The USS Texas (BB-35) boasted an extraordinary combat history that surpassed that of many other American battleships, leaving a lasting legacy in both World Wars. Renowned for her blend of military might and inventive strategies, she played a key part in the Allied success on D-Day. Despite challenges, her crew crafted bold strategies and confronted obstacles with unwavering resolve, leading to a definitive triumph.
New York-class super-dreadnought battleships
The USS Texas, a New York-class battleship, was commissioned in March 1914, just months before the outbreak of WWI. As the second vessel in the class, designed to succeed the lesser-armed Wyoming-class, Texas and her sister ship, the USS New York (B-34), were heralded as the US Navy’s first true super dreadnoughts, boasting formidable armaments.
Armed with ten 14-inch deck guns as their primary weaponry, the ships also featured an array of secondary firepower, including four QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss saluting guns, 21 five-inch guns and two QF one-pounder “pom-poms.” Additionally, each vessel was equipped with four torpedo tubes capable of firing the Bliss-Leavitt Mark 3 Torpedo.
In addition to their diverse weaponry, both Texas and New York were heavily armored, powered by water-tube boilers and triple-expansion steam engines, providing them with a top speed of just over 24 MPH and a range of around 1,825 miles.
USS Texas‘ service during World War I
The USS Texas began its service after the Tampico Incident and prior to America’s entry into the First World War, a period marked by conflicts between US Navy sailors and Mexican soldiers. Commissioned just before escalating tensions, it set sail for Mexico without undergoing the usual shakedown cruise and anchored off Veracruz for two months.
Initially operating with the Atlantic Fleet, Texas returned to Veracruz before becoming the first US battleship equipped with anti-aircraft guns in the form of three-inch cannons in 1916. It also featured advanced fire control systems with directors and rangefinders, technology still found today in more modern iterations.
Her training included exercises along the coasts of New England and Virginia, with winter drills in the West Indies. When the US joined WWI, Texas crossed the Atlantic and fired the first American shots of the conflict.
During her assignment to the Grand Fleet, Texas joined the British blockade squadron in the North Sea. She assisted in escorting American minelayers that were deploying explosives as part of the North Sea Mine Barrage, which spanned from Norway to the Orkney Islands, located off Scotland’s northern coast.
Interwar period
After returning to the US in late 1918, the USS Texas escorted President Woodrow Wilson to the Paris Peace Conference for the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Following this, she underwent an overhaul and resumed her duties with the Atlantic Fleet.
In 1919, Texas made history by becoming the first US battleship to launch an aircraft, a British-built Sopwith Camel. She also served as a navigational reference and guard for the Curtiss NC-4, the first seaplane to complete a trans-Atlantic flight. After completing these duties, the super-dreadnought was transferred to the newly-formed Pacific Fleet and redesignated as BB-35.
During the interwar years, Texas underwent further modifications, including the enhancement of her anti-aircraft armament with eight 3-inch guns. Her torpedo tubes were removed, and six of her 5-inch guns were repositioned to casemates. Following these upgrades, she was designated as the flagship of the US Fleet and conducted routine operations with the Scouting Fleet.
As the Second World War loomed, Texas underwent additional refits and became part of the US Fleet’s Training Detachment.
Operation Torch
At the outset of WWII, the USS Texas served with the Neutrality Patrol before spending half a year patrolling near Iceland and escorting convoys. She then participated in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa, as one of only three US battleships involved, alongside the USS New York and Massachusetts (BB-59).
While part of Task Group 34.8 (TG 34.8), Texas broadcasted Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower‘s “Voice of Freedom” radio message, which encouraged France to welcome the Allied landings. Though not initially engaged in combat against the Germans, Texas was assigned to bombard a Vichy France ammunition depot near Port Lyautey.
After a short period abroad, Texas returned to the US. In April 1944, she started preparation for her most significant mission yet: D-Day.
USS Texas (BB-35) makes a risky decision on D-Day
Upon her arrival in Normandy in early June 1944, the USS Texas, alongside the British cruiser HMS Glasgow (C21), navigated the western fire support lane at Omaha Beach, near Pointe du Hoc. The battleship was one of just seven among the 702 ships in the US-British flotilla.
Texas promptly commenced firing 14-inch shells in support of the 29th Infantry Division and the 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions. Remarkably, within 34 minutes, she’d discharged 255 shells, a stark contrast to the 300 shells fired in the entirety of Operation Torch. Texas then redirected her firepower toward inland targets as the Allies advanced from the landing beaches. Positioned just 2,700 meters from the shoreline, the battleship continued her bombardment of German positions throughout June 7-8.
Following a brief return to England, Texas returned to Normandy on June 15. However, by then, the Allied forces had progressed further inland, rendering the battleship’s large guns ineffective, due to their inability to elevate sufficiently to reach the desired targets. As requests for fire support persisted, the crew devised an innovative solution; as the port side guns couldn’t be raised any higher, they decided to lower the starboard side.
To achieve this, the crew deliberately flooded the torpedo blister, causing Texas to tilt an additional two degrees into the water. This adjustment provided the battleship with the optimal angle to accurately fire her guns and accomplish the mission. Most vessels would never deliberately introduce water into part of their hull, but this daring decision epitomized the indomitable spirit of the Allied forces at Normandy, contributing significantly to the operation’s ultimate success.
What happened to the USS Texas (BB-35)?
After the Normandy invasion, the USS Texas participated in both the Battle of Cherbourg and Operation Dragoon before being deployed to the Pacific Theater. There, she provided crucial naval artillery support during the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, earning five battle stars in total during the Second World War, before her decommissioning in 1948.
Texas holds the distinction of being the first American battleship to transition into a permanent museum ship and the first vessel to be declared a National Historic Landmark. As the sole surviving World War I-era dreadnought and the last capital ship to serve in both World Wars, her historical significance is unparalleled.
On August 30, 2022, Texas journeyed from her home at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site for the Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corp in Galveston, for a $35 million refurbishment. Decades of service have taken their toll, with rust and wear beneath her hull necessitating urgent attention to maintain her seaworthiness.
On August 30, 2022, Texas set sail from her home at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, with her destination being the Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corp in Galveston, where her hull will undergo a $35 million repair and upgrade. Due to her age and the amount of time she’s spent in the water, the underpart of the battleship had begun to rust and wear away, and efforts were needed to keep her afloat.
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Restoration efforts are ongoing, with the vessel slated to reopen to the public in 2025.