U.S.S. TEXAS - BB35

3rd Deck

Be sure to click on the stars and arrows on the deck plan shown below to see photos taken from that spot on the ship and in the direction the arrow points.

This was originally called the Berth Deck in the early years of the ship because it provided most sleeping areas for sailors, who slept in hammocks hung from hooks in the overhead.  Coal bunkers located outboard the two main passageways were converted to crew spaces when the ship was fitted with oil fired boilers.  Proper bunks with springs and mattresses were eventually added in the late 1930's.  All of the small symbols are bunk locations, and the numbers 2,3 or 4 on them indicates how high they are stacked.

Vital equipment such as the main water condensers, used to desalinate water for the boilers, the main radio room, refrigeration equipment and machine shops are also located on this level.  The two passageways running almost the entire length of the ship at this level are called Ammo Passages.  Rails mounted in the overhead along them allowed the transfer of projectiles and powder from magazines in one end of the ship to the other. 

The majority of this deck is only a few feet above the water line.  Therefore, hatches through bulkheads and into compartments are not only watertight, but also set several inches above deck level.  This helped control and isolate flooding if there was a hull penetration.  Access into major areas such as the magazines, handling rooms, engine rooms and boiler rooms was made directly through hatches in the bulkheads and deck all along this level.