 After rehearsing in the Marshalls for the invasion of the Marianas , New Jersey put to sea 6 June in the screening and bombardment group of Admiral Mitscher 's Task Force . On the second day of preinvasion air strikes , 12 June , New Jersey shot down an enemy torpedo bomber , and during the next two days her heavy guns battered Saipan and Tinian , in advance of the marine landings on 15 June . 
