Originally posted by USSWisconsin
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A narrative of that day:
At 0610, Tuesday, 26 March, the world's only active battleship edged slowly away from Pier Six, with the assistance of six tugs, and slipped into the main stream of the Delaware River. What would have been a routine evolution for any other ship was an historical event for NEW JERSEY. The cameras, microphones and pencils of 55 media representatives recorded the events of the day. Throughout that day and the next every system on the ship came under the careful scrutiny of 295 shipyard employees, the Shipyard Commander, Captain Floyd W. Gooch, and the officers and men of NEW JERSEY. At 0600 on the 27th, off the Virginia Capes, NEW JERSEY's engineers began building steam for a full power run, a brutal test of machinery that would extend the battleship to her fullest capacities. At 1039 the pit log read 30 knots. And there had been no casualties. Speed was reduced for a time while the crew ate lunch, and in the afternoon another high speed run was commenced - this one to be full power. The tension in the men's faces was evident, but the only words spoken were those of the officer of the deck and the lee helmsman. All engines were ahead flank. "Indicate 190 rpms", ordered the COD.
"190 turns, aye... 190 indicated and answered for", replied the lee helm. More turns were added. 195.. .200.. .202. At 1547 the OOD ordered maximum turns, 207.
"Pit log reads 35.2 knots", said the lee helm. There were no casualties. NEW JERSEY kept up this tremendous speed for six hours, and when the Captain was satisfied with the performance of his engineering plant, he decided it was time for the final test: to place maximum strain on the plant by going from all ahead flank to all back emergency. Young crew members braced for a tremendous shock. But the Captain appeared confident as he watched the engine order telegraph.
When the order was given there was surprisingly little shock. One could feel the ship slowing, but gear did not tumble about and there were no shuddering vibrations. If anything was noticeable, it was the silence.
A smoke float had been dropped over the side at the instant of reversal to measure the ship's forward progress. It took two miles for the ship to go dead in the water and start to make sternway.
After the tests, a thorough inspection was made of the engineering plant. It checked out perfectly.
As the ship approached Pier Four, Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, at 1400 on Thursday, 28 March, Captain Snyder ordered a broom run up the halyard for all to see - the Navy's traditional symbol for a clean sweep.
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