NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive
BB-35 USS TEXAS
1915 - 1919
To Additional Pages
1911 - 1914
1920 - 1926
1927 - 1941
1942 - 1949
1950 - Present
Please Report Any Broken Links Or Trouble You Might Come Across To The Webmaster.
Please Take A Moment To Let Us Know So That We Can Correct Any Problems And Make Your Visit As Enjoyable And As Informative As Possible.
1911 - 1914
1920 - 1926
1927 - 1941
1942 - 1949
1950 - Present
| Click On Image For Full Size Image | Size | Image Description | Contributed By And/Or Copyright |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 177k | Postcard photo of the Texas (BB-35) underway sometime after 1914. Photo is attributed by Clarke Z. Muller. | Photo courtesy of SK/3 Tommy Trampp. | |
 | 936k | AMERICAN GUNNER WINS WORLD RECORD William Ruf, gun pointer on the battleship Texas (BB-35),on furlough home here, has received word from the Navy Department that he set a new world's record in big gun marksmanship off the Virginia Capes in recent practice. He scored eight straight hits with a 14-inch gun at a moving target twelve miles away. He receives a cash prize of $20 for this feat. |
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo from the The Washington Herald.(Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 21 February 1915, SOCIETY SECTION, Image 21, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
 | 418k | DOLLING UP FOR THE BIG DAY. Painting the main fighting mast of the big Texas (BB-35) to make her ready for the review. |
Photo by Underwood & Underwood. Image and text provided by Penn State University Libraries; University Park, PA. Photo from Evening Public Ledger. (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 11 May 1915, Night Extra, Image 16, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
|
 | 250k | OUTLINED AGAINST A CURTAIN OF DARKNESS A fleet of destroyers and torpedo-boats has now arrived at New York to join the heavy ships of the line. Altogether, about 50 vessels will be assembled when the ceremonies began next Monday. It is promised that the strained international relations will have no effect on the parade. | Photo by International News Service. Image and text provided by Penn State University Libraries; University Park, PA. Photo & text by Evening Public Ledger. (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 13 May 1915, Night Extra, Image 16, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
 | 862k | TEXAS (BB-35) BOXERS NEED NO RING They spar on a spar raised above the deck between the great guns. |
Photo by International News Service Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo & text by New-York Tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 14 May 1915, Image 4, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
 | 935k | "We Are Ready," Said Uncle Sam's Jackies Sitting on the Texas' (BB-35) 14-inch Rifle. | Image and text provided by University of South Carolina; Columbia, SC. Photo from The Intelligencer. (Anderson, S.C.) 1915-1917, 15 May 1915, Image 5, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
|
 | 418k | Torpedoes & tubes as mounted ready for action on board the Texas (BB-35). One of the sights which drew the fascinated gaze of visitors to the ships of the North Atlantic fleet, at New York, was the deck torpedo tubes of the dreadnought Texas. The Picture on the right above shows the bottom half of the hinged tubes, raised to show the deadly missiles lying in their resting places like larvae in a wasp's nest. The torpedoes are set in motion by compressed air, their course being kept true by means of compressed air from their propellers and gyroscopic attachments. On the left is a typical torpedo of the short, blunt type favored by the American Navy. It's probably a case of the reporter/editor cutting corners because they don't think any one knows better. While the Texas / New York were originally armed with 4 21" torpedo tubes mounted in pairs, port and starboard, they were not deck mounts but located in the hull below the water line roughly in line with the Nos. 3 & 4 5"/51 mounts. Notice the 2 ports in the side of the ship below, these as the torpedo tubes. It is possible that the other photo on the same page of the newspaper which shows a torpedo displayed on the deck of a ship might have been taken aboard the Texas but not certain. The torpedo tubes above are most probably photographed aboard a Cassin/Alwin class or O'Brien/Tucker class destroyer. |
Image provided by: Penn State University Libraries; University Park, PA. Photo from the Evening Public Ledger, (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 18 May 1915, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. Text i.d. courtesy of Chris Hoehn. |
|
 | 73k | "The Holland - America Liner Ryndam, settling low in the water after her collision with the Cuneo, convoyed by the battleship Texas (BB-35), from which this photo was taken." | Photo from Brown Bros., text courtesy of N.Y. Times 6 June 1915, Page 8, courtesy of memory.loc.gov. | |
