Battleship Texas Conning Tower
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ย. 2024
- Hey yall, Travis is back and in this video he'll be showing you the ins and outs of Battleship Texas' conning tower. This structure is unique space and while some steps for it's restoration has taken place in the past; it is far from perfect. There are plans to restore it in the future but it is a lower priority of the ship at this time. Once more, thanks to all yall for getting us past the 2k subscriber mark! We be giving away 4 challenge coins to those who fill out the google form below. This form has been open for almost a week and we'll be closing it soon!
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I’m so glad a lot of museum ships have started making TH-cam videos. It’s a great way to go into depth specific parts of a ships history and it also helps to raise interest in the ships themselves.
I’m hoping the move to the dry dock and repairs go smoothly next year. I’m looking forward to coming back to tour the ship afterwards.
For me these vids are great. Stuff I'll never get to see from the UK 🇬🇧
Yeah, as a Brit, I know I'm unlikely to ever see these ships but at least I can see them to some extent this way.
Agree. I grew up a half hour from the USS Massachusetts and visited many times as a kid, there were so many spaces I wanted to visit but couldn't. Videos like these finally pull the curtain back (the armored curtain?) and show the public spaces we are not ever really likely to explore.
I have the Texas in my port in World of Warships. It is really neat to watch this video and be able to scroll around the ship in the game. Thanks for all you are doing to preserve her and tell the history (good and bad- we want it all).
BB-35 is all I sail into battle
When I was a teenager in the late 60's you could go just about anywhere on the ship except climb the mast. There was a real problem with vandals and they pretty much looted the wheelhouse. Glad to see our state finally step up and try to preserve her.
I've never seen it so well lit! Leave that lighting in place!
I’ve done the hard hat tour twice and was disappointed we did not go into conning tower. Glad to finally get to see it! Next you need to go to the spotting top. Great job.
As someone who is mobility challenged, I’ll not ever get a chance to personally see spaces like this. I really appreciate seeing these tours. Thank you
That space between the Conn and the armored decking where medical supplies were kept is called the "Mezzanine."
My father was a signalman and in the conning tower at Cherbourg (according to records I saw). He was one of the wounded. where would I find info on what his duties were, and what he was doing in the conning tower? He never talked about it. And I have a few pieces of shrapnel that he kept. I have no idea if they were from the USS Texas or the German shell. I know of one other person who also has some her father brought home. I'm guessing someone picked up pieces and gave it to the wounded.
Mr. Letourneau, we are happy to help you find that information and just sent you a message.
@Chris S Most vets don't talk about their experience. I was USAF during Vietnam, and I never talked about it except to other vets. They are the ones who understand. The experience of war is different from most of them, yet common. And most importantly, war only ends for the dead. -- My dad only talked about being on the Texas to a neighbor who was also in the WWII Navy, and later in life to a couple of his close friends. -- Me I didn't talk about what I experienced to others until 35 years later. And that was in a story I wrote about being at Kadina AB, after North Korea shot down an EC-121 and we loaded nukes in the B52s.
My Dad definitely had PTSD and he drank for years, but quit later.
Wow … finally videos with actual information worth watching on UTube. Thank you.
After touring the ship years ago I always wondered why there's such a large gap between the top of the conning tower and the underside of the bridge? The ship looks odd compared to other battleships of the era.
A chunk of that is the age of the ship. As built a pilot house wasn’t part of the thinking, making her pilot house an after thought. Her conning tower wasn’t tall enough to include as part of a pilot house design that wrapped the bridge around the conning tower -turret 2 would parent this. I believe the Navy didn’t see the need to go through the expense and time of raising the conning tower; it would have also changed the stability of the ship.
With an unraised conning tower, there had to be an air gap between the top of the conning tower and the structure above due to the periscopes and gun director.
What gripes my gut is the fact that there is so many rich people and so much money in Texas and we have to go out begging for the money to restore this historical ship. Come on Jerry Jones, get off your wallet and show what a true Texan you are.
*aggressive agreement*
The 2' X 3' hatch is about 840lbs. 2X3=6 square feet at 140lbs per square foot. (20lbs per half inch times 6 gets 3 inches of armor)
20 x 6 is 120 per square foot not 140. 20lbs for 1 sq foot of half inch times 6 is 120 lbs for 1 sq foot of 3 inch. 120 x 6 is 720 lbs.
Many thanks! I’d love to see inside the spotting top when you get a chance.
