Full steam ahead! Troop 200 visits the Battleship New Jersey

Published on December 14, 2009

A crew of 30 Troop 200 scouts and leaders traveled to Camden, New Jersey -- home of the Battleship New Jersey -- the most decorated battleship in US history. We not only toured the ship, but got to live there overnight, too -- eating in the ship's mess and sleeping (albeit briefly) in the crew quarters. We were lucky to have a veteran not just of the Navy, but of the "Big J" herself guide us on a tour of the ship, including places most visitors don't get to see.

Here are a few of the things we learned:

• Although the New Jersey is one of four identical Iowa-class battleships built from the same plans, she is the largest of her kind by about seven inches. Most credit that to the fact many of the shipbuilders working on the ships in the Philadelphia shipyards were from New Jersey.
• In her long history, the New Jersey lost only one sailor.
• The New Jersey was the first ship to fire the advanced Tomahawk Missile.
• Her 16" guns could fire shells up to 23 miles away -- usually within 50' of their target.
• It took a crew of up to 2,000 sailors to keep the New Jersey running at top form.

We were lucky to have a very knowledgeable docent as our guide. Not only is he a Navy veteran, but he also served briefly on the New Jersey. As a Chief Porter working in the medical area, he helped save the lives not only of sailors on the New Jersey, but soldiers fighting nearby, as well as civilians -- including children.

We got a great look at the life of a sailor and a new respect for the hard work and commitment it takes to protect the freedoms and liberty we all enjoy. We were honored to have the opportunity to see what life was like for the heroes.

You can see photos from the trip on our Troop Photo Gallery and a short video of Big J's TV Studio on our YouTube page.