 | 76k | Oil on canvas painting by the artist J.Lau entitled "Texas, circa pre WW I." Size in cm: 39 x 56, for sale, contact Asmund Agdestein. The painting depicts an American battleship (cage masts) with two curved roofed turrets in the No. 1 and No. 2 positions which were used only for the 14" gun turrets of the New York class (BB-34/5), Oklahoma (BB-36/7) and Pennsylvania (BB-38/9) classes. Oklahoma class would have a 3-gun turret in the No. 1 position while the Pennsylvania class would have 3 guns in each turret. The painting seems to show only 2 guns per turret; this leave us with the New York class: New York & Texas. It is a pre-WWI view. No evidence of a flying-off platform anywhere, and none of the wartime superstructure additions are present. If the stack bands are really on the second funnel (they look like they might have been crudely added to the photo after it was taken), the date would be about 1914. I would say with 95% certainty that the painting depicts the Texas. The smoke from the funnels obscures much detail of the mast structure but I can make out what should be to searchlights on the foremast mounted one above the other. This arrangement would mean the Texas. The New York carried her search lights on a single platform mounted side by side on both mast which in this painting would be visible projecting from the sides of the masts at about the same level as the 3" guns mentioned above. | Text i.d. courtesy of Chris Hoehn & Chuck Haberlein. Photo courtesy of Asmund Agdestein. |
|
 | 177k | Captain John Hood was the Commanding Officer of the battleship Texas (BB-35) deck in 1915-1916. During his command the Texas won the "Red E" for excellence in engineering efficiency. | Photo #15824v courtesy of the Library of Congress via Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 90k | Texas (BB-35) in drydock, with painting stages rigged along her waterline area. Anchors and chain are on the drydock floor. The image reverse is marked "circa 1916". Photographed by Charland. The original image is printed on postal card ("AZO") stock. | USNHC photo # NH 103092, Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005. | |
 | 1.03k | IN the present naval manoeuvers, a three inch gun, mounted to give it a high degree of elevation, will be tried out aboard the United States battleship Texas (BB-35) for war on hostile aircraft. If the trials prove a success all warships in the navy will be equipped in similar manner. The rifle fires thirty shots a minute and requires a crew of seven men to operate it. The picture shows the gun and platform on the Texas. | Image and text provided by The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundation. Photo from the The Sun.(New York, [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 19 August 1916, Image 3, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
 | 66k | Texas (BB-35) on patrol somewhere post July 1916. 3inch AA guns are atop the crane posts and the gun were not installed until July 1916. | Text courtesy of Chuck Moore. U.S. Navy Photograph, contributed by Mike Green, courtesy of Leeward Publications. | |
 | 110k | Captain Victor Blue, USN. He was the third commanding Officer of the Battleship Texas (BB-35), from 14 August 1916 to 31 December 1918. Photo taken on board. | USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
 | 118k | Port side bow photo of the Texas (BB-35) circa 1917 in the East River, NYC. | Photo courtesy of Photos of the Great War website thanks to Ray Mentzer & submitted by Bill Gonyo & Photograph by Edward M. Mitchell courtesy of Tommy Trampp. |
|
 | 25k | Hull of Texas (BB-35) shown in dry-dock at New York Navy Yard. The Texas ran aground at Block Island on 27 September 1917. | U.S. Navy Photograph, contributed by Mike Green, courtesy of Leeward Publications. | |
 | 580k | Photo of the Texas (BB-35) getting ready to go "over there". Photo i.d. is based on the removal of the 2 large vent hatches in the roof of main battery turrets. I located an over head photo of the Texas in 1919 showing the patch in place of these vents on the No. 3 turrets and a couple photos of the fly-off platform on both No. 2 and No. 4 turrets showing it built too close to the Turret roof to allow clearance for the hatch. Additionally numerous photos of the New York (BB-34) including one just prior to her entering the Navy Yard for the 1925 refit showing these hatches still in use (open). I suspect this modification occurred just prior to departing for England in 1917. The Texas ran aground off Block Island (in Long Island Sound) requiring her to return to the New York Navy Yard for repairs to her hull, delaying her arrival in England till December. As she was laid up the US Navy may taken the opportunity to make additional modifications to her, based on recommendations by the Royal Navy inspection of the ships to be sent to England, that would have delayed the departure of the fleet too long if they had been made on all the ships. As it was the only modifications made to most ships was to remove some of the secondary battery (generally the most forward), add 2 guns for AA defense and to add an enclosed navigation bridge. | Photo courtesy of Dorothy Deina Porter. Text i.d. courtesy of Chris Hoehn. | |
