Brazos John Posted September 1, 2022 Share Posted September 1, 2022 The USS Texas is heading to Galveston for a long-deserved vacation and facelift. Her hull will be repaired in drydock, since she's been sitting in the water for quite a few years. As a former Boy Scout leader, we spent numerous weekends on board the Texas, touring down where the public couldn't go, with docents that knew some really good stories. She won't be returning to the San Jacinto Memorial, where she's been since about '48, because she can get more paying visitors at other locations. That sounds harsh, but it takes money to maintain such a major attraction, and at San Jacinto, the Texas is a side attraction. She is a star, and deserves a location where she'll get lots of visitors. She's an important part of history, and claims a special spot in the hearts of a whole bunch of Scouts, Veterans, Texans, and Americans! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted September 1, 2022 Share Posted September 1, 2022 Visited twice. Wonderful ship! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted September 1, 2022 Share Posted September 1, 2022 Long , like over 3 hours, but worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badlands Bob #61228 Posted September 1, 2022 Share Posted September 1, 2022 I think Galveston will make a fine new home for the Texas. I'm surprised she is still seaworthy after all these years. A lot of those old ships have been grounded in the mud and had concrete poured around them. I don't think the Alabama has floated since about 1961. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cypress Sun Posted September 1, 2022 Share Posted September 1, 2022 I hope to visit USS Texas one day. Up until a couple of days ago, I wasn't even aware that a WWI battleship still existed. Interesting the USS Texas fired the first American shots of WWI. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Texas_(BB-35) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linn Keller, SASS 27332, BOLD 103 Posted September 1, 2022 Share Posted September 1, 2022 I was honestly shocked at the GPMs they're pumping out of her! I used to throw water for a living ... I know the size pumps needed to move that volume ... most pleased she'll be getting the care she needs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixgun Sheridan Posted September 1, 2022 Share Posted September 1, 2022 I noticed she was a bit low in the stern when she finally reached Galveston. They won't ever admit it, but I suspect they were minutes from disaster when she finally was coaxed into drydock. I also suspect they'll find the damage is a lot worse than previously thought. It's a terrible shame that she's in the condition she's in, but I almost felt the need for a tetanus shot just looking at her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted September 1, 2022 Share Posted September 1, 2022 7 minutes ago, Sixgun Sheridan said: I noticed she was a bit low in the stern when she finally reached Galveston. They won't ever admit it, but I suspect they were minutes from disaster when she finally was coaxed into drydock. I also suspect they'll find the damage is a lot worse than previously thought. It's a terrible shame that she's in the condition she's in, but I almost felt the need for a tetanus shot just looking at her. Is the Battleship Texas Sinking? - Navy General Board Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted September 1, 2022 Share Posted September 1, 2022 From a Facebook friend Well would ya look at that… the bottom of a dreadnought, high and drying, in the year 2022. Note the paravane skeg beneath her forefoot, where the paravane chains would pass through from the bow to keep the minesweeping cables as low in the water as possible. This FANTASTIC photo, apparently taken yesterday evening on a cell phone camera by a hired videographer hired working with the Battleship Texas Foundation, shows in brilliant detail the condition of USS Texas (BB-35) below the waterline. This peek at the bottom half of the ship is a sight not seen in 32 years. Her last day in dry dock last came in February 1990. The red anti-foul coating on her lower hull is clearly exponentially beyond its useful lifespan, and the massive anti-torpedo blisters added to the ship’s original hull form between 1925-7 are readily discernible. Ironically, while the blisters typically provided additional stability to modernized dreadnoughts during active service, they became Texas’ primary adversary in her battle against flooding during recent years. One of her bilge keels, the angled fin under the port blister, is visible as well; these were passive systems for improving ship stability by reducing roll from side-to-side. - Hopefully additional lower hull photos will be forthcoming over Texas’ months (or, rather, years) in dry dock. The bottom of ships are often relegated to the realm of modelers and shipyard workers, but there’s plenty of interesting features down there that are vital to ship functionality. Not to mention the volume of the lower hull - which figures heavily in the ship’s displacement! - Note: I’m unaware the name of the specific individual who took this photo, but would be happy to credit whomever it was should that information be shared. I’m also happy to remove the post if desired for IP purposes - but the image was so good that I wanted to share with the broader community. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixgun Sheridan Posted September 1, 2022 Share Posted September 1, 2022 A sight you'll see nowhere else in the world. She's the only example left from an era when battleships ruled the seas. All the rest are just razor blades or encrusted wrecks on the sea floor. I really hope they don't find anything critically wrong with her and that her time in the shipyard goes smoothly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted September 1, 2022 Share Posted September 1, 2022 More photos found on FB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L Posted September 2, 2022 Share Posted September 2, 2022 The foundations web site has a lot of photos and videos of the restoration work being done on the Guns removed before the move. The new final location has not been determined yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixgun Sheridan Posted September 2, 2022 Share Posted September 2, 2022 As expected most of the holes are near the waterline. I'd still like to see more pictures of the lower hull however. Ryan Szymanski (curator of USS New Jersey) was stating that the biggest problem may be with her torpedo blisters, as they've always leaked from day One and are likely in really bad shape. The problem is they were riveted on and nobody does that kind of work anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted September 2, 2022 Share Posted September 2, 2022 A couple more found on Facebook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted September 3, 2022 Share Posted September 3, 2022 https://fb.watch/fjandvAhpS/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chantry Posted September 3, 2022 Share Posted September 3, 2022 The service of three oldest battleships in the US Navy during WWII (USS Arkansas, USS New York & USS Texas) perhaps doesn't get the attention it deserves. They weren't fast or famous like their much younger cousins the fast battleships, but they were worked pretty hard. USS New York fired so many 14" main gun rounds that she had to be sent back to Pearl Harbor after the invasion of Okinawa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Arkansas_(BB-33)#World_War_II https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_New_York_(BB-34)#World_War_II https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Texas_(BB-35)#World_War_II Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixgun Sheridan Posted September 6, 2022 Share Posted September 6, 2022 The older battleships actually did the lion's share of work in the Pacific during WW2. The fast battleships mostly ferried around admirals and babysat the carriers, while the dreadnoughts spent most their time shelling beaches and covering the landing forces. The problem with all of them was their top speed was usually only around 21 knots, so they weren't much good at doing anything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chantry Posted September 6, 2022 Share Posted September 6, 2022 18 minutes ago, Sixgun Sheridan said: The older battleships actually did the lion's share of work in the Pacific during WW2. The fast battleships mostly ferried around admirals and babysat the carriers, while the dreadnoughts spent most their time shelling beaches and covering the landing forces. The problem with all of them was their top speed was usually only around 21 knots, so they weren't much good at doing anything else. I wouldn't go that far.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Leyte_Gulf#Battle_of_Surigao_Strait_(25_October_1944) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixgun Sheridan Posted September 6, 2022 Share Posted September 6, 2022 Ya I know about that little dust-up. The US Navy destroyers and PT boats did most of the work, and the battleships just finished off what was left while taking all the credit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fort Reno Kid Posted September 6, 2022 Share Posted September 6, 2022 Howdy Pards Don’t pass up an opportunity to visit the Battleship Texas if you have the chance. Very impressive. Been on it a few times. Brief history. Funding approved 1911. Commissioned and put to water in April, 1914. Didn’t see combat in WW1 but ferried convoys across the Atlantic. In WWII participated in the Normandy invasion and took a hit from a German shore battery. Went to the Pacific for a various campaigns to include Iwo Jima. A family story. As kids we were visiting in Houston and took the opportunity to go aboard the Texas. An Uncle declined to go. Said he made a vow in WWII: once he disembarked the ship for the Iwo Jima campaign, he promised himself never to board her again. He didn’t. He was badly wounded and evacuated back to the US and medically discharged after extensive medical treatment and lengthy recovery. Don’t blame him. But do tour it if you get the chance! Adios Fort Reno Kid Keep the shiny side up and the dark side down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixgun Sheridan Posted September 6, 2022 Share Posted September 6, 2022 46 minutes ago, Fort Reno Kid said: Didn’t see combat in WW1 but ferried convoys across the Atlantic. No US capital ships saw any combat during WW1, but the Texas was present for the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet at the end of the war. I remember an ex-sailor being interviewed and saying how they had their guns loaded and trained on the German ships as they were being escorted to Scapa Flow just in case they tried something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted September 16, 2022 Share Posted September 16, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted September 16, 2022 Share Posted September 16, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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