I can't believe you missed my favorite USS Texas story: While supporting the landings at Normandy, Texas moved to within 3,000 yards of shore to support bombardment requests from advancing Allied forces. At one point, German forces withdrew to what they thought was the maximum range of US battleships. The commander of the Texas ordered the torpedo sponson on the starboard side flooded, which gave the main batteries an additional 2 degrees of elevation. The shocked German units then retreated overnight some 10 more miles inland, well outside of Texas's guns.
I think I saw this story mentioned in another video from THG, if you search his channel you'll find no less than 5 USS Texas videos, IIRC. I could be wrong though.
@@RamasolaProductions I do know Drachinifel definitely covered that story. And now that you mention it, I seem to remember THG telling the account of that story as well. 😎
I've toured the Texas twice. Being a retired Navy Sailor, it holds a special place in my ❤. My brother is a Battleship Sailor. He served on USS Missouri during the first Gulf War.
I really want to tour the USS Texas and USS Missouri. I think it's so cool that your brother served on the Mighty MO. I've always wanted to hear a battleships guns fire. The big ships project such a powerful and fearsome presence. Hope you took lots of pics of your tour and shared them.
@@RetiredSailor60 Wow! That's so cool. You've got some important pics of a very historical ship. One day I'm going to tour one of those magnificent ships. The Might MO is where they held the official surrender of the Japanese. To be able to stand on that spot would be a great honor. What a history that ship has, thank goodness we have kept this very important piece of history for our younger generations to enjoy.
I live in Houston and have toured the Texas many times. In 2019 my father and I made a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Normandie, France, for the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Visiting Pointe Du Hoc, I asked a fellow tourist to take a photo of dad and I standing in one of the enormous craters made by those 14" main guns, which are still there and quite deep all these years later. I'm proud to say that I've visited both the sending and receiving ends of the USS Texas, and found both of them equally impressive. Bless the men who served on her.
While watching this video the song "The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You" came to mind, replacing Eyes with Guns. The guns of Texas were upon many of our enemies during WWII. This ship deserves to be remembered and saved.
Mr. Lance, has anyone thanked you lately for all that you and your family do for us TH-cam history buffs? You and yours and much appreciated! Thank you! God bless! 🇺🇸
@Z nah, Mr. Brooks could of had enthusiasm at one point in his career, but that was sucked out of him by the time I arrived. Most of the time it was us reading 📚 and doing Cornell notes. No lectures. No warmth. He had tenure so he really didn't have the zap he could of had in his youth. Not throwing shade, but just wished for more actual involvement.
I agree. I'm glad he is one of the History teachers currently in my repertoire. Have to give the internet its due, if you want to learn it is truly the age of information.
I got to work on the air conditioning equipment in the building where they were restoring the guns from the Battleship Texas. I also recently watched your videos on the Texas and being the history nerd that I am I acted like a fat kid in a candy store when I saw the guns. I took pictures of them and talked to the people that were restoring the guns asking them a million questions. Some of the 20mm guns were actually built by Westinghouse Electric. PM me and I would be happy to share some pictures. Thanks for everything that you do History Guy and a special thanks for recognizing The USS.Texas. I know that all of my fellow residents of The Lone Star State appreciate it as well.
USS Texas has also produced many cautionary tales. For example, being the first ship to mount the 3 inch antiaircraft guns, it turned out that they had put them in a really bad place. It was difficult to bring up ammunition quickly to the top of the boat cranes and impossible to store large quantities there, making the guns difficult to use. Later AA gun positions were set up for better ammo supply and storage. As a museum ship, many lessons were learned the hard way, as she was one of the first steel ships made into a museum. Nobody had really understood just how much work and cost would go into a museum ship, and there were some serious errors made (like when they stripped off her rotten wooden decking and put down concrete, which ultimately did no good, other museum ships try to avoid using concrete as anything but a strictly temporary patching material).
People need to stop whining about Texas' "poor shape". All her sister battleships were scrapped, sunk as target ships, or destroyed in nuclear explosions in the Pacific. Texas was happy she had only rotten wood and a rusted hull to deal with. Just like "no such thing as a bad landing if everyone survives" there is no such thing as a museum ship in "bad shape". She is 100+ years old and comparing her to Mikasa which is on dry land is absurd. Her shape is as well as to be expected for a 100+ year old dreadnought that was in saltwater for about 97% of those 100+ years. Texas is so unique and special that she makes the other 7 surviving U.S. battleships built during WWII look so pedestrian and boring with their same exact cookiecutter faster speed and bigger guns. Yet, Texas was the only battleship to serve at Torch, D-Day, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. No other battleship in the world served in all 4 of those amphibious landings!
The numbers in sheer weight of these guns is incredible! From the powder bags to the barrels themselves it's just staggering and the amount of engineering and work that went into these battleships is just an amazing example of exemplary engineering and just plain hard work!
My grandfather served on the Texas. I loved listening to his stories. He once told me about photo day when the crew us on top o the guns and turrets when someone accedntly fired one of the guns.
We have been honored to work with the foundation, and hope that we have helped to bring attention to the great ship. We have many more episodes on USS Texas planned.
I served in the Navy from 1961 through 1965. For a brief period I was on the crew of a 3 inch gun. We called them three inch fifties, with no "caliber" used. The 50 meant that the barrel was fifty times as long as the diameter of the shell it fired. That would be a 150 inch length for the barrel. I might be wrong, but I have never heard the word "caliber" used concerning the large guns aboard Navy ships. I love your channel . If my history teachers had been half as interesting and enthusiastic as you, I would have learned more.