 | 122k | Texas (BB-35) heads upriver towards the New York Navy Yard sometime before Oct 1917. Topmasts are down to allow passage under the Brooklyn Bridge. Notice 5"/51 caliber anti-destroyer gun mounted at her stern. This, along with all the other hull mounted guns, were eventually eliminated due to their closeness to the waterline. They were wet even in moderate seas. In this photo all 19 original hull guns are still present. The first removals were in Oct 1917, per the armament page of the ship's deck log. Even on builders trials she was caring search lights on the king-post platforms which are empty in the photo. With NYC in the background, I would think that this is just after the US declared war and the fleet to be sent to Europe has gathered in New York for refit prior to sailing across the pond. The refit would have included enclosed bridges, anti-air defenses [Texas received a 3" gun on each of the now empty platforms] and the removal of a portion of the secondary battery for arming auxiliaries). | USN photo. Partial text and photo i.d. courtesy of Chuck Moore & Chris Hoehn. | |
 | 135k | U.S. Atlantic Fleet with the battleship Texas (BB-35) leading. Photo taken in 1917. | Digital ID: # cph 3b17917. Photograph submitted by Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 318k | The Texas (BB-35) with other Battleships of the Atlantic Fleet at Hampton Roads, 1917. Note only 2 guns on No. 1 Turret and the over/under arrangement of the searchlights. The photo is incorrectly listed in the LOC as the Nevada (BB-36). | Library of Congress photo # LC-DIG-hec-08102 courtesy of the Harris & Ewing Collection. Photo i.d. courtesy of Chris Hoehn. | |
 | 22k | Fire and smoke erupt from her turrets while firing a broadside. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
 | 53k | Cage mast against the sky. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
 | 36k | Fish for dinner? Crewmen wheeling a torpedo across Texas' (BB-35) deck. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
 | 29k | Crewmen bend over shells for Texas (BB-35) main armament during her WW I service. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
 | 25k | The bridge. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
 | 178k | "Destroyer Life": Poem by Berton Braley, circa 1918. Illustrated by Chief Quartermaster S.G. Berry, USN, with the flags of the World War I western allies and sketches of contrasting life on board destroyers (at right) with that on board battleships. The Texas (BB-35) is mentioned among the battleships. | Photo # NH 75532-KN, courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C., 1972. | |
 | 199k | This rare oil painting by American artist Burnell Poole, "The 6th Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet Leaving the Firth of Forth", is one of less than two dozen paintings owned by the Navy that depicts U.S. naval operations in World War One (WWI). After years of being considered a total loss by Navy Art Gallery curators it has been restored to near perfect condition. The entire process took several months, but the result is the total recovery of a painting that is sure to establish Burnell Poole's name among the best marine painters of the early 20th century. The composition of the ships of the 6th Battle Squadron during their operational history, appearing in the painting in no particular order were: Delaware (BB-28), Florida (BB-30),Wyoming (BB-32), Arkansas (BB-33), New York (BB-34), Texas (BB-35), & Arizona (BB-39). | Photo and partial text courtesy of Naval Historical Center, Washington, D.C., File photo # N-0000X-001. Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo from New-York Tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 09 June 1918, Image 36, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
 | 59k | The Texas (BB-35) in 1918, line drawing by A.L. Raven. The date is close to Nov. 1918 (for the Pilot House is present) but Texas did not have 3 inch guns atop turret 3, turret 4 and on the superstructure until August 1921. The enclosed torpedo defense platform on the mainmast (the structure below the searchlight platform) was not installed until late 1919 to 1920, as was the foremast. The present hull guns forward were removed in Jan 1918 and the present middle casemate guns were removed in Oct 1917. The airplane platform atop Turret 2 should be present for it was installed at the same time as the enclosed Pilot House. | From U.S. Battleships: An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. Partial text and photo i.d. courtesy of Chuck Moore. | |
 | 72k | Battleships of the Sixth Battle Squadron (anchored in column in the left half of the photograph): included the Florida (BB-30) Utah (BB-31) Wyoming (BB-32) Arkansas (BB-33) New York (BB-34) Texas (BB-35) Nevada (BB-36) Oklahoma (BB-37) Pennsylvania (BB-38) & Arizona (BB-39) at one time or another. There are only three of the battleships present in this photo at Brest, France, on 13 December 1918. George Washington (ID-3018), which had just carried President Woodrow Wilson from the United States to France, is in the right background. | USNHC # NH 63454 photographed by Zimmer. | |
 | 94k | Texas (BB-35) around 26 Dec 1918 or later for the airplane fly off platform is atop turret (installed 20 Oct - 4 Nov 1918), and NYC is in the background. Super firing turrets are equipped with flying off platforms but she wouldn't launch planes until 1919. | USN photo by E. Harland, courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. Partial text and photo i.d. courtesy of Chuck Moore. | |
