Battleship Texas - BB35 Baytown, Texas

[PhotoKirk]

I am a Texan. When I hear USS Texas, I think of BB-35.


Located at the San Jacinto Battleground, just east of Houston is the last of the dreadnaughts, the Battleship Texas.


Texas was armed with 10 14-inch guns in five turrets.




Inside the number 1 turret.


Texas' secondary armament was originally 21 5-inch guns in casemates on the side of the hull. In 1927 the number of 5-inch guns was reduced to 6 and they were relocated to the "air-castles" on the second deck.


Looking aft, you can see rear-most 5-inch gun of the air-castle.


Looking forward, you can see Texas' anti_aircraft armament of 3-inch guns, 40mm cannon and 20mm cannon. The saw-toothed shape of the hull is due to the original placement of the 5-inch guns. The gun director can be seen at the right edge of the frame.


One of the 3-inch AA guns with the San Jacinto Monument in the background.


The armored conning tower was hit by a 240mm German shell in 1944 killing the helmsman and wounding 10 others.


The galley was located on deck, just forward of the number 3 turret. Texas was the first Navy ship to have electric ovens.

[PhotoKirk]

Food was served to the crew in the cafeteria on the second deck, but most sailors ate at their bunks.


For $20 a month, officers had their meals in the officers' mess. They were served on real china plates, with cloth napkins and silver utensils.


The barbershop was always busy when sailors were due for shore leave.


The ship's dentist treated sailors from Texas, as well as smaller ships that lacked a dentist.


Wounded sailors and marines were treated in Texas' operating room.


Deep in the hull was Texas' radar room. It was one of the few compartments of the ship that was air-conditioned. Texas mounted both SG (surface) and SK (air) radar.


The casemate area was converted to crew berths in 1927.


Originally a coal-burning ship, Texas used triple-expansion engines instead of turbines. In 1925, Texas was converted to an oil-burning ship.


This ends my tour. I hope you enjoyed it.

[havasu]

Thanks for the great pictorial tour!

[ryanXmc]

Indeed an excellent tour of the ship. Well done

[Cap'n Crunch Killa]

I have never been on the Texas but I have been to the San Jacinto monument. After this thread I looked to see if there is another USS Texas and since 2006 there is, a submarine. I'm also a Texan and of course wish the next air craft carrier could have been named Texas.
Have you seen the Lexington in Corpus?

[JCJ]

Great stuff Kirk, thanks for sharing.

[blucher]

The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters.

[RiponredTJ]

Originally Posted by havasu

Thanks for the great pictorial tour!

I will second that emotion