Central Waterfront in Camden in Camden County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

04 Level Navigation Bridge

Battleship New Jersey

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 21, 2023

1. 04 Level Navigation Bridge Marker

Inscription.

04 Level Navigation Bridge. Battleship New Jersey. , The Navigation Bridge is where the crew of New Jersey "conned," or steered, the ship. This operation required the coordination of the ship's helmsmen, Officer of the deck, and navigational crew. Located on the Navigation Bridge was the Captain's Chair; from here; the Captain of the New Jersey commanded the ship., In the center of the bridge is the Conning Tower, also known as the "battle conn." A cylindrical three-level structure composed of 17.3" of solid steel armor. The armor for the Conning Tower was specially designed to resist the impact of a 2,240lb 16" shell traveling at more than 2,000 miles per hour., Each of the armored doors weighs over one ton. Directly inside the armored doors is New Jersey's primary wheel. Within this area are the ship's RPM indicator, engine telegraphs, communications gear, and other equipment needed to "conn" the ship. If damage occurred to the "battle conn," there are four "back-up" steering locations within the sheep., Outside the Conning Tower are several stations used for reading navigational charts. There are also three SPA-25 surface search repeaters on the Navigation Bridge: one is inside "Battle Conn," another is located near the Captain's Chair, and the final station is within the Chart House., The Chart House, located just behind the Conning Tower, was used to store the ship's navigational charts. It also housed the ship's sailing plan, and a marine navigation system that assisted the navigators in determining New Jersey's position.New Jersey was typically "conned" from the 08 Level Bridge, which allowed for a full 360-degree view of the ship and her surroundings., [Captions:] , Above: A rare 1943 interior view of the round bridge which was unique to New Jersey. Each armored door weighs more than a ton., Above and Below: During her long career, New Jersey had no less than three different bridge designs; the original open bridge was replaced by the rounded bridge seen above immediately after her sea trials in October 1943. New Jersey fought most of World War II with this unique curved bridge layout. In early 1945, the design was changed to the "square bridge" seen today and is common to all four Iowa Class battleships., The picture below dates from 1984.

The Navigation Bridge is where the crew of New Jersey "conned," or steered, the ship. This operation required the coordination of the ship's helmsmen, Officer of the deck, and navigational crew. Located on the Navigation Bridge was the Captain's Chair; from here; the Captain of the New Jersey commanded the ship.

In the center of the bridge is the Conning Tower, also known as the "battle conn." A cylindrical three-level structure composed of 17.3" of solid steel armor. The armor for the Conning Tower was specially designed to resist the impact of a 2,240lb 16" shell traveling at more than 2,000 miles per hour.

Each of the armored doors weighs over one ton. Directly inside the armored doors is New Jersey's primary wheel. Within this area are the ship's RPM indicator, engine telegraphs, communications gear, and other equipment needed to "conn" the ship. If damage occurred to the "battle conn," there are four "back-up" steering locations within the sheep.

Outside the Conning Tower are several stations used for reading navigational charts. There are also three SPA-25 surface search repeaters on the Navigation Bridge:

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one is inside "Battle Conn," another is located near the Captain's Chair, and the final station is within the Chart House.

The Chart House, located just behind the Conning Tower, was used to store the ship's navigational charts. It also housed the ship's sailing plan, and a marine navigation system that assisted the navigators in determining New Jersey's position. Although at-sea operations were conducted from the Navigation Bridge when entering or leaving port, New Jersey was typically "conned" from the 08 Level Bridge, which allowed for a full 360-degree view of the ship and her surroundings.

[Captions:]
Above: A rare 1943 interior view of the round bridge which was unique to New Jersey. Each armored door weighs more than a ton.

Above and Below: During her long career, New Jersey had no less than three different bridge designs; the original open bridge was replaced by the rounded bridge seen above immediately after her sea trials in October 1943. New Jersey fought most of World War II with this unique curved bridge layout. In early 1945, the design was changed to the "square bridge" seen today and is common to all four Iowa Class battleships.

The picture below dates from 1984.

Erected by Battleship

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 21, 2023

2. 04 Level Navigation Bridge Marker

New Jersey.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1943.

Location. 39° 56.374′ N, 75° 7.989′ W. Marker is in Camden, New Jersey, in Camden County. It is in Central Waterfront. It can be reached from Clinton Street west of South Delaware Avenue, on the right when traveling south. The marker is onboard the USS New Jersey. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Clinton St, Camden NJ 08103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Jersey

and in Greater Philadelphia.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Close-In Weapons System (here, next to this marker); Fleet Admiral William Halsey

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(here, next to this marker); Admiral's Flag Bridge (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Admiral's Flag Bridge (a few steps from this marker); Aiming the Secondary Guns (a few steps from this marker); Admirals and the Flag Cabin (a few steps from this marker); Aiming the Big Guns (a few steps from this marker); Mark 36 Super Rapid Bloom Offboard Chaff (SRBOC) (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Camden.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 24, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 585 times since then and 78 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 24, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.