 | 73k | Texas (BB-35), photo date is 26 Dec 1918 or later for the airplane flyofff platform is atop turret (installed 20 Oct - 4 Nov 1918), and NYC is in the background. | Text and photo i.d. courtesy of Chuck Moore. USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. & New-York Tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 18 November 1922, Image 8, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. PDF added 02/02/12. | |
 | 513k | TROPHY OF THE TEXAS (BB-35). The efficency flag proudly floats from the staff of the fighting top on the battleship Texas. The trophy is awarded to the ship with the highest honors for all around work and gives the vessel possessing it the right to fly the flag. One venturesome blue-Jacket of the super dreadnought's crew has climbed to the top of the staff to pose for the photographer. | Image and text provided by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE. Photo & text by The North Platte semi-weekly Tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922, 31 January 1919, Image 6, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
 | 93k | First flight of airplane off an American battleship, by Lt. Connor McDonnell off Texas (BB-35) on 10 March 1919. | U.S. Navy Photograph & text courtesy of Chris Hoehn via Chuck Moore. | |
 | 1.78k | "American dreadnoughts & super-dreadnoughts steaming into New York harbor 14 April 1919." The Texas (BB-35) leads the procession with a airplane on her turret catapult. Note the escorting biplane. The "escorting" aircraft is either a Curtiss HS-1 or HS-2 (note the single engine) can't tell which from the photo. The aircraft on a fly-off platform atop the No. 2 turret of the Texas is 1 of 6 Sopwith Camels purchased from Britain at the end of the war. The platforms were a British concept designed to provide the fleet with an aircraft capable of reaching the high flying Zeppelins which the German Navy occasionally used as scouts. The Texas was the only US Battleship to be fitted with turret fly-off platforms while in Europe and was the test bed for this program in the US Navy. Not visible in this view is a stripped down (No fabric and no wings) Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter lashed atop the No. 3 Turret. The platforms were eventually mounted on all 14" gun BB's through the New Mexico class (with mixed reviews from their commanders) and carried either a Hanriot HD-1 or a Neiuport 28. Though equipped inflatable floats for water landings, this tended to do a lot of damage not the least of which was dowsing a hot engine in cold salt water. By 1920 a successful compressed air catapult was developed and were being mounted on the aft deck of all 4 turreted battleships and fly-off platforms were removed. The Texas and New York (BB-34), because of their 5 Turrets, lacked the deck space for the catapult and had to make do with a float plane (Vought VE-7) sitting on the aft deck which would be launched by lowering it over the side for a surface take-off. If you look carefully at the 12th photo from the bottom on the New York 1919-1926 page, you see the VE-7 on the deck and the A-frame hoist used for handling it. | Photo by Paul Thompson. Text courtesy of N.Y. Times, page 481, from The War of the Nations (New York), 31 December 1919, courtesy of memory.loc.gov. Text i.d. courtesy of Chris Hoehn. |
|
 | 975k | How the Atlantic Fleet looked to the camera man in a seaplane flying over lower Manhattan a week ago yesterday morning as the mighty armada came up the bay to anchorage in the Hudson off Riverside Drive for a two weeks' vacation after months of strenuous maneuvers in Southern waters. The destroyers
Dale (DD-290) and Flusser (DD-289) are shown leading the column of eight dreadnoughts: Oklahoma (BB-37), Nevada (BB-36), Arizona (BB-39), flagship Pennsylvania (BB-38), Utah (BB-31), Florida (BB-30), North Dakota (BB-29) and Delaware (BB-28) past the Statue of Liberty at a fifteen-knot clip. In
addition to the big battleships, the fleet includes thirty-two destroyers, numerous supply ships and several submarines. The Atlantic battleship fleet is home again. Here are the twelve great first line fighting ships that are paying Father Knickerbocker a two weeks' visit. Over a hundred of Uncle Sam's grim sea warriors gray the North River, while their 30,000 sailor-men are given the freedom of the city in a royal welcome home. The Battleship Mississippi (BB-41) leading the fleet into the harbor, as photographed from an airplane. Note the airplanes atop the forward and aft turrets. | Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo & text by New-York Tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 20 April 1919, Image 48, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
 | 90k | "Birdseye view of the battleship Texas (BB-35), showing the mighty guns that make it one of the most deadly engines of destruction afloat." | Photo by International News Agency, text courtesy of N.Y. Times 31 December 1919, Page 376, courtesy of memory.loc.gov. | |
 | 260k | Hanriot HD-1 tied down on the fly-off platform on the No. 2 Turret of the Texas (BB-35), circa 1919. | Photo courtesy of Chris Hoehn. | |
