USS New Jersey

1968 rebuild:

* 9 x 16 in/50 cal guns
* 20 x 5 in/38 cal guns

1982 rebuild:

* 9 x 16 in/50 cal guns
* 12 x 5 in/38 cal guns
* 32 x BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles
* 16 x RGM-84 Harpoon Anti-Ship missiles
* 4 x 20mm/76 cal Phalanx CIWS

> "When we've taken up arms, it has been for the defense of freedom for ourselves and for other peaceful nations who needed our help. But now, faced with the development of weapons of immense destructive power, we have no choice but to maintain ready defense forces that are second to none. Yes, the cost is high, but the price of neglect would be infinitely higher." - Ronald Reagan, during New Jersey’s 1982 recommissioning
>
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The ***USS New Jersey*** **(BB-62)** is an *Iowa*-class battleship built for the United States Navy and the second ship named for the State of New Jersey. The *New Jersey* spent over 25 years in active service. For her service in 6 different wars, she earned 21 battle stars, making her the most decorated battleship in American history, and surpassing *USS Enterprise* as the most decorated American warship of all time.

During World War II, the *New Jersey* served exclusively in the Pacific Theater. She shelled targets during the invasions of Guam and Okinawa, and escorted American aircraft carriers throughout the war, sinking several small ships during the war and downing many aircraft. Following the war, she was decommissioned and put into the reserve fleet. During the Korean War, she was reactivated and conducted bombardment raids up and down the North Korean coast, after which she was again decommissioned. She was reactivated again in 1968 and sent to Vietnam to support U.S. troops, being the only battleship to see service in the Vietnam War, before being again decommissioned in 1969. In the 1980s, she was reactivated again as part of the 600 ship Navy program, and was heavily modernized, including being equipped with missiles. In 1983, she participated in US operations during the Lebanese Civil War. She also participated in peacekeeping operations in the Persian Gulf in 1989. She was decommissioned again in 1991.

Following the arrival of the Galactic Republic in late 1991 and in preparation for the expected Separatist attack, *New Jersey* was recommissioned once again, just 10 months after her previous decommissioning, and was assigned to the Pacific Fleet. During the Battle of Vladivostok, she provided gunfire support for Soviet forces, and survived a direct hit from a proton torpedo. After the battle, she continued to serve for almost another year and a half before being decommissioned again.

In 2000, *New Jersey* was transferred to the city of Camden, New Jersey, where she was opened as a museum. However, she was maintained in a readiness state that would allow her return to service. This eventuality came about in 2016, when she was reactivated in preparation for an impending attack on Earth by the Galactic Empire. During the attack, she supported American forces during the Battle of Long Island, causing heavy devastation among Imperial forces. For her actions in this battle, she earned her 21st battle star, making her the most decorated American battleship ever. *New Jersey* remained in commission until the end of the Galactic Civil War, at which point she was again retired and returned to her life as a museum ship.

## History

### Clone Wars

#### Recommissioning

In mid 1991, mere months after the *New Jersey* was decommissioned for the fourth time, the Galactic Republic arrived in the Solar System, where they landed on Earth and first established contact with the United States of America, and later with the rest of the nations of the world.

In the following months, as negotiations were underway between the countries of Earth to formulate a closer alliance and a response for an anticipated Separatist invasion, the US Navy decided to recommission its inactive *Iowa* class battleships ahead of the impending invasion. The *New Jersey*, having spent only a few months in reserve, was sent back into dry dock to prepare for reactivation. Entering dry dock on November 1, 1991, she spent about 5 weeks in dry dock in preparation for service, the preparation process sped up due to having only spent a few months in reserve.

*New Jersey* was recommissioned for the fourth time in her history. After a brief shakedown cruise, she was sent to join the US Pacific Fleet. She arrived in Pearl Harbor on Christmas Day, 1991.

As the newly formed Terran Alliance ramped up preparations for war, the *New Jersey*, along with her sister ship *Missouri* were sent to Japan along with their escorts to provide support in case of landing in east Asia. The ships anchored in Yokosuka while waiting for the invasion to come.

