9/17/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Dry Dock Tours are BACK! Discount available for those who return. For more information, click here.

SHIP REPAIRS

TORPEDO BLISTERS – The new torpedo blisters are a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain increasing their longevity.

COATING – The inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull will be coated to protect against possible corrosion.

TANK CLEANING – Tanks inside the ship are being inspected, cleaned, and repaired if need be. Some will be coated with a marine coating to help prevent corrosion.

LEAK TESTING – All welds continue to be tested for leaks. They are done via vacuum box, dye penetrant or magnaflux depending on the area.

DECK REPAIRS – Gulf Copper’s yard workers have concluded repairing the deck on the ship’s Signal Bridge and have begun working on the deck above, the Navigation Bridge. A part of the deck repairs includes sand blasting the underside of the underside and painting on a coat of primer.

AFT FIRE CONTROL TOWER – Work continues in the AFCT as the old grating that was installed in 1988 has been completely removed and replaced with a steel deck. Small repairs to the bulkhead are currently ongoing as the plan is to have it look as it did in 1945.

Live, Laugh, And Flood your Torpedo Blisters

9/10/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Dry Dock Tours are BACK! Discount available for those who return. For more information, click here.

SHIP REPAIRS

COATING – The inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull will be coated to protect against possible corrosion.

LEAK TESTING – All welds continue to be tested for leaks. They are done via vacuum box, dye penetrant or magnaflux depending on the area.

Live, Laugh, And Flood your Torpedo Blisters

9/3/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Dry Dock Tours are BACK! Discount available for those who return. For more information click here.

SHIP REPAIRS

COATING – The inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull will be coated to protect against possible corrosion.

LEAK TESTING – All welds continue to be tested for leaks. They are done via vacuum box, dye penetrant or magnaflux depending on the area.

Live, Laugh, and Flood Your Torpedo Blisters!

8/26/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Dry Dock Tours resume on September 3rd, get your tickets here.

SHIP REPAIRS

COATING – The inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull will be coated to protect against possible corrosion.

LEAK TESTING – All welds continue to be tested for leaks. They are done via vacuum box, dye penetrant or magnaflux depending on the area.

DECK REPAIRS – GC’s yard workers have concluded repairing the deck on the ship’s Signal Bridge and continue working on the deck above. A part of the deck repairs included blasting and priming the underside of the Navigation Bridge and was finished last Saturday. Once the primer was cured, the underside was painted 5N Navy Blue.

AFT FIRE CONTROL TOWER – Work continues in the AFCT as the old grating that was installed in 1988 has been completely removed and replaced with a steel deck. Work has started on reinstalling stuffing tubes and deck drains to the deck. Small repairs to the bulkhead are currently ongoing as the plan is to have it look as it did in 1945 and include cutting a door on either side.

8/22/23

Battleship Texas staff pulled in another 5”/51 (3 out of 6) and removed its gun sleeve today! This process gets easier and faster each time.

8/20/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Dry Dock Tours resume on September 3rd, get your tickets here.

SHIP REPAIRS

COATING – The inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull will be coated to protect against possible corrosion.

HULL – As work continues moving aft, any holes in the ship’s original hull are being repaired. New plates are added to thinner areas and smaller holes are welded up. The ship’s hull is being primed temporarily as the repairs are made.LEAK TESTING – All welds continue to be tested for leaks. They are done via vacuum box, dye penetrant, or magnaflux depending on the area.

DECK REPAIRS – GC’s yard workers have concluded repairing the deck on the ship’s Signal Bridge and have begun working on the deck above, the Navigation Bridge. A part of the deck repairs includes sand blasting the underside of the underside and throwing on a coat of primer.

8/10/23 – Blister Crawl

Here’s a brief crawl through the new torpedo blister tanks. The interiors are accessible by ladders from the top. The blisters are divided into several tanks, about eight frames wide. The scuttles (holes) connecting the tanks will be welded closed as the interior work finishes up.

8/7/23 – Battle Damage

Since we have scaffolding up around the Navigation Bridge to enable repairs, it has allowed a much closer examination of the structure of the bridge but also of the surviving battle damage from June 25, 1944. Most this damage was caused by shell splinters, some is from blast damage.

We are going out of our way to preserve this damage and, we hope, to paint all the remaining damage a different color than the ship to highlight the scars she still carries.

Framing underneath the navigation bridge. The “ripple” is blast damage.

A gouge in framing under the navigation bridge, caused by shrapnel.

Dents in the splinter shields around the navigation bridge, caused by shrapnel.

8/3/23 – Atlantic Theater Map Conservation

On behalf of our crew, our colleagues at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Cultural Resources branch, and OnAim Conservation, I am pleased to announce that the stabilization, conservation, and partial restoration of the Atlantic Theater Map in the Captain’s Cabin is complete!

This map of the WWII Atlantic Theater was painted on a bulkhead in the Captain’s Cabin after September 1944 (based on references in the map). It shows the ports of call Texas made during WWII (white dots with anchors in them), where she performed shore bombardment (noted by little explosions), national capitals (yellow triangles), and a few surprise discoveries as the map was conserved.

1966 newspaper photo of Chief McKeown, with the map in the background. This is the only known photograph of the map prior to it being painted over.

Sometime after 1966 (which is when the only known historic photo of the map was taken), the map along with the rest of the Captain’s Cabin was painted white. That act was not great, but not terrible either. What was truly terrible is a window was cut into the bulkhead right in the middle of the map sometime in the late 1970s, after the map and compartment were painted white. We believe that because the map had been painted over and the loss of institutional knowledge of the map, those who made that decision did not know it was there.

