Battleship Texas - Talkin' Dock

[@DavidSmith-cx8dg]

Some of those frames have all but disintegrated , it shows how much time , dedication , money and hard work is needed to preserve a ship of this age and size .

[@jeremyb5740]

Yupp and one day were going to hear her fire in anger again. KIDDING! It's going to be awesome to preserve it....but if I had the money I would say, "Let's blow millions to get the engines running and fire the big guns". I think she was 14" top of my head...can't remember.

[@texasblueboy1508]

There was a book that had the Battleship Texas being refitted with modern and some future weapons defending Texas as America went roge. I think Texas left and became the Republic of Texas again. It was a good book. Wish I could remember the name of it.

[@andreasmuller4666]

@@texasblueboy1508 SOmething similar happened in some books from John Ringo, they didn´t just refit Texas though, all the Iowas and the Des Moines and Salem got upgraded too with modern and scifi systems too. They are both part of the Posleen War series.

[@Diverball1]

It's an argument that she should have been permanently drydocked a long time ago.

[@kevincourtney7312]

@@Diverball1 Costs money, gotta find that first.

[@williamclayton3512]

I love the old girl,keep the updates coming,she deserves this remodel

[@CSXGirl822]

I used to work in preservation (railroad specifically so a much, MUCH smaller scale than Texas!) and seeing Travis' enthusiasm and passion for Texas is a breath of fresh air. I understand that everybody shows their appreciation for these beasts (whether from land, sea or air) in different ways, but seeing someone get so excited and show such obvious care and affection to tell us exactly WHY this piece of history matters is simply wonderful. Travis and everybody else working on this effort to preserve Mighty T, thank you for all that you do and keep up the great work. Come On Texas!!!

[@BattleshipTexas]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@kevincourtney7312]

Illinois Railroad Museum, Union Il. is a huge and wonderful place to see a LOT of railroad history and they restore them and run them.

[@freggo6604]

1:28 Remember, if you are sitting under 26,000 tons of Battleship. Always wear your safety helmet in case the ship settles 🙂

[@CS-zn6pp]

And your safety boots too.

[@timwrobel5603]

All of it's for naught if you're not wearing safety glasses.

[@thecommenter9678]

Fun fact, his helmet is actually made of several layers of PT belts, so he is perfectly save in case the ship slips off the mountings.

[@hammyh1165]

😂😂

[@michaelsublet3283]

It makes it easier to scoop your goo up later.

[@nightrider6769]

I'd say if she needed this repair for a very long time it's great that you guys are spending the money to get her fixed and I love seeing the work that is being done would be nice if you made more videos and longer videos on the work that is being done it would be really neat but I enjoy anything that you send out.

[@randbarrett8706]

The state legislature felt like it had to spend a minimal amount to avoid the ship sinking at it’s berth.

[@nogoodnameleft]

​@@randbarrett8706 ​I read that since 2008 or so the state of TX has spent $70 million on Texas just keeping her barely afloat and getting to the point of able to be drydocked. $35 million more for drydock repairs. Texas is lucky she is owned by the state of Texas. I don't see any private company or individual who would be willing to do this. I wish the govt would be upfront about how much has been spent on her. They always act like they don't spend anything on her.

[@jahintx]

Thanks for the updates. I appreciate being able to see the work as it is progressing. Can't wait to see what she looks like when all the work is finished!

[@eherrmann01]

While I sometimes miss working in the shipyard, I don't envy you guys and the work that you're doing. It's hard, dirty work and I tip my hat to the the men and women that are preserving this fine ship. Thanks for the update!

[@billberry3699]

I think the same thing watch them,spent a few years at gulf copper most of that work is unglamorous. Washing 100' of weld out is good times on a rust bucket

[@robertf3479]

I will admit to expecting some badly rotted out steel would be found, but holy cats! It does appear that this was expected. I hope you guys don't find a lot of unpleasant surprises as you get further into the tanks and bottom. Got to admit that using the same idea that I use with my R/C models to protect them from sinking to protect the real thing was extremely smart. I LOVE expanding foam for that reason. I'm glad you were able to reach up and touch the keel of the Lady. Not everyone who serves aboard ship gets that opportunity, I was able to with both of my old girlfriends although they weren't true keel structures, the ships being built from modules. Texas is OLD SCHOOL and it appears to have served her well for well over a century.

[@donb7113]

Even on a classic car repair you have to remove parts of the car that are rusted beyond repair, and if you want it done right, it has to go. Thanks for these updates.