@Steven Van Niman Perhaps I was given the wrong info. Perhaps it was defined differently when I served aboard two Ammunitions ships and two years in Japan at a Naval Security Group activity 60 years ago. But the info I quoted was given to me exactly as I described. You need not worry yourself about whether or not I served. I can show you my DD214 and I still know my service number ... neither of which is any of your business.
My grandfather served on the Texas, the ship was sent on a virtual suicide mission during the beginning of the battle for Iwo Jima. The radio was damaged and the navy thought the vessel was lost. I still have the 48 star flag that was given to my great grandmother, even though he had not died.
R.I.P. "GREATEST" Generation! My family too has these type memories! One was on the ship at armistice/treaty with Hirohito! One joined the Canadian Air Corps after he paid for a pilots lic and started to fly in the battle of Britten under the Canadian banner for Britton.
I'm glad the USS Texas is finally heading in for much needed repairs and restorations given it's status as the last remaining classic definition of a "dreadnought type" battleship with everything after like the Iowa, South Dakota, and North Carolina classes being considered "Super dreadnought" types due to their relative size and armaments. That reminds me, maybe you would also be interested in covering the USS Olympia as well? It's the last remaining pre dreadnought era protected cruiser type in the United States. It has a long and interesting history dating back to the Spanish American War of 1898 where it was the flagship during the battle of Manilla Bay, then saw service in WWI, took part in the 1919 Russian civil war intervention, as well as later being the ship that returned the remains of the unknown soldier to the Arlington National Cemetery for entombing. The Olympia is currently moored in downtown Philadelphia. Sadly it's in a pretty bad state of repair arguably much worse than the Texas to the point there was talk of scrapping her not long ago. They're currently trying to raise $20 million to repair the hull erosion it has suffered below the waterline and could use all the publicity, support, and help it can get.
I have been in love with BB-35, USS TEXAS for 59 years or more. I was probably about 3 years old the first time that my feet walked her decks. I was instantly hooked for life. Now I'm starting to wonder if Lance loves her as much as I do. He's done 4 or 5 different episodes about her. Thank you Lance for teaching the world about one of the greatest battleships ever built.
I boarded the USS Texas when I was 6 years old. Thanks for presenting this. Her trip to Galveston will be the second trip that she will have taken. She is one of the last dread naught battle ships. A very impressive ship!
An interesting thing about Texas is on her right now are 9 out of 10 of her original 1914 14" guns!!! She used those guns from 1914 to 1923 before having to change the barrels. Pennsylvania used those gun barrels, which were relined and refurbished, from 1925 to 1940. On Texas' final refit in late 1944 she received those nine original 1914 14" guns of hers and they are still there. The six 3" guns on Texas now in her two cool-looking aircastles were with Texas ever since 1914 and never used on another ship. Those 6 guns are the only guns still on Texas that were used on D-Day at Omaha Beach.
My maternal grandfather served on the USS Texas a hundred years ago. I hope one day to visit her in La Porte, Texas. To walk the decks my grandfather did would be a dream come true.
Being a Texan she holds a special in my heart. I have toured her a couple of times and thank GOODNESS she is finally going in for repairs. I did know about the launching of a plane from her. I just wondering how they were going to recover it. ;) Thank you.
They had a crane. The plane was a float plane, would land in the water near the ship, they'd toss a line to the plane, hook it up to the crane and raise it back up onboard.
As the aircraft launched was a Sopwith Camel and hence didn't have floats I believe it landed onshore in the usual fashion. It was basically a proof of concept, can we launch an aircraft from a battleship?
When repairing the 3"50 main gun of the USCGC Valiant WMEC 621 my gun crew and I got spare parts from the USS Texas. That was about 1975ish. That gun served on until the mid 1990s.
@@vwalsh63 my grandfather was a seabed in ww2. Serving in the Philippines. The 123rd Naval Construction Battalion. Never met him though, he was killed by a drunk driver before l was born. Our family still has his cruise book. "Can Do"!!!
As a proud Texan, I thoroughly enjoy the stories you bring to life about the Texas. She is a great homage to this State and a great visit should you be in the Houston area. Love the channel and the bow ties. Keep up the good work.
The bow ties. It's true! I love the bow ties. My very favorite history teacher in Pasadena, Texas was an injured WWII veteran. He always wore long sleeves, even in the hot months) and bow ties. Someone asked him why the long sleeves. He rolled up the sleeve on one arm that revealed a heavily scared and much smaller arm than you would expect on his thin frame. I like bow ties too and I always think of that history teacher when I see one.
Wow! What a blockbuster episode! As a little girl, from Baytown, TX, I was always very excited when my family would make a trip out to the San Jacinto monument and the battleship Texas! I would pretend to "man the guns" and shoot down enemy planes! I'm an old lady now but with great memories!
I've had the honour of visiting the Battleship Texas several years ago and feared for her when I learned of the damage done to her. But thank you for letting me know that she will again survive!
Thank you so much for making another video on The Texas. I grew up in the Pasadena area near the battleship and have always loved the history around it. Hearing you tell the world more history behind it makes me happy as hell. A shout out to you and all of my fellow Pasadena, Deer Park, LaPorte, & Channelview residents out there. God bless Texas!! Please do a few videos on Texas; maybe about Moses Austin, the Alamo, and general Sam Houston next.
For those like me that wondered what a 3"/50 caliber gun means (because it's not intuitive)... it's a gun that fires a 3" shell, and the length of the gun is 50 calibers (3") long. Meaning... 3 X 50 (150") long.
The U.S.S. Texas and the U.S.S. Arizona are my two favorite battleships. I saw the Arizona a month ago for the first time ever and I'll be at the Texas as soon as she's back from dry-dock. Thank you for covering so much naval history!
