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This black & white U.S. Navy recruiting film is about life on the storied battleship USS New Jersey (BB-62) during the Korean War, when the ship was used to bombard enemy positions on the coast, and to interdict enemy shipping. Copyright is 1952.

Opening titles: The United States Navy presents "Floating Fortress" (:07-:32). Shore off Korea. A Communist supply ship heads towards the coast to supply guns to the enemy. The American ship USS New Jersey is there to make sure that doesn't happen. On the bridge, the battleship's captain, probably Capt. David M. Tyree, looks through binoculars. Guns are fired at the enemy. Sailors move the shells into position to fire. TNT powder bags are handled with care (:33-2:32). Officers are at work, looking at maps and plans. The men give orders, the ship's guns are fired up to 20 miles away. Jet planes take off from an aircraft carrier to strike inland They turn in the sky and head inland dropping bombs and firing at targets. Sailors put the shells in position and the guns are fired. Captain uses his binoculars (2:33-4:19). Battle rages at sea. Guns are fired, ships move. Navy men swab the deck. Captain makes sure the Navy men are dressed correctly. Ships laundry room. Bakery at work (4:20-6:20). Baker cuts the cake into small pieces. A cook slices through beef. Men stand in line for their 'grub.' The crew eats their food. Marines aboard the ship have a birthday celebration in private. They enjoy the cake (6:21-7:30). A ship's newspaper is printed to keep everyone informed. Men wait in line to buy supplies at a store. An ice cream shop is also manned by the Navy men. Men eat ice cream. A Navy pharmacist makes an elixir. A doctor checks out a patient. Doctors. Ship's barber shop (7:31-9:00). Mailroom. Mail is sorted. A helicopter takes the mail back to land. Engine room being manned. Machine shop, repair center for the ship. Electric center. Library on the ship. A man reads a book (9:01-10:23). A legal officer offers advice if needed. Men who use sewing machine to keep uniforms in shape. Shoe shop. A man fixes shoes and has nails in his mouth. Ship floats at sea (10:24-11:26). A sunset prayer. A chaplain gives a prayer over the ship's PA system. Men stand and sit quietly. A man stares at his girlfriend's picture. Men reflect and look ahead. Everyone is quiet. All is quiet on the ship's deck. Dawn on the ship. Men get ready and walk around. Captain writes things down. USS New Jersey on patrol (11:27-13:35). End credits (13:36-13:46).

The New Jersey (BB-62) was launched 7 December 1942 by the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. After a long three years of service in WWII, including hosting the formal surrender ceremonies for the Japanese in Tokyo Bay, New Jersey returned to the USA and was mothballed in 1948. The ship was recommissioned in November 1950. She sailed from Norfolk 16 April 1951 and arrived from Japan off the east coast of Korea 17 May. Vice Admiral Harold M. Martin, commanding the Seventh Fleet. placed his flag in New Jersey for the next six months. During her two tours of duty in Korean waters, she was again and again to play the part of seaborne mobile artillery. In direct support to United Nations troops; or in preparation for ground actions, in interdicting Communist supply and communication routes, or in destroying supplies and troop positions, USS New Jersey hurled a weight of steel, fire far beyond the capacity of land artillery, moved rapidly and free from major attack from one target to another, and at the same time could be immediately available to guard aircraft carriers should they require her protection. During the Korean War, she suffered only one casualty, when one of her complement was killed and two severely wounded when she took a hit from a shore battery on her number one turret and received a near miss aft to port.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com