@26:12 Easy? I'm sure Ryan of the New Jersey would have some rather choice words to say about that / the time he climbed up and down the cable trunk just for a video. Pretty sure he got stuck near the end and had to climb all the way back up to the top again to get out.
He did, because as I recall there was some kind of pipe or something positioned just right to block the hatch leading out into Broadway at the bottom of the trunk, which to me makes no sense.
Cool to finally see the inside it
Educated guess, but I would say the hatch closes upwards because that armored deck was to protect the crew if a shell hit below. The false deck was used for cable run, but it also protected the occupants from the shock of a shell detonating a deck below.
I’d love to have a video of the spotting top/foretop if possible and sky 1 and everything else in the upper superstructure
I agree 100%... I always wanted to know what a fighting top looked like from the inside. Most of the pre-war USN battleships had them but I never understood their function.
The USS Alabama is a very nice ship, 30-40 years younger but a museum ship .
These ships are like the Tardis in reverse. Big on the outside, smaller on the inside.
Great video, thanks guys. Love every minute of it!
great to see the remains of the damage/repair done after the Cherbourg incident, will be good to see the inside of the pilot house too
i'm also interested to see where the damaged shell came into the stateroom 20 at frame 19, just to see if the damage repair is still visible, is that shell still on board? i really hope so, its all part of her history
not a lot of room in the lower conning tower, must of been a sauna during the summer months, lots still to do in the upper conning tower, great progress, i guess the slits were open to the elements for improved visibility, well nearly, and the cause of all the rusting inside, have to keep the birds and the bats out though, nasty acid poop
Kind of ironic the helmsman on the navigation bridge was killed by a shell ricochet off the armored conning tower, which was of so little use they stopped being put on many battleships period.
Excellent detail show. Thanks for the full detail video
Most likely the first video I have seen from USS Texas and glad I found this Channel ps From Rochester NY
I was afraid you'd accidentally drop the flashlight into the cable trunk, but fortunately it didn't happen. A good and interesting video, thanks for posting it!
Hey Travis, thanks for yet another excellent walk-through. I hope you can figure out a way to get access to the conning tower for folks who can climb a ladder ... there are still many of us :-)
It is something we want to do; along with a lot of other spaces.
@@BattleshipTexas My grandfather was the XO for most of the European campaign. He was in the conning tower during Cherbourg and one of the days I want to take my nephew around the ship. Being able to actually go in there would be something special. I was able to go down and see where the other shell punched through the hull during one of the crew reunions many years ago.
@@SenorKabong That is so cool! I have always found your grandfather to be a very interesting person and an important pat of the ship's history. Please feel free to reach out to us via email if you have anything else you'd like to share about your grandfather.
It's amazing how much Texas was preserved! Good job Texas!
Every nut and bolt that can not pass the certification, should be kept for history.
But the Battle Ship Texas needs to be returned back into service. Rebuilt to original specs... But with mild upgrades.
When built there was no mainmast in front (aft) of turret three. The turret angle indicator must be original.
I always wanted to climb up into there when I was a kid.
I noticed a possible safety issue. You need to cut the excess off of the bolts that are holding the Lexan to the veiw ports. Someone may poke their eye out while trying to look out
I enjoyed the tour a history lesson. Thank you.
Visited her several time but didn't have a chance to look inside so I enjoyed this great video tour.
My dad served aboard her sister ship, USS New York (BB 340
(BB34)
I wonder if any of those periscopes survive somewhere in surplus storage or in other museums. I'm not surprised that the hatch swings down. If the counterweight were inoperable the hatch could still be opened just with the pull of gravity. There is no way someone could move that much steel without assistance otherwise.
You never know. Alabama had four our Mk 15 gunsights that were removed in 1946 and one of the ship’s rangefinders turned up in an nautical antiques shop in Florida.
Would be nice if it gets restored soon!
I want to see what it looks like up in the battle bridge on the tripod mast
Please give us a tour of the foretop. I know there probably isn't much up there, but I've always wanted to know more about the fire control directors that were up there.
Myself as well. From comments I've seen here and there, I expect a lot of people want a peek into that area. I've searched and searched for online pictures to no avail ☹
🤔I wonder... _drone_ footage perhaps?
As a kid (1960s'), I lived in Galveston, Tx. in the summertime, due to my real father living there. My father was a world-class Tool & Die Maker. Richard Cobb. Dad had an Apartment near the American National building. The place we lived in is still there. The red building at the corner of Postoffice St. & 20th St., on the second floor, on the corner, overlooking, Postoffice & 20th. The spring that I came down just after my 17th birthday, he handed me my Tool & Die Journeymen's Card. And become another world-class Tool & Die, Maker.
