HistPhot

U.S.S. TEXAS - BB35

A Ship's History in Photos

Click on any of the six following ship silhouettes to see 90 years of photos, from an empty building way where her keel was laid to how she appears now.

Many thanks to Barry Ward and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for access to the Battleship Texas photos archives, and to Chuck Moore for providing all of the scan work. For highly detailed and accurate technical information, visit Chuck's website on Battleship Texas at: http://users3.ev1.net/~cfmoore/

Starting with an empty way at Newport News Shipyard, hull #147 is built, launched, completed and then goes through sea trials. She is then accepted by the Navy and commissioned into active service.

The powerful new ship participates in a World War and is part of a modern navy that projects its power around the world. However, the rapid advance of technology over a ten year period makes Texas slide toward obsolescence.

Texas emerges from the shipyard after a major renovation to participate in a golden age of battleships prior to the hard lessons of World War II. She is part of a world and strategy where aircraft play a secondary role and war at sea will be decided by monumental battles between warships carrying big guns.

Hard lessons are learned at Pearl Harbor and Texas begins her last series of transformations pushed by breakneck-speed technology and rapid changes in naval warfare. Even though hopelessly outclassed by 30+ knot battleships that fire 16" projectiles 25 miles, she still performs admirably by providing support at North Africa, Normandy, Cherbourg and in the South Pacific. Her career ends after Japan's surrender by acting as a troop transport in Operation Magic Carpet.

Texas is mothballed after the end of the war. The old battlewagon is saved from the fate of her sister ships largely through penny drives by the school children of Texas. The retired ship is towed to the San Jacinto battleground in LaPorte, Texas and put on permanent display. From 1948 through the early '80's, a lack of funds and improper maintenance results in gradual and serious deterioration, but at least she is saved from the breakers to become the last of an era.

The ship is rescued with an expensive and lengthy trip to drydock in 1988. The work continues through ongoing efforts by the state and numerous volunteers to preserve and restore the ship to an appearance very close to what it was in her final days of service.

	Starting with an empty way at Newport News Shipyard, hull #147 is built, launched, completed and then goes through sea trials. She is then accepted by the Navy and commissioned into active service.
	The powerful new ship participates in a World War and is part of a modern navy that projects its power around the world. However, the rapid advance of technology over a ten year period makes Texas slide toward obsolescence.
	Texas emerges from the shipyard after a major renovation to participate in a golden age of battleships prior to the hard lessons of World War II. She is part of a world and strategy where aircraft play a secondary role and war at sea will be decided by monumental battles between warships carrying big guns.
	Hard lessons are learned at Pearl Harbor and Texas begins her last series of transformations pushed by breakneck-speed technology and rapid changes in naval warfare. Even though hopelessly outclassed by 30+ knot battleships that fire 16" projectiles 25 miles, she still performs admirably by providing support at North Africa, Normandy, Cherbourg and in the South Pacific. Her career ends after Japan's surrender by acting as a troop transport in Operation Magic Carpet.
	Texas is mothballed after the end of the war. The old battlewagon is saved from the fate of her sister ships largely through penny drives by the school children of Texas. The retired ship is towed to the San Jacinto battleground in LaPorte, Texas and put on permanent display. From 1948 through the early '80's, a lack of funds and improper maintenance results in gradual and serious deterioration, but at least she is saved from the breakers to become the last of an era.
	The ship is rescued with an expensive and lengthy trip to drydock in 1988. The work continues through ongoing efforts by the state and numerous volunteers to preserve and restore the ship to an appearance very close to what it was in her final days of service.