The USS Texas on D-Day: Launching Freedom...From a Safe Distance (At First)
Ah, the USS Texas. A battleship with a nickname like "The Big T" just sounds like it was destined for greatness. And on D-Day, great it certainly was. But when it came to showering some freedom-flavored shells on the beaches of Normandy, let's just say the Texas wasn't exactly one for close shaves.
Starting Out at a Polite Distance
D-Day, June 6th, 1944. The fate of Europe hangs in the balance. Our intrepid battleship, the USS Texas, moseys on up to the party...well, not exactly moseying. More like a slow and steady approach, you know, because battleships are big and all, and stopping suddenly isn't exactly their strong suit. Anyway, Texas pulls up a comfy spot a cool 12,000 yards (that's roughly 7 miles!) offshore. Not exactly beach blanket distance, is it?
"Hey Texas! You in the back? We can't hear you from over here!"
Now, the plan was for the naval bombardment to soften up the German defenses before the infantry stormed the beaches. But from that distance, let's just say the Texas' morning greetings were more like polite hellos rather than knock-down, drag-out brawls.
Texas Steps Up Its Beach-Blasting Game
Thankfully, the USS Texas wasn't one to shy away from a challenge (or maybe the sight of all those landing craft getting a little too close for comfort lit a fire under their boilers). They decided to ditch the long-distance calls and get a little closer to the action. In fact, they scooted in to a mere 3,000 yards (a little over a mile!) from the shore. That's practically close enough to see the Germans squinting – well, maybe not squinting, but you get the idea.
Texas Goes Full-Metal Freedom Dispenser
From this point on, it was a whole new ball game. The Texas unleashed a fury of freedom-bringing firepower, targeting enemy positions, silencing pesky snipers, and generally making life very unpleasant for the German defenders.
So, the answer to your question: How far did the USS Texas shoot on D-Day? It depends. They started off playing it cool in the deep end, but eventually got close enough to provide some much-needed support for the brave troops storming the beaches. The Texas may not have been a fan of close calls, but when it came to helping liberate Europe, they definitely brought the big guns (literally).