Another informative video presentation by THG! Thanks, I really did not previously know about the use of the 5" guns removed from the USS Texas in the successful 1st defense of Wake Island.
Hooorah our American friends we owe your forefathers and the proud ship Texas. From a Scotsman Thankyou. The only thing harder than the ship where the lads who served on her. May they live as long as they want and never want as long as they live.
Thanks for the awesome info as always! I particularly love the the USS Texas episodes. I am a former volunteer on her and love that she gets the spotlight she deserves! Looking forward to the repairs and when she is placed in her new home (wherever that will be).
My father was a WWII gunners mate , he was wounded serving on the U.S.S. Portland ( heavy cruiser) , He was very emotional when we toured the U.S.S. Texas , I didn’t understand why until I was older …….
Another wonderful program about a great topic, I hope this historic ship can be repaired sufficiently to continue as a museum. The actual reports of the placement of the early AA batteries on the Texas indicate that whenever a main battery gun was fired, it could be a greater danger to the anti-aircraft crews than to any enemy
We toured the U.S.S. Texas a couple of years ago and I learned so much. My dad served in the Navy post-WWII and I have much family who were/are 'Navy Men' and learning about the Texas was very cool. During the tour, we learned the Texas is the last of the Dreadnaught ships.
So the USS Texas saw action in Norh Africa, Normandy and Iwo Jimo?!?! My lawd that ship and crew worked very hard. Proud of her and her crew. They gave that fighting lady a great fighting name, The USS TEXAS!
Very Nice treatise on the old girl, thank you. My father served on Battleship X during WWII. I would really enjoy seeing your attention to the old war horse. Also, thanks for covering the Rapid City Flood of 6/9/72; having lived through it was an amazing experience that shaped many decisions in my life. Thank you.
I love the U.S. Navy's approach to anti-aircraft defences on Battleships in WW2 - put as many guns as possible on every available space! It must have been very uncomfortable for any enemy aircraft getting within range of such an immense wall of AA fire.
Thank You. Yes, we are very proud of the ship. I have been monitoring what the Gulf Coast has been doing to the hull. It infuriates me when I see that no one else understands how important it is to keep this ship as a museum. I can't wait to see her move to Galveston. I will be driving to the coast many times to see here going into dry dock.
I've been aboard the USS Missouri when she was in Bremerton years ago, the USS Texas is on my list to see along with the USS New Jersey. along with a list of other ship's to see. As soon as I rebuilt my truck I am hooking my trailer up and doing the retired old man RV thing seeing the country one last time.
I've recently seen the work being done on one of her 40mm Bofors mounts and I have to say it looks incredible. It may even look better than it did right out of the factory. The best thing too is that they are working on the mounts in the worst condition first! They aren't just painting them either, but replacing all of the bearings, seals, and gears needed to keep the mounts freely operating the way they should be.
I visited the battleship Texas when I was about 10, I have a photo of me sitting in the gunners seat on one of the Bofors guns. An experience I will always remember.
USS Texas Facts: 1) It was launched the same year the Titanic went down. 2) Onboard the Texas are the two largest reciprocating steam engines left in existence. Larger engines were built but not preserved. So if you are a steam fan this is as good as you can still experience. My son and did then engine room crawl tour and experienced so many mind-blowing feats of century-old engineering far below the waterline. Not just the engines but the steering gear including a manual backup system that required (IIRC) 40 man-power to operate! I emerged from that tour so drenched in sweat that I ruined a phone! It was totally worth it! The other thing that amazed me was being so old that Texas did not originally have bunk rooms or mess halls. You worked, ate, and slept at your station. They brought the food to you in tollies. If you shoveled coal for a living you spent most of your life in the boiler room. The final mind-blower for me was the restrooms. They had one long urinal trough that ran around two walls. Then one wall was lined with many commodes, the fourth wall was lined with sink/mirror combos. Nothing to surprising there but I felt something was wrong and mentioned it to the family but we went on exploring. Only later did it hit me-- There were no showers! Not only did you eat, sleep and work in one small space. You could not even get a shower after a long shift of shoveling coal. Ugh! Tie that all together -- in 1914 living aboard the Texas represented a better quality of life than most experienced in that time frame. Particularly for the poor.
@@chiefpontiac1800 Maybe another Texas twist with Wake Island, I have read the book, Pacific Alamo-The Battle for Wake Island by John Wukovits. What more fitting place for USS Texas guns than on Wake Island where, like the Alamo, again was a valiant stand against overwhelming odds.
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel @Chief Pontiac I know The History Guy knows but another interesting twist of Texas history, the USS Texas (although it may move to a new home after repairs) has been berthed across the street from the historic location of the Battle of San Jacinto where Sam Houston led the charge with the cries of Remember The Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!”. It is the location of the decisive battle for Texas independence from Mexico. The San Jacinto Monument is the tallest masonry monument in the world and 13 feet taller than the Washington Monument.
Thank you so much sir, this made my day. It's my personal opinion that Texas was the test bed for more new technologies than any other Navy ship. Though I've still yet to visit her because of her extensive repairs and then Covid restrictions, I will take my sons to see the last remaining World War 1 Dreadnought. The Texas battleship foundation is in a desperate race to repair her as she is falling apart structurally below the water line. Her bones are old and rusty, leaking many tons of water per day that huge pumps run continuously to remove. Some of the worst leaking areas have temporarily been sealed with a foam until she can hopefully be floated and repaired properly in a dry dock. I can only hope at some point the foundation will be able to build a permanent cement barrier around her hull so she won't collapse and be be too dangerous for tours. In my own humble opinion, the Texas should be given Monument status to honor those that served not only on her, but in all naval engagements in which she participated in both wars. If we lose her to the elements, it will be a very sad day for history. Thanks again for your attention to this facet of her existence, I too believe that her history deserves to be remembered.
