Steve Lackner contributed some fantastic photos from our Battleship NJ sleepover. The posted photos are low-res versions. If you would like the original, full size versions of any photos, contact us through the form here on the site.
Thirty-four Pack 196’ers had the privilege of spending the night on the Battleship New Jersey. What an awesome experience we all had! After arriving late afternoon at the Camden Waterfront, we assembled at the New Jersey welcome area and took turns on a flight simulator. What a way to kick the event off! After the simulator, we were escorted onto the New Jersey, where a large team of volunteer veterans showed us to our berth area below decks. After getting situated in the sleeping area, we assembled a deck above on the mess deck for instructions and announcements. We then experienced a fire drill topside. At the conclusion of the drill, we mustered back to the mess deck for the evening meal (chicken fingers!). As everyone finished their meals, we began the main event of the evening – the guided tour. Since our Pack had 34 attendees, we were split into two groups of 17 for the tour. The boys were able to see a great deal of the ship; favorites included the 16-inch gun turret, the medical bay, and the Captains (at port) quarters. We also got to see one of the 40 mm guns fire! After the concluding the tour, we retired to the mess deck for snacks, card games, a movie, and general merriment. Around 11:00, many of the attendees retired to their bunks and tried to get a night sleep (we all agreed it was a little too warm for us bigger guys). In the morning we assembled for breakfast, packing our gear up, and then were released to wander the ship on self-guided tours. It was a fantastic experience and Pack 196 recommends this historical landmark to everyone.
