Admiral's Flag Bridge

Admiral's Flag Bridge. Battleship New Jersey. , The Flag Bridge was reserved for use by admirals. Here, an admiral could command any fleet or fleets arrayed around New Jersey. While the admiral was in overall command of the fleet, New Jersey's captain was directly responsible for the Battleship., Completed in 1943 with a flag bridge and the latest in long-range communications gear, New Jersey was also one of the fastest warships in the Navy. This made New Jersey an ideal fleet flagship., New Jersey went to sea as the fleet flagship for some of America's most famous admirals, including William Halsey, Raymond Spruance, Oscar Badger, and Willis Lee., When recommissioned for service in Vietnam, the flag bridge was reserved for the use of visiting admirals, generals and other distinguished guests. The five stars seen on the deck of the flag bridge today date to 1968. Paid for out of personal crew funds, they are a token of respect from the Vietnam era's crew for Fleet Admiral Halsey, who walked the deck of the flag bridge during some of the most critical naval battles of World War II., In the 1980s, the flag bridge was used by visiting admirals. In 1990, Rear Admiral Paul Reason was the last admiral to fly his flag from New Jersey's historic decks., [Captions:] , Left: Flag plot, located on the centerline immediately aft of the flag bridge, was the nerve center of Halsey's 3rd Fleet during World War II. The sailor is writing on a circular status board used to plot the location of the fleet's ships and any enemy aircraft or ship contacts., Right: Members of Halsey's staff in the cramped Flag Communications Center. Note the sailor at left who is typing a message for Admiral Halsey., The status board on the back wall reveals some interesting information. At the time the photo was taken, Halsey's carrier strike force (Task Force 38) is steaming at 18 knots on course 230 (southeast). The carrier Intrepid is the center of a circular anti-aircraft formation. It also reveals that the fleet is not transmitting radar or radio signals to keep its location secret from the enemy., Right: Seen through a porthole (now covered up), a radioman on New Jersey monitors the airwaves for messages to Halsey in October 1944. Such duty involved radio signals that could decide the fate of thousands of men and ships.