USS Texas BB-35, a Dreadnought era battleship launched in May 1912,
served the U.S. Navy for thirty-four years, including World War I and
World War II. World War I service included North Sea convoy duty for
merchant ships from Scotland to Norway, and North Sea sweeps to counter
potential forays by the German Fleet. The highlight service was
escorting the German Fleet in its surrender sailing to the Firth of
Forth with the Grand Fleet of the Royal Navy.
As Flagship of the Pacific Fleet in the early 1930's, Texas led fleet
maneuvers as part of the U.S. Navy problem exercises, which were a
forerunner to the naval strategy used in the Pacific War. World War II
service included neutrality patrols, escorting Atlantic convoys to
Britain, and participation in the Operation Torch landings on North
Africa where she bombarded enemy installations. USS Texas took a major
role in the invasion of Normandy helping the U.S. Army break through at
Omaha Beach, and then Cherbourg. Sailing to the Pacific, she
participated in the bombardment of Iwo Jima and then Okinawa.
Decommissioned in 1948, Battleship Texas became a state memorial and
was designated a National Historic Landmark, located at the San Jacinto
Battleground, near Houston. Her triple-expansion reciprocating steam
engines have also been designated National Historic Engineering
Landmarks. Recognizing the importance of preserving Battleship Texas,
the Texas State Government transferred the management of the ship to the
Battleship Texas Foundation and allocated $32 million dollars for the
enhanced preservation of the ship.