Fast forward to around 2000 when the map begins to reveal itself as the white paint begins to flake off and the map is rediscovered during the planning for the Captain’s Cabin restoration. When the Captain’s Cabin was restored, the window was welded up and the map was partially uncovered exposing the Mediterranean and most of Europe. In 2009, I discovered the 1966 picture of Chief McKeown with the map in the background, which spurred a lot of excitement about what possibly survived. However, due to budgetary constraints we were not able to perform any real conservation treatments to the map.

The map as it appeared in 2002. Italy and Southern France are revealed.

The map sat partially uncovered and untouched until last summer. In partnership with TPWD Cultural Resources we hired OnAim Conservation to stabilize the remaining paint on the bulkhead, just prior to the tow to Galveston. This initial step preserved what remained and protected it from any vibrations from the tow and/or shipyard work. It also set the stage for uncovering the rest of the map and recreating the missing sections.

All through July 2023, the incredibly talented husband and wife team of Zak Miano and Ariane Roesch (who own OnAim Conservation), with the expertise and hard work of artist and conservator Bob Pringle, performed the tedious work of uncovering the map by removing the remaining white paint, revealing that much more of the map survived than anyone thought. They also discovered that whoever painted the map, had painted the State of Texas in Africa in burnt orange!

Once the map was uncovered, OnAim added Kati Ozanic-Lemberger to the team to recreate the destroyed section and features of the map. In consultation with TPWD Cultural Resources, it was a unanimous decision to touch up the paint of the surviving sections of the map, fill in and blend in missing areas within surviving sections, and recreate the large missing sections. We made this decision for two main reasons, 1) it would preserve the existing map longer 2) it would allow us to tell the story of what happened to this map. The artistry of OnAim is phenomenal in how they blended the recreated areas of the map with the original, infilled and blended missing patches, and emphasized the surviving features that were being last. The map blew me away, but the skill of these folks was just as impressive.

Bob and Kati recreating the destroyed section of the map.

I also want to add that Ariane, Kati, Bob, and Zach were working directly under the work going on the Signal Bridge. They performed their magic while having to deal with the sounds of needle guns, grinders, hammers, et al, right above their heads and occasionally getting smoked out from welding and cutting smoke that would get sucked into Captain’s Cabin. How they kept steady hands and focus amid the normal cacophony of a shipyard environment is astounding.

As to the future of the map, we plan to have it on exhibit in the Captain’s Cabin shortly after we reopen and are planning to incorporate it into an AR experience.

The on OnAm team: Kati, Ariane, Zak, and Bob.

7/30/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Dry Dock Tours will resume in September and run through December. For more information, click here.

SHIP REPAIRS

TORPEDO BLISTERS – The torpedo blister modules are produced in the fabrication shop and are transported to the dock where they will be attached to the ship’s hull. There are currently three more torpedo blister modules under construction in the shop!

The new torpedo blisters are a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain, increasing their longevity.

COATING – Yes, the inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull will be coated to protect against possible corrosion.

STERN – New plating continues being paced onto the ship’s stern. As the new plates go on, they are welded to the repaired framing done while the ship was still at San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site in 2013-2014.

LEAK TESTING – Yes, all welds are being tested for leaks. This is done via vacuum box, dye penetrant or magnetic flux depending on the area.

SUPER STRUCTURE REPAIRS – Structural, decking, drainage, and other repairs have begun on the ship’s foremast and aft control tower as part of the Save America’s Treasures grant project.

Workers have begun repairing the deck on the ship’s signal bridge and inside the aft fire control tower. They will work their way up on the ship’s foremast repairing everything from holes to corroded areas as needed.

Structural repairs are underway on the ship’s foremast, starting with supports between the Navigation Bridge and Signal Bridge.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

7/26/23

It’s a busy day here in the shop as volunteers and staff continue working on various projects!

7/23/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Dry Dock Tours are BACK! We have one more tour day in July, then we’ll be back at it again September through December. For more information, click here.

SHIP REPAIRS

The new torpedo blisters are a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain increasing their longevity.

COATING – Yes, the inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull will be coated to protect against possible corrosion.

LEAK TESTING – Yes, all welds are being test for leaks. This is done via vacuum box, dye penetrant or magnetic flux depending on the area.

DECK REPAIRS – Workers had begun repairing the deck on the ship’s signal bridge. They will work their way up on the ship’s foremast repairing everything from holes to corroded areas as needed.

GUN SHIELDS – We have begun cutting down the gun shields surrounding the midship 20mm guns to make them more accurate. These were installed in 1988-1989 and are taller than they were in 1945.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

7/16/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Dry Dock Tours are BACK! We have tours throughout July, then we’ll be back at it again September through December. For more information, click here.

SHIP REPAIRS

The new torpedo blisters are a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain increasing their longevity.

COATING – Yes, the inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull will be coated to protect against possible corrosion.

LEAK TESTING – Yes, all welds are being test for leaks. This is done via vacuum box, dye penetrant or magnetic flux depending on the area.

DECK REPAIRS – Workers had begun repairing the deck on the ship’s signal bridge. They will work their way up on the ship’s foremast repairing everything from holes to corroded areas as needed.

GUN SHIELDS – We have begun cutting down the gun shields surrounding the midship 20mm guns to make them more accurate. These were installed in 1988-1989 and are taller than they were in 1945.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

7/9/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Dry Dock Tours are BACK! Until July. For more information, click here.

