USS New Jersey: The Largest Battleship of the Iowa Class
Among the many formidable vessels that served in the United States Navy, the USS New Jersey stands out as the largest battleship of the Iowa class. Born in the heat of World War II, this majestic ship played a pivotal role in several critical naval engagements and later served as a museum ship, a testament to its resilience and historical significance.
Overview of the Iowa Class Battleships
The Iowa class battleships are renowned for their exceptional size and powerful weaponry. The Iowa class encompasses four ships: USS Iowa, USS New Jersey, USS Missouri, and USS Wisconsin. Each of these vessels embodies the pinnacle of 20th-century naval engineering, designed to dominate the seas with their massive armament and advanced technologies.
Design and Specifications
The USS New Jersey is the largest member of the Iowa class, boasting impressive dimensions and capabilities. While her sisterships, USS Iowa, USS Missouri, and USS Wisconsin, share the same width of 108 feet (33 meters), the New Jersey excels in length, standing at around 888 feet (270 meters), which is about 3 inches (76 mm) longer. These battleships displaced approximately 50,000 tons and were armed with an array of heavy artillery, primarily 9 x 16-inch (406 mm) main guns capable of delivering powerful, high-impact shells.
Armament and Defenses
The main armament of the New Jersey comprised nine 16-inch (406 mm) guns, which were not only effective but also renowned for their penetrative power. Each shell weighed an impressive 2,700 pounds, ensuring maximum impact. However, the bursting charge of these shells was relatively small at 40.9 pounds, a compromise that enhanced penetration at the cost of explosive effectiveness. Supporting this primary armament were twenty 5-inch (127 mm) dual guns and forty-nine 0.8-inch (2 cm) machine guns.
In terms of defense, the New Jersey's armor was nothing short of formidable. The belt armor ranged from 11.7 to 12.1 inches (297 to 307 mm), while the deck armor was 4.7 to 6 inches (120 to 152 mm). The barbette armor and turret armor were equally robust, standing at 17.3 inches (44 cm) and 18 inches (457 mm), respectively.
Performance and Speed
The USS New Jersey was engineered for speed and versatility. Its 108-feet width allowed for an optimized waterline length, which, combined with its longer overall length of 888 feet, made it faster compared to its sister ships. With a power plant capable of generating 212,000 horsepower, the New Jersey could maintain a top speed of 32.5 knots. This exceptional speed and versatility made it a formidable asset in both Atlantic and Pacific theaters of World War II.
Service in World War II
Commissioned in 1943, the New Jersey quickly proved its worth. Initially, she supported efforts to keep the German battleship Tirpitz in Norway, but soon transferred to the Pacific. Despite her involvement in the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf battles as escorting forces, her primary missions during World War II were shore bombardments.
During the Attack on Truk in February 1944, the New Jersey's main guns fired 120 rounds with little success, while her secondary armament claimed some victories against destroyers and armed trawlers. Her navigating efforts in silencing Japanese artillery on the island of Wotje also contributed significantly to Allied victory.
Post-War and Cold War Service
After World War II, the New Jersey remained in service, seeing action during the Korean War and Vietnam War. Her most notable service came during the operations in the Gulf of Tonkin, where she demonstrated her capability to hit their targets with remarkable precision.
Most notably, it was reported (though later disputed) that she had sunk an entire island through relentless shelling. While the New Jersey's curator clarified this as a matter of semantics, it remains a testament to her destructive power.
Museum Ship and Legacy
Decommissioned for the last time in the early 1990s, the USS New Jersey was converted into a museum ship in the early 2000s, located in Camden, New Jersey. Today, visitors can step aboard this iconic vessel and experience the monumental history it represents.