We visited in August. She is well stabilized, the need for pumping is dramatically reduced, the guns are well along restoration (there were some photos in this episode,) and now the dry dock plan is formalized. She is getting much needed TLC.
Really enjoyed this video. I toured the USS Texas as a kid and I’m looking forward to another tour once it’s back on display. USS Alabama is another good tour.
I’ve toured the USS Texas several times, and my favorite part was getting to maneuver the guns. A friend of mine recently told me a story about one of her visits to the Texas. A D-Day veteran was there telling of his experience that day. He said they were pinned down on the beach, and then the Texas opened fire. He said he watched the shells fly overhead and the Texas sail back and forth, alternating firing the port and starboard guns. He credits the Texas with saving them on the beach that day.
There are no survivors of her WW1 service, and only a handful of WW2 service survivors still living. Every effort should be made now to thank them personally as the opportunity to do so will be gone forever soon.
I went through the Texas twice, it's worth the time to go and see her when she returns. She was basically sinking last time we went down there. Good to hear that her hull is getting reworked.
over the years i have visited the Texas quite a few times. its an amazing piece of history. an amazing ship that was a major part of american naval history. lots of firsts in its career.
Texas is my favorite battleship I love her history and how she represents all of her dreadnought siblings from the great war. Who long been either Scrapped, sunk, or destoryed.
Thanks ,Enjoyed, Have toured the ship many tines over the past 40 years. Live near by, Great piece of history. looking forward to the refit. later from Texas.
Back in the early 1970's the US Naval Oceanographic Office was located in the Washington Navy Yard, in DC. Many of the buildings are WWI vintage, as was the building in which I worked. Part of the first floor was made up of hardwood blocks, stood on end, so the grain was up. They were heavily finished in varnish or something to keep them waterproof. They were not affixed to the subfloor, but floated. I took a few up to see what was under them and discovered the molds for the 16" and 14" naval guns. As far as I know they are still there. A large gun is not as accurate at long range as a cruise missile, but it is sure a lot cheaper, and for close range and fire volume, it can't be beat.
It is good to hear all about the firepower on our beloved battleship. My daddy loved taking us to tour there. I think I need to celebrate your video with a trip to the range.
I can't believe you missed my favorite USS Texas story: While supporting the landings at Normandy, Texas moved to within 3,000 yards of shore to support bombardment requests from advancing Allied forces. At one point, German forces withdrew to what they thought was the maximum range of US battleships. The commander of the Texas ordered the torpedo sponson on the starboard side flooded, which gave the main batteries an additional 2 degrees of elevation. The shocked German units then retreated overnight some 10 more miles inland, well outside of Texas's guns.
I think I saw this story mentioned in another video from THG, if you search his channel you'll find no less than 5 USS Texas videos, IIRC. I could be wrong though.
@@RamasolaProductions y
Your not wrong
@@RamasolaProductions I do know Drachinifel definitely covered that story. And now that you mention it, I seem to remember THG telling the account of that story as well. 😎
Mentioned in this episode: th-cam.com/video/J9IabP_W3SM/w-d-xo.html
I've toured the Texas twice. Being a retired Navy Sailor, it holds a special place in my ❤. My brother is a Battleship Sailor. He served on USS Missouri during the first Gulf War.
I really want to tour the USS Texas and USS Missouri. I think it's so cool that your brother served on the Mighty MO. I've always wanted to hear a battleships guns fire. The big ships project such a powerful and fearsome presence. Hope you took lots of pics of your tour and shared them.
@@olliefoxx7165 I have pics of Mighty MO when I toured her in 1984 while she was in Bremerton WA prior to being recommissioned
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@@RetiredSailor60 Wow! That's so cool. You've got some important pics of a very historical ship. One day I'm going to tour one of those magnificent ships. The Might MO is where they held the official surrender of the Japanese. To be able to stand on that spot would be a great honor. What a history that ship has, thank goodness we have kept this very important piece of history for our younger generations to enjoy.
@@olliefoxx7165 I held my first re-enlistment on USS Arizona Memorial in 1986.
I live in Houston and have toured the Texas many times. In 2019 my father and I made a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Normandie, France, for the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Visiting Pointe Du Hoc, I asked a fellow tourist to take a photo of dad and I standing in one of the enormous craters made by those 14" main guns, which are still there and quite deep all these years later.
I'm proud to say that I've visited both the sending and receiving ends of the USS Texas, and found both of them equally impressive. Bless the men who served on her.
That is a cool story! "Both ends"!
That is awesome 😊😊😊
While watching this video the song "The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You" came to mind, replacing Eyes with Guns. The guns of Texas were upon many of our enemies during WWII. This ship deserves to be remembered and saved.
I THINK EYES OF TEXAS MEANT GUNS.
That caught in my throat a bit when i read that. Well said!:-)🙏
There is a rather cheesy book called the Ayes of Texas that features a recommissioned Battleship Texas.
Mr. Lance, has anyone thanked you lately for all that you and your family do for us TH-cam history buffs? You and yours and much appreciated! Thank you! God bless! 🇺🇸
I'm loving these battleship episodes. God I wish this man was my teacher in school back in the day.
@Z nah, Mr. Brooks could of had enthusiasm at one point in his career, but that was sucked out of him by the time I arrived. Most of the time it was us reading 📚 and doing Cornell notes. No lectures. No warmth. He had tenure so he really didn't have the zap he could of had in his youth. Not throwing shade, but just wished for more actual involvement.
I agree. I'm glad he is one of the History teachers currently in my repertoire. Have to give the internet its due, if you want to learn it is truly the age of information.