SHIP REPAIRS

The new torpedo blisters are a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain increasing their longevity.

COATING – Yes, the inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull will be coated to protect against possible corrosion.

LEAK TESTING – Yes, all welds are being test for leaks. This is done via vacuum box, dye penetrant or magnetic flux depending on the area.

DECK REPAIRS – Workers had begun repairing the deck on the ship’s signal bridge. They will work their way up on the ship’s foremast repairing everything from holes to corroded areas as needed.

GUN SHIELDS – We have begun cutting down the gun shields surrounding the midship 20mm guns to make them more accurate. These were installed in 1988-1989 and are taller than they were in 1945.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

7/2/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Dry Dock Tours are BACK! Until July 30th. For more information, click here.

SHIP REPAIRS

The new torpedo blisters are a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain increasing their longevity.

COATING – Yes, the inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull will be coated to protect against possible corrosion.

LEAK TESTING – Yes, all welds are being test for leaks. This is done via vacuum box, dye penetrant or magnetic flux depending on the area.

DECK REPAIRS – Workers have begun repairing the deck on the ship’s signal bridge. They will work their way up on the ship’s foremast repairing everything from holes to corroded areas as needed.

GUN SHIELDS – We have begun cutting down the gun shields surrounding the midship 20mm guns to make them more accurate. These were installed in 1988-1989 and are taller than they were in 1945.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

6/25/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Dry Dock Tours are BACK! Until July 30th. For more information, click here.

SHIP REPAIRS

The new torpedo blisters are a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain increasing their longevity.

COATING – Yes, the inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull will be coated to protect against possible corrosion.

LEAK TESTING – Yes, all welds are being test for leaks. This is done via vacuum box, dye penetrant or magnetic flux depending on the area.

DECK REPAIRS – Workers had begun repairing the deck on the ship’s signal bridge. They will work their way up on the ship’s foremast repairing everything from holes to corroded areas as needed.

GUN SHIELDS – We have begun cutting down the gun shields surrounding the midship 20mm guns to make them more accurate. These were installed in 1988-1989 and are taller than they were in 1945.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

6/18/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Dry Dock Tours are BACK! Until July. For more information, click here.

SHIP REPAIRS

The new torpedo blisters are a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain increasing their longevity.

COATING – Yes, the inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull will be coated to protect against possible corrosion.

LEAK TESTING – Yes, all welds are being test for leaks. This is done via vacuum box, dye penetrant or magnetic flux depending on the area.

DECK REPAIRS – Workers had begun repairing the deck on the ship’s signal bridge. They will work their way up on the ship’s foremast repairing everything from holes to corroded areas as needed.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

6/16/23

Mount #6 is coming along! Battleship Texas staff are working hard to get these 5”/51 cal. Guns looking brand new again.

6/11/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Dry Dock Tours are BACK! Until July. For more information, click here.

SHIP REPAIRS

The new torpedo blisters are a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain increasing their longevity.

COATING – Yes, the inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull will be coated to protect against possible corrosion.

LEAK TESTING – Yes, all welds are being test for leaks. This is done via vacuum box, dye penetrant or magnetic flux depending on the area.

SCRAP STEEL – Any steel that comes off the ship (and is deemed worthy) will be used in future fundraising. We have already started making prototypes of the new products we will be offering on our store.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

6/4/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Dry Dock Tours are BACK! Until July. For more information please visit: battleshiptexas.org/drydock

SHIP REPAIRS

The new torpedo blisters are a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain increasing their longevity.

COATING – Yes, the inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull will be coated to protect against possible corrosion.

5”/51 Caliber Guns – The last three 5” guns have been removed from the ship and are now at the warehouse. They will be fully restored and placed back on before the ship leaves the floating dry dock.

LEAK TESTING – Yes, testing on the welds is being done.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

5/28/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Dry Dock Tours are BACK! Until July 30th. For more information please visit: battleshiptexas.org/drydock

SHIP REPAIRS

The new torpedo blisters are a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain increasing their longevity.

COATING – Yes, the inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull will be coated to protect against possible corrosion.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

5/21/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Dry Dock Tours resume Sunday, May 28th. For more information please visit: battleshiptexas.org/drydock

SHIP REPAIRS

The new torpedo blisters are a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain increasing their longevity.

COATING – Yes, the inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull will be coated to protect against possible corrosion.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

4/30/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Yes, we’re still running dry dock tours! We have dates posted until July 30th, 2023. For more information please visit: battleshiptexas.org/drydock

SHIP REPAIRS

TORPEDO BLISTERS (Yes, new torpedo blisters ARE going back on) – The addition of new framing for the torpedo blisters has stopped on the ship’s starboard side. Any new frames will be done with modules that will consist of about 9 frames each. They are produced off of the dock and will be brought on and attached to the ship’s hull. We now have nine modules installed and being fitted on the ship.

Modules are being made in the shipyard’s fabrication shop.

The first frames of the port side blister have been installed. Just like the starboard side, the forward most section will be built frame by frame, then the bulk of the blister will be built using the module approach.

The blisters will be of a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain.

COATING – Yes, the inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull, will be coated to increase longevity.

FOAM REMOVAL – Foam removal on the port side blisters is complete.

5”/51 Caliber Guns – The last three 5” guns have been removed from the ship and are now at the warehouse. They will be transferred to the warehouse to be restored before being placed back on the ship.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

4/26/23

5”/51 CALIBER GUN UPDATE:

We now have the remaining three 5”/51 caliber guns and carriages removed off of Battleship Texas and at the warehouse! They will be completely taken apart, repaired, and reassembled before they are placed back on the ship.

