| NAVY |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| USS NEW JERSEY USS WISCONSIN |
Big “J” and Wisky
(CONCLUDED)
(CONCLUDED)
Museum NEW JERSEY.
Although NEW JERSEY's naval career ended in 1999, she still had battles to fight. The
first of these was where the ship was going to be located. The State Battleship
Commission sponsored by the State of New Jersey wanted the ship to be berthed at the
former Military Ocean Terminal in Bayonne as the centerpiece of a plan to develop that
area. However, politicians in neighboring New York City opposed this plan because
the presence of a battleship on the other side of New York harbor might take away
visitors from other existing "maritime attractions" in the City.
Also competing for the battleship was the Home Port Alliance, a non-profit
corporation, that wanted the ship for Camden. The ship would be part of a re-
vitalization of the Delaware River waterfront of New Jersey's most impoverished city. In
contrast to the Bayonne proposal, no objections were heard from neighboring
Philadelphia. Indeed, the coming of NEW JERSEY to Camden was viewed as
enhancing Philadelphia's maritime attractions which include Commodore Dewey's
flagship at the Battle of Manila Bay, USS OLYMPIA, and the submarine USS
BACONA (SS 319).
Citing the Home Port Alliance's comprehensive plan for exhibits at a developed
waterfront and its offer to house a Navy recruiting office on the battleship at no cost, the
Navy donated NEW JERSEY to the Home Port Alliance in January 2000.
Meanwhile, at a cost of some $3 million, NEW JERSEY had been towed from
Bremerton, Washington where she had been mothballed to the Philadelphia Naval
Shipyard, arriving there on 11 November, 1999. After demilitarization work there, she
was brought to a private pier in Camden while a new pier was constructed in Camden
across the Delaware River from Philadelphia's Penn Landing. The ship was opened to
the public on 15 October 2001.
The initial restoration work to get the ship ready for the public cost approximately $7
million. The State of New Jersey contributed $6 million as well as a large part of the
money needed to bring the ship to New Jersey. However, at that point, state funding
ended and the museum was left to its own resources. Due to harsh winters, the number
of visitors in the early years was not as much as had been hoped for and in 2003, the
museum had a $1.3 million operating deficit.
Today, the museum is still operated by the Home Port Alliance. The museum now
receives some funding from the State of New Jersey but like many non-profit museum
organizations fund-raising is always an issue. The number of visitors has increased over
when the ship opened and remains steady. Events held on the ship, such as the
overnight stays for children, have proven very popular.
Visiting NEW JERSEY
As noted earlier, NEW JERSEY is berthed across the Delaware River from Penn's
Landing, which is a tourist-oriented area in the central part of Philadelphia. Passenger
ferries operate regularly, taking visitors to within walking distance of NEW JERSEY.
During the short trip across, there is an excellent view of the battleship.
After walking along the park-like waterfront for perhaps three-quarters of a mile, one
comes to a low gray building that is the visitor center and shop. Here, one must make
the decision whether to purchase a ticket for the "self-guided" tour, the guided tour, or
the Firepower tour. The latter is a two-hour tour that includes areas of the ship that are
not otherwise open such as the Combat Engagement Center. The tours are conducted
by volunteers, many of whom are former battleship sailors.
The ship itself is in good condition. One would say excellent except that the teak
decking has deteriorated noticeably. The museum has recently replaced one section and
is seeking funding to continue such work.
On the day The Log visited, there were teams of Sea Cadets scraping paint and caring
for the superstructure. The Museum has arrangements for youth groups to stay on
board overnight as well as educational programs for teachers and students.
A considerable amount of the ship is open to view. In addition to the open decks, the
public areas include, inter alia, the Sailors' living quarters, the officer's wardroom, the
executive officer's quarters, the bridge, the galley, the admiral's bedroom, the brig, and
the ship's barber shop. One can go inside a five inch gun turret. A Tomahawk missile
launcher is open in firing position and visitors can also make a close inspection of the
ship's helicopter as well as of the Phalanx close-in-weapons system. However, perhaps
the most interesting part of the tour is climbing into the cramped space of number three
turret of the main battery.
A significant part of the interior of the ship has been turned over to museum-type
displays and exhibits. These tell the story of the ship, battleships in general as well as of
historic figures such as Admiral Halsey who were associated with the ship.