### Battle of Vladivostok

When the Separatists arrived in the system, their largest landing force dispatched during the campaign landed at Vladivostok in the eastern Soviet Union. *New Jersey* and *Missouri* were both ordered to sortie immediately and sail north to help the Soviets.

The *New Jersey* and her battle group arrived off the coast of Vladivostok about 49 hours into the battle. *New Jersey* opened fire with her 16 inch guns from a position about 6 miles off the coast. While the *Missouri* focused on droid armored units behind the front lines, *New Jersey* focused her fire on battle droid formations closer to the front line to take the pressure off Soviet forces.

10 minutes after the bombardment began, several Hyena class bombers attempted to attack the *New Jersey*. Escorting warships began firing Sea Sparrow and SM-2 surface-to-air missiles at the bombers, shooting down all but one of the bombers. The last Hyena fired four proton torpedoes at the *New Jersey.*

As the proton torpedoes closed in on the *New Jersey*, her two starboard CIWS batteries trained on the incoming torpedoes. The forward battery successfully destroyed two torpedoes. However, the aft battery was only able to destroy one torpedo. The fourth torpedo was able to get close enough before the aft CIWS could destroy it.

The torpedo struck *New Jersey* on her starboard side about 15 feet above the waterline. However, the torpedo was a high explosive weapon, not an armor piercing one, as the Separatists had not anticipated encountering such a heavily armored target. The explosive force was so powerful it sent the ship rocking to port almost 40 degrees before righting itself. The explosion and shrapnel destroyed her aft CIWS battery, two of her 5 in gun batteries, and two Tomahawk missile launchers, and killing several crewmen. However, the hull itself was left with little more than a scorch mark.

Despite the damage, *New Jersey* continued bombarding enemy positions ashore until the final Separatist forces were destroyed over 7 hours after the battleships arrived. Over the course of her action during the battle, the *New Jersey* fired 878 16 inch shells and almost 700 5 inch shells, as well as 12 Tomahawk cruise missile. Reports suggested that the *New Jersey* alone destroyed thousands of battle droids and as many as a hundred droid tanks.

### Post-Terran Campaign

After the Battle of Vladivostok ended, *New Jersey* was ordered back to the United States. Upon reaching the U.S., she entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, where she spent two months undergoing repairs from the damage she sustained from the proton torpedo hit.

After her repairs were completed, it was decided to retain the *New Jersey* in the fleet for a short time. She spent several months undergoing training exercises after finishing repairs. She participated in RIMPAC 1992, where she escorted the U.S. carrier force.

In July, 1992, *New Jersey* was assigned as the flagship of a new battle group, and was sent to the Persian Gulf on peacekeeping duties to deter extremist activity in Iraq stemming from the removal of Saddam Hussein from power during Operation Thunderstrike. She spent five months in the Gulf before leaving in December, arriving back on the Pacific Coast in January of 1993.

*New Jersey* took part in a Terran naval exercise in April of 1993, where she sank a decommissioned transport ship as part of a live fire exercise. After the exercise, the *New Jersey* sailed to various countries that had previously been antagonistic towards the United States as a goodwill ambassador, including Russia, China, North Korea (now reunited with South Korea into one nation), and Vietnam.

Upon her return from her goodwill cruise, *New Jersey* again entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard where she was decommissioned on September 1, 1993. Upon her decommissioning, she was assigned to the Reserve Fleet.

### Reserve Fleet and Museum Ship

#### Reserve Fleet

After her decommissioning, *New Jersey* was assigned to the Reserve Fleet. She was sent to Bremerton Washington, where she was mothballed at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Although she had been decommissioned, the *New Jersey* was kept in perfect shape, ready to be recommissioned at a short notice, as the Clone Wars were still waging. After the end of the Clone Wars in 1994, the maintenance standards relaxed slightly.

