USS New Jersey, batten down the Hatches by Randall Wilson USS New Jersey was built at Philadelphia Navy yard and laid down on the 16th September 1940 and launched on the 7th December 1942 and commissioned into the US navy on the 23rd May 1943. She was used in the Pacific theatre for the remaining part of world war two, and served with the fast carrier Task Force, and used mainly in Aircraft carrier escort duties. USS New jersey served as the Flagship of the Fifth Fleet in 1945. Taken off the active list before the Korean War but serving as fire support ships before being put into reserve by 1957. Taken out of reserve and refitted to become fire support during Vietnam War. The US Navy wanted these ships back in service although modernization costs would be huge. all were reactivated between 1982 and 1988