4/23/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Yes, we’re still running dry dock tours! We have dates posted until July 30th, 2023. For more information please visit: battleshiptexas.org/drydock

SHIP REPAIRS

Modules are being made in the shipyard’s fabrication shop.

The blisters will be of a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain.

COATING – Yes, the inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull, will be coated to increase longevity.

FOAM REMOVAL – Foam removal on the port side blisters is complete.

5”/51 Caliber Guns – The last three 5” guns have been removed from the ship and are on the dock floor. They will be transferred to the warehouse to be restored before being placed back on the ship.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

4/16/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Yes, we’re still running dry dock tours! We have dates posted until July 30th, 2023. For more information please visit: battleshiptexas.org/drydock

SHIP REPAIRS

Modules are being made in the shipyard’s fabrication shop.

The blisters will be of a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain.

COATING – Yes, the inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull, will be coated to increase longevity.

FOAM REMOVAL – Foam removal on the port side blisters is complete.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

4/2/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

Yes, we’re still running dry dock tours! They are filling up fast, so please double check before signing up as a group. We have dates posted until July 30th, 2023. For more information please visit: battleshiptexas.org/drydock

SHIP REPAIRS

TORPEDO BLISTERS (Yes, new torpedo blisters ARE going back on) – The addition of new framing for the torpedo blisters has stopped on the ship’s starboard side. Any new frames will be done with modules that will consist of about 9 frames each. They are produced off of the dock and will be brought on and attached to the ship’s hull. We now have six modules installed and being fitted on the ship.

Modules are being made in the shipyard’s fabrication shop.

More of the blister plate is going on the forward section on the starboard side. The forward sections are almost entirely plated up.

The blisters will be of a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain.

COATING – Yes, the inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull, will be coated to increase longevity.

FOAM REMOVAL – Foam removal on the port side blisters is complete.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

3/19/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS UPDATE

DRY DOCK TOURS

SHIP REPAIRS

Modules are being made in the shipyard’s fabrication shop.

More of the blister plate is going on the forward section on the starboard side. The forward sections are almost entirely plated up.

The blisters will be of a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain.

COATING – Yes, the inside of the blisters, and the ship’s hull, will be coated to increase longevity.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

3/14/23

5”/51 CALIBER GUN UPDATE:

Battleship Texas staff reached a milestone today as they returned the first restored 5”/51 gun cradle to its base for a test fit. Check out that brand new elevation gear now in the cradle!

Staff also started installing additional pieces to the 5” gun itself.

3/12/23

SHIP REPAIRS

TORPEDO BLISTERS (Yes, new torpedo blisters ARE going back on) – The addition of new framing for the torpedo blisters has stopped on the ship’s starboard side. Any new frames will be done with modules that will consist of about 9 frames each. They are produced off of the dock and will be brought on and attached to the ship’s hull. We now have the three modules installed and being fitted on the ship.

Modules are being made in the shipyard’s fabrication shop.

More of the blister plate is going on the forward section on the starboard side. The forward sections are almost entirely plated up.

The blisters will be of a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain.

COATING – Yes, the inside of the blisters and the ship’s hull will be coated to increase longevity.

FOAM REMOVAL – Foam removal on the port side blisters is complete.

HULL – As work continues moving aft, any holes in the ship’s original hull (including areas under the blisters) are being repaired. New plates are added to thinner areas and smaller pin holes are welded up. The ship’s hull on the starboard side is now being primed temporarily. Sandblasting is almost complete on the starboard side.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

3/5/23

SHIP REPAIRS

TORPEDO BLISTERS (Yes, new torpedo blisters ARE going back on) – The addition of new framing for the torpedo blisters has stopped on the ship’s starboard side. Any new frames will be done with modules that will consist of about 9 frames each. They are produced off of the dock and will be brought on and attached to the ship’s hull. We now have the three modules installed and being fitted on the ship.

Modules are being made in the shipyard’s fabrication shop.

More of the blister plate is going on the forward section on the starboard side. The forward sections are almost entirely plated up.

The blisters will be of a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. This design change will make the new blisters easier to maintain. Workers have removed most of the aft and midship portions of the port torpedo blister.

FOAM REMOVAL – Foam removal on the port side blisters is complete.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

3/1/23

BATTLESHIP TEXAS FOUNDATION STATEMENT

The Battleship Texas Foundation has announced that the city of Baytown, Texas, and the city of Beaumont, Texas, are no longer under consideration for the permanent home of Battleship Texas.

Meanwhile the selection process will continue to determine the best location for the Battleship. The final determination will occur in the coming months.

Bruce Bramlett
Executive Director/COO
Battleship Texas Foundation

2/12/23

DRY DOCK TOURS

Yes, we’re still running dry dock tours! We have dates posted until April 2023. For more information click here.

SHIP REPAIRS

TORPEDO BLISTERS (Yes, new torpedo blisters ARE going back on) – The addition of new framing for the torpedo blisters has stopped on the ship’s starboard side. Any new frames will be done with modules that will consist of about 9 frames each. They are produced off of the dock and will he brought on and attached to the ship’s hull. We now have the first two modules installed on the ship. This module is being fitted to the ship’s curvature.

Modules are being made in the shipyard’s fabrication shop.

More of the blister plate is going on the forward section on the starboard side.

The blisters will be of a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. Workers continue to remove the port side torpedo blister mid-ship and near the stern.

