does it still have all five main gun turrets???
Posted on 06/12/2012 3:51:05 PM PDT by JerseyanExile
Crews have been working 24-hour days to keep up with extraordinary amounts of water leaking on board Battleship Texas.
The historic ship, which just turned 100 years old in May, is only one of six remaining that served in both World War I and World War II.
The ship manager says crews noticed the unusual amount of water coming on board sometime on Saturday. Since then, workers have been at it day and night just trying to keep up.
A number of pumps have been brought to the site as the water is being directed back out into the channel. Staffers with Texas Parks and Wildlife, volunteers, a separate contractor and a salvage diving company have teamed up to take on this task.
There’s a big concern about oil getting into the channel. That’s why there is a boom placed near the ship, essentially collecting any excess oil that might leak out.
Workers are also trying to scoop the oil out of the lower portions of the ship. It is then being filtered out through pumps.
The goal is to have this fixed by Wednesday and to make sure no other leaks pop up.
“We’re dealing with a 100-year-old vessel…so you’re dealing with something that wasn’t designed to last this long. We think we can probably manage a patch, a repair on it, but this is always a concern that this could sprout up again in a different place,” said Andy Smith, the Ship Manager of Battleship Texas.
The ship manager said the lower portions of the ship have been closed to the public. People have still been allowed on board the second deck and above.
“We got a lot of hoses working and pumps working, and we don’t want to create a situation where someone might slip on some water,” explained Smith.
Workers still have not been able to pinpoint exactly where the leak is located. They are still working day and night to deal with the water that is coming on board.
For years, there’s been a plan in the works to dry dock the ship for a multi-million-dollar renovation. The ship manager said coming up with that amount of money has proved challenging, and they’re in desperate need of donors to step in and help out.
The sole preserved type VIIC U-boat from WW2 faced the same problem when the Norwegian navy surplussed it. Despite petitions from the U-boat crewmens’ association to purchase it as a war memorial, the West German government was unwilling to do it.
The U-boat association’s members raised their own money and bought it themselves.
Technically the Utah was a total loss at PH also, but she was just a floating target at that point.
Well then I’m glad I saw her in her natural state.
Its sister the Arizona didn't survive its first day in WWII, obviously.
During WWI, they both spent the war near the US, being oil-fired, and the logistics of long range fueling were still being worked out, the Europeans being behind the curve, and of no help on supporting them.
does it still have all five main gun turrets???
Torpedo beneath the hull will break her back. Unless the armor is exotic stuff like the frontal armor on modern MBT's, even relatively small shaped charge warheads will easily punch holes through traditional thicknesses of rolled homogeneous armor plate on battleships.
Absolutely beautiful! (Scarey too!) Why does the deck zig-zag near the bow while the hull near the waterline describes a smooth curve? I suspect it must have a purpose as every inch of that ship screams "purpose".
Regards,
GtG
Arkansas and New York. The New York was a sister of Texas. The Nevada class was active as well in both wars. Though, as was stated the Texas is the only remaining Dreadnaught. The Iowas, Massachussetts, Alabama, North Carolina are not strictly speaking in the Dreadnaught style.
Gun positions which were removed and the ports sealed off.
The apparent “zig-zag” at the deck is due to original secondary guns mounted in casemated (5inch 51 cal.)The secondary guns in dreadnought type battleships were mainly for defnse against torpedo boats and destroyers (whose main anti ship weapon was the torpedo). The most forward mounts were plated over since they tended to be “wet” in heavy seas. Back when the Texas was built, AA was almost an afterthought. It was not until almost WWI with the North Carolina and South Dakota classes that the secondary armament on BB’s consisted of the twin 5”/38 dual purpose semi automatic guns.
We were on board this wonderful ship a couple of years ago. It was an unforgettable experience and the highlight of our trip to Houston.
I’d guess they sealed the secondaries forward when the ship changed over to oil from coal - though the top speed didn’t change being oil fired meant the ship could travel twice the distance at the higher speed.
they dont make 'em like that any more and
A totally AWESOME looking ship!
Its incredible to me that while we can't preserve too many reminders of the darker episodes in our society's past and find enough ways to memorialize labor organizers & bottom feeding politicians there are no funds available to preserve sole remaining examples of our past such as these ships.
If you ever get the chance, check out a book called The Ayes of Texas by Daniel Da Cruz. Pretty cook sci-fi book starring the old battleship.
Outgunned (14"--360mm/45 cal guns) and outdistanced by later German 15" (38cm SK C/34) and American 16" (460mm/50cal Mark 7) designs.
Lovely lines, though.
Regards,
GtG
I heard on the radio they’ve got a fair patch on and are pumping
her out so they can make a proper assessment from the interior.
At any rate, they’re on it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