Visiting WISCONSIN
After her decommissioning, WISCONSIN had been towed from Norfolk back to the
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. However, it was decided to bring her back to Norfolk in
1996 and she was berthed near the piers used by the aircraft carriers. When interest
arose in opening her to the public, she was towed across the harbor in December 2000
to the Nauticus Museum, where she is located today.
This is a nicely developed part of downtown Norfolk with park-like lawns and
facilities. Nearby there are shops and restaurants. Harbor tours of the nearby naval
base as well as dinner cruises leave from this area. There is also the terminal for cruise
ships visiting Norfolk.
To get to the WISCONSIN, one goes to the second floor of the Nauticus Museum.
At the time of The Log's visit, one did not have to buy a ticket. Although the Navy has
statutory power to donate WISCONSIN for use as a museum in Virginia and it is
widely expected that the ship will be donated to the Nauticus Museum, as of that date,
no such action had been taken. As a result, the ship remains an asset of the United
States Navy.
A number of consequences flow from this fact. First, the ship is manned by active duty
Sailors assisted by a number of volunteers. (The Sailors also maintain an interesting area
of museum displays in the adjoining building). Second, because the ship could in theory
still be called back into service, public access is restricted to the open decks. Third,
some of the ship's armament (i.e. the CIWS and the Harpoon missiles) is missing. One
of the volunteers explained that they were removed for use on active duty ships. Fourth,
and the least tangible, is that the visitor experiences being on a United States Navy
battleship rather than a former United States Navy battleship.
The Navy has posted signs at various points explaining different points of interest.
There are also docent volunteers who are only too happy to answer questions and chat
about the ship. Alternatively, one can rent an audio tour from the Nauticus Museum.
WISCONSIN appears to be in excellent condition. The teak decks, renewed before
her last period of active service, still look good. Similarly, the steel is well maintained.
Although an unlikely prospect at this point, she appears prepared to answer the nation’s
call.
Although NEW JERSEY's naval career ended in 1999, she still had battles to fight. The
first of these was where the ship was going to be located. The State Battleship
Commission sponsored by the State of New Jersey wanted the ship to be berthed at the
former Military Ocean Terminal in Bayonne as the centerpiece of a plan to develop that
area. However, politicians in neighboring New York City opposed this plan because
the presence of a battleship on the other side of New York harbor might take away
visitors from other existing "maritime attractions" in the City.
Also competing for the battleship was the Home Port Alliance, a non-profit
corporation, that wanted the ship for Camden. The ship would be part of a re-
vitalization of the Delaware River waterfront of New Jersey's most impoverished city. In
contrast to the Bayonne proposal, no objections were heard from neighboring
Philadelphia. Indeed, the coming of NEW JERSEY to Camden was viewed as
enhancing Philadelphia's maritime attractions which include Commodore Dewey's
flagship at the Battle of Manila Bay, USS OLYMPIA, and the submarine USS
BACONA (SS 319).
Citing the Home Port Alliance's comprehensive plan for exhibits at a developed
waterfront and its offer to house a Navy recruiting office on the battleship at no cost, the
Navy donated NEW JERSEY to the Home Port Alliance in January 2000.
Meanwhile, at a cost of some $3 million, NEW JERSEY had been towed from
Bremerton, Washington where she had been mothballed to the Philadelphia Naval
Shipyard, arriving there on 11 November, 1999. After demilitarization work there, she
was brought to a private pier in Camden while a new pier was constructed in Camden
across the Delaware River from Philadelphia's Penn Landing. The ship was opened to
the public on 15 October 2001.
The initial restoration work to get the ship ready for the public cost approximately $7
million. The State of New Jersey contributed $6 million as well as a large part of the
money needed to bring the ship to New Jersey. However, at that point, state funding
ended and the museum was left to its own resources. Due to harsh winters, the number
of visitors in the early years was not as much as had been hoped for and in 2003, the
museum had a $1.3 million operating deficit.
Today, the museum is still operated by the Home Port Alliance. The museum now
receives some funding from the State of New Jersey but like many non-profit museum
organizations fund-raising is always an issue. The number of visitors has increased over
when the ship opened and remains steady. Events held on the ship, such as the
overnight stays for children, have proven very popular.
Visiting NEW JERSEY
As noted earlier, NEW JERSEY is berthed across the Delaware River from Penn's
Landing, which is a tourist-oriented area in the central part of Philadelphia. Passenger
ferries operate regularly, taking visitors to within walking distance of NEW JERSEY.
During the short trip across, there is an excellent view of the battleship.
