Evening star., 1953-05-25
New Jersey Batters
West Korean Coast
With 16-Inch Guns
By the Associoted Press


PO. Korea. May 25.-The United
States battleship New Jersey
dealt Communist coastal de-
fenses a surprise blow today after
joining British naval forces off
Korea's west coast.
The Big j" ventured for up
the Yellow Sea to within strik-
ing range of Manchuria- based
Communist MICS and pounded
Red shore batteries at the river
approaches to the key port OF
Chinnampo. IS miles from the
battle front.
A clear sky and a smooth sea
favored the New Jersey and es-
corting British ships for the
bombardment that helped allied
forces usher in the 36th month
Of the Korean war.
For this attack on "the Won
san Of the West Coast" the New
Jersey teamed with the British
heavy cruiser Newcastle and the
carrier Ocean. The American
destroyer Chauncey also was in
the attack force.
The 45.000-ton New Jersey
concentrated its 16-inch rifles
on a honeycomb of cave-pro-
tected coastal guns on Amgok
Peninsula.
Carrier Planes Spot Targets.
These enemy shore batteries
and others nearby have shelled
two allied-held islands not far
offshore. threatening the out
posts, which are important to
allied operations.
The Newcastle, flagship Of
British naval forces of Korea,
unlimbered it's six-inch guns on
Red coastal batteries south of
those hammered by the New
Jersey. Spotter planes from the
Ocean called the targets for both
ships.
For the New Jersey, flagship
of Vice Admiral j. j. (Jocko,
Clark. United States 7th Fleet
commander. it was surprise ap-
pearance off the west coast, nor
mally the bailiwick of British
naval UNITS. Only once before
in the war-November, 1851, dur
ing her first tour-had the New
Jersey appeared on this side of
the peninsula.
The New Jersey opened fire at
9 am. from a position on the
Seaward side of one of the Allied
held islands.
Her forward guns kept up a
barrage through the morning
firing directly over the island into
enemy gun emplacements 10
miles away.
In a departure from the usual
procedure of bombing coastal po-
sitions while on the move, the
New Jersey dropped anchor be-
fore the shelling got under way
But even this stationary target
offered to the Communists went
unchallenged.
Officers said one reason fol-
dropping anchor was to prevent
running aground in the rela-
lively shallow water.
Skies clouded up by midmorn-
ing and the overcast provided
little help for aerial spoilers
from the carrier Ocean.
Planes Fly Protective Cover.
Other Sea Furies from thu
British flattop few protective
cover for the anchored vessels
During the morning, also
United States F-84 Thunderjets
ranged over the area, presum.
ably on their way to strikes
against enemy positions.
Admiral Clark, who watched
the operation from the flag
bridge, was hopeful of damag-
ing the Red shore batteries
which rarely are bombarded BY
giant guns such as those of the
New Jersey.
He said the largest of the Rec
shore guns were los millimeter.
equivalent to 4-inch guns
and most are housed in cave.
and wheeled out only for firing
1t was a special day for tn,
skipper, Capt. Charles L. Nelson
of Richmond, Va.-his 49tl
birthday. Only two days ago h,
joined with his crew in cele.
brating the 10th birthday of tn,
NaW Inrcov