My uncle, Gunner’s Mate Rufus Henry Mock (USS Texas, 1939-1946) is surely smiling down from heaven on this episode. Thanks HG! (And Mrs. THG!)
I got to work on the air conditioning equipment in the building where they were restoring the guns from the Battleship Texas. I also recently watched your videos on the Texas and being the history nerd that I am I acted like a fat kid in a candy store when I saw the guns. I took pictures of them and talked to the people that were restoring the guns asking them a million questions. Some of the 20mm guns were actually built by Westinghouse Electric. PM me and I would be happy to share some pictures. Thanks for everything that you do History Guy and a special thanks for recognizing The USS.Texas. I know that all of my fellow residents of The Lone Star State appreciate it as well.
USS Texas has also produced many cautionary tales. For example, being the first ship to mount the 3 inch antiaircraft guns, it turned out that they had put them in a really bad place. It was difficult to bring up ammunition quickly to the top of the boat cranes and impossible to store large quantities there, making the guns difficult to use. Later AA gun positions were set up for better ammo supply and storage.
As a museum ship, many lessons were learned the hard way, as she was one of the first steel ships made into a museum. Nobody had really understood just how much work and cost would go into a museum ship, and there were some serious errors made (like when they stripped off her rotten wooden decking and put down concrete, which ultimately did no good, other museum ships try to avoid using concrete as anything but a strictly temporary patching material).
People need to stop whining about Texas' "poor shape". All her sister battleships were scrapped, sunk as target ships, or destroyed in nuclear explosions in the Pacific. Texas was happy she had only rotten wood and a rusted hull to deal with. Just like "no such thing as a bad landing if everyone survives" there is no such thing as a museum ship in "bad shape". She is 100+ years old and comparing her to Mikasa which is on dry land is absurd. Her shape is as well as to be expected for a 100+ year old dreadnought that was in saltwater for about 97% of those 100+ years. Texas is so unique and special that she makes the other 7 surviving U.S. battleships built during WWII look so pedestrian and boring with their same exact cookiecutter faster speed and bigger guns. Yet, Texas was the only battleship to serve at Torch, D-Day, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. No other battleship in the world served in all 4 of those amphibious landings!
The numbers in sheer weight of these guns is incredible! From the powder bags to the barrels themselves it's just staggering and the amount of engineering and work that went into these battleships is just an amazing example of exemplary engineering and just plain hard work!
When I look at the size of those guns, I can't even imagine how they made something so big yet so precise!
My grandfather served on the Texas. I loved listening to his stories. He once told me about photo day when the crew us on top o the guns and turrets when someone accedntly fired one of the guns.
Once again thanks for covering the Texas again
We have been honored to work with the foundation, and hope that we have helped to bring attention to the great ship. We have many more episodes on USS Texas planned.
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel Thank you! looking forward to watching them all,,,,,,
I served in the Navy from 1961 through 1965. For a brief period I was on the crew of a 3 inch gun. We called them three inch fifties, with no "caliber" used. The 50 meant that the barrel was fifty times as long as the diameter of the shell it fired. That would be a 150 inch length for the barrel. I might be wrong, but I have never heard the word "caliber" used concerning the large guns aboard Navy ships. I love your channel . If my history teachers had been half as interesting and enthusiastic as you, I would have learned more.
@Steven Van Niman Perhaps I was given the wrong info. Perhaps it was defined differently when I served aboard two Ammunitions ships and two years in Japan at a Naval Security Group activity 60 years ago.
But the info I quoted was given to me exactly as I described. You need not worry yourself about whether or not I served. I can show you my DD214 and I still know my service number ... neither of which is any of your business.
My grandfather served on the Texas, the ship was sent on a virtual suicide mission during the beginning of the battle for Iwo Jima. The radio was damaged and the navy thought the vessel was lost. I still have the 48 star flag that was given to my great grandmother, even though he had not died.
That's amazing! Your grandfather and his ship went to many dangerous and far flung war zones. Such a impressive ship and crew.
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Thats badass
R.I.P. "GREATEST" Generation!
My family too has these type memories!
One was on the ship at armistice/treaty with Hirohito!
One joined the Canadian Air Corps after he paid for a pilots lic and started to fly in the battle of Britten under the Canadian banner for Britton.
@@davefellhoelter1343 Agreed, re the greatest generation, but just an aside, it's "Britain".
I'm glad the USS Texas is finally heading in for much needed repairs and restorations given it's status as the last remaining classic definition of a "dreadnought type" battleship with everything after like the Iowa, South Dakota, and North Carolina classes being considered "Super dreadnought" types due to their relative size and armaments.
That reminds me, maybe you would also be interested in covering the USS Olympia as well? It's the last remaining pre dreadnought era protected cruiser type in the United States. It has a long and interesting history dating back to the Spanish American War of 1898 where it was the flagship during the battle of Manilla Bay, then saw service in WWI, took part in the 1919 Russian civil war intervention, as well as later being the ship that returned the remains of the unknown soldier to the Arlington National Cemetery for entombing.
The Olympia is currently moored in downtown Philadelphia. Sadly it's in a pretty bad state of repair arguably much worse than the Texas to the point there was talk of scrapping her not long ago. They're currently trying to raise $20 million to repair the hull erosion it has suffered below the waterline and could use all the publicity, support, and help it can get.
The technology developed for aiming the large cannons are amazing. Calculated both ship’s motions, wind speeds, distance, and more. Really amazing
I have read that the Bismarck computer did the same thing.
ANALOG computers no less. The most amazing technology!
