How U.S. Navy Battleship USS Texas Is Making a Historic 'Comeback'

Summary: The century-old USS Texas battleship is undergoing a $75 million restoration at Gulf Copper Shipyard. Recent updates from the Battleship Texas Foundation highlight ongoing work, including steel repairs, deck renovations, and superstructure restoration.

Key Points: 

-The vessel’s anti-aircraft guns and radar top mast are also being restored. The ship, expected to be ready by 2025 or 2026, will be relocated to a new home in Galveston, Texas.

-The foundation aims to preserve the Texas's historical integrity, with efforts to return the ship to its 1945 appearance. Once completed, the USS Texas will resume its role as a museum piece, continuing its legacy.

USS Texas Battleship: Major Updates on $75 Million Restoration

The century-old USS Texas battleship is undergoing a $75 million restoration at Gulf Copper Shipyard. Recent updates from the Battleship Texas Foundation highlight ongoing work, including steel repairs, deck renovations, and superstructure restoration. The vessel’s anti-aircraft guns and radar top mast are also being restored.

The ship, expected to be ready by 2025 or 2026, will be relocated to a new home in Galveston, Texas. The foundation aims to preserve the Texas's historical integrity, with efforts to return the ship to its 1945 appearance. Once completed, the USS Texas will resume its role as a museum piece, continuing its legacy.

The century-old USS Texas battleship is undergoing a $75 million restoration and new updates are available. On May 11, 2024, the Battleship Texas Foundation posted a detailed rundown of how the repairs have been going so far.

“The ship is still moored along Pier D in Gulf Copper Shipyard where their people are hard at work,” the foundation said on its website. “It cannot be understated how much we appreciate their efforts in this undertaking as we know the work before them has not been easy.” (Note: I believe the foundation meant to say “overstated.”)

With respect to what comes next, the foundation reported that the Texas will “remain at Gulf Copper Shipyard until her new home is ready for her. Additional steel work, removal and replacement of the ship’s deck, and superstructure/aft fire control restoration will continue. And painting the topsides!”

Battleship Reboot: Plenty of work ahead for the USS Texas Restoration 

The foundation explained that there is still lots of work to be done before the storied Texas is ready for touring from its new home in Galveston, Texas. The reopening is not expected until sometime in 2025 or 2026. So, we could still be two years (or more) out from a reopening.

At present, the vessel’s anti-aircraft guns are missing, having been removed for restoration. “The guns and gun directors will be replaced once their restoration is complete,” the foundation said. “Three of the ship’s six 5” guns have already been reinstalled.”

The Texas’s deck is also being renovated extensively. The decking on the ship’s bow, and the wood on the vessel’s superstructure deck, have both been removed. “Steelworkers have been working from the bow moving aft to close any pinholes found,” the foundation reported. Some of the deck wood is being used to make items for sale, to raise funds for the foundation.

To protect the Texas from rainwater intrusion, the vessel’s drainage system is being restored. The drainage system restoration will extend the life of the vessel and the other top-side repairs currently underway. The turret watersheds are also being removed for repairs. The watersheds are used to keep water out of the gaps between the turret and barbette—and will be reinstalled once the repairs are complete.

Notably, the Texas’s radar top mast has been removed from the vessel’s main mast for repairs. The required repairs are mostly complete. The main mast itself is also being repaired, and in some respects, replaced.

Progress is being made, however. “The ship’s aft fire control tower is looking great!” the foundation reported. ‘The mullions for the windows are fitted, floater net baskets added, and more. These repairs and additions will help return the ship to its 1945 appearance.”

Returning to service...as as museum battleship 

The Texas has been “out of commission” since August of 2022, during which time workers have replaced over 700 tons of steel and painted the entire hull. Once the repairs are complete in 2025 or 2026, the Texas will return to service as a museum piece, as it has been for over 70 years.

About the Author: Harrison Kass 

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,300 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.