Battleship Texas (BB-35) Facts

The battleship Texas, or more formally USS Texas (BB-35), was the 2^nd overall ship in the history of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the great state of Texas and is a New York class battleship. The vessel was launched on May 18^th, 1912 and commissioned on March 12^th, 1914. Shortly after commissioning, the ship would see action in Mexico following the “Tampico Incident” and would then sortie to the North Sea during World War One. Once the United States formally entered WW2, the Texas would start conducted escort duty for convoys that were scheduled to cross the Atlantic. The ship would see continued naval service throughout the end of WW2 and ultimately be decommissioned in 1948 after earning five battle stars during World War Two.

The Texas is one of the few remaining dreadnought battleships still in existence today; although not the oldest. She is one of only six surviving ships which served in both of the World Wars. Texas is notable for the following WW2 facts: 1 – She was the first United States Navy battleship to employ anti-aircraft guns, the first ship to use directors for controlling gunfire, the first United States battleship to launch aircraft, the first to receive the CXAM-1 version of the CXAM production radar in the United States Navy, the first USN battleship to become both a permanent museum ship and to be declared a United States National Historic Landmark.

Battleship Texas Career

Namesake:         The State of Texas
Ordered:             24 June 1910

Awarded:            17 December 1910
Builder:            Newport News Shipbuilding Company
Cost:                      $5,830,000 ($144 million in today’s dollars) (excluding armor and armament)
Yard number:    31
Laid down:          17 April 1911
Launched:           18 May 1912
Sponsored by:   Miss Claudia Lyon
Completed:        12 March 1914
Commissioned:                12 March 1914
Decommissioned: 21 April 1948
Struck:  30 April 1948
Honors and awards: 5 Battle Stars
Current Status: Museum ship

USS Texas Characteristics

General characteristics (1914) (On Commissioning)
Class & type:     New York-class battleship
Displacement:  27,000 long tons (27,000 t)
Length: 573 ft (175 m)
Beam:   95 ft 3 in (29.03 m)
Draft:    27 ft 10.5 in (8.496 m) (normal)
29 ft 3.25 in (8.9218 m)(full)
Propulsion:        2 × dual-acting triple expansion reciprocating steam engines
Speed:                  21 knots (24 mph; 39 km/h)
Complement:    1,048 +/- 5 officers and men
Armament:        
10 × 14 in (360 mm)/45 cal guns (5 × 2)
21 × 5 in (130 mm)/51 cal guns
4 × 3-pounder (1.4 kg) guns
4 × 21 in (530 mm) submerged torpedo tubes
Ship Armor:       
Belt:
10 to 12 in (250 to 300 mm) (midships)

6 in (150 mm) (aft)
Barbettes:
5 to 12 in (130 to 300 mm)
Bulkheads:
10 in (250 mm) and 11 in (280 mm)
9 in (230 mm) (lower belt aft)
Decks:
1.5 to 3 in (38 to 76 mm)
Turrets:
14 in (360 mm) (face)
4 in (100 mm) (top)
8 in (200 mm) – 9 in (230 mm) (sides)
8 in (200 mm) (rear)
General characteristics (1945) (End of WW2)
Displacement:  32,000 long tons (33,000 t) (full load)
Length: 573 ft (175 m)
Beam:   106 ft 0 in (32.31 m)
Draft:    31 ft 6 in (9.60 m)
Propulsion:        2 × dual-acting triple expansion reciprocating steam engines
Speed:                  19.72 knots (22.69 mph; 36.52 km/h)[10]
Endurance:         15,400 nmi (17,722 mi; 28,521 km) at 10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h)
Complement:    1810 officers and men[11]
Sensors and processing systems:            
2 × SG surface search radars
1 × SK air search radar
2 × Mk 3 fire control radar
2 × Mk 10 fire control radar
Ship Armament:              
10 × 14 in (360 mm)/45 cal guns (5 × 2)
6 × 5 in (130 mm)/51 cal guns
10 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 cal guns
10 × quad 40 mm (1.6 in) mounts
44 × 20 mm (0.79 in) guns
Ship Armor:        Same as 1914 characteristics except for the following:
Turrets:
1.75 in (44 mm) added to turret tops
Aircraft carried to the ship:         2 × OS2U Kingfisher

