1999 Battleship NJ Condition Report: Part 1

[@mikemissel7785]

When we decommissioned her the Captain wanted to make sure we treated her with care in case of they needed to bring her back. Plus NAVSEA very picky on how she was laid up also.

[@Milkman3572000]

Sir, You Rock. Well done.

[@toddmetzger]

The BBs deserve the utmost respect! Especially as a possible WW3 looms on the horizon. Some could argue it's already here, the opening shots fired while the politicians dance around the facts.

[@KkevrockK]

@@toddmetzger lmao, nothing has changed in the past decade besides the fact the media pointed your nose towards what they want you to see. I’d encourage you to do some research

[@Masada1911]

Hey! I watched the video you did of you walking around the engineering spaces. That was really awesome to see, thank you for taking the time to do that

[@geneziemba9159]

Even though I too started getting motion sickness at about the 15 minute point, this was really a interesting documentation of material conditions at the starting point. Kudos to the volunteer for the high quality transfer from tape to digital. Looking forward to additional segments.

[@tomasthomas8563]

A lot of the bunks and lockers are manufactured on an assembly line type of process. The metal arrives at the plant on a 10ton roll and is cut by laser, bent by automated machine, primed by machine, assembled by man and machines, spot welded by machine, and ultimately painted by machine in a parcial vacuum to prevent contamination of the paint. After all that the item is baked in a oven to make the paint harder. Real amazing process when you think about it.

[@CAPNMAC82]

"Waiting Area" exists outside the XO's office whether designed or not. Between Department Heads and Mast regulars, it's kind of like the lobby of a courthouse . . . 🙂

[@andrewhoughton8606]

It makes sense that it would be there but it was probably only for the senior officers

[@foxbodyblues6709]

“mast regulars” great line!!

[@CAPNMAC82]

@@foxbodyblues6709 Not mine; older than I am, actually. Probably coined early in my Father's generation.

[@toddmetzger]

Perfect when you're called to the carpet!

[@michaelnieman6218]

So it's enter at your own risk area

[@robertgutheridge9672]

Ryan your video production is not bad. In fact I have enjoyed watching it get better and better with time and you get more comfortable being on screen

[@soopaman2]

I am happy you take such good care of the Big J. She deserves it.

[@gmgg424]

Spent a lot of time in the armory. Video brought back some memories. Area shown after the armory was the senior officers staterooms. X0 cabin was right across from the armory.

[@agenericaccount3935]

The aspect ratio always brings me back. What a great find. Total time capsule. I do echo Ryan’s sentiment though. This could have benefited from a wider angle lens (and a gimbal, sheesh!)

[@bower31]

This could have benefitted from not telling the cameraman what the zoom button was.

[@LenKusov]

@@bower31 Nah, I've shot a lot on a late 80s fullsize VHS camcorder like the ones they probably shot this on (since these WERE fullsize tapes and not VHS-C) and almost all of them have an annoyingly narrow FOV. You can see when they pan away from the bulkhead signs that they zoom out as far as the camera will go, but between the small spaces on the ship, narrow FOV of the camera, the wimpy halogen video light the cameras use in dark spaces, and the lack of resolution meaning close-up shots are the only way to show details on condition, it makes sense. But, the person behind the camera clearly is not used to shooting from the shoulder cause you can tell they aren't bending their knees when they walk or using their arms as a gimbal, that shows up REALLY strongly on such a narrow FOV camera. There's a reason most people doing action shoots spent the extra cash on a Sony VX1000 with its wide-angle lens and mechanical lens stabilizer, but the Navy probably shot this on a Panasonic PV-420D.

[@gdrriley420]

Gimbal wasn't a thing back then, I don't remember if glidecams or something of the like existed that long ago its almost certainly a fixed zoom lens so you would have needed to use a screw on wide angle adapter,

[@LenKusov]

@@gdrriley420 Gimbals WERE a thing back then, fully mechanical SteadiCams were invented in 1975 and by 1988 they'd started using an electromechanical system integrated into the camera's optics on high end camcorders. Being as this was filmed in 1999, there was NO shortage of stabilized professional camcorders. Likewise with the lenses, almost all camcorders of the era had fully zoom and while the lens itself was permanently attached, snap-on or screw-on fisheye lenses were available (and popular) for most of the good camcorders. Judging by some of the idiosyncrasies of the actual video though, it's probably a Panasonic single-CCD (the horizontal wobble on light and dark and the particular way colors show gives it away) from the late 80s that they still had in inventory and either didn't wanna replace or used just so they could shoot full-size full-length tapes.

[@gdrriley420]

@@LenKusov they weren't a thing in terms of you wouldn't expect nearly everyone to have one. this is the gov famously cheap on most things

[@F-Man]

Woah, this is gonna be an eye opener!

