Summary: The USS New Jersey, an iconic Iowa-class battleship, has temporarily departed its museum berth in Camden, New Jersey, for a crucial restoration at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. This marks the vessel's first dry dock in over three decades, with the restoration focusing on hull repairs. As the only Iowa-class battleship museum in its namesake state, the USS New Jersey offers an immersive experience into naval history, allowing visitors to explore various decks, interact with historical artifacts such as the 16-inch gun turret, and engage with exhibits that showcase its service from World War II through the Gulf War.

USS New Jersey: From Warship to Museum, A Legacy Continues

The waterfront in Camden, New Jersey, offers some truly stunning views. But for the next two months at least, something will be missing from the panorama – namely, the Iowa-class battleship USS New Jersey (BB-62), which departed on Thursday for a much-needed restoration.

The New Jersey was carefully guided down the Delaware River en route to the North Atlantic Ship Repair facility at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, back to the very berth where it was built and subsequently launched on December 7, 1942.

She will spend about two months in the dry dock for repairs to her hull. The ship will be out of the water for the first time in more than three decades, which is a bit longer than what the U.S. Navy maintenance guidelines call for with inactive ships.

Preserving the USS New Jersey

The USS New Jersey is the only Iowa-class battleship to be a museum in her namesake state. Three locations were first determined to be suitable for the warship, including Bayonne, Jersey City, and Camden. After Jersey City opted not to submit a proposal, Bayonne became the frontrunner and was selected as the site for the museum.

However, a few factors came into play – including the fact that the vessel was already undergoing the necessary preparation in Philadelphia, which was just across the river from Camden.

More important, it was decided that Bayonne was too close to New York City, which was home to the USS Intrepid (CV-11). The U.S. Navy feared the battleship would overshadow the carrier. In the end, it was decided that Camden would be the future home for the Big J.

The Battleship New Jersey opened as a museum ship on Oct. 15, 2001, and since that time it has continued to preserve the warship's history while also being among the most interactive museums in the country. Guided tours are set to begin once the ship comes back to Camden. Her return is currently scheduled to occur by Memorial Day.

Visitors can explore the ship and walk on more than seven different decks, which helps show how massive the battleship was – and how more than 1,900 sailors could easily call the ship home. 

It is even possible to climb into the 16-inch gun turret and learn how the projectiles were loaded. Other notable exhibits include the Mark 7 Gun, which was used for shore bombardment; the Mark 2 40mm quad gun mounts; the Mark 2 40mm single gun mounts; the Mark 15 20mm Phalanx; and the BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles.

While the ship is preserved in its Cold War-era state, complete with Phalanx and Tomahawk launchers, it is still a clear testament to 1930s-era design and construction. The museum highlights the role the ship played as a platform used by the Greatest Generation, but also how it was still able to pack a punch against Saddam Hussein's forces in the Gulf War in 1991. 

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the museum offered groups a chance to spend the night on the ship and live like a sailor, even stretching out on the bunks where they slept. The program, which is set to reopen this year, can accommodate families and groups of up to 292 people, and includes the chance to enjoy dinner and breakfast served from a Navy chowline. Few other museums can offer such a treat.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu 

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].