I have been in love with BB-35, USS TEXAS for 59 years or more. I was probably about 3 years old the first time that my feet walked her decks. I was instantly hooked for life. Now I'm starting to wonder if Lance loves her as much as I do. He's done 4 or 5 different episodes about her. Thank you Lance for teaching the world about one of the greatest battleships ever built.
I boarded the USS Texas when I was 6 years old. Thanks for presenting this. Her trip to Galveston will be the second trip that she will have taken. She is one of the last dread naught battle ships. A very impressive ship!
Like many on here, I've had the opportunity to scramble around USS Texas. Great fun and great history.
B6t4
An interesting thing about Texas is on her right now are 9 out of 10 of her original 1914 14" guns!!! She used those guns from 1914 to 1923 before having to change the barrels. Pennsylvania used those gun barrels, which were relined and refurbished, from 1925 to 1940. On Texas' final refit in late 1944 she received those nine original 1914 14" guns of hers and they are still there.
The six 3" guns on Texas now in her two cool-looking aircastles were with Texas ever since 1914 and never used on another ship. Those 6 guns are the only guns still on Texas that were used on D-Day at Omaha Beach.
Fact: schoolchildren in Texas collected pennys to buy her from the navy. She belongs to US. We love her..drydock coming.
My maternal grandfather served on the USS Texas a hundred years ago. I hope one day to visit her in La Porte, Texas. To walk the decks my grandfather did would be a dream come true.
Being a Texan she holds a special in my heart. I have toured her a couple of times and thank GOODNESS she is finally going in for repairs. I did know about the launching of a plane from her. I just wondering how they were going to recover it. ;) Thank you.
I believe they used a crane to hoist it back onto the ship.
The planes used floates to land, then they used a hoist crane to lift the plane from the water and reposition it back to the launch rail.
They had a crane. The plane was a float plane, would land in the water near the ship, they'd toss a line to the plane, hook it up to the crane and raise it back up onboard.
i imagine it landed on the near by landing strip... At least i HOPE someone thought about that before they built the runway!!!!!🙏
As the aircraft launched was a Sopwith Camel and hence didn't have floats I believe it landed onshore in the usual fashion. It was basically a proof of concept, can we launch an aircraft from a battleship?
When repairing the 3"50 main gun of the USCGC Valiant WMEC 621 my gun crew and I got spare parts from the USS Texas. That was about 1975ish. That gun served on until the mid 1990s.
Thank you for mentioning the defenders of Wake Island. The Alamo of the Pacific! Her guns served those men well.
th-cam.com/video/kbxrqQFetvI/w-d-xo.html
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel Yes sir! I’ve watched that one and another from History Channel. Those men definitely deserve to be remembered!
Mark Felton did a story of the commander of Wake Island after the surrender.
Wake island was a catalyst for the creation of the Seabees.
@@vwalsh63 my grandfather was a seabed in ww2. Serving in the Philippines. The 123rd Naval Construction Battalion. Never met him though, he was killed by a drunk driver before l was born. Our family still has his cruise book. "Can Do"!!!
Thank you thank you thank you, sir! For everything you do!
As a proud Texan, I thoroughly enjoy the stories you bring to life about the Texas. She is a great homage to this State and a great visit should you be in the Houston area.
Love the channel and the bow ties. Keep up the good work.
The bow ties. It's true! I love the bow ties. My very favorite history teacher in Pasadena, Texas was an injured WWII veteran. He always wore long sleeves, even in the hot months) and bow ties. Someone asked him why the long sleeves. He rolled up the sleeve on one arm that revealed a heavily scared and much smaller arm than you would expect on his thin frame. I like bow ties too and I always think of that history teacher when I see one.
Wow! What a blockbuster episode! As a little girl, from Baytown, TX, I was always very excited when my family would make a trip out to the San Jacinto monument and the battleship Texas! I would pretend to "man the guns" and shoot down enemy planes! I'm an old lady now but with great memories!
I've had the honour of visiting the Battleship Texas several years ago and feared for her when I learned of the damage done to her. But thank you for letting me know that she will again survive!
Thank you so much for making another video on The Texas. I grew up in the Pasadena area near the battleship and have always loved the history around it. Hearing you tell the world more history behind it makes me happy as hell. A shout out to you and all of my fellow Pasadena, Deer Park, LaPorte, & Channelview residents out there. God bless Texas!!
Please do a few videos on Texas; maybe about Moses Austin, the Alamo, and general Sam Houston next.
For those like me that wondered what a 3"/50 caliber gun means (because it's not intuitive)... it's a gun that fires a 3" shell, and the length of the gun is 50 calibers (3") long. Meaning... 3 X 50 (150") long.
The U.S.S. Texas and the U.S.S. Arizona are my two favorite battleships. I saw the Arizona a month ago for the first time ever and I'll be at the Texas as soon as she's back from dry-dock. Thank you for covering so much naval history!
Another informative video presentation by THG! Thanks, I really did not previously know about the use of the 5" guns removed from the USS Texas in the successful 1st defense of Wake Island.
As a child visiting the USS Texas and the San Jacinto Monument were two of my favorite places to visit.
You had me at Guns and Texas. The miniature model battleship made me stay.
Made my heart swell mighty big listening to the Tales of Texas…
Thanks for the video. I live 20 mins from this old gal and grew up playing on her. It's nice to hear more trivia about her.
What a unique way of tying together stories of the guns of the USS Texas. Thanks, very interesting.
USS Texas is on the move to dry dock right now this morning (8/31/22).
Legendary
Hooorah our American friends we owe your forefathers and the proud ship Texas. From a Scotsman Thankyou. The only thing harder than the ship where the lads who served on her. May they live as long as they want and never want as long as they live.