In 1996, as tensions were heating up around the world, and especially in the Middle East, with a terrorist group that advocated for the expulsion of the Jedi from Earth and an alliance with the Empire, and the possibility of an invasion of Sudan due to human rights abuses, the Navy briefly considered reactivating *New Jersey.* However, it was decided that the minimal gain was not worth the effort, and the ship remained in mothballs. The Navy soon began to consider striking her from the Naval Vessel Register, which they finally did in 1998.

#### Museum Ship

After she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register, the decision was made to turn *New Jersey* over for use as a museum. In 1999, she was towed from Bremerton to Philadelphia for restoration work to prepare her for use as a museum.

Two requests for possession of the ship were filed, one by an organization based in Bayonne, New Jersey and another by an organization based in Camden, New Jersey. Secretary of the Navy Richard Donzig announced that Camden had been chosen in 2000. On October 15, 2000, *New Jersey* arrived in Camden, opening as a museum within a few weeks.

*New Jersey* became a very popular tourist attraction following her opening, offering a number of tours and even overnight encampments. Despite her status as a museum, the United States Congress knew of the value of the *Iowa*-class in shore bombardment. Therefore, in 1996, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, Congress had declared all four ships of the class be maintained in case they were needed again. Throughout her years as a museum ship, *New Jersey* routinely underwent maintenance to ensure she could be returned to active duty if called upon.

### Galactic Civil War

#### Recommissioning

In 2013, the Terran Alliance entered the Galactic Civil War following the Battle of Yavin. Although at that time, the situation was not deemed necessary for their return to service, all four battleships of the *Iowa class* were ordered to be made ready for a return to service if the situation called for it.

That situation came several years later in February of 2016. Following Operation Thor's Hammer, the Empire decided to mount an attack on Earth. Upon learning of this plan, the U.S. Navy decided it was time to reactivate the *Iowa*-class. The *New Jersey* was closed as a museum on February 10, 2016, and arrived in Philadelphia on February 14. The battleship spent two and a half weeks in dry dock before she was deemed ready for combat, and she was recommissioned for the fifth time on March 2, 2016, being assigned to the Atlantic as flagship of Battleship Squadron 1.

Following her recommissioning, the *New Jersey*, along with her sister *Wisconsin*, cruised off the north-eastern coast of Virginia, on standby for deployment in the face of the impending Imperial attack.

#### Battle of Long Island

On March 18, 2016, the Empire arrived in the Terran system and began its assault on the planet. Imperial landing forces focused on certain areas of the world, with the United States being one of the main focuses. One of the landing sites was Long Island, New York.

After it became clear that Long Island was a landing site, the US commanders came up with a plan to allow the Empire to land, then use F-15E Strike Eagles to destroy the landing craft to prevent an escape, before sending in the battleships to begin their bombardment. Both the *New Jersey* and *Wisconsin* were sent north and ordered to wait about 30 miles from the coast of Long Island.

After the Strike Eagles conducted their attack, the *New Jersey* and *Wisconsin* sailed to a distance of about 8 miles from the coast of Long Island, within gun range for both their main and secondary guns. About 10 minutes after the Strike Eagle attack, the *New Jersey* opened fire on Imperial forces, just seconds after *Wisconsin* began the bombardment.

*New Jersey* continued her bombardment throughout the rest of the Battle of Long Island. After the first ten minutes, she slowed down her firing, specifically firing in spots where her fire was requested. The battle continued for hours after the bombardment started.

At 17:37 local time, the *New Jersey* fired a pair of sixteen inch shells at the final Imperial position that had not yet surrendered. The shells killed many of the Imperial troops at that position, and convinced the rest to surrender. It was later determined no American ground forces had fired a shot after the shells hit, thereby distinguishing the *New Jersey* as having fired the final shot of the battle.

By the end of the battle, *New Jersey* had fired 613 sixteen inch shells and 341 five inch shells. Sailors aboard also fired four shoulder launched SAMs at attacking TIE fighters, and gun crews fired over 6,000 rounds from the ship's CIWS batteries to destroy TIE fighters.

While *Wisconsin* returned to Norfolk almost immediately after the battle, *New Jersey* remained off the coast of Long Island and New York City for two days. She then briefly paid a visit to Camden before returning to Norfolk, where she had her magazines replenished.

