Grandest Old Lady of Them All

Special Reports on USS Texas BB~35 Dreadnought. .

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Cpt Spike Mike
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Grandest Old Lady of Them All

Post by Cpt Spike Mike » 03-12-2004 02:13 AM

9O years ago on this day, March 12th, 1914, the battleship hull number BB-35 waas commisioned as the U.S.S. Texas. She is the second-oldset American battleship on display, and the last WWI-era dreadnought battleship left in the world.

Think and say what you may about the current state of war & warfare, but do remember this ship fought in the largest conflict the world has ever seen. And in doing so, helped win the freedoms we all enjoy to this day.

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Post by Corvid » 03-12-2004 10:51 AM

She is a grand lady, I will drink a toast to her tonight.... and to her sisters; Oklahoma, Nevada, Utah, California and, especially, Arizona.

Gonna be a busy night.

Cheers

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Post by Cpt Spike Mike » 03-12-2004 11:45 AM

Thank you, Corvid. Her true sister ship was the USS New York, (BB-34) as they were the only two New York-class battleships built. They were almost identical; BB-35 had about twenty more feet of length. And also, don't forget BB-33, the USS Arkansas. All of these ships were built before the Washington Treaty of 1922 which limited the size of particular boats, especially dreadnought battleships.

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Post by Boomer Geezer » 03-12-2004 01:35 PM

Spike, you wouldn't have any other photos of her when she was in her prime, do you?

Not the standard "Navy department" ones, but perhaps some momento from someone who served on her, or some newspaper stuff?

Oh, heck, if you have an official photo or two that would be cool too :)

Good grief, could you imagine yourself as a hostile, cowering and digging in on some mountain side, and that Lady decides to anchor a mile or two off your coast?


Spike Mike wrote: Thank you, Corvid. Her true sister ship was the USS New York, (BB-34) as they were the only two New York-class battleships built. They were almost identical; BB-35 had about twenty more feet of length. And also, don't forget BB-33, the USS Arkansas. All of these ships were built before the Washington Treaty of 1922 which limited the size of particular boats, especially dreadnought battleships.
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Post by jeri sexton » 03-12-2004 02:01 PM

In this day and age where so many fine ships have been moth balled or put into the scrap heap, due to cost of maintence.

I is so very good there are people like you who spend there time and energy to help keep such a fine ship in tip top condiction..
I salute you for that and the ship you call your own.. The USS Texas'
and for the honor of the men that served on her...

You bring her great honor', rightfully so'...
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Post by Cpt Spike Mike » 03-13-2004 06:48 AM

I don't know abotu the "tip-top" part jeri, but we give it a hell of a go. Thanks much. :) :cool:

And Boomer, since you mentioned it, here's a shot of the USS Texas passing through the Panama Canal in 1919.

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Post by Cpt Spike Mike » 03-13-2004 06:50 AM

And here's BB-35 passing through the Panama Canal in 1937, almost 2O years and one full retrofitting later. Give special notice to the new torpedo blisters down the side, and how she barely fits inside the lock on this trip.

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Post by Cpt Spike Mike » 03-13-2004 06:58 AM

FIRE ! ! !

:D

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Spike Mike on the BB35

Post by Linnea » 03-13-2004 03:52 PM

...with the 40mm Bofars :D One of my favorites that Spike Mike took on his first photo shoot aboard the Dreadnought, about two years ago. There are more photos in the FF Galleries.

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Post by Linnea » 03-13-2004 04:01 PM

I remember when Spike Mike first sent on this photo. The emotional power of this photo, taken with the setting sun and amidst the shadows aboard the Dreadnought - took me to a place in the past, and to an empathy with the 'living thoughts forms and energies' of the young men who manned those guns in the terrific heat of horrendous battles. Many of those young men grown into older men, are no longer with us. We will not forget their honor, duty, service and sacrifice to win the peace and preserve our freedoms. Hail to brave men, and women, everywhere who guard and defend our nation.

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Post by Cpt Spike Mike » 03-14-2004 12:31 AM

Ah, thank you Linnea. Yes, some of those young men didn't come back, leaving thier lives in faraway places for the world's freedom. thier families left to carry on, left only with memories of young men, sometimes boys. It's for them that we volunteer to work hard, and preserve the oldest member of thier crew.

But some of those men live still today, much older but still able to return and see thier old friend. Here's a shot of CPO Will Eddelmann, outside the charthouse on the navigation bridge. He served as ship's bugler and SG-1 radar unit operator. He was the first bugler, out of all those ships, to sound the bugle call for "Commence Firing" at the Normandy invasion; mostly because he was the only bugler he knew it at the time! :D

He knew 141 military bugle calls, including "Welcoming A Visiting General", normally associated with Army buglers. He played the call when General Eisenhower visited the BB-35 and this caught the general's attention. As he toured the ship, Eisenhower found Will and asked him how he knew that call. He stated that he merely played "Welcoming A Visiting Admiral", which happens to be the same call.

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Post by Cpt Spike Mike » 03-14-2004 02:21 AM

Mr Eddelmann standing his former post. He was impressed to see we had placed an actual (although non-functioning) SG-1 radar unit in its original position. He was walking with a cane, and using it to point out the equipment in the front of the pilothouse. He was also appreciated Wesley Grace's fabricated brass wheel, copied from the wheel down in central steering.

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Post by Cpt Spike Mike » 03-14-2004 02:29 AM

Here's a shot of BB-35, again passing through the Panama Canal. Take specail notice of the biplane (a Sopwith Camel) on the #2 turret. The USS Texas was the first battleship to lauch a plane in 1919, and this photo was taken before the rebuild in 1925. Therefore, it's date is probably around 1919-2O.

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Post by Cpt Spike Mike » 03-15-2004 01:51 AM

Here ya go, Boomer, this shot is awesome! It was taken by Lt. Dayton Seiler;USN while BB-35 was conducting convoy escort in the north Atlanic during the summer of 1941.

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Post by Byeman/Endtimes » 03-21-2004 08:38 PM

During the D-Day landings the Captain on purpose to give troops pin point fire ran the Texas agound to steady her guns. Afterward she was refitted and sent to the Pacific in late 1944. She as has been said the only pre-world War II Battleship left to represent those damaged and sunk at Pearl Harbor, World War I Class Battleship!

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