Special Feature:
San Jacinto Battleground State Park
Battleship Texas Hard Hat Tour
La Porte (Houston), Texas
January 18, 2003
3rd (Ammunition) Deck
Ammunition Deck, Radio Station
Taking the open ladders, go down from the weather deck through the 2nd deck to the 3rd deck. It is also referred to as the "ammunition" deck because many of the ammunition hoists (20mm, 40mm, 3", 5") for the secondary battery can be found here, linking the magazines below with the guns above. Going forward, pass through a locked gate into a partially restored passageway. You pass the ship's radio station and powder hoists, counterflood control points (in those days, just big bolts turning gears) and see the back end of the huge bolts holding on the ship's armor belt. You also find large timbers that were meant to be used in damage control to shore up bulkheads - timbers that have been in place since the ship was commissioned in 1914. From the 3rd deck, you gain access to the rest of the forward areas on the tour via hatches, ladders and access trunks. The photo of the radio station is a panoramic taken from just outside the hatch.
The Photos
(click on thumbnails to open the photo in a new window)
Ammunition Deck
Radio Station
For More Information:
San Jacinto Battleground State Historical Park
USS Texas Volunteers Hard Hat Tour Information
USS Texas History and Information