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The USS Texas is fighting and winning its last battle

Discussion in 'WWII General' started by Dracula, Jun 2, 2019.

  1. Dracula

    Dracula Active Member

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    What forum does this story belong in? The history of the USS Texas overlaps so many forums, that it would do somewhat of a disservice to her, to limit her story, to one or several, you make the call.

    On so many levels, Texas's service history is unparalleled. She was commissioned in 1914 and served until 1946. She was never flashy just a reliable workhorse. It would take too long to list just a few of her achievements but she was always there, when push came to shove.

    In 1946, she was placed in reserve but, in reality, that was just the first step toward the scrappers yard. In 1947, the State of Texas Legislature stepped up and passed legislation to bring her home, to Texas, where she was berthed, at the San Jacinto Battleground State Park, from 1948 until today.

    Somehow, through all those years, and, with the dedicated help of an army of volunteers, she survived the longest and toughest battle of her life vs Mother Nature. By 1988, her situation had become so dire, that either she was going to dry dock for repairs or be scrapped. She went to dry dock, in Galveston, and returned to her berth, in 1990. Mother Nature never stops attacking and, by 2007, she was once again, in a repair her or scrap her situation. The Texas Legislature approved $25,000,000, to move her into a dry berth arrangement, but the funding was never sufficient, to achieve what should have been a permanent solution. By 2019, she was leaking and the situation had escalated, to a whole new level of now or never.

    Politicians and lawyers, you just can't trust them, until you need one or two. Just a few months ago, the Texas Legislature passed legislation, which provides $35,000,000, for moving her into drydock for repairs, sometime towards the end of 2019. Unfortunately, the only dry dock big enough to handle her is in Mobile, Alabama, over 500 miles away. Also, one of the provisions, of the bill, is that she is moved to a more visitor friendly location somewhere along the upper Texas coast. Everyone, that is involved with the arm twisting that got this bill passed, are suggesting that her final destination hasn't been determined. I call BS. Just say it, GALVESTON, and I totally agree, with that relocation. Remember the first figure of $25,000,000, to put her in a dry berth, and now the State has approved $35,000,000. She may not make 500 miles but I would bet she can make it the 60 odd miles back to the shipyard, that did her repairs, in 1988. Officially, the dry dock (AFDM-2) that is now available, at the old Todd Shipyard but which is now Gulf Copper shipyard is not big enough but couple that one with what looks to be another section currently located, at the Gulf Cooper facility in Port Arthur, Texas, and maybe it's just a fortunate coincidence or maybe not. Also, if the Texas was repaired, in Galveston, The shipyard is located directly across the ship channel, from a prime new dock location or possibly a dry berth arrangement near the Tall Ship Elissa, at the Texas Seaport Museum, in Galveston.

    In November, 1914, The Texas visited Galveston. The locals presented the ship a custom made silver service. It's been on display, I've seen it, and it is spectacular. Now, sometime after 2019 and with a little luck and some arm twisting,the locals will be welcoming her once again. Bless her heart, she is fighting and winning, what should be her last battle.
     
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  2. gtblackwell

    gtblackwell Member Emeritus

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    I would love to see the USS Texas before I die, hope it is not that close a thing! :)
     
  3. Dracula

    Dracula Active Member

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    Galveston is becoming one of the up and coming cruise ship ports, in the country. When the Texas is situated, Go on a cruise and stop by. She'll be literally next door.
     
  4. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    I've seen demands that Missouri be brought to St. Louis. I pointed out that every bridge along the way would have to come down, then be rebuilt. That's taking her down to the fighting tower. And a channel, AT LEAST 108 feet wide and about 1,000 miles long would be needed. Longer if you count following the river.

    When she was in LBNSY I got to go aboard and see the plaque. I'm glad she's somewhere safe.
     
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  5. harolds

    harolds Member

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    I think I'll agree with you on that one OP. The Missouri sure as hell aint no river boat! Actually, I was on the Texas once way back...back...back in the winter of '67 (I think). I was on an Army ROTC junket put on by the Corps of Engineers. We were flown down there by the Wyoming Air NG in a Super Connie.The idea was to tour the Galveston flood control projects but there also seemed to be time to tour the SuperDome, the Space Center and of course the Texas. She seemed to be going somewhat to seed even then. No tours-we were just basically given the run of the ship. Neat time! We stayed at a Motel on the beach at Galveston. The first night after having eaten a very wonderful seafood dinner at a place called "Guidoes" some of us were wondering what we could do to pass the time. A policeman came up in a car and suspiciously asked us who we were and what we were doing there. After we assured him we weren't going to cause trouble, we asked him where we would go to entertain ourselves. He recommended the bars on a street just north of where we were. We pointed out that only one of us was over 21. He just said that was ok since nobody would be checking the joints anyway. He told us that most of the bars (excuse me-"clubs") would give us a guest card. His last words of warning were, "Ya'all don't get into any fights and 'specially don't throw any bottles on the beach. If you do that I'll arrest ya!" So we did, and got ourselves totally swacked, which was hard to do since we came from Laramie (7,200ft.) down to sea level, but we got 'er done-in spades! Next morning we really weren't worth a damn, suffering from alcohol poisoning and all. Still, we pulled ourselves together and did it again the next night! :D Thanks for the memory Drac! By the way, would you know if Guidos is still open?

