USS Texas (BB-35) – The Steel Veteran of Two Wars
Some places you just see…
and some you feel.
USS Texas belongs to the second category.
At first glance – just a massive chunk of steel sitting in a shipyard.
But the longer you look, the clearer it becomes:
👉 you’re staring at a living piece of history.
The Beginning of a Legend (1911–1914)
The story of USS Texas started before World War I:
- Keel laid: April 17, 1911
- Launched: May 18, 1912
- Commissioned: March 12, 1914
She was a dreadnought battleship, armed with ten 14-inch (356 mm) guns — a floating fortress of her time.
👉 Today, she is the last surviving dreadnought battleship in the world.
World War I – The Quiet Duty
During WWI, USS Texas operated mainly in the Atlantic and North Sea.
No dramatic Hollywood-style battles —
but crucial work:
👉 escorting convoys and supporting Allied fleets
Not glamorous… but absolutely essential.
World War II – When It Got Real
This is where USS Texas truly made history.
She took part in major WWII operations:
- 🇲🇦 Operation Torch (North Africa, 1942)
- 🇫🇷 D-Day (Normandy, 1944)
- 🇫🇷 Operation Dragoon
- 🇯🇵 Iwo Jima & Okinawa
Her main role?
👉 shore bombardment and troop support
Imagine standing on a beach while this ship fires from miles away…
and destroys enemy fortifications before troops even land.
And here’s a powerful fact:
👉 Despite intense combat, the ship lost only one crew member to enemy fire
Ahead of Its Time
USS Texas was not just a war machine — it was a pioneer:
- first U.S. battleship with anti-aircraft guns
- early fire-control systems
- one of the first ships to use radar
- aircraft launches from deck platforms
👉 This ship helped shape modern naval warfare.
From Warship to Museum (1948 → Today)
After WWII:
- Decommissioned: 1948
- Became a museum ship the same year
👉 The first battleship museum in U.S. history
Galveston – A Second Life
What you saw in Galveston is a rare moment in history.
Since 2022, USS Texas has been undergoing a massive restoration:
- hull repairs
- steel replacement
- deck reconstruction
- long-term preservation work
👉 Cost: tens of millions of dollars
And the best part?
👉 Galveston will become her permanent home
Vagabond’s Take
You stand there, looking at this giant…
And suddenly you realize:
This is not just a ship.
This is not just a museum.
👉 This is a witness to history.
A survivor of two world wars.
A relic of a different era.
Still standing.
A bit rusty. A bit tired.
But still proud.