31 July 1925 to 23 November 1926 - Norfolk Navy Yard Dry Dock
203,783 total miles sailed upon entering dry-dock
TEXAS would have been scrapped:
A modernization came about
because of the Washington Naval Limitation Treaty of 1922. The treaty placed a
10-year moratorium on new battleship construction but it did not prohibit
overhauling older ships. In response Congress authorized funding for a major
overhaul of several older battleships. Had there not been a moratorium, TEXAS
and NEW YORK would have been scrapped when new ship’s came into service later in
the 1920s.
Catching up with technology
The changes reflect the need to catch up with
improvement in technology for operating efficiency and defense against improved
attack methods. Not only were mechanical and electrical systems modernized but
the ship's structure was added to. Such additions would continue over the coming
years almost to the point where the ship was taken out of service.
Modernization Cost $3,477,000
per 27 September 1927 TEXAS weekly newspaper "The TEXAS Toreador". The
final cost for the entire ship in 1914 was almost $11 million.
The engines were not affected by the modernization
Not implemented were1923 drawings for a turbine
As in 1910, the navy looked to replace the reciprocating engines with one
turbine, locating the turbine in the boiler room and the boilers outboard of the
turbine
1927 changes basic configuration of today
Upper - 31 July 1925 Lower - 23 November 1926
Modern gun fire control and Boiler changes
Plot Room (red location)
was relocated here
Boilers Replaced and boiler space reduced
**** Replaced 14 coal/oil fired with 6 oil-fired. Since
installed by 1912, fuel oil was used for each had 6 oil burners but were only
used during high speeds.
The change more than doubled the ships sailing range for fuel oil has more
energy than coal in equal volumes and more fuel oil and more easily stored
in additional spaces because it is a liquid.
Fuel oil was more efficient and cleaner to load which eliminated the
contamination and mess caused during coaling..
The number of people needed to operate the boiler rooms was reduced due to there
being fewer boilers and without coal 140 crew were no longer needed for moving
coal to the boilers.
The profile shows the decking above had to be gutted for the replacement.
Converted 3rd deck Coal Storage to Crew Space
44,500 cubic feet with 285 bunks
Converted Area below 3rd Deck to Fuel Oil Tanks
1st Platform
2nd Platform
Hold
Inner Bottom
Replaced/Relocate Masts - Cage to tripod
Mainmast relocated from atop the Crew’s
Galley to just forward of Turret 4.
Height above draught water line (DWL)
*** Tripod (fwd) 131 feet 7inches
*** Cage 140 feet.
Added an outer hull (aka torpedo blister)
The hull was added for extra protection against the increased threat from torpedo attack.
The upper level is just below 2nd deck and covers from frame 15 (60 feet from the front perpendicular) to frame 127 (508 feet from the front perpendicular).
Removed Torpedo tubes and torpedoes
The torpedo compressor (2,500lbs Ingersoll) were
retained for compressed air needs.
The air compressor provided the power to launch the
torpedo
Installed Catapult P-4 mod 1 - Mark III Powder Gun
Per C&R drawing # 131538, dated 1926, the
catapult was designed to launch a 6,500pound airplane at 55mph.
The catapult was permanently removed 12 December 1945.
This was the fourth and final location for ship’s airplane launchings.
TEXAS carried 10 different types of airplanes with the first ones brought aboard
in December 1918.
Image from the 1976 Texas pamphlet by Leeward Publications.
TEXAS never carried a compressed air powered catapult.
Relocated Six 5inch guns from 2nd deck to Main Deck
This change was the fifth of seven
configurations
Six on 2nd deck guns 5,6,7,8,9 and 10 were relocated to the main deck.
The final 8 guns on 2nd deck were removed between March to May 1942.
Relocated Six 3inch Guns to Superstructure Deck
Shake Down to US Navy Flagship 23 November 1926 to 1 September 1927
TEXAS left Norfolk Navy Yard,
on 23 November 1926 to undergo an extensive shake down period. Between 6 June to
August 1927 a Flag Bridge was installed above the Navigation Bridge.. After the
June-August dry dock in Portsmouth Navy Yard, speed trials were conducted of
Rockland, Maine. From Rockland, she sailed for New York City to rejoin regular
US Navy activity. As of 1 September and for the for the next 3 years and 8
months, TEXAS is the flagship of the US Navy.
219,481 total miles sailed upon becoming the Flagship of the US Navy
23 November 1926
1 September 1927
1 September 1927 - Flagship of the US Navy
.
Started 11 May 1999 Chuck Moore, FTV (1st Texas Volunteers) BB35 volunteer group
