USS New Jersey

Initially commissioned in 1943, the USS New Jersey has a more extensive service record than many of her fellow battleships, as she proudly served in:

• World War II
• the Korean War
• the Vietnam War
• the Lebanese Civil War
• the Gulf War

The USS New Jersey in WWII

Endearingly known as "Big J" and the "Black Dragon," the USS New Jersey started her nearly 50 years of service performing WWII missions in the Pacific. After joining the 5th Fleet in the Marshall Islands, the USS New Jersey supported aircraft carrier landings in and strikes against Kwaiaken and Eniwetok. Subsequently, she:

• participated in "Operation Hailstone," which involved strikes against Japanese bases in the Caroline Islands
• joined the USS Lexington in an attack against Mille
• supported bombardments in Palaus and Woleai
• fought in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, during which Japanese forces suffered significant losses
• helped conquer the Mariana Islands

Next, the USS New Jersey joined the 3rd Fleet and helped perform strategic attacks in the Philippines, Okinawa and Formosa. In the following months that led to the Japanese surrender, the USS New Jersey:

• fought in the Battle of Leyte Gulf
• helped bombard enemy forces in Luzon
• guarded aircraft carriers in Luzon, Formosa and Okinawa
• supported strikes on Iwo Jima and Tokyo

In the last months before the official Japanese surrender, the USS New Jersey was being repaired and modernized in Puget Sound. She would, however, rejoin her fleet-mates for "Operation Magic Carpet," which involved bringing troops home after the end of World War II.

The USS New Jersey after WWII

Upon her return to the U.S., the USS New Jersey endured another overhaul that was soon followed up with her first decommission in June 1948. With the start of the Korean War in 1950, however, the USS New Jersey would be re-commissioned in November of that same year and start engaging in military operations in Korea in April 1951.

Yet, just as the end of WWII triggered her first decommission, so too did the end of the Korean War spell out her second decommission until the start of the Vietnam War, at which point she was again re-commissioned. Interestingly enough, at this point, the USS New Jersey was the only active battleship in the world.

During the remainder of her service history, the USS New Jersey:
• decommissioned after the end of the Vietnam War
• re-commissioned in 1982, as part of Reagan's massive increase of naval ships
• participated in the Lebanese Civil War from 1983 to 1984
• fought in the Gulf War in the early 1990s
• was decommissioned for the final time in February 1991

For her decades of stellar, heroic service, the USS New Jersey ultimately earned a total of 11 battle stars.

Asbestos Exposure Aboard the USS New Jersey

While troops aboard the USS New Jersey faced threats as they engaged in combat, shipbuilders and battleship repair workers were exposed to life-threatening conditions as they endured toxic levels of asbestos exposure.

In fact, like all battleships constructed in early and mid-1900s, the USS New Jersey was built from many parts and substances that contained unsafe amounts of asbestos. From boilers to engine parts to drywall, those who worked aboard this battleship likely experienced asbestos exposure in nearly every part of her.

Since long-term exposure to asbestos typically results in fatal diseases, anyone who worked aboard the USS New Jersey should contact us for more information and resources on the effects of battleship asbestos exposure.