I love Galveston! I hated Illinois! Where I am still today, and still hating it here!
After being married, I really tried hard to move back to Galveston in the early 80s'. I worked for VANSKIKE SECURITY, INC. and a gun shop called GUNSMOKE. But it wasn't enough for my wife and I couldn't really blame her after coming from working for JOHN DEER HARVESTER. But I loved Harry and Nancy Vanskike, even though Harry was a first-class prick, who once took me out to a Wanch Barge, in the middle of the Gulf, and left me there for 10 &1/2 days and 11 nights.
So I digress... I still count Texas as my true home. Because I love Galveston so much.
At this point, my life is going through some major changes. My wife of over 45 years won't make another one, and I've been battling bladder cancer for 5 years. But her cancer is on a whole nother level. And lately, I may, or may not, have other issues. At 65, who knows.
But if I remain in reasonably good shape after I lose my wife, I'd love to come down there to Galveston, my real home, and help work on the TEXAS. My real name is Michael G. Dawson (Cobb at birth). 209-203-6332
Travis, @33:15, in her original configuration (before there was a mast there) would turret 3 have had enough elevation to fire over turret 4? Maybe that's why there's no indicator.
@@charlesmoore766 This photo from 1918 shows nothing between turrets 3 and 4. www.navsource.org/archives/01/013591.jpg
@@charlesmoore766 Your memory may be just fine. It could have been in the plans. I just don't know.
Good video - thanks for posting!
Please keep them coming - hope to visit USS Texas someday. Been to New Jersey, Iowa, North Carolina, and Alabama. Last of the WW I dreadnought battleships!
Maybe the floating drydock should be purchased, and just leave the ship perched in it. The whole business could travel from port to port and ongoing maintenance could be a lot easier/cheaper.
What would the cost of that be with the purchase price and annual maintenance?
When were the working periscopes removed?
1948, when the Navy was making her ready to become a museum for the State of Texas.
Why are there so many pieces missing from the ship? Are they all being restored?
You're gonna want that Premium Navy Armor... made me think of Fargo.
I know nothing of ships, museums, etc. I figure the navy would gut the ship of all sensitive equipment and anything that could be used on other ships upon retirement of a ship like the Texas. What I don't get is how things like light fixtures are laying on the floor in pieces 70 years after retirement. I doubt gremlins go through at night and take things apart. When restoration is occurring, sure, take stuff apart, clean, repair. But why is so much stuff dismantled and, obviously left that way for periods of time? I don't get it.
Shame the periscope were taken off. Thanks for posting though, very interesting.
Where is all the equipment from the armoured bridge now?
Will the fore top ever be open for tours, I have always wanted to tour that part of an old battleship.
Probably not; it is a challenging, slightly dangerous climb to get up there.
@@BattleshipTexas will you ever do a video from up there
@@BattleshipTexas Perhaps with the use of a fall arrest system and a signed waiver of liability for those wanting to ascend ?
TEXAS needs so much work!
More than any other American Battel Ship, The Texas Battel Ship should be restored into service-ready condition.
The plate that reflected the German alterity, should be removed and saved, but replaced.
The rebuild would be cheap compared to the money sunk into this ship back in the day. And remember; These parts were made by hand... NO CNC's
Is there a video of the pilot house or plans to do a video?
Does anyone have photos or video of what it looked like inside the main battery firing control towers at the top of the masts?
They're above the heavily armored navigation room.
Those locations are never discussed, it seems.
Yet they must have been harrowing in rough seas, with the whipping effect of the battleship rocking through high waves
so what provisions did they have to function if the ship was under gas attack? how could they seal the conning tower? did they even try or did everyone just wear gasmasks?
There were gas masks available as well as SCBAs on the ship. Texas also had two decontamination stations on board located on second deck. This was more of a concern for the ship during the Normandy Campaign as they were still unsure of the willingness of the Axis to use chemical weapons.
@@BattleshipTexas imagine being cooped up in the conning tower in gasmasks!!! uuuggghhhhh.
