the Imperial Japanese Navy had suffered heavy losses. After the battle, the New Jersey joined carrier forces for strikes against Luzon. During October and November the New Jersey and accompanying ships came under kamikaze attack several times, and in December the New Jersey encountered the Typhoon Cobra around 300 miles east of Luzon. Many vessels were attempting to refuel at the time, and by the end of the typhoon, three destroyers had sunk, and several other craft had suffered heavy damage. The New Jersey, however, survived almost undamaged, and she returned to Ulithi on December 24.

Until the end of January, 1945, the USS New Jersey was again engaged in guarding carriers as they struck Formosa, Okinawa, and Luzon, after which she supported carriers in attacks on Iwo Jima and then Tokyo in February. Between March 14 and April 16 she participated in the conquest of Okinawa more directly, fighting air raids, rescuing downed pilots, and shooting down kamikaze plans in addition to supporting carrier strikes.

The USS New Jersey was at Puget Sound Navy Yard undergoing an overhaul for the final months of the war. After the overhaul was complete she sailed on July 4 bound for Guam and then Tokyo Bay, where she remained until January 1946.

After the War

After departing Tokyo Bay, the USS New Jersey transported almost one thousand men home as part of Operation Magic Carpet. She arrived in San Francisco on February 10. After an overhaul at Puget Sound Navy Yard, she spent most of the next two years involved in training activities before being decommissioned on June 30, 1948.

She was recommissioned on November 21, 1950 and in April 1951 sailed to provide her services in the Korean War, after which she was again decommissioned until the Vietnam War pulled her back into active service. At that point she was the world's only active battleship. After her tour in Vietnam, she was decommissioned until 1982, when she was reactivated and modernized as part of the Reagan administration's 600-ship Navy program. She then served in the Lebanese Civil War of 1983-1984, and after several years' activity after that service was decommissioned for the last time on February 8, 1991.

The USS New Jersey is now a museum ship, resting at Camden, New Jersey as the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial. The USS New Jersey is on the National Register of Historic places.

One important thing to note about Navy ships such as the USS New Jersey is that these ships often contained a large amount of asbestos, particularly in insulation and fire-proofing materials. Exposure to asbestos while in service aboard Navy ships is unfortunately all-too-common. If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on the USS New Jersey BB-62, or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, Asbestos.com offers a free packet with more information. Enter your contact information in the form in the right column and we'll send a copy immediately.

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