 Early on the morning of 12 October New Jersey trained her guns in anticipation of shelling the heavily fortified and well protected Vinh caves . For the next three days New Jersey pounded the area with her 16 in shells in an effort to eliminate the Viet Cong presence in the region . Aided by spotter aircraft from the aircraft carrier America , New Jersey engaged enemy targets , setting several enemy positions on fire and sealing one cave . On 14 October New Jersey shifted her gunfire to the coastal artillery sites on Hon Matt Island , destroying one battery on the island . 
