BB 35 Texas

My truck may be one of the biggest around, but compared to a Battleship, it is less than a bug in the wind.

Lots of work going on inside to drain and repair the internal structure so it can be dry docked. Necessary to save the ship.

Map of currently accessible areas. With more donations and funding, more of the ship will repaired and opened up for people to see again.

The small 5 inch shells. Meant for small things.

The gun that fires the 5". One of 6

A German shell that it, but didn't detonate. Kept as a good luck charm.

The powder lift for the 5" shells. It is rather explodey, so it is kept stored below where it is safe, rather than up top where a stray spark could cause it to detonate.

View back from the bow. (front)

Turret facing armor. Sorry I forgot to put a size reference, but it is thick and solid. #1 turret.

Inside #1, right side. Display shows the size of the powder bags used to launch the shells. Gun size is 14 inches in diameter. Four of those bags were used to launch the shell at a speed of 2,600 feet per second.... that is half a mile PER SECOND!

Center section of the turret. Shows positioning of itself and the second one just up and behind it. I could not move back far enough to get more in the shot, very tight fit in here.

Left side of the turret. Displaying the 1,200 lbs, 14 inch diameter shell ready for loading. Only one thing is able to survive getting hit by something like this.... another battleship.

Entrance hatch into the turret. About mid thigh height on me, so have to crawl down and under to get in.

The hooks in the ceiling? Those are for hanging hammocks for the crew to sleep in. The ship had a crew total of 1,800 personnel.

Looking up at the Citadel, feels like some kind of factory. Easy to forget this was a warship that has sailed around the world and meant to both take and deliver some of the most punishing hits ever found on the oceans.

Pilot House, where the Captain, Helmsmen and others spent most of their time, directing the ship.

Outside and entrance of the Pilot House.

View forward from just in front of the Pilot House.

As high as we are allowed to go, view forward. You can see the rail for the Pilot House just below.

Highest point currently accessible, view aft (rear)

Looking up and back from on top of the Pilot House. Area is not open currently.

Ladder down from the main deck, right in the middle of the ship. Surprisingly open and clear down here. I am 6ft tall, and didn't have to duck my head very often. Although, with a full crew of 1,800 people on board, I am sure it feels far more crowded.

Dispensary. Essentially the on ship pharmacy.

Medical office attached to the Dispensary, and racks for medical personnel. No posh mansion for doctors on this ship.

Surgery, with a door directly to the Sick Bay on the right. Battlefield medicine is about keeping people alive, nothing more. Function above all else.

Sick Bay. Only part of the ship that had a form of air conditioning back when it was in service.

Sick bay, with door to surgery behind curtain, near the Medical helmet.

Toilets, just boards across a trough that had water running down it. Red seats (none in picture) were for sailors with Venereal Diseases.

Tailor Shop

Medical supply storage. The ship is filled with small, awkward areas that can't be effectively used for anything other than storage. The door in was only as high as my shoulders, and about as wide as well.

Officer stateroom. Usually shared with other officers. That big tube is one of the slides for the anchor.

Back on deck, looking back. Can see a number of the smaller Anti Aircraft guns.

View forward from just in front of Turret #1

View forward, one of the hatches down into the ship visible.

My hat on the shells fired by the main guns in front of turret @4, which faces to the rear.

I am 6 feet tall (I need a trim, I know heh) and standing next to one of the 14" shells fired by the main guns. It is not on a platform or raised up at all, they are just that big.