Please make a video fo the engine rooms
@39:00 T. Davis; I thank U again
Be cool to finish the restoration
I first saw TEXAS when I was a kid, around 1962. THe ship was glorious! The next time I saw it was in 1984 and I was horrified by what I saw!!! In the intervening 22 years, in the interior, everything that could be broken or unscrewed and stolen had been. It was a RELIC at that point. There was standing water in the bottom of the ship with lots of trash floating in it. I'm guessing much of this was just from rain being alowed to enter through open doors. Negligence! Disgraceful!!! The ship had basically been abandoned to the ravages of the disrespecting public, rather than preserved and properly displayed as a museumm piece. It was clear that the proper resources to monitor and maintain the ship had not been provided for a very long time. Now, there is an effort to restore the ship, but where will they find all the proper period fittings to replace all the missing parts? It is terribly sad that the state of Texas allowed this treasure to be pillaged.
The door is like 720lbs unless my math is wrong
How many ships did Texas sink?
During Texas' 34 years of service she sank no ships with her main battery guns. She did lend her guns many times in fire support for amphibious landings
@@BattleshipTexas (
So is that all the battle damage suffered by the ship in action?
So, good job this wasn't a tour of one of the pacific aircraft carriers.
Wonders why this guy did not have a fall harness on while he did this? Otherwise great tour.
I have a question about steering the ship. It looks like there's a small tiller to the right of the wheel in the conning tower (seen at 14:51). Was this connected to a motor so the helmsman didn't have to turn the wheel?
EDIT: nevermind, I posted before getting to that part of the video!
i like how the video is simalar to the battle ships new jersys vids
So ancient in there, they must have forgotten what war they were fighting.
From West Virginia
I've seen Ryan on the battleship NJ climb that trunk, it's not super climbable.
just use Flex Seal as a primer and paint over it. boom, rusting problem solved
You are wrong about the helmsman not steering the ship like a car. A good helmsman will move the rudder based on the waves while still maintaining a course. As a Navy sailor, it was easy to tell when an experienced sailor was at the helm vs a new person.
We're the guys ok?
The helmsman was killed and nearly everyone else on the navigation bridge minus the captain was injured. The helmsman was the only combat fatality Texas had.
@@FishHatcheryGuy oh that's terrible. The ultimate sacrifice. May he rest in peace.
*re: video of inaccessible spaces- 🤔I wonder... **_drone_** footage perhaps?*
Sounds like you are saying "Chorberg". I think you are mispronouncing "Cherbourg".
Ship appears to be in bad shape the state needs to maby spend a little money on it but that's Texas the pride of America
*Got a few score $million you can donate?*
A ship with a dangerous job, with men doing their job in a dangerous space. Such entitlement.
720 lbs
Seeing empty gun tubs is sad.
I would like to see replicas of wood, or wood and metal in place of the originals to keep the idea of the ship being a war ship and not a pleasure cruiser.
I suspect the real guns would be prohibitive cost wise, as well as being unavailable for such use.
And whoever threw the trash into the tub should have been tossed in to retrieve it!
The guns are currently at an off-site facility being restored. They will be replaced once repairs are complete.
@@BattleshipTexas COOL!
You sure couldn’t be claustophobic as a navy seaman.
Y’all need to just cut out a door in the deck for people to get in the conning tower
MAN!!! THIS SHIP NEEDS TONS OF PAINTING AND REFINISHING...ITS RUSTING AWAY. HOPE IT COMES OUT OK. ITS REALLY DIRTY TOO. GOOD LUCK WITH THE RESTORATION. ITS GONNA BE A ALOT OF WORK.
Sure, she is cosmetically in rough shape, but her bones are good and we are getting her hull taken care of next year. It always is a lot of work, that is why the ship needs folks who care to give their time, or other resources.
Iowa’s tower is taller
I would hope so! Iowa is nearly 30 years younger than Texas!
Shame they let that ship get in such bad shape
Texas parks and wildlife could be to blame for that. She is in good hands now, and will return!
@@W5NEH Most of her current issues were present before TPWD took over. TPWD spent upwards of $60m in repairs over the years.
@@W5NEH Absolutely not true!!! TPWD struggled for decades doing the best they could with what they had. That means lack of operating funds and under staffing forced upon them by the state legislature and governor. As a governmental agency, they were not allowed to directly raise money and had to rely upon direct funding from the state legislature and donations raised by outside volunteer agencies. All in all, the simple fact that the ship is still here and floating is a testament to their dedication and hard work in the face of chronic under funding.
I was not trying to offend any body or ruffle any feathers. I was simply defending the Battleship Texas organization and the current condition of the ship. I understand that TPWD did the best they could with what they had, but am confident in the Battleship Texas organization to take care of the current issues and restore the ship to a much better condition. I was in no way trying to bash TPWD, and fully respect the efforts put forth that led to the ship still being here today.
