USS New Jersey Fired over 5,000 Massive 16-Inch Shells During Vietnam War

When it comes to the Vietnam War, you often think of Huey helicopters and bloody jungle fighting. But there was a naval aspect to the conflict as well. The Iowa-class battleship USS New Jersey was recalled to serve off the coast of South Vietnam in 1968 at the end of the Tet Offensive – the surprise attacks carried out by the Communist-led insurgency. The battleship’s mission was simple: Stay close to shore and bomb the enemy into the Stone Age.

The USS New Jersey continued to blast targets until April 1969.