FOAM REMOVAL – Foam removal on the port side blisters is complete.

HULL – As work continues moving aft, any holes in the ship’s original hull (including areas under the blisters) are being repaired. New plates are added to thinner areas and smaller pin holes are welded up. The ship’s hull on the starboard side is now being primed temporarily. Right now the starboard side is being sandblasted before repairs and primer are done.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

2/4/23

1/29/23

SHIP REPAIRS

TORPEDO BLISTERS (Yes, new torpedo blisters ARE going back on) – The addition of new framing for the torpedo blisters has stopped on the ship’s starboard side. Any new frames will be done with modules that will consist of about 9 frames each. They are produced off of the dock and will he brought on and attached to the ship’s hull. We now have the first module on the dock floor ready for installation. That is expected to happen this week!

**More of the new blister plate is going on!**

The blisters will be of a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. You can see how far they will go down on the ship’s hull with the addition of the new framing. Workers have also started to remove the port side torpedo blister near the stern. They will work their way forward.

The bottom of the torpedo blister on the starboard side is now gone. They will continue to clean and prep the ship’s hull for repairs before new framing goes on.

FOAM REMOVAL – Foam removal on the port side blisters is nearly complete!

GUN REPAIRS

Staff and volunteers are continuing work on both the 5” and 3” guns in the warehouse. New paint/primer has started to go on the first 5”/51 gun and we couldn’t be more excited.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

1/22/23

SHIP REPAIRS

**More of the new blister plate is going on!**

The bottom of the torpedo blister on the starboard side is now gone. They will continue to clean and prep the ship’s hull for repairs before new framing goes on.

FOAM REMOVAL – Foam removal on the port side blisters is nearly complete!

GUN REPAIRS

Staff and volunteers are continuing work on both the 5” and 3” guns in the warehouse. New paint/primer has started to go on the first 5”/51 gun and we couldn’t be more excited. Thank you all for the support and,Come on Texas!

1/15/23

SHIP REPAIRS

**The first part of blister plate has been added!**

The blisters will be of a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. You can see how far they will go down on the ship’s hull with the addition of more framing.

FOAM REMOVAL – Foam removal on the port side blisters is nearly complete!

HULL – As work continues moving aft, any holes in the ship’s original hull (including areas under the blisters) are being repaired. New plates are added to thinner areas and smaller pin holes are welded up. They will be cutting more of the uneven blister skin at the top to make it even. The ship’s hull on the starboard side is now being primed temporarily.

GUN REPAIRS

Staff and volunteers are continuing work on both the 5” and 3” guns in the warehouse. New paint/primer has started to go on the first 5”/51 gun and we will post pictures in the future!

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

1/11/23

5”/51 Caliber Gun Update!

The first 5”/51 gun is coming along. The gun has been fully disassembled and each part will be assessed, repaired if need be, and painted before reassembly. The gun itself is being blasted and the sleeve has already been primed (Along with its many parts)

1/8/23

DRY DOCK TOURS

Yes, we’re still running dry dock tours! We have dates posted until April 2023. For more information click here.

GUN REPAIRS

Staff and volunteers are continuing work on both the 5” and 3” guns in the warehouse. New paint has started to go on the first 5”/51 gun and we will post pictures in the future!

SHIP REPAIRS

TORPEDO BLISTERS (Yes, new torpedo blisters ARE going back on) – New framing for the torpedo blisters are going on! The blisters will be of a slightly different design and square off at the bottom below the waterline. You can see how far they will go down on the ship’s hull with the addition of more framing.

Foam removal on the port side blisters is showing the condition they are in. The dents were caused by constant hydrostatic pressure on the steel.

HULL – As work continues moving aft, any holes in the ship’s original hull (including areas under the blisters) are being repaired. New plates are added to thinner areas and smaller pin holes are welded up. They will be cutting more of the uneven blister skin at the top to make it even. The ship’s hull on the starboard side is now being primed.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

12/23/22

12/11/22

USS TEXAS VETERAN RETURNS

Mr. Julio Zaccagni, a USS Texas WWII veteran, visited the ship in dry dock today. Julio now holds the record for the oldest dry dock tour attendee (101 years old) and is the first ship veteran to see it out of the water. We’re always happy to see you Mr. Zaccagni!

GUN REPAIRS

Staff and volunteers are continuing work on both the 5” and 3” guns in the warehouse. We uncovered an original 1919 dated 3” gun yesterday as the team took it out of the sleeve and mount. This makes any repair work much easier and will be done on the remaining guns/mounts in the future.

SHIP REPAIRS

TORPEDO BLISTERS (Yes, new torpedo blisters ARE going back on) – New framing for the torpedo blisters are going on! Foam removal on the port side blisters is showing the condition they are in. The dents were caused by constant hydrostatic pressure on the steel.

HULL – As work continues moving aft, any holes in the ship’s original hull (including areas under the blisters) are being repaired. New plates are added to thinner areas and smaller pin holes are welded up. They will be cutting more of the uneven blister skin at the top to make it even.

Thank you all for the support and,

Come on Texas!

12/4/22

SHIP REPAIRS

Torpedo Blisters (Yes, new torpedo blisters ARE going back on) – New framing for the torpedo blisters is going on! We also now have a visible line marked for where the new torpedo blisters will come down to on the ship’s hull. (See pictures for a yellow line)

HULL – As work continues moving aft, any holes in the ship’s original hull (including areas under the blisters) are being repaired. New plates are added to thinner areas and smaller pin holes are welded up. They will be cutting more of the uneven blister skin at the top to make it even.