You also need to remember that ships are only designed to last 20 years. That time stretched with major overhauls. Texas is over 100 years old, so conservation will be a challenge for any organization. The cruiser Olympia, which is 22 years older than Texas, has had a challenge as well.
Thanks for the amazing video, keep up the good work :)
Appreciate it!
I second that !!! You guys are doing excellent with all your efforts and it is GREATLY appreciated !! Loving all the great video and documentation that ya’ll are doing !!! Keep up the excellent work !! I grew up in Southeast Houston and we would go to the restaurant that used to be right next to her mooring spot. Later as an adult, I moved to Deer Park and always loved driving by her as we would sometimes go to the San Jacinto Monument and the State Park. I drove by her after getting off work on night shift just a couple of mornings before they moved her and took a couple of final photos of her. I remember how fun and exciting it used to be to go aboard her and enjoy her; such as sitting in the gunners seats and playing with the handles/wheels that used to move the small gun turrets. Going to miss her always being right there close by !!! She was in the shadows of the San Jacinto Monument and in line with the reflection pool of the Monument. Can’t believe they are going to relocate her after all the decades she’s been at the San Jacinto Monument !!! I’m saddened to see her leave!
It would have been sweltering hot and dripping with humidity in there on any given day. How miserable they must have been
The other reason it opens upward is that if a shell penetrates and explodes in that area, the rim of the hatch will prevent the explosion from forcing the hatch into the conning tower. It it was the otherway, the dogs would have to be so much stronger to try to keep the hatch in place.
I'm a year late but I came to say the same thing. I'll be willing to bet that's the main reason.
Keep em coming, I wanna see everything texas.
Keep these coming, always glad to hear and see more about her.
I’ve been on her several times. I would be willing to sigh a waver so I could see some of this stuff. I’ve been over every part they let you see. So if I could see the other it would be like a first time visit. That would make the drive worth while to see her again.
Good to see her getting the repairs she’s needs now. 🇨🇱
In the past Hard Hat Tours to behind the scenes areas have been offered, we are going to continue doing them and expand our offerings.
Travis - it's Cherbourg - pronounced "Share Borg" rather than "Shore Berg" 😉
Спасибо!! Нам, в России, очень интересно смотреть американские решения линкоров!
Excellent job man
Years ago I heard about a battleship, don't know which or even what Navy, that a shell hit from an angle and exploded below the Conning Tower. Sailors were amazed that injured people staggered out of the safest place on the ship when they on deck weren't injured.
I think in another battle there was an explosion and everyone was accounted for except for the lookout who was standing and looking out of a slot.
Conning towers were often removed from battleships during reconstruction as they really didn't serve their intended purpose well. Imagine being inside a huge bell when someone hits the outside really hard.
@@DK-gy7ll all 7 surviving fast battleships still have theirs though
Amazing that it can float with all that heavy steel!
I saw this in 1990 (or thereabouts!) and never understood why slots were necessary for people who didn't need to see, such as helmsman, signalmen etc. When the ships own guns fired the blast and fumes would have got in through the slots and of course these essential people would have been made unnecessarily vulnerable to incoming shell fire. In British (and possibly other nation's ships) the helmsman was safely hidden away, receiving orders from the 'eyes and ears' people who needed to see.
The differences between Texas and the Iowas are astonishing.
Great info to help me finish my minecraft battleship lol
New Texas video. GREAT!!! ✌
It's an absolute crime that this ship being the only one of her kind that survives had been allowed over the years to degrade to such an absolute disaster area. I understand that it takes money to keep an old ship like this repaired but this is a damned shame. You would think that if the state of Texas is supposedly so proud of the ship that's named after it that it would take some of the millions upon millions of dollars that are wasted each year on taking care of illegals and spent that money on this ship and a few dollars for bus tickets back to mexico for them.
I mean Texas could absolutely afford to put money into her. They choose not to.
some of the external armor, could it be better protected with powder coating instead of just painting?
Sad bout periscopes. It would be great if they'll be installed as it was when ship was active.
This is great - seeing spots you can't go into anymore is wonderful - might want to have notes to remind you what to say before you show the camera around.....to keep it tighter.
as you talk about the battleship texas i look at texas on world of warships
I’d happily sneak in to get to those two towers on top of the ship. Can’t find any video’s inside them