[@EMJ31]

Ryan and Libby if I’m not mistaken, the asbestos signs are probably due to the 9ish by 9ish inch flooring tiles. Unfortunately I had a friend die of mesothelioma, and in learning about his situation in doing renovations, etc, it was said that this particular size of floor tile is usually going to be impregnated with asbestos, due to its age. Same with the mastic that was used to install in. Generally, if it’s intact, then it’s supposed to be pretty much OK. That’s one of those sad things from the past, where I’ve heard ex military people talk of how fire resistant the stuff is, and that they felt it saved lives - but since the 1930s the manufacturers knew it was hurting people, and covered that up for several years.

[@brentbarr498]

I'm glad you're SO happy about this glorious find! It's a real peek into the past!! I envy you watching this...

[@thurin84]

it was really interesting seeing the found footage of the "ensign witch project".

[@gunnest6939]

'Jersey Witch Project' ' J-Files' with Special Agent Volunteers Moldy and Scullery.

[@stanbrow]

Love this,please continue this series

[@robertstone9988]

The u.s. Navy must be like the number one purchaser of gray paint in the world

[@alanbare8319]

I look forward to seeing the engineering spaces!

[@shorey66]

This is great. Can't wait for more videos. Good job guys.

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

Our plan is to do Watch With Us Wednesdays and show a new clip ever Wednesday

[@shorey66]

@@BattleshipNewJersey great idea. Will make a great playlist.

[@ghost307]

It's beyond infuriating that we had both accommodation ladders at one time and nobody knows what happened to them.

[@robertsanders6463]

Well done and vessel is in good shape. Looking forward to future episodes. Thank you

[@daflea66]

Pretty nice to see this footage. Thank you.

[@jaynichols6972]

Great video Ryan! Can't wait to see more of the ship from that time.

[@deaks25]

I think for me the engineering spaces are going to be the most interesting to see, mainly because those are always interesting spaces to see. The tapes are a really great find, both for the ship's history and also to see how much effort goes into maintaining a mothballed ship.

[@DPtheOG]

I like to watch these videos as a break from the war coverage, keep it up.

[@Deltarious]

"How many officer's staterooms do you want to see on your tour of the ship?" All of them. I may not be like the average tourist, though!

[@doubleutubefan5]

all 397 of them! (I made that number up)

[@kspoerle]

Great video. Thanks Ryan!

[@sideshowbob1544]

You gotta love that navy cinematography! 😉👍

[@bigstick6332]

Awesome as always Ryan. Can’t wait for the rest of these.

[@Convoycrazy]

Neat little time capsule there. Really enjoyed this. Can’t wait to see the engineering spaces

[@michaelsommers2356]

What luxury! The officers had springs in their racks, not just sheet metal covered by a two-inch-thick foam mattress.

[@ed9492]

That luxury won't help them when the revolution comes.

[@michaelsommers2356]

@@ed9492 Since the museum is not allowed to use the ship's engines, they won't be making any more revolutions.

[@doctordoom1337]

It really does seem that New Jersey is in the best condition of the 4, even with having the most mileage and service length.

[@andrewhoughton8606]

That brings up the question of why they kept Iowa on the reserve list instead as Iowa y turret was broken

[@doctordoom1337]

@@andrewhoughton8606 New Jersey and Wisconsin were on the reserve list. There was a massive push for NJ to become a museum ship and when all the paperwork was done she was swapped with Iowa.

[@andrewhoughton8606]

It does show what there priority of the ships where then as they kept the only ship that was damaged in reserve along with the ship that was used least but also had the damage done to it if remember correctly

[@Mrcaffinebean]

This was really fun! The camera work improved as time went on luckily!

[@bedrat2223]

This is awesome, I can't wait to see what CIC looked liked. I'm wondering if they stripped all the Phalanx CIWS equipment out already in this video.

[@8018duke]

Wow can't wait to see what's next on these videos. What a great find. I wonder if they did this video process with all mothballed ships.

[@31dknight]

Great video from the battleship.

[@georgedistel1203]

Have you noticed that the fluorescent lights will fade out things. We had some posters that were exposed to that type of lighting and it just ruined those .

[@turbobird2000]

Turrets and magazines my vote for areas to see… love this stuff.

[@reclusivegrub]

I wish you had the space to upload the videos in their entirety so we could view at home. Since I am retired and a Navy brat this type of viewing would be worth spending time watching.

[@davelewandoski4292]

was this done by a Jr High Camera club? Holy cow! Thanks for sharing Ryan.

