Going Underneath an Iowa-Class Battleship: I Toured and Touched USS New Jersey
I love the Battleship New Jersey and have followed the ship—and its associated museum in Camden—for many years. When I first toured BB-62 a few years ago, I took almost 800 photos on deck and inside. But just recently, I was able to go on a much more intimate tour.
I love the Battleship New Jersey and have followed the ship—and its associated museum in Camden—for many years. When I first toured BB-62 a few years ago, I took almost 800 photos on deck and inside.
They are still on my iPhone, where they are about one-quarter of all my pictures. So, I was thrilled to take one of the first tours under the ship while it is in dry dock, on April 6.
The USS New Jersey is currently in dry dock for the first time since its decommissioning by the Navy 32 years ago. If all goes as planned, it will be in Dock #3 at the former Philadelphia Navy Yard through the end of May or perhaps the beginning of June. It is a homecoming, as the ship was launched from Dock #3 on December 7, 1942.
What Makes the USS New Jersey So Special
Known as the most decorated battleship in the history of the Navy, the New Jersey served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and in the Middle East.
Through these actions, the ship amassed 19 Battle and Campaign stars. Only the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) earned more, gaining 20 stars, all during WWII. BB-62 also travelled further, fired more shells, and fought in more actions than any other battleship in history.
My Tour of the USS New Jersey: Looking Underneath an Iowa-Class Battleship
On starting the tour, my group walked along the top of Dock #3 to see the side of the ship. When we arrived at the stern, I was able to take this amazing photo of the fantail.
From that point, I could see two of the old 40 mm gun tubs sticking out from the sides of the stern as well as two square doors with bumpers around them that were used to release the New Jersey’s torpedo decoys.
On reaching the far side of the battleship, we descended a 150-stair staircase into Dock #3. At the bottom, we could walk around and underneath the New Jersey and even touch the hull! It was amazing to see the massive rudders.
BB-62’s four propellers were colossal too! The two five-bladed inner props were designed for speed, and are 17 feet in diameter, while the two four-bladed outer props provided power and are 18.25 feet in diameter.
It was also striking to see the 304 keel blocks holding up the hull. The keel blocks are concrete blocks with wood stacked on top to protect the bottom of the ship.
A big job to place them all. Using the keel blocks allows workers to paint the underside of the ship while also protecting it from potential damage if it sat directly on the floor of the dry dock.
As I walked along the ship at the bottom of Dock #3, I could see some of the enclosed 40 mm guns sticking out from the deck far above. It was also interesting to see the blanks covering through-hull openings. These openings drew in seawater to help to cool the ship’s four huge steam turbines, which produced a total of 212,000 horsepower to turn the four propeller shafts.
This allowed the ship to get up to 33 knots, although in trials during its reactivation for the Vietnam War, the New Jersey’s sailors managed a speed of 35.2 knots (40.5 mph)—the fastest any battleship had ever moved. Other through-hull openings fed shipboard water distilling plants to provide safe water for drinking, cooking, hygiene, and cleaning.
Looking at the bow’s narrowest point was fascinating too. From atop Dock #3, I could see the 62 painted on the sides of the ship right below the deck. When looking at the bulbous nose, I picked out the outlines of metal plates welded on in the 1980s.
The original metal had rusted away; this was the attachment point for underwater minesweeping drones. (The drones cut mine mooring cables so that sailors could shoot and detonate the mines at a safe distance.) And I saw the ship’s two anchors. Wow!
As a long-time fan of the New Jersey, the Dry Dock Tour was a special experience that I will never forget. It was wonderful to meet curator Ryan Szimanski too—especially after seeing so many of his YouTube videos. And, of course, now I have 200 more photos.
About the Author
Ethan Saunders is a history buff and an education student at George Mason University. All photos are thanks to the author.
