 Due to heavy loss rates of U.S. aircraft ( commencing with Operation Rolling Thunder in 1965 ) , studies were conducted on ways of alleviating those air losses while at the same time delivering the ordnance payloads required by the escalation of the war . On 31 May 1967 the Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara authorized a study aimed at determining what would be required to get New Jersey reactivated in her present condition , and when the results of the submitted study proved favorable toward the reactivation he took action . In August 1967 the Secretary of Defense made the decision to recommission a battleship " for employment in the Pacific Fleet to augment the naval gunfire support force in Southeast Asia " . New Jersey was selected for this task because she was in better material condition than her sisters , having received an extensive overhaul prior to decommissioning . Upon her reactivation she underwent a period of modernization during which the 20 mm and 40 mm anti @-@ aircraft guns on the battleship were removed , and she received improved electronic warfare systems and improvements to her radar . Armed as such New Jersey was formally recommissioned 6 April 1968 at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard , Captain J. Edward Snyder in command . 
