USS TEXAS (BB35) Chronology Texas today at the San Jacinto National Monument. Ph: David Canright.
Planning the Restoration of the Battleship Texas by James D. Bell, Director of Parks Texas Parks & Wildlife Department The oldest battleship in the United States, the USS Texas came under the stewardship of the State of Texas on April 21, 1948. As a pre-World War I battleship, the Texas did not figure prominently in the Navy's plans after World War II-but the ship was a source of pride for the people of Texas! Except for a brief twoyear period, the Texas operated under the Battleship Texas Commission until September 1, 1983. The passage of time has not been kind to the Texas . Effective September 1, 1983, the Texas became a part of the Texas State Park System , a division of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Under Parks and Wildlife, the battleship will enjoy a support organization that it never had previously. This support includes an experienced administrative structure, a development planning unit with a history of a team approach to planning, expertise in historic site planning, and similar expertise in interpretive planning. At the same time, Parks and Wildlife recognized that naval architecture is a very specialized field and that additional expertise will have to be brought to bear. Of equal importance, Parks and Wildlife realizes that large financial resources will be required for a major restoration of the battleship, and that both private and public sources of funds will have to be tapped to achieve the Department's goals. Work is already underway to improve the interpretive signage of the ship and to upgrade the overall appearance of the public areas. Planning for the restoration of the Texas will proceed in stages. The initial stage, already begun , is the investigation stage. The focus is upon obtaining as much data about the condition of the ship as possible. Hull soundings using a Krautkramer Branson SUSL 38 Flaw Detector have already been made. The report on this inspection indicates that the outer blister of the ship retains its structural integrity. A more detailed investigation of the inner hull and the water and oil tanks and ultimately a full study of the entire ship will follow. Its purpose will be to determine what areas to restore and to open to the public. It is the intention of Parks and Wildlife to make accessible to the public as many different areas of the ship as is safely possible, given the limitation of funds. The combination of these two studies will provide the data for estimating the cost of the restoration . A decision on the restoration options will not be made until these data have been gathered. Planning will not be limited to the restoration of the ship, however. Other matters to be addressed include visitor parking, concessions, an administrative center, interpretive displays and other programmed activities for public enjoyment, curation of the ship's many artifacts, and visitor and staff safety. Battleships are tremendously difficult to preserve, but the Texas has played a significant role in the military history of this nation. As a source of pride to all Texans, the Texas is worth every effort required to preserve her as she should be preserved . 16
April 17, 19ll: Laid down at Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Virginia; May 18, 1912: Launched. March 12, 1914: Commissioned at Norfolk . 1914: Late March , proceed New York for gun sights; returning Hampton Roads, proceeded Vera Cruz to land 800 seamen and Marines on April 22, 1914, to protect US citizens and property during political unrest . Returned New York in August, then made another cruise to Mexico in late 1914. 1915-17: Operated with Battleship Force of the Atlantic Fleet in the Atlantic and Caribbean. After US entry into World War I on April 6, 1917, to New York for overhaul. Ran aground off Block Island on September 26, en route England. Returned New York Navy Yard for repairs. 1918: On January 30, sailed for Britain to join Division 9 of the Atlantic Fleet , forming 6th Battle Squadron of British Grand Fleet based at Scapa Flow. On fleet outing, sighted submarine periscope, firtd on it with 5in gun, dodged torpedo: only action WWI. November 21, part of force escorting German High Seas Fleet into Firth of Forth for surrender. December 1, with four other USS battleships, visits Portsmouth and Brest prior recrossing Atlantic to arrive New York December 26. 1919-25: Airplane added on platform on No. 2 turret. March 9, Sopwith Camel makes first flight from US battleship, in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. July, proceeds to Pacific, returning East Coast early in 1924. 1925-27: Reconstructed at Norfolk Navy Yard, converted to oil , bulges added. September 1, 1927, recommissioned, become flagship, C-in-C, US Fleet (Adm. Charles F. Hughes). 1928-41: Carries President Hoover to Pan-American Conference at Havana , Cuba, 1928. September 1939, when WWII erupts in Europe, she is flagship Atlantic Training Squadron. Becomes Atlantic Fleet Flagship (Adm. Ernest J. King). As US expands Atlantic patrols, narrowly misses being torpedoed by U-203 on June 21. 1941-45: Following US entry into WWII , Texas does convoy duty from early January 1942 until November, when initial landings in North Africa with 14in gunfire, November 7. Supports Omaha Beach landings in Normandy invasion , June 6, 1944, provides gunfire support along French coast until June 15-25, hit by a 9in and an llin shell off Cherbourg. Fired total 891 14in. Following repairs, proceeds Mediterranean, supports landings in Southern France August 15, firing 172 14in. Returned New York for 35-day overhaul including new gun liners, added anti-aircraft, etc. November 10, 1944, departs New York for Western Pacific. March 7, joins Iwo Jima bombardment , firing 923 14in. April I, Joins Okinawa bombardment , firing 2019 14in. From May through end of August, when war ends, operating in Philippine waters. Joining "Magic Carpet" fleet , makes three trips bringing US servicemen home from Pacific. 1946 to date: Returns Norfolk February 13, 1946, 32 years, one month after she first put to sea from there. Goes into reserve until donated to State of Texas and re-commissioned as flagsh ip of "Texas Navy" at San Jacinto, April 21, 1948. Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz , Texan-born C-in-C of the Pacific Fleet in WWII, took her under his honorary command as Admiral of the Texas Navy. Administered Battleship Texas Commission , in 1983 she was taken over directly by the State Parks and Wi ldlife Department , and plans were launched for her complete restoration and development as a museum. .t .t .t SEA HISTORY, SPRING 1984