The USS New Jersey (BB-62), famously nicknamed "Big J," is an Iowa-class fast battleship that holds the distinguished honor of being the most decorated battleship in United States naval history. Commissioned in May 1943, this 887-foot leviathan boasted a relentless service record spanning nearly half a century. While she originally earned her stripes bombarding Japanese strongholds in World War II and serving as Admiral William F. Halsey’s flagship for the Third Fleet, her service didn't stop there. Because of her unmatched speed and the devastating firepower of her nine 16-inch guns, the New Jersey was repeatedly recalled to active duty. She became the only U.S. battleship to provide extensive fire support during the Vietnam War, and she was modernized yet again in the 1980s with Tomahawk cruise missiles to serve in the Cold War and the Lebanese Civil War, ultimately earning a staggering 19 Battle Stars.
After her final decommissioning in 1991, the legendary warship transitioned into a highly successful second career as a floating museum on the Delaware River waterfront in Camden, New Jersey. The ship has gained widespread modern fame not just for her physical interactive tours, but for her massive digital presence, sharing naval history daily with millions of viewers worldwide. To ensure the historic landmark survives for future generations, the ship underwent a massive milestone restoration project, being towed away to a specialized dry dock for a multi-million dollar hull repainting, structural repairs, and routine maintenance before triumphantly returning home to her Camden pier.