STERN – Our last update showed some of the new steel being welded onto the stern of the ship. This week we have a lot more up! D12, one of the ship’s more troublesome trim tanks, is receiving much needed new steel. The structural repairs done in the 2010’s can now be finished as the frames can now be welded to that new skin. This will be done in similar areas on the ship. As more of the blister tanks are removed we can see some of the damage to the original hull caused by corrosion.

We want to thank you for your continued support these last few weeks.

Come on Texas!

11/20/22

Hi everyone! Let’s talk Battleship Texas and what’s been going on the last few weeks. This will be our update for the week as our staff is starting to take some much needed time off and enjoy the holidays with their families.

DRY DOCK TOURS

Today is the first day ever for dry dock tours! Our volunteers and staff are out here at the dock all day. Thanks to those who have signed up and we can’t wait to see you! For more information click here.

OUTREACH EVENTS

Our education staff just returned from a nine day trip to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. They displayed the uniforms & equipment the Sailors and Marines used aboard Battleship Texas during WWI and WWII. In addition to the displays, they also had the 20 mm anti-aircraft trailer for all to enjoy and practice being gunners. We appreciate those who came to see everything and can’t wait to do more events like these in the future.

SHIP REPAIRS

The Torpedo Blister removal continues while new steel is now being added to the ship. Yes, new blisters are going back on with a slightly different design. Parts of the framing for those blisters are being added as work continues on schedule.

We apologize for not having a new video published lately. It’s been a busy last few weeks and we appreciate your patience.

The Battleship Texas Foundation wants to thank you all for your wonderful support and as always,

Come on Texas!

11/9/22

Houston, we have guns! Three of the six 5”/51 cal. guns have been taken off the ship and are now at the warehouse for restoration. Come on Texas!

11/3/22

Hey y’all, we’re back with yet another update of the work going on here at everyone’s favorite battleship!

As the past few updates have stated, the foam and blister tank removal has continued like clockwork. The foam removal has begun to reach the end of the starboard blister tanks. Once this work is finished, they will begin the same thing on the port side blister tanks. The blister tank removal itself is moving along as well and with more of the original hull being exposed work has begun in removing sections for replacement.

Speaking of hull work, the aft trimming tank, which was foamed in for the move, has had all the foam removed and the plating there is beginning to be removed for replacement as well. A little further aft the plating there has been found in better condition and the process of placing a doubler plate for them has begun on both the port and starboard sides. Work also continues on cutting open the hull closer to the pontoon deck but for the purpose of cleaning out the inner bottom tanks. As of writing this, the A and B sections of the inner bottom tanks are almost completely opened, and some cleaning has started.

Finally, the mount and base for the first 5” gun that was taken off has been removed from their original position on the ship. Through careful work by our crew, we have been able to place them just aft of the air castle to more easily facilitate their removal via crane. This is probably the first time since they were installed in the 1925-1927 refit that those have been moved.

That will do it for our update this week. Thank you once more for your support as without it, none of this would be possible!

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10/22/22

Howdy y’all, we are back with our weekly report of the work going on around the Battleship Texas.

As we’ve said before, the foam removal continues on the starboard side blister tanks. Things are starting to move like clockwork now as they begin to move past midship. Along with the foam removal of the blisters, the foam removal around the stern continues as well. The large trimming tank has been mostly cleared and the last bit of foam seems to be coming out now. The smaller tanks around the stern have also had the removal process started and some hot work is starting to begin in the spaces which have been cleared.

The blister removal that has been ongoing as the blister tanks are cleared of foam has been moving forward at a quick pace. So far, the blister on the starboard side has almost made it to around frame 60. The ship’s hull which is slowly being revealed is looking rusty but overall, good.

More parts of the hull are being cut open to expose the inner bottom tanks with work starting on the A section this week. Once they are all done, the process of cleaning them out and coating them to protect the steel can begin.

This week was particularly notable as the first 5” gun from the ship’s secondary battery was removed on Friday. The gun was lifted out of the mount and pulled from the gun port over the course of many hours. Once all the guns are out, we can start the process of moving them to our offsite warehouse to work on them alongside the ship’s AA guns.

We are grateful your continued support in the restoration efforts of this dreadnought. Thank you and “Come on Texas”!

10/14/22

Howdy y’all here is our weekly status update for the ongoing work here at Battleship Texas.

Work continues on the starboard side blister tanks as the foam removal begins to reach the midship. All groups involved with the foam removal have started refining their process and a rhythm is beginning to be set. The foam removal from the internal compartments around the stern have also been coming along. The largest of these internal tanks that was filled with foam, a trimming tank near the very stern of the ship, has almost completely been cleared of foam. There are still smaller tanks with foam in the stern which are in the process of being removed but they are much smaller in size compared to the trimming tank.

These two square plates in the hull are where the torpedo tubes would have been before modernization in the 1920s.

The blister tanks which have had the foam cleaned out continue to have the external plating removed. By the time of writing this, the first four blister tanks have had their plating removed and Gulf Copper has started on the 5th. The removal of the blister plating has also revealed the section of the hull where the ships original torpedo tubes were located. While those torpedo tubes had been removed during the 1925-27 refit, there remains the outline of two small squares which were used to seal the hull after their removal.

Work has also started to test how easily the 5” guns can be removed from the ship. The first step has been to see how easily the studs which fix the gun to the main deck can be removed. The nuts which secured them had been removed in anticipation of this a little while ago and so far, it seems that they can be pushed down with a porta power hydraulic pump with relative ease.

