The USS Texas was the first battleship commissioned into the United States Navy. The construction of the ship was authorized by Congress on August 3, 1886. The USS Maine was also authorized on this same date and was actually launched two and a half years before the Texas, however the Texas was commissioned first. The keel of Texas was laid down June 1, 1889 and the hull was launched on June 28, 1892. She was commissioned on August 15, 1895.
The design of the Texas and Maine followed that of the Brazilian battleships Riachuelo and Aquidaba, in that their turrets were mounted projecting off either side. The Texas' forward turret was off to port and her aft turret to starboard; the arrangement was reversed on the Maine. This proved to be a poor design, however, due to the fact that, although the turrets could be turned to fire across the deck, it limited her ability while firing broadside.
The Texas was assigned to the North Atlantic Squadron and she spent the years before the Spanish-American War cruising the eastern seaboard. In February of 1897 and again in January and February of 1898 she visited the Gulf coast. During this time she experienced a number of unlucky incidents and gained a reputation as a jinxed ship. She was nicknamed "Old Hoodoo".
In the spring of 1898, war broke out between the United States and Spain, and on the 21st of May the Texas arrived off Cienfuegos, Cube with the Flying Squadron to blockade the Cuban coast. She spent the remainder of that month and June patrolling the area between Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo Bay. On July 3, the Spanish fleet made an attempt to escape out of the harbor of Santiago de Cuba past the American fleet. A battle ensued which resulted in the destruction of the Spanish fleet. Before the peace treaty was signed in August, the Texas had returned to New York on July 31.
After the war, Texas returned to her peacetime duty of patrolling the Atlantic coast, primarily in the northeast, however, she did make occasional visits to Havana, Puerto Rico, and San Juan. She served as the Coast Squadron's flagship until 1905. On February 15, 1911,her name was changed to San Marcos in order that name Texas could be used on the new battleship no. 35. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on October 10, 1911 and was later sunk in the Chesapeake Bay as a gunnery target.
Displacement: 6,316 tons
Length: 308.8ft
Beam: 64.1 ft
Draft: 22.5 ft mean, 24.5 ft max
Installed power: 8,610 shp
Propulsion: Vertical inverted triple expansion engines,
Speed: 17.8 knots (33 km/h)
Complement: 389 officers and men
Armament: 2 x 12 inch (305 mm) guns
6 x 6 inch (152 mm)
12 x 6 pounders (2.7 kg)
6 x 1 pounders
4 then 2 (fore and aft tubes removed 1897) x 14 inch (356 mm) torpedo tubes
The design of the Texas and Maine followed that of the Brazilian battleships Riachuelo and Aquidaba, in that their turrets were mounted projecting off either side. The Texas' forward turret was off to port and her aft turret to starboard; the arrangement was reversed on the Maine. This proved to be a poor design, however, due to the fact that, although the turrets could be turned to fire across the deck, it limited her ability while firing broadside.
The Texas was assigned to the North Atlantic Squadron and she spent the years before the Spanish-American War cruising the eastern seaboard. In February of 1897 and again in January and February of 1898 she visited the Gulf coast. During this time she experienced a number of unlucky incidents and gained a reputation as a jinxed ship. She was nicknamed "Old Hoodoo".
In the spring of 1898, war broke out between the United States and Spain, and on the 21st of May the Texas arrived off Cienfuegos, Cube with the Flying Squadron to blockade the Cuban coast. She spent the remainder of that month and June patrolling the area between Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo Bay. On July 3, the Spanish fleet made an attempt to escape out of the harbor of Santiago de Cuba past the American fleet. A battle ensued which resulted in the destruction of the Spanish fleet. Before the peace treaty was signed in August, the Texas had returned to New York on July 31.
After the war, Texas returned to her peacetime duty of patrolling the Atlantic coast, primarily in the northeast, however, she did make occasional visits to Havana, Puerto Rico, and San Juan. She served as the Coast Squadron's flagship until 1905. On February 15, 1911,her name was changed to San Marcos in order that name Texas could be used on the new battleship no. 35. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on October 10, 1911 and was later sunk in the Chesapeake Bay as a gunnery target.
Displacement: 6,316 tons
Length: 308.8ft
Beam: 64.1 ft
Draft: 22.5 ft mean, 24.5 ft max
Installed power: 8,610 shp
Propulsion: Vertical inverted triple expansion engines,
Speed: 17.8 knots (33 km/h)
Complement: 389 officers and men
Armament: 2 x 12 inch (305 mm) guns
6 x 6 inch (152 mm)
12 x 6 pounders (2.7 kg)
6 x 1 pounders
4 then 2 (fore and aft tubes removed 1897) x 14 inch (356 mm) torpedo tubes
