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Visit to BB Texas - 12/12/2015 9:04:15 PM

IdahoNYer

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While in Houston on business last week, had a chance to visit the BB Texas!

Having been to the BB North Carolina and BB Missouri over the last couple of years, the Texas was unique amongst the three.

Found the casement batteries and the 3" AA guns very antiquated when compared to the 5/38s on the other BBs. Was pretty amazing to see how they squeezed quad 40mm mounts into available open spaces too!

A worthwhile visit if you're in the Houston area. Never ceases to amaze me the detail that went into the design of a BB - and for the Texas, over 100yrs old!

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< Message edited by IdahoNYer -- 12/12/2015 10:16:07 PM >

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/12/2015 9:08:10 PM

IdahoNYer

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Fwd 14" gun

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< Message edited by IdahoNYer -- 12/12/2015 10:16:38 PM >

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/12/2015 9:08:50 PM

IdahoNYer

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5" Casement

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< Message edited by IdahoNYer -- 12/12/2015 10:17:11 PM >

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/12/2015 9:12:25 PM

IdahoNYer

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Looking towards the bow from the Flag Bridge

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/12/2015 9:14:16 PM

IdahoNYer

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One of the starboard 3" AA and Quad 40mm

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/13/2015 1:45:00 AM

Chickenboy

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Very nice. Without a doubt, one of the finest battleships out there.

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/13/2015 5:05:51 AM

crsutton

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I understand she is woefully underfunded. The hull is in such bad shape that if they do not get her out of the water soon it will be bad news.

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/13/2015 4:56:10 PM

IdahoNYer

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quote:

ORIGINAL: crsutton

I understand she is woefully underfunded. The hull is in such bad shape that if they do not get her out of the water soon it will be bad news.

I don't think she's able to be moved. She's got cement pillars holding her in place.

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/14/2015 11:48:41 PM

rustysi

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quote:

ORIGINAL: crsutton

I understand she is woefully underfunded. The hull is in such bad shape that if they do not get her out of the water soon it will be bad news.

Yeah, I saw there was a plan to get her high and dry, but don't know what became of it. BTW she was the only US BB that served in both World Wars.

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/15/2015 12:39:00 AM

geofflambert

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IdahoNYer, thanks, nice pics. I was on her in the late '80s, but you had to fight your way through these clouds of giant mosquitos to reach her.

I understood at that time that her bilge was full of concrete.

< Message edited by geofflambert -- 12/15/2015 1:41:13 AM >

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/15/2015 12:43:23 AM

geofflambert

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I was on the Alabama before, as I understand it, one or more of her 16" barbettes was open to the public.

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/15/2015 6:18:00 AM

LargeSlowTarget

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quote:

ORIGINAL: rustysi

BTW she was the only US BB that served in both World Wars.

Sister ship USS New York and older cousin USS Arkansas also saw service in both World Wars. USS Wyoming was a gunnery training ship in WWII and should be counted in as well.
USS Nevada and USS Oklahoma escorted convoys in the Atlantic during the last months of WWI.

< Message edited by LargeSlowTarget -- 12/15/2015 7:32:22 AM >

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/15/2015 6:54:29 AM

wdolson

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quote:

ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget

Sister ship USS New York and older cousin USS Arkansas also saw service in both World Wars. USS Wyoming was a gunnery training ship in WWII and should be counted in as well.
USS Nevada and USS Oklahoma escorted convoys in the Atlantic during the last months of WWI.

Though the Wyoming was probably the only BB to have 5 inch main armament.

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/15/2015 8:06:20 AM

LargeSlowTarget

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But her service was invaluable. From Wikipedia :

"Over the course of the war, Wyoming trained an estimated 35,000 gunners on seven different types of guns: 5-inch, 3-inch, 1.1-inch, 40-millimeter, and 20-millimeter weapons. Due to her extensive use as a gunnery training ship, she claimed the distinction of firing more ammunition than any other ship in the fleet during the war."

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/15/2015 11:30:35 AM

Mundy

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A BBAA in the TF would be interesting.

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/15/2015 3:47:54 PM

LargeSlowTarget

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Just hit me - what is said about the quality of Wikipedia? "on seven different types" > count them...

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/15/2015 4:54:07 PM

Herrbear

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Thank you for the pictures.

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/15/2015 8:30:55 PM

Toddr22_slith

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I did a hardhat tour of her in 2007. It was incredible to go into the depths of the ship. From her magazines to her engines and boilers, to her CIC with it's primative firing computers. It was really awesome!!

She does not have cement in her bilges, It is sediment that has leaked in. Back in the late 80's they floated her down to Galveston and drydocked her for repairs.

The current plan is to get her out of the water, but they keep on having to spend money to fix her hull. It is a catch-22 in a way.

< Message edited by Toddr22 -- 12/15/2015 9:31:40 PM >

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/16/2015 2:41:28 AM

geofflambert

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Toddr22

I did a hardhat tour of her in 2007. It was incredible to go into the depths of the ship. From her magazines to her engines and boilers, to her CIC with it's primative firing computers. It was really awesome!!

She does not have cement in her bilges, It is sediment that has leaked in. Back in the late 80's they floated her down to Galveston and drydocked her for repairs.

The current plan is to get her out of the water, but they keep on having to spend money to fix her hull. It is a catch-22 in a way.

When I was there you couldn't visit the barbettes, let alone the magazines.

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/20/2015 12:43:50 AM

Mobeer

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quote:

ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget
Just hit me - what is said about the quality of Wikipedia? "on seven different types" > count them...

The list is bad because it excludes the weapons present earlier in the war. Wyoming also had 12"/50 and 5"/51 guns used for training earlier in the war.

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RE: Visit to BB Texas - 12/20/2015 12:58:26 AM

axeman109

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"the hardhat tour" isn't free, and you have to register ahead of time. I did it several years ago,and like it was said above, you go everywhere. Well worth the time and money. Just check the website for info. They only do them during the cooler months, if I remember correctly.

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