 | 31k | Texas (BB-35) with a airplane on her turret catapult, circa early 1919. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
 | 524k | "Gobs" and Guns. A scene aboard the Texas (BB-35), just back from foreign waters, showing the "gobs" enjoying a little fun on the big guns. | Photo by Underwood & Underwood, circa 1919. NARA FILE #: 165-WW-332D-43. Photo # HD-SN-99-02128 & text courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil, Defense Visual Information Center. | |
 | 98k | Off New York City, circa 1919. | USNHC # NH 61243. | |
 | 62k | Texas (BB-35) off New York City, circa 1919. Note plane on platform over #2 turret. Another, disassembled, plane is on the #3 turret. | Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 60339, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 |
143k | Texas (BB-35) & other battleships en-route to Guantanamo Bay for flight tests. Part of a flying-off platform can be seen atop #4 turret. The date is prior to Aug 1919 for Texas was operating in the Pacific from the 25 July Panama Canal crossing until Jan 1924. | USN photo courtesy of Paul & Barbara Rebold. Text courtesy of Chuck Moore. | |
 | 65k | Captain Frank H. Schofield, USN, Commanding Officer, Texas (BB-35), at left, on board his ship, circa 1919, with his Executive Officer, Commander Ralph A. Koch, USN. Note the fire hose on the bulkhead between them. | USNHC # NH NH 104942. Collection of Commander Haines H. Lippincott, USN (ChC). | |
 | 44k | 25 July 1919 photo of the Texas (BB-35) transiting the Panama Canal through Gatun Locks on her way to the Pacific. | U.S. Navy Photograph, contributed by Mike Green, courtesy of Leeward Publications. | |
 | 112k | Seen here in the Panama canal in the upper Gatun lock. Note aircraft on top of the #2 turret. Photo taken 25 July 1919. | Text contributed by Chuck Moore. Photo courtesy of National Archives / USN photo. | |
 | 118k | A stationary Texas (BB-35) keeping her boilers burning as she stands anchored as a member of the Pacific Fleet, probably at San Diego, her home port, circa 1919. When the Texas & New York were designed and constructed, the U.S. Navy still held to the notion that a commanding officer was better able to con his ship if he were in touch with the elements, thus most warships of this era were constructed with open air navigation bridges (the last vestiges of the era of sail). On the New York class this platform was situated behind and about 4 feet below the roof level of the conning tower. To afford some protection form the elements it is usually protected canvas wind breaks along the hand rails and an awning overhead. Both of the photos in question show this arrangement. Upon the U.S. entering WW I, the Royal Navy sent a team of officers "across the pond" to inspect the fleet we were sending over and offer suggestions that would better enable the American ships to operate along side the Royal Navy. Among the suggestions offered was the construction of enclosed pilot houses capable of withstanding the pounding of the heavy seas of the northern latitudes and afford protection from the cold winter temperatures and sea spray. Therefore in 1917 all battleships sent to the war zone were fitted with such a structure. On the New York and Texas the pilot house was attached to the forward cage mast at a level above the roof of the conning tower. Both of the photos show the original navigation bridge arrangement therefore they have to have been taken prior to 1917 and thus they can not have been taken on the west coast. Of course the problem with sister ships is how to tell one from the other. In the case of the Texas and the New York during the pre-WW I time period (1914-1917), the best tell tale is the arrangement of the searchlights on the masts. The Texas carried her searchlights on individual platforms mounted one above the other about half way up the foremast and below the level of the funnels (and thus the smoke) on the main mast. The New York carried her searchlights side by side on a single platform about a third of the way up the foremast and below the funnel tops on the main mast. Given that the photographs in question are from this time frame we see that the photo that N. Moser labeled Texas is in fact the New York and the photograph labeled New York is in the Texas. During her refit in 1917, the Texas's searchlights were rearranged to the same as the New York's but photos from 1917 to 1920 can be distinguished by the clearly visible pilot house and the fly-off platforms atop the Nos. 2 and 4 turrets. The presence of 3" AA guns atop the Nos. 3 and 4 turrets will date photos in the 1921-1925 time frame. | USN Photo by N. Moser, from the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Text i.d. courtesy of Chris Hoehn. | |
 | 37k | Hanriot HD-1 from the Texas (BB-35) on the beach. These markings appeared at a Fleet Review in Nov. 1919 at Seattle WA in honor of a visit by President Wilson campaigning for approval of the League of Nations Treaty. | U.S. Navy Photograph courtesy of Chris Hoehn via Chuck Moore. Text i.d. courtesy of Chris Hoehn. | |
The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.
| Back To The Main Photo Index | Back To The Battleship Photo Index Page |
