“The Big J” – USS New Jersey
Admiral Spruance’s 5th Fleet flagship has a remarkable history. Outstanding photographs!!
In my endless quest to see everything I have ever been interested in since I was a kid, I recently walked across the Ben Franklin Bridge over the Delaware River from Philadelphia, PA to Camden, NJ to see the mighty Iowa Class Battleship the USS New Jersey (BB-62) known as “The Big J“. She served from 1942 to 1991 and today this former US Navy Battleship continues on as a floating museum.
USS New Jersey (BB-62)
You can take a very informative tour to get a great understanding of the sheer size and firepower of this giant Battleship. She has a displacement of 45,000 tonnes, is 887 feet / 270.54 metres in length, with a beam (width) of 108.2 feet /33.0 metres, a draft (ships hull below the water’s surface) of 28.9 feet / 8.8 m and a crew of 1,921 (this would have been much larger in World War Two).
The view from the Ben…
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Posted on February 27, 2016, in Uncategorized, WWII and tagged 1940's, History, Military, Military History, Navy, veterans, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 35 Comments.
Pacific Paratrooper 
Great informative post and well photographed, The Big J, is aptly named by the pictures, I like the picture of the USS New Jersey firing all her Guns at the same time.
Very entertaining reading.
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Yes, Deano doesn’t post as often as some of the bloggers, but it is always worth reading when he does!!
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887 ft… Just a shade under three football fields. And these behemoths were smaller [in weight] than the giant Yamato with its 18 inch guns.
Obtained from World War II Database:
Displacement 65027 tons standard; 72809 tons full
Each turret weighing as much as a typical American destroyer.
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There is always more research to be added, Thanks for doing so!!
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Thanks for the reblog
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No problem, it sure has been a while since I did and you deserve the recognition for your great site!!
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Thanks for the compliment! Keep up the great articles!
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I’m always trying.
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I’m adding this to the list for the next trip to Philly. I have toured the Intrepid Museum in NYC several times and it’s such a fun experience.
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All the ships are very unique in their own way. I insist you take a million or so pictures too!!
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I will. If you want a million pictures of the Intrepid, let me know 🙂
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Thanks, but I have a neighbor who was on her and now spends a couple of months a year being a guide on her. I appreciate the offer.
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That’s pretty cool.
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One benefit of living in an over-the-hill neighborhood ~ 🙄
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I was completely distracted (despite the glory of this wonderful battleship) by the depth of your bucket list. “Everything I’d wanted to see since I was a kid”–exactly how long is that list?
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My list is about a page long.
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Its a very long bucket list! 🙂
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Thanks for this. My cousin Joe, my sponsor at Confirmation when I was a boy, served on the New Jersey during her action during Korea. I’m sure he would have liked seeing her again.
Regards
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I’m sorry to hear that he can not. I’m glad you liked Deano’s article on her.
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The water looks so peaceful… then I see the guns on the ship. And then i realize how huge those gun-barrels are as I use the pier posts for scale to compare. From calm to chilling. Wishing you a satisfying Saturday, GP. Hugs.
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That does put it all into perspective, doesn’t it. I appreciate your visit!
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Wünsche dir ein schönes und sonniges week-end lieber Gruß Gislinde
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Danke, Gislinde.
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Amazing photographs Brad!
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Thank you, Hollie.
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That’s a great-looking old ship, and it’s good that it is preserved as a memorial, and a museum too.
In London, we have something similar. Here’s a link.
http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/hms-belfast?gclid=CNuJp_SGmMsCFSsz0wodbEICzQ
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thank you, Pete. They really are grand old gals, aren’t they?!!
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When she was first opened to the public I was a docent-in-training on her. Sadly, I couldn’t continue because of a new job, but I head down to her whenever I can.
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Thank you very much for contributing your story, Bart.
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I’ve always wondered why they did not pound the beaches more before sending in LST’s and ground troops esp Normandy
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They did bomb quite a bit, but some of those bunkers were built to withstand it. In the Pacific, the Japanese had much of their defense below ground and protected. They didn’t exactly have the ‘smart bombs’ they have today.
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Thank you, Kathy.
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Thank you, Ned.
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