[@BSCMikey]

i wonder if the walkways are still in the ship. like in one of the many bunk rooms like he says there is repetition there is plenty of places they could be on the ship and you walk past it daily and dont notice it inside the freezers dry goods storage rooms

[@wayneparris3439]

Kind of came in the middle so now to go back and watch from the start. It is interesting to see how she looked in that time frame!

[@darrenhersey9794]

You asked why the asbestos stickers are in every space. I'd bet they did it because you don't get in trouble for putting a sticker somewhere it isn't needed, but you do get into trouble for missing a space that did need it so someone just said, "Put them everywhere and then we are covered!"

[@Backdaft94]

Probably in the minority but had finally acclimated to the New Jersey Witch Project video 5 min before it ended, so I could have tolerated for the video to continue for much longer. Hope you manage to make it all the was through can’t wait to see the turrets, fun rooms, and mags.

[@burroaks7]

super friggen awesome cant wait for the next installment!!!!

[@johnslaughter5475]

Great video, Ryan, and commentary. Right at the start as you began viewing the video, you said you thought the compartment was used by the Marines. I don't think so. The target clearly showed it was the responsibility of 1st Division - Deck Divisions Boatswain's Mates.

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

That space was used by the marines in WWII, guess we didn't mention the change!

[@RailPreserver2K]

Ryan you need to look at the footage of SS United States when it was laid up in the early 90s the two-part recording is on KZbin

[@dannyisaacs7552]

It would be neat to create a before and after type of video to show the 22 years of progress the ship has made restoring the spaces. i.e. 1999 CEC then 2022 CEC. So much has been done that first time tour groups just don't know what it took to get where she is now.

[@kevinstonerock3158]

Watching this causes you to appreciate a professional photographer. Between being dizzy and moving so quickly that you can’t focus on the details it doesn’t allow you to create in depth conditions footage. If done right it would have taken at least a dozen cassettes to look at and document everything you’re seeing, especially if taken at an original SP time format which would be 2 hours per tape. That said, it’s still helpful for inventory and equipment placement for staging purposes.

[@andrewhoughton8606]

The area most useful to see would be the CEC as u said that was stripped bare but when was it and u said this was 1999 but was this before the ship was stripped or after and was this to see which ship would be keeped

[@kspoerle]

The rifles for ships company were usually M14 's. We didn't carry M16s on any of the ships I served on at least in the time period 1974 thru 1996

[@jessekauffman3336]

Really cool to see this

[@nickpopelka]

Its like finding old home videos lol

[@bosch3540]

"It's good to see that our videos aren't the worst produced out there" hahahahaha. I present to you the federal government employee.

[@joshualee1367]

Hey Ryan during her time in mothballs does the navy ever go on the ship for any kind of maintenance.

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

In mothballs there is a small crew assigned to inspect and basically make sure she isn't sinking.

[@chief80-s3r]

Radio central on the main deck, there is an overhead beam that is bent. Do you have any information how that happened?

[@FxsX24]

Chuck Norris may have done a pull up.

[@cfd244]

Back to your "job"? Gotta be the coolest job EVER!

[@TheJudge2017]

What an amazing find. Can we get a overlay of where these spaces are on the ship? As someone who has never been on NJ I think that might help alot.

[@doubleutubefan5]

While an overlay would require more editing you can follow along by getting Google image schematics It's publicly available now

[@Jonathan-NC]

Hey Ryan, how long did it take for you guys to make the ship a museum once the Navy turned it over to the state

[@dannyisaacs7552]

I bet one of reasons the doors and drawers in the staterooms were tied shut was to keep mice out maybe.

[@andrealeighv1]

Loved the video and awesome job digitizing them. I will admit to being just a little hopeful that Libby was going to Rickroll Ryan at the very beginning.

[@champion8459]

Hello, love the videos. Just a thought, for an intro.. maybe a picture of battleship New Jersey or a 5-second drone shot of the ship, that way people will have a fresh image of what you're talking about. You refer to battleship New Jersey all the time but never show an actual picture of it. Love what you're doing and you're great with your videos. (And maybe a go fund me page for that poor belt lmao jk) Nice job!

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

There is a 5 second clip of the ship at the beginning of every video, you can see her fire her guns!

[@champion8459]

@@BattleshipNewJersey Oh wow, I was thinking of something we could actually see. If you didn't tell me to look through the letters, and have to pause the video to look at the grainiest silhouette of a ship I never would have seen it .. I mean if that's what you're going to go with, maybe don't cover it up?

[@ghost307]

@@champion8459 Google Maps is your friend.

[@GoobiesFunZone]

Has there ever been a video about the pay phone on New Jersey

[@johngallus1735]

Great idea doing these videos

[@BSCMikey]

there are soo many spaces on 2nd deck those ladders could still be with crap piled on top of them out of curiosity what is bucket storage 2-43-4-A and Chemical warfare 3-50-0-A?