Thanks for the awesome info as always! I particularly love the the USS Texas episodes. I am a former volunteer on her and love that she gets the spotlight she deserves! Looking forward to the repairs and when she is placed in her new home (wherever that will be).
My father was a WWII gunners mate , he was wounded serving on the U.S.S. Portland ( heavy cruiser) , He was very emotional when we toured the U.S.S. Texas , I didn’t understand why until I was older …….
Amazing connections to so many events! Thanks for bringing these to light for all of us
C'mon Texas!
Great presentation! Always good, but this is outstanding even among ordinarily high expectations. Almost makes me wish I was a Texan!
Thank you to the History Guy for another video featuring the Battleship Texas!
And more to come.
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel Thank you so much!
You do a wonderful job sir ……we here in Texas love our battleship and appreciate the very interesting attention you show her …….👍
Enjoyed this video along with others detailing events regarding USS Texas. My grandfather served on the USS Texas during WWI.
Another wonderful program about a great topic, I hope this historic ship can be repaired sufficiently to continue as a museum. The actual reports of the placement of the early AA batteries on the Texas indicate that whenever a main battery gun was fired, it could be a greater danger to the anti-aircraft crews than to any enemy
I think this is your 3rd? video about the USS Texas? Amazing! Woohoo! Thanks
Six so far, with more to come: th-cam.com/play/PLSnt4mJGJfGg5sWUYL29pbAZoMSu4PVQ0.html
A wonderful tale of history, technology and forgotten details of warfare. Thank you, Mr. Hstory Guy!
Touring this glorious ship was almost a rite of passage for those of us who grew up in the Houston area. I’m glad that my daughter got a chance.
Big fan of the Texas. Been to visit her several times; as a young boy, as a man, and as a father.
We toured the U.S.S. Texas a couple of years ago and I learned so much. My dad served in the Navy post-WWII and I have much family who were/are 'Navy Men' and learning about the Texas was very cool. During the tour, we learned the Texas is the last of the Dreadnaught ships.
The way that things combine is always interesting.
Nothing like those little stories. "I was trained on Texas!"
Good to see you guys posting some videos after your visit to the USS Texas! Was great seeing you guys down here in Houston.
Thanks for your video and thanks to the USS Texas amazing vessel I hope she gets the love she deserves and is around for a very long time to come !
Excellent video. I spent so much time as a kid exploring the USS Texas
So the USS Texas saw action in Norh Africa, Normandy and Iwo Jimo?!?! My lawd that ship and crew worked very hard. Proud of her and her crew. They gave that fighting lady a great fighting name, The USS TEXAS!
As well as Operation Dragoon and Operation Iceberg.
Everything is bigger in Texas and apparently that includes the operational ranges of her ship!
Very Nice treatise on the old girl, thank you.
My father served on Battleship X during WWII. I would really enjoy seeing your attention to the old war horse.
Also, thanks for covering the Rapid City Flood of 6/9/72; having lived through it was an amazing experience that shaped many decisions in my life. Thank you.
I love the U.S. Navy's approach to anti-aircraft defences on Battleships in WW2 - put as many guns as possible on every available space! It must have been very uncomfortable for any enemy aircraft getting within range of such an immense wall of AA fire.
It's good to hear the Texas is being repaired. It was in sad condition. Way too many historical warships from many nations have been broken up.
I grew up in Deer Park and we used to go there a lot. The San Jacinto monument and ride the Lynchburg Ferry, picnic by the battleship. Great times.
Thank You. Yes, we are very proud of the ship. I have been monitoring what the Gulf Coast has been doing to the hull. It infuriates me when I see that no one else understands how important it is to keep this ship as a museum. I can't wait to see her move to Galveston. I will be driving to the coast many times to see here going into dry dock.
I've been aboard the USS Missouri when she was in Bremerton years ago, the USS Texas is on my list to see along with the USS New Jersey. along with a list of other ship's to see. As soon as I rebuilt my truck I am hooking my trailer up and doing the retired old man RV thing seeing the country one last time.
I've recently seen the work being done on one of her 40mm Bofors mounts and I have to say it looks incredible. It may even look better than it did right out of the factory. The best thing too is that they are working on the mounts in the worst condition first! They aren't just painting them either, but replacing all of the bearings, seals, and gears needed to keep the mounts freely operating the way they should be.
Gladly feeding the algorithm here. What a great tribute to a storied ship - thank you!
I visited the battleship Texas when I was about 10, I have a photo of me sitting in the gunners seat on one of the Bofors guns. An experience I will always remember.
USS Texas Facts:
1) It was launched the same year the Titanic went down.
2) Onboard the Texas are the two largest reciprocating steam engines left in existence. Larger engines were built but not preserved. So if you are a steam fan this is as good as you can still experience.
My son and did then engine room crawl tour and experienced so many mind-blowing feats of century-old engineering far below the waterline. Not just the engines but the steering gear including a manual backup system that required (IIRC) 40 man-power to operate! I emerged from that tour so drenched in sweat that I ruined a phone! It was totally worth it!
The other thing that amazed me was being so old that Texas did not originally have bunk rooms or mess halls. You worked, ate, and slept at your station. They brought the food to you in tollies. If you shoveled coal for a living you spent most of your life in the boiler room.
The final mind-blower for me was the restrooms. They had one long urinal trough that ran around two walls. Then one wall was lined with many commodes, the fourth wall was lined with sink/mirror combos. Nothing to surprising there but I felt something was wrong and mentioned it to the family but we went on exploring. Only later did it hit me-- There were no showers!
Not only did you eat, sleep and work in one small space. You could not even get a shower after a long shift of shoveling coal. Ugh!
Tie that all together -- in 1914 living aboard the Texas represented a better quality of life than most experienced in that time frame. Particularly for the poor.