After walking along the park-like waterfront for perhaps three-quarters of a mile, one
comes to a low gray building that is the visitor center and shop. Here, one must make
the decision whether to purchase a ticket for the "self-guided" tour, the guided tour, or
the Firepower tour. The latter is a two-hour tour that includes areas of the ship that are
not otherwise open such as the Combat Engagement Center. The tours are conducted
by volunteers, many of whom are former battleship sailors.
The ship itself is in good condition. One would say excellent except that the teak
decking has deteriorated noticeably. The museum has recently replaced one section and
is seeking funding to continue such work.
On the day The Log visited, there were teams of Sea Cadets scraping paint and caring
for the superstructure. The Museum has arrangements for youth groups to stay on
board overnight as well as educational programs for teachers and students.
A considerable amount of the ship is open to view. In addition to the open decks, the
public areas include, inter alia, the Sailors' living quarters, the officer's wardroom, the
executive officer's quarters, the bridge, the galley, the admiral's bedroom, the brig, and
the ship's barber shop. One can go inside a five inch gun turret. A Tomahawk missile
launcher is open in firing position and visitors can also make a close inspection of the
ship's helicopter as well as of the Phalanx close-in-weapons system. However, perhaps
the most interesting part of the tour is climbing into the cramped space of number three
turret of the main battery.
A significant part of the interior of the ship has been turned over to museum-type
displays and exhibits. These tell the story of the ship, battleships in general as well as of
historic figures such as Admiral Halsey who were associated with the ship.
Visiting WISCONSIN
After her decommissioning, WISCONSIN had been towed from Norfolk back to the
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. However, it was decided to bring her back to Norfolk in
1996 and she was berthed near the piers used by the aircraft carriers. When interest
arose in opening her to the public, she was towed across the harbor in December 2000
to the Nauticus Museum, where she is located today.
This is a nicely developed part of downtown Norfolk with park-like lawns and
facilities. Nearby there are shops and restaurants. Harbor tours of the nearby naval
base as well as dinner cruises leave from this area. There is also the terminal for cruise
ships visiting Norfolk.
To get to the WISCONSIN, one goes to the second floor of the Nauticus Museum.
At the time of The Log's visit, one did not have to buy a ticket. Although the Navy has
statutory power to donate WISCONSIN for use as a museum in Virginia and it is
widely expected that the ship will be donated to the Nauticus Museum, as of that date,
no such action had been taken. As a result, the ship remains an asset of the United
States Navy.
A number of consequences flow from this fact. First, the ship is manned by active duty
Sailors assisted by a number of volunteers. (The Sailors also maintain an interesting area
of museum displays in the adjoining building). Second, because the ship could in theory
still be called back into service, public access is restricted to the open decks. Third,
some of the ship's armament (i.e. the CIWS and the Harpoon missiles) is missing. One
of the volunteers explained that they were removed for use on active duty ships. Fourth,
and the least tangible, is that the visitor experiences being on a United States Navy
battleship rather than a former United States Navy battleship.
The Navy has posted signs at various points explaining different points of interest.
There are also docent volunteers who are only too happy to answer questions and chat
about the ship. Alternatively, one can rent an audio tour from the Nauticus Museum.
WISCONSIN appears to be in excellent condition. The teak decks, renewed before
her last period of active service, still look good. Similarly, the steel is well maintained.
Although an unlikely prospect at this point, she appears prepared to answer the nation’s
call.
Above: USS WISCONSIN.
Below: Wisky's streamlined bow.
Below: Wisky's streamlined bow.
Above: Looking aft along the anchor
chains.
Below: A five inch gun turret. The
Marine Corps emblem painted on it is in
recognition of the fact that the turret
was manned by Wisky's Marine
detachment.
chains.
Below: A five inch gun turret. The
Marine Corps emblem painted on it is in
recognition of the fact that the turret
was manned by Wisky's Marine
detachment.
Above: Harpoon and Tomahawk
missiles were added to Wisky's
firepower in the 1980s. The empty
racks to the right are Harpoon
launchers. The missiles were removed
for use on other Navy ships. The boxes
in the center of the picture are
Tomahawk cruise missile launchers.
Below: The Number Three turret of
Wisky's main battery.
missiles were added to Wisky's
firepower in the 1980s. The empty
racks to the right are Harpoon
launchers. The missiles were removed
for use on other Navy ships. The boxes
in the center of the picture are
Tomahawk cruise missile launchers.
Below: The Number Three turret of
Wisky's main battery.
CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR A LARGER VIEW