 On 28 November — after 23 October 1983 Beirut barracks bombing — the U.S. government announced that New Jersey would be retained off Beirut although her crew would be rotated . On 14 December , New Jersey fired 11 projectiles from her 16 inch ( 406 mm ) guns at hostile positions inland of Beirut . These were the first 16 inch ( 406 mm ) shells fired for effect anywhere in the world since New Jersey ended her time on the gunline in Vietnam in 1969 . This shelling was in response to attacks on U.S. reconnaissance planes by Syrian / Druze antiaircraft batteries . 
