Visiting the USS Texas for the first time in a decade.

Yesterday I spent quite a few hours at the USS Texas, and it was just as wonderful as I remember it being. The last dreadnought ship, a beauty that has seen both world wars, such things make me so excited. Most things were not accessible given its about to be moved, and most of the anti-aircraft guns were removed for renovation, still, it was a blast.

The ship is in quite poor condition, so I am very glad they will be restoring a lot of it. The planks of the deck were spongy and chipped, a given for it being in the elements since it's last restoration, and the dreaded concrete was still in some places...

- quick note: back in 2013-2017, I cant remember the year exactly, a restoration occurred that, although good intention-ed, did a lot of harm. Concrete was poured on the deck to give it better protection, because obviously all wooden decks will eventually wear out. This turned out to be absolutely disastrous and fucked a lot of things up. So, the concrete had to be removed. It was estimated that it wouldn't be too difficult, that they would be able to remove it in sections of 6x9, but that turned out to be wrong. It was a huge effort getting it removed, most only being able to be removed in 1 foot by 6 inch squares. It was a long and expensive process, some wasn't able to be removed.

From what I saw, a lot of the metal seemed to be in good condition, of course there wasn't much to see, the deck, and about three decks up is the allowed climb limit, and only two areas below deck was viewable, those were nice, I don't know what to even imagine of the other layers condition wise.

The two AA guns still aboard was fun to aim, it def takes a lot of muscle to work those machines, lots of cranking to turn it.

All in all, it was incredibly enjoyable. Perhaps a let down for people who want to experience more, but I loved just being there. Ten years ago when I was 9, it was cool i guess, but I didn't care about history like I do today. So now, just being on the ship that has so much significance is enough.

This amazing ship fired some of the first American shots in World War 1, During WW2 she was a part in Operation Torch, and she was there in Normandie during D-Day.

She was incredible at D-Day, firing at the Nazis and providing aid to the American Army as they stormed the beaches. The crew was so determined to do as much as they could, when the Army got too far inland and the ship could no longer fire at that range, the crew flooded the starboard torpedo blister to provide a list of two degrees which gave the guns enough elevation to reach the enemy.

She fought in both the European and Pacific theaters, going to Iwo Jima after she could no longer provide help on the European side of things, then going to Okinawa and then the Philippines.

The USS Texas has such historical importance, and I hope these restorations do her some good, I would hate for her to be sold for scraps like most other battleships have been. I hope she has many more years in her.