Grandest Old Lady of Them All
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- Joint Chief
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Grandest Old Lady of Them All
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.
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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- Joint Chief
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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.
- Boomer Geezer
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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?
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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- Pirate
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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'...
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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- Joint Chief
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- Joint Chief
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- Joint Chief
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Spike Mike on the BB35
...with the 40mm Bofars 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.
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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- Joint Chief
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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!
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.
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!
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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- Joint Chief
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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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- Joint Chief
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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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- Pirate
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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!