USS New Jersey BB 62 – History of the Most Decorated Battleship in U.S. Navy History
USS New Jersey (BB 62): The Most Decorated Battleship in U.S. Navy History
USS New Jersey (BB 62) is not just a battleship — she is a legend. Earning more battle stars than any other battleship in American history, the “Big J” served across four wars and six decades, a testament to the enduring power of the Iowa class.
Ship History
USS New Jersey was commissioned on May 23, 1943, at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. An Iowa-class battleship, she was among the most powerful surface warships ever built, armed with nine 16-inch guns capable of hurling 2,700-pound shells over 20 miles.
Her combat record is unmatched among American battleships:
- World War II (1943–1945) — Pacific Theater operations including the Battle of Leyte Gulf; earned 9 battle stars
- Korean War (1951–1953) — Shore bombardment along the Korean coast; earned 4 battle stars
- Vietnam War (1968–1969) — Gunfire support operations off the coast of Vietnam; earned 2 battle stars
- Lebanon (1983–1984) — Shore bombardment in support of U.S. forces during the Lebanese Civil War
USS New Jersey earned a total of 19 battle stars across her career — more than any other battleship in U.S. Navy history. She was decommissioned for the final time on February 8, 1991, and is now a museum ship in Camden, New Jersey, open to the public.
Hull Number Explained
BB 62 designates:
- BB — Battleship (from the original classification system)
- 62 — Her hull number, placing her as the second ship of the Iowa class
The four Iowa-class battleships (BB 61–64) were the last battleships ever built for the U.S. Navy and remain the most powerful surface combatants America ever fielded.
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Bring the legacy of the Big J home: