Construction Approval to Commission

24 June 1910 to 12 March 1914

 

Approval to Keel Laying - 24 June 1910 to 17 April 1911

One of the first actions after President Taft's 24 June 1910 approval of the US Navy appropriation bill was creating the design plans. The 29 September 1910 contract plans were the first images of what she would become.

The contract bidding began 27 Sept 1910.with Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company (NNS), Newport News, Virginia, winning the contract. The construction contract was signed 17 Dec 1910, for a price of $5,830,000. The price did not include the armor and armament. The contract called for a three build period, with a completion date of 17 December 1913. The contract plans were delivered to NNS on 24 December and the first hull materials were ordered on the 27th.

Before the contract was signed, a major change to the ship's design was made in early December when the originally intended 32,000 turbine with quadruple propellers was replaced with two steam reciprocating engines with each having one propeller. The fuel efficiency of the turbine at cruise speed was worse than the reciprocating and the reliability of the turbines was of concern.

As of 3 April 1911

 

Building The Hull: 17 April 1911 to 18 May 1912

The construction of hull #147 started 17 April 1911 with the laying of the keel and ended 425 days later with the launching on 18 May 1912   The keel laying was immediately followed by the erection of the first of the 141 frames made by Carnegie on the 21st.  The first armor was received and installed on 7 August, for Central Station.  On the hull's exterior, a layer of teak wood was installed where the armor would be located.  The last major hull work prior to launch was installing the white pine-filled rudder, on 14 May 1912. 

Three of the hull's nine layers of paint was applied

  • 2 - red lead 
  • 1 - anti-corrosive .

During construction, horse drawn wagons and wooden scaffolding were used. Click the hull photo link above for hull images.

Though TEXAS was the most modern US battleship, old terminology descriptions were still used. In a throw back to wooden ships with cannons lining the lower deck, 2nd deck was labeled as "Gun Deck" on the 29 September 1910 contract plans for 5inch guns were to placed almost the full length of 2nd deck..

 As of 2 October 1911 - The worker in the foreground is on the level above Steering Room-Steering Gear.  To the left of him and forward is "H-147", the designation for BB35 at this time

 

Launching - 18 May 1912

Launched on 18 May 1912, TEXAS was sponsored by Miss Claudia Lyon, of Texas.  (Links to additional launching information is at the top). The choice of Miss Lyon by the Secretary of the Navy created controversy in  Texas and Washington DC because Miss Lyon's father was an important person in the Republican Party in Texas and congressional members were Democrats. In addition, the temperance union asked that a bottle of champagne not be used. (A bottle of champagne was used). The New York Times coverage of the launch reflects the influences of the time, such a protection as compared to the Titanic.

Ms Claudia Lyon

The two torpedo tube openings are visible.  Above the light colored area of the hull is a layer of teak wood over which the armor will be placed.

 

Outfitting  18 May 1912 to 12 March 1914
The outfitting started with the 18 May 1912 launching and finished 532 day later with the commissioning on 12 March 1914.  The outfitting including the installation of various systems inside the ship, armor plate on the hull and structures on the main deck and above.

The internal outfitting of hundreds of compartments are reflected in the 1912 joiner plans.  Some sections of the joiners are viewable through the above links.  Among the details shown:

  • Storage of champagne and claret glasses in the Ward Room Officer's Pantry
  • Torpedo Rooms showing stowage location of the torpedoes and the location of the torpedo tubes
  • A 3rd deck compartment near the bow labeled "Aviation Room" but not details.
  • The Captain's Cabin having a 42 inch brass bed and bath tub.

Six of the nine hull paintings was done during three periods in the Norfolk Navy Yard

  • 3 September 1912:  1 anti-corrosive, 1 anti-fouling

  • 9 April 1913:  1 anti-corrosive, 1 anti-fouling

  • 29 September 1913:  1 anti-corrosive, 1 anti-fouling

The installation of the armament was in 1913 with the first turret structure installed on 22 February with the first 14inch/45caliber Mark I gun on 5 March.  The first of twenty-one 5inch/51caliber guns was installed on 5 August.  All guns were installed before leaving NNS for Rockland, Maine, on 19 October 1913, for her speed trials.

 

2 October 1912 at a Newport News outfitting pier.  Boilers are in operation - notice the smoke coming out of the uptakes.

 

21 to 29 October 1913 - Sea Trials, Rockland Maine

Maximum speed of 22.28 knots (25.5mph) was obtain, which was also the fastest speed in her history.   The top of the main mast was not compete at this time.  For a detailed account of the sea trials, click "report" link above..

After the speed trials, the main mast top was completed and the searchlights installed on two-tiered on both masts.  The final parts of the outfitting was a 21 February 1914 final  inclining experiment to determine her buoyancy properties and the installation of the last armored plate on 10 March 1914.

Commissioned:  12 March 1914

As 12 March 1914

Note the absence of the opening on the front side of Turret 2 and Turret 4 for the gun directors.  The needed openings and gun directors would be installed in the New York Navy Yard, 27 March to 13 May 1914.

2,850 miles sailed as of commissioning.

Not all of the design features were installed:

  • Eight 3inch anti-aircraft guns:  2 - crane tops, 2 - on superstructure, 2 - atop Turret 3, 2 - atop Turret 4.
  • Fire Control Tower atop the Conning Tower.
  • Searchlights on a single platform on each mast.
  • Enclosed Pilot House.

14" Guns:  She was the most powerful ship in existence being the first ship to have 14inch guns. The New York Times described the 14"/ 45 caliber guns as "Monster Guns" and cost $777 to fire each of the 10 guns.

Build Time: Construction took 1060 days, which was 213 days below the average for all 57 completed battleships and the MAINE and TEXAS of the 1890s. 

Modern Systems: Among her many modern systems were electric ovens in the galleys, which the New York Times devoted an entire article to. BB35 was also the first US battleship built with a laundry for the crew.

Engines: The ship's two engines were the first Newport News built American battleships with reciprocating engines to have a forced lubrication system. 

The commissioning activities were recorded on silent film, the first such documenting of a US Navy commissioning.

Antiquated Propulsion: BB35 was the last coal fired US battleship and the next to last built with steam reciprocating (with OKLAHOMA BB37) being the last.  Though the 14inch guns were the most powerful, propulsion by coal fired boilers and steam engines was antiquated but as with any technology change there is always the last version before the new.

BB35 Before BB34: Though sister ship NEW YORK was BB34, every BB35 construction period predates BB34.

Hard to tell BB34 and BB35 apart:The only easily detectable external difference between BB34 and BB35 in 1914 through the summer of 1916 are the searchlight platforms on the masts.  NEW YORK has a single platform on each mast while TEXAS has a 2-tiered arrangement on each mast..

Final cost:  TEXAS $10,971,524.93 and NEW YORK $11,323,130.63.