Thank you for your support and, as always, Come on, Texas!

10/11/22

10/7/22

Work on removing the starboard side torpedo blisters continues as the removal of foam from the tanks progresses. A Marine chemist is on duty checking the ship’s inner bottom tanks so more work can begin.

The torpedo blisters are being removed from a specific point down with a modified blister design slated to replace them. This is a necessity ensuring that Battleship Texas remains watertight, eliminates previous problems, and lasts for many more years to come.

Workers continue removing the plates and framing from the starboard side torpedo blisters. What framing does remain is seriously deteriorated and in awful condition. Holes in the actual hull of the ship are now visible. The metal being pulled off will be used for future fundraising.

Foam is being removed from inside the torpedo blisters using a high water pressure nozzle that is controlled remotely. The foam and water are then vacuumed out and disposed of properly. Come on Texas!

9/30/22

Removing the forward section of the torpedo blisters continues as thickness gauging and foam removal in the aft section of the ship begins.

Other workers have been gauging the hull plating on the aft section of the ship. The thickness of each section is then marked and recorded, to assess how best to safely replace or repair these areas.

Thank you for your continued support for this project, Come On Texas!

9/23/22

As the foam removal in the torpedo blisters continues, work on the forward tanks that have been cleared has begun! The torpedo blisters are being removed from a specific point down and will be replaced with a slightly modified design, which will address some of the issues that have been plaguing them since 1948. More to come on that soon!

Close up shot of one of the blister tanks opened up.

Over the decades, the blisters have largely rusted from the inside out, which we see very clearly as they are cut open. The exterior coating applied in 1988-1990 is still intact over most of the ship’s underwater hull, but we see extensive rusting on the interior of the blister tanks.

9/16/22

We’re now at the tail end of the workweek here on the dock! Workers have begun cutting sections into the torpedo blisters so the temporary foam can be removed before work continues. This was always apart of the plan, and with waterjet cutting they are able to remove these panels without fire or flame.

Various views of sections removed from the Torpedo Blisters to access the marine foam for removal.

The marine foam must be removed so that “hot work” can begin – that’s welding, cutting with torches, or anything else prone to flames or sparks. As tanks are cleared of foam, the shipyard’s marine chemist will verify that each tank is clear of flammable materials and safe to cut into.

9/10/22 – First Walk Around the Dry Dock

8/31/22 – Battleship Texas Out of the Water for Repairs

Battleship Texas on the keel blocks at Gulf Copper Galveston

In the early morning of August 31st, Battleship Texas got underway from San Jacinto State Historic Site. She performed excellently, far beyond even our highest expectations, and made it to Gulf Copper Galveston later that afternoon without difficulty. That night she was lifted out of the water by the dry dock, bringing this phase of the project to a close. Battleship Texas is now out of the water for the first time in 32 years and only the second time since she became a museum in 1948.

This was a historic day for Battleship Texas and the broader historic ship community, but the work is not over. Our crew took some much needed time off for the Labor Day weekend but we plan to bring you more updates soon as work gets underway in the dry dock. Thank you all for your support, whether that be donations, volunteering, or just kind words of encouragement.

8/22/22 – Battleship Texas Departure Set For August 31st

LA PORTE– The Battleship Texas Foundation (BTF), with their partners, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Historical Commission, announce that the Battleship Texas will be departing San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site for repairs on August 31st. Repairs will be done at Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporations’ Galveston Shipyard. Due to weather or day of delays, the departure is subject to potential postponement. A livestream video of the departure will be available for the public to view for free on the BTF YouTube channel and Facebook group page.

San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, parts of Independence Parkway, and the Lynchburg Ferry will be closed from the early morning hours on August 31st until the ship has moved past the Lynchburg Ferry. The ship can be viewed throughout her route over most of the day. Good viewing locations for the public include, subject to the local authority, Bayland Island, Texas City Dike, Seawolf Park, and Pier 21. The ship should pass the Texas City Dike and Seawolf Park around early to midafternoon and be in Galveston by mid to late afternoon.

On the departure day, live updates will be posted at battleshiptexas.org/departure and on social media. Check in for live tracking, livestreams, and more!

8/2/22

Battleship Texas Foundation (BTF), with our partners, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Historical Commission, announce that Battleship Texas will be departing San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site for repairs in mid-August. Repairs will be done at Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporations’ Galveston Shipyard. A departure date will be announced as soon as it is set, which may be as close as four days before the tow. Due to weather or delays, the departure may need to be postponed.

San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, parts of Independence Parkway, and the Lynchburg Ferry will be closed to the public on the departure date. The ship can be viewed throughout her route over most of the day. A good viewing location for the public is the Texas City Dike. The ship should pass the dike around early to mid-afternoon.

Once a departure date is set, it will be announced via every possible channel (social media, our newsletter, local news, our website, etc.). Throughout the departure day, live updates will be posted on battleshiptexas.org/departure. This will include tentative scheduling updates, possibly live streaming, and progress updates through out the day.

7/21/22

It’s getting very busy here on the big blue beautiful battlewagon! For the past four weeks, our operations team have been working hard to knock out the final tasks to get the ship ready to have Resolve (the marine salvage company) back aboard for the tow and for the shipyard. The bulk of what we have done is opening and inspecting tanks, soundings, ballast tank integrity checks, and installing temporary lighting to make work safer in areas without functional lighting. It is miserable, tiring, back-breaking work in the record-breaking heat and humidity.

