The uss new jersey is the fastest battleship to ever sail the high seas

The USS New Jersey is the Fastest Battleship to Ever Sail the High Seas

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1 min read
September 27, 2023

CAMDEN, NJ – In 1968, during a rigorous shakedown cruise, the USS New Jersey, an Iowa-class battleship of the United States Navy, pushed the boundaries of naval engineering and capability. Not only did the ship achieve a top speed of 35.2 knots (approximately 65.2 kilometers per hour), but it also demonstrated its rapid stopping ability in an extreme test conducted by its captain. This historic event stands as an awe-inspiring display of both the technological prowess of the Iowa-class battleships and the daring spirit of their crews.

The USS New Jersey was powered by eight fuel oil boilers and four propellers, delivering an astounding 212,000 shaft horsepower. This incredible engine configuration allowed the ship to reach speeds that were nothing short of remarkable for a vessel of its size and firepower.

During the 1968 shakedown cruise, the USS New Jersey accomplished a feat that would make it into the annals of naval history. The ship achieved a speed of 35.2 knots and impressively sustained this pace for six continuous hours. This was not just a cursory sprint; the ship was pushing its engineering to the limits, testing what was possible with the technology of the time.

In an audacious maneuver, the ship’s captain ordered the transition from “all ahead flank” to “all back emergency,” challenging the engineering team and the vessel itself. This extreme shift required the USS New Jersey to come to a complete stop after running at its top speed. It took the massive battleship about two miles to halt entirely, a distance that showcased both the ship’s immense power and the effectiveness of its braking system.

The 1968 shakedown cruise of the USS New Jersey serves as a testament to the technological advancements and engineering feats of the Iowa-class battleships. Achieving and sustaining such high speeds, and then stopping within a relatively short distance, displayed the ship’s capability to respond to extreme conditions—an essential quality in naval warfare.

Today, this episode remains a storied part of the USS New Jersey’s legacy, contributing to its status as one of the most formidable and technologically advanced battleships to have ever sailed under the flag of the United States Navy.

The U.S.S. New Jersey is now a floating naval museum along the Delaware River in Camden.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

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