Saving the Battleship Texas Video

USS Texas Construction

The Texas was the first of the two New York Class Battleships authorized by the United States on June 24^th, 1910. The

winning bid to build the battleship was $5,830,000 which excluded the price of the armament and armor which was awarded to the Newport News Shipbuilding Company. The keel for the USS Texas would be laid on April 17^th, 1911 and the ship was launched on May 18^th, 1912. The ship’s sponsor was a Miss Claudia Lyon who was the daughter of a Republican National Committeeman, Colonel Cecil Lyon. The commissioning commanding officer of the ship was Captain Albert W. Grant who helped put the ship in commission on March 12^th, 1914.

At commissioning, the primary battery of the Texas was 10 x 14 inch, 45 caliber Mark 1 guns. They were capable of firing a 1,400 lb armor piercing shell at a range of 11 nautical miles. The secondary battery consisted of 21, five inch, 51 caliber guns. There were also four x 21 inch torpedo tubes with torpedo rooms capable of storing 12 x torpedoes each. The USS Texas and the USS New York, were the only United States battleships that were designed to store and hoist the 14 inch gun ammunition in cast-iron cups with the rounds stored nose-down.

Battleship Texas Museum

The USS Texas was the first United States Battleship to become a floating museum. At the time of this writing, there are eight U.S. Navy battleships which have been converted into museums to include: Alabama, North Carolina, New Jersey, Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Massachusetts. The Texas hosts two radio commemorations a year onboard the ship during Museum Ship Weekend and the Pearl Harbor Commemoration.

The Battleship Texas Museum is located at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department-run San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. The site stretches over 1,200 acres and includes both the ship as well as the San Jacinto Battleground and monument. The entire facility is a short distance from Galveston Island and downtown Houston. The Texas is permanently anchored on the Buffalo Bayou in the Houston Ship Channel. If traveling to the park via car, the address is:
3523 Independence Parkway South
LaPorte, TX 77571
Latitude: 29.755968
Longitude: -95.08974

Battleship Texas Historic Site Official Video

Battleship Texas Tours

There are a variety of ways you can tour the ship when visiting the San Jacinto Battleground State Park. These include:

Battleship TEXAS Self-Guided Tour
This is a self-guided tour of the battleship that lets consumers range the ship to see the bridge, engine room, guns, medical, anchors, and sleeping quarters. Regular admission is charged for the self-guided tour.

San Jacinto Battleground Self-Guided Tour
For those who want to tour the San Jacinto Battleground, this tour lets history fans, students, or just the curious walk to designated locations on the battleground to include the Mexican camps, Texan camps, and the site of advance by the Texan forces along with other strategic locations of the battle. Many of the battleground markers can be viewed from a car.

Confined Space Rescue Training
The Texas is used for a training environment for emergency rescue in confined spaces. Not generally provided to the general public.

Battleship TEXAS Foundation Programs:
Hard Hat Guided Tour
This tour is coordinated through the Battleship Texas Foundation by calling: (713) 827-9620. Visitors are able to tour parts of the ship normally closed to the public.

Battleship Texas Sleep Over
The Battleship Texas Youth Overnight program is targeted to youth between ages of 7 and 18. Kids are able to sleep in crews quarters, participate in various guided tours of the ship normally closed to the public, and get a taste of life of a WW2 sailor. Additional program details are available by calling:  (281) 542-0684.

Battleship Texas References

Battleship Texas Foundation, created to assist ongoing preservation and educational efforts aboard this historic ship. Last accessed 5 May 2013

1944 General Plan for the U.S.S. Texas (BB-35), New York Class, hosted by the Historical Naval Ships Association (HNSA) Digital Collections. Last accessed 5 May 2013.

HNSA Ship Page: USS Texas, last accessed 5 May 2013.

BB35 WWII Action Reports All 6 BB35 World War II reports concerning combat activity. Last accessed 5 May 2013.