    Oh yes, flying back, and getting ready to land at Cheyenne, the pilot announced that the nose wheel wouldn't lock down and we'd have to make an emergency landing. They circled for a while burning up fuel and we went through the crash procedures. Just as the plane was went into final and we were all promising God that if he let us live we really would go to church this time, the crew chief decided he didn't want to end his career this way so he went forward into the nose wheel bay and kicked the offending wheel into place! Of course that meant he had to lower his legs into the slipstream to do it! Anyway, it worked and we all got home safely.
     
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2019
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  6. Dracula

    Dracula Active Member

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    Google Maps
    Google Maps
    Gaido's Seafood Restaurant – The Coastal Classic
    GALVESTON.COM: Webcams

    I've been going to Galveston since the late Sixties but it's been several years since my last visit. The Tourism business has really kicked in. The difference between the old Galveston and the new touristy Galveston is like the last scene from the movie Casino.
    To be honest, I prefer the new Galveston. I think I'll make a road trip,open the car's moonroof, open the windows, cruise down the Bolivar Peninsula, stop at Swede's, ride the ferry, and listen to the Beach Boys, Endless Summer album, on CD. Ya'll be safe and take care.

    Several minutes, after posting the above comment, I remembered that Google, in May of 2008, had street mapped the Bolivar Peninsula. Just a few months later, in mid September, Hurricane Ike surged over Bolivar Peninsula and basically washed everything away. You can still go on Google Maps, street view of Seaside st., and see the before, of May 2008, and the after, of March of 2013. It still just breaks your heart.
     
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2019
  7. PzJgr

    PzJgr Drill Instructor

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    Last I read was that the money was approved but just needed that permanent resting place. Some location that would bring in more visitors and thus more money. I am sure a place will be found and I agree, more than likely Galveston. Viva Texas
     
  8. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    I know a Texan, name of "Otto" or "Toto" or something like that.
     
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  9. belasar

    belasar Court Jester

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    Until he has spent 3 summers down here he is still a simulated Texican. :)
     
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  10. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    I hear they smuggled him in with a truck load of rich white men who were going to Mexico to pick lettuce.
     
  11. PzJgr

    PzJgr Drill Instructor

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    He's in Dallas.............not really a Texas city. So it's 6 Summers
     
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  12. Dracula

    Dracula Active Member

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    Update to the USS Texas move, refurbishment, and relocation. Sunday is last day to visit Battleship Texas before repairs
    The move to drydock is fast approaching. The old warhorse is going to get the repairs, that she needs, and then back, to her new home. They still say that the relocation site has not been determined but that it is on the upper Texas coast, with plenty of tourist traffic. I guess that rules out Sabine Pass or the Bolivar Peninsula. Hey, how about Galveston? Why, in the world, they still remain so coy, about the relocation site, is beyond me but she will soon depart, be repaired, and returned, to her new home, which will be just down the dock, from the cruise port.
    Bless her heart, fair winds and following seas, and we'll see you back, in about a year or so.
     
  13. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    They're probably soliciting offers, and don't want to queer any potential deals.
     
  14. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

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    Remnded me...



    <iframe width="640" height="360" src="" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
     
  15. Dracula

    Dracula Active Member

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    There have been a few updates since I last posted in August. Battleship Updates - The Battleship Texas Foundation
    The threat of hurricane season is long past, engineering surveys have been done, and the bulkhead, that blocks the docking slip, from the ship channel, is being removed.
    It will not be long now. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, ya'll.
     
  16. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Take care of the old gal, please. (I know you will.)
     
  17. Carronade

    Carronade Ace

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    Hopefully this is just her latest battle, not her last!
     
  18. Dracula

    Dracula Active Member

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    New updates and new information, that I've never read anywhere else. The latest update, 5-5-2020, Battleship Updates - The Battleship Texas Foundation
    This article popped up, The Future of Battleship Texas Holds Shipyard Repairs and a New Home | Texas Highways and unlike the other articles gives a glimpse, into what will happen, during the move and in drydock.
    Bruce Bramlett, executive director of the Battleship Texas Foundation, says the move will likely take place in late July or August. Unlike in 1988, when the battleship took on water en route to Galveston for repairs, crews will float the ship less than a mile down the channel to a submerged dry dock, which will be raised to slowly lift the ship completely out of the water. Crews will secure the ship so it doesn’t roll over, then transport it to a shipyard for repairs.Once the battleship makes it to the shipyard, which has not yet been identified, crews will peel off the existing steel hull and replace it with a new steel one designed to look like the original. “She’s going to have a new hull from water on down,” Bramlett says. “That’ll ensure she’ll be around for a long time.”
    In a little over a year, the old girl will be shining like a new penny. The move back, to her new berth, in Galveston(?), will be something to see.
     
  19. Dracula

    Dracula Active Member

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    It's been almost 4 months since the last update but not to worry the crew is proceeding with getting her ready. It's interesting how they are making her 40 something blister tanks watertight. Battleship Updates - The Battleship Texas Foundation
    Ya'll take care.
     
  20. Dracula

    Dracula Active Member

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    Otto, Half Track and ULITHI like this.

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