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BB-35 USS TEXAS
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| Click On Image For Full Size Image | Size | Image Description | Contributed By And/Or Copyright |
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 | 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. | |
 | 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. | |
 | 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. | |
 | 111k | Texas (BB-35) at Hampton Roads during December, 1916. Two 3" A.A. guns atop her derrick posts were the first aboard U. S. battleships. The engineering "E" is on her aft stack and unarmored rangefinders are seen on turrets #2, 3, and 4. | USN photo. | |
 | 118k | Photo of the Texas (BB-35) circa 1917 in the East River, NYC. | Photo Courtesy of the Photos of the Great War website thanks to Ray Mentzer & submitted by Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 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. Photo added 11/20/09. | |
 | 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. | USN photo. Partial text and photo i.d. courtesy of Chuck Moore. | |
 | 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. | |
 | 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. | |
 | 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. | USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. Text and photo i.d. courtesy of Chuck Moore. | |
 | 46k | "American dreadnoughts & superdreadnoughts 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, 31 December 1919, courtesy of memory.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. | |
 | 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. | |
 | 37k | A Hanriot aboard the Texas (BB-35) circa 1919. | U.S. Navy Photograph courtesy of Chris Hoehn via Chuck Moore. | |
 | 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. | |
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143k | Texas (BB-35) & other battleships enroute 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. | |
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.
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