[@earl556]

Very neat video

[@72polara]

It's really neat to see how the was back then. This should really help with some of the little details. Guess we need to find an ice cream machine for the wardroom.

[@waldoman321]

What small arms were typically carried by the ships company?

[@imichaeldotorg]

You mentioned the asbestos signs were not necessary - was there asbestos on the ship at one point?

[@FxsX24]

Does the source video have audio with it? I would assume there is a person mentioning details much like Ryan is

[@jethro784]

Right on my bday

[@atomicshadowman9143]

Happy birthday

[@F-Man]

Happy Birthday! 🎉

[@Masada1911]

Happy birthday friend

[@donaldkwasnicki9554]

Awesome video

[@JVoltCUAF]

which of the 4 iowas is the most complete?

[@Masada1911]

Wisconsin probably

[@cannon440]

The videographer was totally inept.

[@oh58d2003]

Do you let former Sailors/Officers of the New Jersey go to their former state rooms or berthing space?

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

We do, as long as they can safely get there. The ladders are steep!

[@rogerbemis5859]

COOL! 📼

[@acester86]

I think it would be cool to reset some of the duplicate spaces to earlier eras.

[@Milkman3572000]

After the You tube videos.. You GOTTA sell the videos.. $$$

[@lawrencehudson9939]

I lasted only 5 minutes before motion sickness and vertigo. Call me a wimp. Perhaps instead of subjecting us to the wild ride still screen shots could be compiled of significant points such as the tied down equipment and paint conditions. Sorry, that is as I got.

[@jessekauffman3336]

Isn’t the asbestos under the tile?

[@elel928]

This could be a pub quiz for Ryan. Can he name the room before the camera focuses on the name-numbering plaque.

[@HerpDerpNV]

2:53 LOL

[@curtvote1099]

I'm lost and I'm not even on the ship.

[@andrewhoughton8606]

I would like to see that armoury as that has not come up on your videos before

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

It's currently storage for our caterers.

[@andrewhoughton8606]

I just thought a cool idea as it is around 20 years after u have got the ship it would be cool to do something similar now to show how the ship is in the bulk of areas

[@earlyriser8998]

i got dizzy watching this

[@johnmcclish2735]

cool

[@tyguy1873]

Not the subject of the video, but I watched Battleship with the wife last night and she got mad at me for meticulously calling BS on them for getting Missouri running in a matter of what seemed hours instead months at minimum lol.

[@jeremykamel9655]

Did the navy remediate the asbestos?

[@Masada1911]

Yes. As I understand it anyway

[@chrisconklin873]

WOW

[@lonnyyoung4285]

This should be interesting.

[@NomadShadow1]

Cool

[@federicovago8884]

Looks like the blair witch project lol

[@jessekauffman3336]

I took my kids then 2 and 4 to see her float down the Delaware

[@Thepuffingyank]

questions. does the ship have its own warehouse space? or are items warehoused onboard? also . something tells me the taylor machines the military uses are of better construction than the ones they make for mcdonalds

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

Warehouse is a strong description but we do have many many storage spaces

[@Thepuffingyank]

Those walkways look like the type of thing to get wrapped in a tarp and waylaid in an obscure spot.

[@lenger1234]

@@Thepuffingyank I'm taking notes for convient body disposal.... just in case

[@wheels-n-tires1846]

Totally!!! A few mad customers at McDonalds pales in comparison to mutiny of a battleship crew!!! 🤣🤣

[@CULatte]

Would it be plausible to do like a side by side walkthrough and do a comparison? I might forgive vertical video for this purpose

[@matthewalker]

A then and now comparison of some of the more interesting spaces would be great!

[@doubleutubefan5]

@@matthewalker Yes!

[@spades1080]

Officer state rooms? My answer is 10. If there are more than 10 of anything that's how many I want to see. Lol!

[@georgesmith8113]

👍👊😎

[@willausterman3104]

Time to get a new ice cream machine?

[@kspoerle]

In the wardroom those tapered steel beams are boat booms

[@davidrenwick6718]

Engine room

[@ashman187]

BB = Bremerton Blog

[@Joe-Dead]

taylor? is that the same company that makes the lockdowned and always down soft serve machines for mcdonalds? o.O

[@matthewmartin5763]

I betcha that ice cream machine is sitting in a McDonald's somewhere doing what it was built to do. Not work.

[@wheels-n-tires1846]

I bet the Navy versions were built better. A few mad McDonalds customers- no biggie. But who wants to be responsible for a battleship crew mutiny??? 🤣