[@phillanassa759]

Amazing. I'm glad there are other folks out there as passionate about old ships, especially carrier and Battleship preservation for future generations to experience Texas as living history, a tangible, poignant, respectful link to all the men who served aboard her, during both peace and war. That the Battleship Texas Foundation is supported to like-minded politicians and public alike, willing to invest in this massive undertaking; alone, plain folks working together on her, in most cases unpaid, gives me hope for this planet's future, and all the generous folks that live together with us. As a former sailor, who served as an AM aboard USS Nimitz CVN-68 from 1985 to 1991, I would honestly and happily donate 100% of my time and available resources in helping these fine folks perform a stellar job placing USS Texas BB-35 into an advanced state of preservation. They are also bringing the ship closer to 'Bristol' condition considering her age and long hard life. I wish I didn't live 1/2 a continent away from her, or I'd be there this beautiful day lending a hand. She's important. She is the last New-York class Dreadnaught on the planet. As such, she represents the pinnacle of Naval engineering at her time of completion, which is by now well over 100 years ago. May her journey into history be one of fair winds and following seas.

[@Amias89]

Please post more updates, this is absolutely fascinating.

[@sparkplug1018]

Man I knew the corrosion was advanced, but seeing just how much structure is missing/damaged or compromised is so concerning. Happy to see it finally being repaired.

[@QurikyBark32919]

This is the coolest stuff man. Who else can say they’ve been under their battleship?

[@paoloviti6156]

Please accept my congratulations for such a hard and massive work you are doing on this wonderful battleship! I'm really impressed as it really shows how important to repair and restore this ship! Greetings from Italy 🇮🇹 👋👋

[@harborwatch9147]

Thanks for all the fun info for us ship geeks :)

[@TexasKid747]

Love to see what so many never had the chance to see, even serving on Her. Quite the piece of history and well worth the efforts! Thanks for keeping us up to date and letting us see history preserved! Cheers from North Texas.

[@chrismaverick9828]

Thank you for the update. I was curious about the extent of the blister rebuild and you've answered that wonderfully.

[@richardgreen1383]

Thank you for the update. Also for answering the question about the anti-torpedo blisters, I was wondering, since she's not likely to face any torpedos as a museum ship, why not just take them off completely. It would increase her draft by 3 feet, but surely when fully loaded during WWII she sat lower than that in the water. Of course she has had them for the majority of her existence.

[@Moltenbramley]

A few of us have asked the same question a couple of times now, I still haven’t seen a satisfactory answer.

[@BattleshipTexas]

Without the blisters we would not be able to get out of the dry dock. The ship needs them.

[@zoopercoolguy]

Sitting three feet lower in the water increases the likelihood she'll end up resting on the bottom and more deeply than with the blisters.

[@Moltenbramley]

@@BattleshipTexas Thanks for the response!

[@nicholasmaude6906]

What the USS Texas really needs is a multi-year, multi-hundred million dollar restoration in a proper shipyard, basically a strip down and rebuild..

[@Mom-277]

Thank you Travis for the update. Love 'em'!!!

[@thebillbaker4793]

Hello my friend thank you for the update and it’s a wonderful ship. Stay Thirsty my friend

[@robertibert9269]

Thanks for the update Travis. Its a real blessing team is taking such great care of Texas.

[@M1Tommy]

I saw that rudder move!...KIDDING !!! Great videos ... thank you for these !

[@harrykouwen1426]

My hands are itching to dive in the old hull to help fix it, what a great job, all the best and strength!

[@michaelphillips8238]

Thanks for the update - appreciate all the great work you have done and continue to do. I definitely have to start planning a trip to visit her once she's out of drydock.

[@chrisb9960]

I appreciate the fact that Battleship Texas is the trail blazer of long term ship preservation. It must be difficult to be the ones who have to learn by being the first.

[@BattleshipTexas]

It’s challenging and rewarding. We see a bright future for the ship and have the drive to make it happen. We talk a lot to our colleagues throughout the museumship community to share what bad and good was done to the ship before us. The thing is aside from a few decisions, every entity that has worked with this ship has made decisions they felt were best with the resources they had.

[@Cpperk95]

We appreciate your video updates. We fell in love with BB-35 when we volunteered as tour guides and love that you are back and taking care of her for the future. You taught me a lot back then and continue to do so.;

[@davidlee8551]

Thank you for keeping us updated. I brought my kids to tour the “Texas” about 30 years ago , and I hope to bring my GRANDchildren for a wonderful tour!

[@danielhacker6147]

Keep up the good work Travis and team.

[@benerval7]

I got my first ever look at the Texas on 24 October when I boarded the Carnival Breeze. even in dry dock, she is still a nice looking piece of history.

[@NikolaiRomanovsk]

Thank you so much for your work!

[@henrymuenich6296]

Thank you for the update, take are of her!

[@dangle0921]

That's cool that this video came up in my feed. My wife and I went on cruise last week from Galveston and I was able to take some pictures of the ship in dry dock.

[@aoac1]

Fantastic overview, thanks so much! Really interesting in sights to the ship as well as the process. Looking forward to more.

[@NavyCWO]

Great update! I spent the better part of the day watching her transit from La Porte to Galveston. It was really neat to see her underway. Bill Carter, crewman USS Texas (CGN-39).

[@Salty_Balls]

Spectacular update. Please keep them coming.

[@yes_head]

Whew. Those blisters... I'm now amazed she made the trip to drydock without springing a leak!

[@jeffjacobs9201]

Its just plain fantastic. For so many reasons. Please keep em coming!

[@michaelinsc9724]

Awesome to see the ole gal getting some much needed and deserved tlc!!! Thanks for the update.

[@TheTuberKnownAsMe]

Appreciate the update. I'm glad the Texas is finally some shore time.

[@comeandfindme.45]

So excited and PROUD to see the work being done. It makes one appreciate American ingenuity.

[@ImpendingJoker]

Another thing about the blisters is that they add stability as well. Which depending on where they move her, they very well may need if she gets hit by a hurricane.

[@muttman325]

Great job. Over here in the uk we are so envious you have a dreadnought

[@Ricardoteh345rd]

Travis thanks for the update. That last part pushing the rudder is comedy gold. Oh are you straighting the rudder!! 🤔 Just kidding

[@barrymccockiner6641]

But wouldn't he have to push the opposite direction?

[@Ricardoteh345rd]

@@barrymccockiner6641 left or right doesn't matter? It was the way trains kind of put the face ache book question to bed.. Nope not straightening the rudder amen

[@greypatch8855]

Absolutely love the update! Very informative

[@SurplusMarket]

Thank you for your work, as someone who is an enthusiast for warships, and who even plays a video game where the Texas is one of many ships you can control, it's amazing to learn about the inner workings of these behemoths, and to see their legacy preserved.

[@jamescox1896]

I visited Texas way back in 2011 and was absolutely fascinated. I'm so glad to see She's getting looked after.

[@MrBobcone]

Darn, the blisters are back...but for 3 ft of draft...okay, good call. She looks wonderful ! Keep up the good work GCC!

[@redriverraider]

Great work on the repairs! Y'all have been busy. Keep on!

[@markbakovic4978]

It's amazing information to show on working on going work thank you for sharing God Bless

[@Confedyank]

Thank ya for the updates, hoping to see this ship in person, in full glory!

[@richardwells4370]

Great video , well done for rescuing this ship 👍

[@genelappe]

Thank you for the up dates.

[@BeagleFanatic1]

Excellent video showing the deterioration of the ship. Please post more videos documenting the repairs being performed.

[@stevenbest6408]

Good information. Keep these updates coming. Thanks!

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

Great update. Lots of work to go. Ryan called and wants his pants back.

[@guydelillio7184]

Excellent story!

[@barryrudge1576]

You made a very interesting video explaining in laymen's terms exactly what repairs and how you are going about it with the lower portions of the hull. I don't know what the future is for the ship but I hope it will be in a permanent dry dock and so preserving such a great ship into the next century

[@nikolasbbq]

I can’t even fix the towel bar in my bathroom and you guys are doing this. Wow! Mind blowing.

[@Masada1911]

Looks so comfy and private under the ship. Like a little hideaway.

[@davidohara4123]

Thank you for the video. It was fantastic

[@donbrashsux]

That’s a Lot work !!.. your doing a fine job of it .. congrats to you all 👍👍

[@kyle_in_tex8422]

I'm sure there is so much more being done that is hard to document, and that there will be so much more than anticipated to be done too. It is not easy to document the "innards" of the hull being repaired, except for the holes being cut through. Keep it up!

[@hoberghacienda2267]

Thanks for the updates! 26,000 tons, I couldn't go under there!😆

[@danikoo582]

me neither

[@stanleydomalewski8497]

Thanks again for a great video ! Hopefully some other donors with deep pockets , will be able to fund All the Work that She needs to have done !

[@Jpdt19]

Marvellous work and very informative. Thank you

[@fredboat]

Thanks for the video and humor. Enjoyed. lookin forward to seein the Battel Wagon again.

[@MrPerforations]

i watched a guy trying to clear out foam from a light ship he brought, he was trying a rotavator to remove it. he must be kicking himself seeing this video. all the best for the repairs.

[@keithstudly6071]

Good luck with the rudder, and everything else too!

[@pelonehedd7631]

I enjoyed this video. Its sad how old ships deteriorate and those parts that have made History Like the Crews are lost. Seeing these spaces gives us some idea of the problems encountered by rescue crews after Pear Harbor. My Mom is 95 and Remembers going on the Arizona when It was at San Francisco ( She told Me she thought it was the Arizona) and looking down through a large opening and seeing Hamburgers being cooked.

[@tidelovinyankee1368]

Love your channel. We don't get much information on the dreadnaughts. Thank you for the great content

[@USM247]

Very nice. Many thanks for the update.

[@Erik-gg2vb]

This job is a labor of love, big time.

[@infidel3162]

nice to see whats being done to the ship. And its way worse then we thought. Good to see how bad it really is, and see it repaired properly

[@outlawflyer7868]

There you go folks. PURE REVIEW!!! Not some smuck making shit up so he or she can get better ratings. Can't wait to see her finished. What I want to know is what's happening over where she was docked. Is that gonna be changed to were she will be dry docked permanently or back to floating again but maybe have a damn put behind her.

[@Tellyfive]

Been waiting for this. Thanks for the update.

[@QVMVD]

I love the old battleship texas! :)

[@alanbare8319]

Awesome Job! I'm looking forward to your next update.

[@jakerocinante1133]

I’m happy to see her getting fixed up like she needs. But my big concern is where is her new home gonna be? Going by another famous ship in Texas the USS Lexington, USS Texas needs to be move to a heavily visited or tourist area. The Lexington is rite next to the Texas State Aquarium, several hotels, restaurants, shops and a beach in Corpus Christi. This leads to a lot more foot traffic for the Lady Lex. Honestly I’d like USS Texas to find a berth in Galveston because it’s not that far from the drydock and it’s a tourist town, but I don’t know if that’s possible.

[@candle86]

so behind the removed blister skin, thats the OG hull right? Because thats so cool

[@klsc8510]

I look forward to any updates. My ideal would be to have 4 live web cams on while work goes on. One on each corner of the dry dock so we can watch the work going on. I would enjoy this.

[@flatworm00]

Thanks for the update. I wondered why they didn't just remove the blisters...and now I know!

[@brentsmith5647]

Brilliant video thank u ♥️👀👀👀👀👀👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@michaelwood8071]

Great video. You are doing an awesome job. I was watching a video on Texas and they said during the Omaha beach bombardment they flooded part of the ship to get gun elevation? Then I read they flooded the offside torpedo blister. Another article said these torpedo blisters are normally flooded. Which is it? Thanks!

[@Josh-hr5mc]

Would love to see more interior photos. Like a 1 hour video tour of everything

[@amigodiver]

Very cool.I was there for the USS Cod dry dock and documented as well on You Tube.

[@gloriaanstine9289]

A Very Big Texas Thank You from this retired merchant marine lady

[@billkallas1762]

Thanks for the update.

[@samueldavehimbingmecenas2554]

The old beauty! long live BB Texas!🇵🇭

[@danmeehan1390]

Excellent, keep the reports coming

[@Brendissimo1]

I have the strong sense that this guy is the right person for the job.

[@jth877]

Great work and update. So by the math, you state that the blisters added 3ft of buoyancy to the waterline. I'm guessing that enough equipment was added in 1926 to necessitate adding them. So, in 2022 they will be rebuilt but smaller. Seems like they won't exactly add the same buoyancy as the originals did. Not that the original blisters were adding anything for the last 40 years anyway since they were flooded.

[@BattleshipTexas]

From ‘48 to ‘89 they were flooded. From ‘89 to now they were either dry or water being keep at low levels with pumps. That’s right -equipment and armor were added in ‘26. Roughly, 2,600 tons worth. I misspoke in the video, the blisters add about 2,500 tons of buoyancy which is roughly 2.5’ in reduced draft (her immersion scale is roughly 1’ midship draft for every 1000 tons). We will clarify that in future videos. The last calc that was done showed us increasing roughly 6” in draft with the new, truncated, lower blisters sections.

[@jth877]

@@BattleshipTexas Thanks for taking the time to reply! The engineer in me always has a lot of questions. Very very very cool information!

[@scowell]

Great video... I like your new style... keep it up!

[@GizStudPrez]

Way better, and nice to see the mic tucked into your shirt.....properly.

[@mrmiscast]

At last she's being fixed correctly to last for another lifetime. Love the videos...

[@StephenBorchert]

Well done.

[@glennbrymer4065]

Great Sitrep. Thank you.

[@JohnWilliams-fy1go]

I visited the battleship before the dry dock and she’s a BEAUTY ❤

[@timgreeson]

Those are some super fancy sketches you showed.

[@BattleshipTexas]

A really great guy made them for us!

[@airplanes42]

Super update! Keep them coming please.