Battleship New Jersey

The Complete History

Paul L Stillwell, USNR author James M Caiella illustrator

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Naval Institute Press

Publishing:18th Sep '25

£63.99

This title is due to be published on 18th September, and will be despatched as soon as possible.

Battleship New Jersey cover

Battleship New Jersey: The Complete History offers the complete history of this long-storied ship from its keel laying in 1940, across all major naval conflicts of the 20th Century from WWII, Korea and Vietnam, and into the Persian Gulf. Driven by compelling new interviews with those who served on the NJ, this volume will be a major draw for readers of battleship design, WWII naval combat in the Pacific, and modern naval warfare.
Battleship New Jersey: The Complete History is a deeply detailed account of one of the world’s most famous and decorated battleships. This new edition builds upon the 1986 original, incorporating the ship’s service from 1986 to 1991, her final decommissioning, and her transformation into a world-class museum and memorial in Camden, New Jersey, in 2001. Author Paul Stillwell, who served on the ship, presents a narrative rooted in the personal stories of more than two hundred crew members. His research included interviews with thirteen of the ship’s nineteen commanding officers. Through these men’s recollections, readers will witness a firsthand perspective of life on board this legendary vessel, fostering a deep appreciation for the camaraderie and challenges faced by her sailors.  
The story begins with the ship’s genesis, from her design and construction at the Philadelphia Navy Yard to her historic launch on December 7, 1942—exactly one year after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Commissioned in 1943, New Jersey arrived in the Pacific in 1944. During her World War II service, she defended aircraft carriers, conducted shore bombardments, and served as Adm. William F. Halsey Jr.’s flagship. The battleship’s wartime service continued through pivotal moments in history, including the sprawling Battle of Leyte Gulf. During the Korean War, she was the first battleship recommissioned, providing critical shore bombardment fire support and flagship duties. The Vietnam War saw her in action once again, with her powerful guns safeguarding U.S. troops and striking enemy positions with unmatched accuracy.  

"Rest well, yet sleep lightly and hear the call, if again sounded, to provide firepower for freedom."  

These words were spoken by Capt. Robert C. Peniston at the ship’s decommissioning in 1969. She did indeed hear the call, and President Ronald Reagan recommissioned New Jersey in 1982. “Firepower for Freedom” was once again the...

"Paul Stillwell tells Battleship New Jersey's story in the crew's own words thanks to his incredible collection of oral history interviews, collected over the last 40 years. This long-awaited updated edition, which includes, for the first time, the closing years of the ship's active career and first years of her second life as a museum and memorial, is a must have for battleship enthusiasts and will be a permanent fixture on my desk at the museum."—Ryan SzimanskiCurator, Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial and Executive Director, Historic Naval Ships Association 
 

With the perspective afforded an officer who served aboard the New Jersey, Paul Stillwell has penned one of the best books on a warship ever written.  It is also a case study of a weapons system that served the country for half a century in roles unintended and in ways unimagined.  A remarkable work. —Dr. Malcom Muir,author of The Iowa Class Battleships

"Warships have lives, and so do the sailors who man them. In his revised illustrated history of battleship New Jersey, Paul Stillwell tells the stories of both with the sort of insight that only an experienced veteran—and veteran author—can have. This revision is a book to learn from and also to enjoy—as I most certainly have." — Dr. Thomas C. Hone, author of American and British Aircraft Carrier Development, 1919-1941 and Battle Line: The United States Navy, 1919-1939

"A book that vividly brings alive the entire long history of this famous ship, most notably through the voices of crew members, drawn from many personal interviews, oral histories, letters, and the author’s own personal experience as a crew member during the late 1960s. There are few books that so faithfully recall the experience of a ship’s service in war and peace, in particular one that covers such a long period of time." —Christopher C. Wright, Editor-in-Chief, Warship International

“Battleship New Jersey” is as enjoyable to read as it is to admire its research. It is filled with interesting, often funny personal anecdotes from the battleship’s construction to its service years. Stillwell has a remarkable skill at weaving technical descriptions and facts into very understandable and fast reading prose. As read as one may be the subject, be assured you will still learn new things here and enjoy it as well. —Anthony Tully 
author of "Battle of Surigao Strait",  co-author of "Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway"

ISBN: 9781682475676

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

480 pages

New edition