At the same time, our wonderful, wonderful volunteers have been shouldering a great deal of work. They have been helping us get spaces clean and organized while pitching in to help move hoses and open tank hatches. These great folks are always willing to step up and do whatever they can to help the ship. They are a force multiplier and have been absolutely invaluable to this project.

Last week, Resolve delivered a tractor-trailer load of their gear – pumps, hoses, a portable electrical distribution system (for the pumps), and one of three backup generators for backup power.

Also, Russell Marine worked on removing part of an old, sunken sheet pile that extends partially into the ship’s path out of the berth. When the ship was brought back to San Jacinto in 1990, they maneuvered around it. We – BTF and Valkor (our project management and engineering company) – feel confident that we can avoid it bringing the ship out, but we want to ensure that we have the widest possible safety margins on everything we do. So, we are having it pulled.

Monday, Resolve’s pump installation team arrived to start installing pumps that we might need during the tow. Unfortunately, leaks will be unavoidable. Texas is an old ship; she leaks and will leak more while she is being towed because she will be moving and working in ways she hasn’t since 1990. That said, the work that has been done on the ship since 2014 (repairing watertight boundaries and the inner bottom over almost half the ship’s length and foaming the blisters and critical interior tanks) and the final preparation work that we are doing now (closing hatches, testing watertight boundaries, etc.) have greatly reduced the overall risk to the ship and that any water will make it beyond tanks and into the interior of the ship.

With all of this underway, we are now just about a month away from dry dock. We are targeting mid-August for departure from San Jacinto and there will be another update about that coming very soon. In the meantime, thanks for reading and thanks for your support as always!

6/13/22

We’ll start off with the biggest news since our last update – on June 4th, Gulf Copper’s newest dry dock arrived in Galveston. This dry dock’s first job will be the repair of Battleship Texas later this summer. Since October 2021, Gulf Copper has been preparing this dry dock for the tow from the Bahamas and for Battleship Texas. They still have some work to do before the dock is ready for us, but we are tentatively expecting a mid-August departure date for Battleship Texas. As soon as we have an exact date, we will make an announcement.

Since our last update, our staff and volunteers have also fully disassembled, blasted/needle gunned, repainted, and close to reassembled the first of ten quad 40 mm Bofors. Our team has also replaced seals, replaced bearings, and done a myriad of other odd jobs on this mount.

In late May, much of the necessary dredging around Battleship Texas was completed by Matthews Brothers Inc. Their crew removed about 23,000 cubic yards of mud (that’s 17,585 meters cubed for our readers abroad) from around the stern area of the ship. This clears a path for the ship to be towed into the Houston Ship Channel later this year. Matthews Brothers may come back for some additional dredging as we get close to the departure date, but most of the work is done.

Also in late May, the Superstructure Rehabilitation Project began. You may recall that in September 2021 we were awarded a half million dollar grant from the Save America’s Treasures grant program. This project will address a major backlog of deferred maintenance on the Superstructure. The first step in this project has been to remove hazardous materials throughout the foremast, main mast, and aft fire control tower. A&M Environmental and SSCI Environmental have been our contractors on this phase of the project and are still at work removing lead-based paint and asbestos. If you’ve been to San Jacinto recently, you may have noticed some of this work going on from shore.

Signet Warhorse II towing the dry dock through the Galveston Ship Channel.

Ventilation setup for the abatement work in the Fire Control Tower at the top of the Foremast.

2/16/22 – First Update of 2022

10/27/21 – Gulf Copper Shipyard in Galveston Selected for Repair of Battleship Texas

LA PORTE— The Battleship Texas Foundation (BTF) has selected Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporation’s Galveston shipyard as the location for the repair of the Battleship Texas. With the support of the Battleship Texas Foundation and Valkor Energy Services (BTF’s project management and engineering firm for the ship repair), Gulf Copper recently acquired a floating drydock capable of lifting the Battleship Texas out of the water for necessary and extensive hull repairs.

Gulf Copper’s new drydock acquisition is a critical milestone in the Battleship Texas’s $35 million hull repair project. Gulf Copper’s new drydock makes their Galveston shipyard viable for the Battleship Texas hull repair. In addition, the location of the yard in Galveston significantly reduces the risk of towing the Battleship to drydock since the tow is both in sheltered waters and the distance is much shorter than other potential options. The project group including the BTF, the operator of the Battleship Texas, Valkor, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), the ship’s owner, has worked carefully to mitigate the risks to the ship throughout the entire project. The Battleship Texas is projected to enter Gulf Copper’s new Galveston drydock in the second quarter of 2022, after the dry dock is made ready for the battleship.

Since the ship closed to the public in August 2019, BTF, TPWD, and Valkor have worked to prepare the ship for the shipyard. As one of one the preparation activities, Resolve Marine Group was contracted in 2020 to prepare the ship for tow by BTF and Valkor. BTF, Resolve, and Valkor worked for six months to drastically reduce the amount of water leaking into the Battleship Texas. By installing over 750,000 gallons of expanded foam, this team reduced the leak rate from 2,000 gallons per minute to under 20 gallons per minute, making the ship significantly safer to tow.
The Battleship Texas Foundation operates the Battleship Texas under a 99-year memorandum of understanding from TPWD who owns the battleship. In 2019, the Texas legislature passed SB1511 directing TPWD to enter a 99-year lease with a qualified nonprofit to operate the ship. In the same session, the legislature appropriated $35 million to fund the hull repair of Battleship Texas.

The Battleship Texas Foundation would like to thank its partners – Valkor Energy Services, Resolve Marine Group, TPWD, and Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporation – for achieving this milestone in the long-term survival of Battleship Texas.