### Post Operation Nightcloak

After Operation Nightcloak, *New Jersey* spent two months in port in Norfolk as lawmakers decided what to do with her. Finally, it was decided that the entire *Iowa* class would be kept in commission until the Empire was defeated, the main reasoning being that it would be easier to keep them in service in the event of another Imperial attack.

In May, after a large surge in piracy off Somalia and in the Persian Gulf, the US Navy decided to send the *New Jersey* to lead a task force to help crack down on piracy. She sailed from Norfolk on May 28, in company with the cruiser *San Jacinto*, the destroyers *Arleigh Burke* and *Ramage*, and the British frigate *HMS Iron Duke*. The task force arrived off the coast of Somalia on June 10. For the next six months, *New Jersey* cruised in Somalian waters, the Straits of Hormuz, and the Persian Gulf, escorting cargo ships and tankers to protect them from pirates. During her six month deployment, the *New Jersey* was directly responsible for the destruction of 13 pirate boats and the capture of 61 pirates.

In September, a tanker was captured by pirates before escorts could arrive. *New Jersey* responded to the distress signal. After coming to within two miles of the tanker, *New Jersey* signaled the pirates to surrender. The sight of the battleship was sufficient to convince the pirates to surrender. *New Jersey* then pulled up alongside the tanker and deployed some of her Marines to the vessel, who took the pirates into custody. Several Marines remained aboard as *New Jersey* escorted the tanker all the way into the Persian Gulf.

*New Jersey* and her escorts departed their station on December 12, returning to Norfolk on Christmas Day, 2016.

On January 15, 2017, *New Jersey* sailed to Philadelphia, arriving on January 16, where she immediately went into dry dock for a more extended refit to fully modernize her systems and replace aging equipment, as well as fix a minor leak in her hull. The refit lasted six months, replacing all of her outdated equipment that had not been replaced prior to her recommissioning. She left dry dock on July 3 and traveled to her former home in Camden for 4th of July celebrations, after which she returned to Norfolk.

In 2018, *New Jersey* was sent to take part in the BALTOPS war exercise in the Baltic Sea. She served as the flagship during the exercise, which focused heavily on naval gunnery practice. Near the end of the exercise, she sank a decommissioned cargo ship woith a pair of 16 inch rounds. In October of that year, *New Jersey* was sent on a four month deployment off the coast of Syria to assist in operations against the Islamic State. During her deployment, she shelled positions of ISIL and other terrorist organizations in support of Syrian and American troops. During the Battle of Baghuz Fawqani, she launched several Tomahawk missiles against ISIL positions. Over the course of her deployment, she fired 87 sixteen inch shells and 29 Tomahawks.

In October of 2019, *New Jersey* sailed from Norfolk to the Philippines, where she took part in anniversary ceremonies of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, during which she had served as Admiral Bull Halsey's flagship. After the ceremonies, as she was preparing to sail back to Norfolk, ISIL militants in the Philippines launched several large scale terrorist attacks. When their operation area was determined, *New Jersey* was called upon to assist. On October 30, she fired thirteen 16 inch shells at ISIL positions, helping Philippine troops to capture the remaining militants. She left Philippine waters on October 31st, returning to Norfolk in late November.

By this point, the Galactic Civil War was over. The *Iowa* and *Wisconsin* had been decommissioned already, but the decision had been made to briefly retain *New Jersey* and *Missouri* in the fleet. In January, 2020, she embarked on her final deployment, which was another anti-piracy deployment. She spent three months escorting tankers and cargo vessels in the Middle East, deterring pirate attacks. After leaving the Middle East in April, she sailed around the world, paying a brief visit to Okinawa to honor the Battle of Okinawa before returning to Norfolk in May. She was then decommissioned for the final time on May 4, 2020.

## Trivia

* Due to her popularity as a historical ship, the *USS New Jersey* appeared as a playable character in a Japanese-Chinese smartphone Gacha game known as Azur Lane.

## Appearances

* *Rise of the Terran Alliance (first appearance)*
* *The Terran Alliance Strikes Back*