Another great ship story HG. I like the scenes of the movie "Wake Island" in your story!
The movie trailer is in the Public Domain.
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel I have the movie on DVD, a great movie!
@@chiefpontiac1800
Maybe another Texas twist with Wake Island, I have read the book, Pacific Alamo-The Battle for Wake Island by John Wukovits.
What more fitting place for USS Texas guns than on Wake Island where, like the Alamo, again was a valiant stand against overwhelming odds.
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel
@Chief Pontiac
I know The History Guy knows but another interesting twist of Texas history, the USS Texas (although it may move to a new home after repairs) has been berthed across the street from the historic location of the Battle of San Jacinto where Sam Houston led the charge with the cries of Remember The Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!”. It is the location of the decisive battle for Texas independence from Mexico.
The San Jacinto Monument is the tallest masonry monument in the world and 13 feet taller than the Washington Monument.
Thank you so much sir, this made my day. It's my personal opinion that Texas was the test bed for more new technologies than any other Navy ship. Though I've still yet to visit her because of her extensive repairs and then Covid restrictions, I will take my sons to see the last remaining World War 1 Dreadnought. The Texas battleship foundation is in a desperate race to repair her as she is falling apart structurally below the water line. Her bones are old and rusty, leaking many tons of water per day that huge pumps run continuously to remove. Some of the worst leaking areas have temporarily been sealed with a foam until she can hopefully be floated and repaired properly in a dry dock. I can only hope at some point the foundation will be able to build a permanent cement barrier around her hull so she won't collapse and be be too dangerous for tours. In my own humble opinion, the Texas should be given Monument status to honor those that served not only on her, but in all naval engagements in which she participated in both wars. If we lose her to the elements, it will be a very sad day for history. Thanks again for your attention to this facet of her existence, I too believe that her history deserves to be remembered.
We visited in August. She is well stabilized, the need for pumping is dramatically reduced, the guns are well along restoration (there were some photos in this episode,) and now the dry dock plan is formalized. She is getting much needed TLC.
Amazing video as always. Congrats on 1 Million subscribers. You and the Mrs deserve it!
Thank you History Guy. I enjoy your readings very much.
Very interesting. Thank you THG! Interesting the interweaving of time, and events. Just like a sweater.
Really enjoyed this video. I toured the USS Texas as a kid and I’m looking forward to another tour once it’s back on display. USS Alabama is another good tour.
I’ve toured the USS Texas several times, and my favorite part was getting to maneuver the guns. A friend of mine recently told me a story about one of her visits to the Texas. A D-Day veteran was there telling of his experience that day. He said they were pinned down on the beach, and then the Texas opened fire. He said he watched the shells fly overhead and the Texas sail back and forth, alternating firing the port and starboard guns. He credits the Texas with saving them on the beach that day.
Good episode, blessings
Thank you again for another great video on the best Battleship that's ever sailed.
In Normandy in pointe du hoc, they have preserved the craters from the shelling, it is very moving
Thanks for the history !! Battle ship Texas is now on my list of places and things to visit.
Thank you so much for continuing to talk about this great ship.
To all those who severed on the Texas and an other Service People, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
There are no survivors of her WW1 service, and only a handful of WW2 service survivors still living. Every effort should be made now to thank them personally as the opportunity to do so will be gone forever soon.
I never realized the acquisition or 20mm Oerlikon guns was filled with so much intrigue. It might make a good movie.
I went through the Texas twice, it's worth the time to go and see her when she returns. She was basically sinking last time we went down there. Good to hear that her hull is getting reworked.
1:40 Now that's what I would call Welcome to the Gun Show !
Glad this great ship is still with us. Great video, love it.
I was at the shore warehouse this morning, and dry fired one of the three inch multi purpose guns from the USS TEXAS.
THG we appreciate your efforts to publicize saving USS Texas.
over the years i have visited the Texas quite a few times. its an amazing piece of history. an amazing ship that was a major part of american naval history. lots of firsts in its career.
I have been on board and is currently going through a restoration.
Texas is my favorite battleship I love her history and how she represents all of her dreadnought siblings from the great war. Who long been either Scrapped, sunk, or destoryed.
Just watched a good breakdown ofnthe history ofnthe Texas on Drachinfel. Pretty good channel, good sense of humor.
I got to see the battleship Texas when I was in 8th grade. That was about 45 years ago. Man, I wish I could see it again.
Thanks ,Enjoyed, Have toured the ship many tines over the past 40 years. Live near by, Great piece of history. looking forward to the refit. later from Texas.
Well I loved this video. Such a wonderful angle to convey some history with.
Thank you
This is Golden. Thank You for remembering.
Back in the early 1970's the US Naval Oceanographic Office was located in the Washington Navy Yard, in DC. Many of the buildings are WWI vintage, as was the building in which I worked. Part of the first floor was made up of hardwood blocks, stood on end, so the grain was up. They were heavily finished in varnish or something to keep them waterproof. They were not affixed to the subfloor, but floated. I took a few up to see what was under them and discovered the molds for the 16" and 14" naval guns. As far as I know they are still there.
A large gun is not as accurate at long range as a cruise missile, but it is sure a lot cheaper, and for close range and fire volume, it can't be beat.
Yet another reason to love being a Texan. and Thank You.
I have been there over 25 times. It is a great ship that I am glad is getting refitted.
Thank you History Guy
God Bless Texas
It is good to hear all about the firepower on our beloved battleship. My daddy loved taking us to tour there. I think I need to celebrate your video with a trip to the range.
" I think I need to celebrate your video with a trip to the range."
Hey, that's not a bad idea! Semper Fi, TreeTop