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Visit to the USS Texas
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When the battleship USS TEX4S was commissioned on March 12, 1914, her 14-inch guns were the world's largest and she was the most powerful weapon on earth.
This technological marvel of her time served with the British Grand Fleet in World War I and was the flag- ship oF the entire Unired Stares Navy beween the two World Wars.
During World War II, an aging USS TEXAS supported amphibious invasions in North Africa, Normandy D-Day, Southern France, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
She and her crew were preparing for the invasion ofJapan when the war ended and the Battleship TEXAS came home.
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Notice how the ships sided (beam) flare out at the water line, the reason was probably two fold:
When the 14" rifles were fired off the side of the ship it created a tremendous side ways thrust wich made the ship roll away from the blast pressure, so the wider beam helped stabilize the ship.
A second reason was the ship had armour belting at the waterline to help protect against torpedoes and mines.
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As we approach from the parking lot.
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Its like a crows nest.
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Betty is getting close to some shooting irons.
This is a 14" bullet, from the main battery on the Texas, its almost as tall as Betty.
I don't know if these are 14" projectiles, here are some 16" projectiles at Nimitz.
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Betty approaching the Texas.
You can see gun turret numbers 5,4 and 3, 14" mounts as well as 14" projectiles (bullets) on either side of the walkway to the Texas.
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Betty on the main deck beside one of the 5" guns.
These were before the WW-II 5"ers, they have seperate bullet and propellant.
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A little closer look at Betty and the 5"er.
Note the 5" projectiles, on a rack with yellow noses, in the background, just to the right of Betty's head.
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As she walks forward by number two mount, you can see number one mount in front and to her left.
On her right is a pair of 20mm machine guns.
To her left, notice the ring fasteners on this side of number two turret, Thats probably for the starboard paravane.
The Port Paravane is still mounted on the other side of turret number 2.
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Betty looking at number one mount.
Now thats a shooting iron.
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The bow, see the anchor chains and winch.
You can also see the San Jacinto battle field and monument in front of the ship.
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Yep, those are shooting irons.
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A little different perspective, now you can see 4 14" guns.
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Over on the port side near number one looking back past number one and two turret.
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Inside the starboard side of number one turret, thats a powder bag ready to ram into the breach of a 14" gun.
Its interesting, the inside of this thing is about 10 ft. wide, yet outside its over 20 ft. wide.
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Over on the port side of the number one turret, a bullet is ready to ram into the breach.
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I think this may be the port paravane, on the side of number two turret, used to find mine cables.
There was probably one on the starboard side also, the mount points are on the starboard side of number two turret.
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Looking forward on the port side past number one turret to the San Jacinto monumnet.
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Looking back, on the port side, look at all the gun barrels.
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This is a small part of the battle ship but a lot of gun barrels.
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Part of the crew's mess.
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Dishes in wall rack.
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Officers ward room.
Betty is looking at silverware in the display case.
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Some of the silverware in the Texas' officers wardroom.
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Table set in officer's ward room.
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More silver.
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The officers ward room is large, there were lots of officers.
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A torphy cabinet.
Remember the Texas fought in both world wars.
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Buffet in the officer's ward room with a model sailing ship on top.
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Bunks and lockers in a passageway.
As the Texas armaments were increased more crew was required to man them, thus more bunks and locker were needed.
The Texas' crew went from about 1000 to 1800 as armaments were added.
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Don't know what this compartment was.
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An officer's quarters.
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Officer's head.
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Ward room pantry.
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A serious water tight door.
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Edge of a water tight door.
Thats solid cast iron.
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A crew's head.
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Passageway lined with lockers and storage.
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Crew bunk room, note hammock hanging from hooks on the overhead.
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Close up of hammock hooks on overhead member.
There could have been a lot of hammocks hanging in here.
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Crew's mess.
Notice the elevator just to the left of the fan, the galley was on the main deck, along with the bakery, for cooling.
The designers didn't want all that heat below deck, ther was no AC on the Texas originally.
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Closer look at the elevator up to the galley.
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More bunks in the passageway.
There were lockers on the wall behind Betty.
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The dentist's office aboard the Texas.
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16 " projectiles at Fredericksburg.
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Legend for 16" projectiles.
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