You Want How Many Battleships Named Texas? Hold My Stetson!
Ah, the Lone Star State! Land of rodeos, barbecue, and apparently, a whole lotta ships named after itself. You might be wondering, just how many U.S. Navy vessels have sported the name "Texas" throughout history? Well, buckle up, buttercup, because we're about to set sail on a hilarious journey through the bureaucratic love affair with the good ol' state of Texas.
The OG Texas: A Pre-Dreadnought Pioneer (But Mostly Just Pre-Cool)
First up, we have the USS Texas (1892). Now, this wasn't exactly a titan of the seas. Think of it as the grandpappy of the Texas fleet, a bit clunky and outdated by the time it hit the waves in 1895. Imagine it like that old pickup truck your uncle refuses to get rid of, it gets the job done, but wouldn't win any beauty contests. This Texas patrolled the waters for a good 16 years before being relegated to training duty. Still, it holds the title of being the first "iron horse" named after the state.
The Texas We Know and Love: The Dreadnought Era Badass
Then came the USS Texas (BB-35), launched in 1912. This was the real deal, folks! A true-blue dreadnought battleship, a monster of the seas packing enough firepower to make Kaiser Wilhelm reconsider his whole schnitzel-fueled war plans (it saw action in World War I, by the way). This Texas served with distinction for over three decades, participating in both World Wars and earning a hefty five battle stars for its service.
But wait, there's more! After its decommissioning in 1948, this legendary ship became a museum ship near Houston, Texas. So, if you ever find yourself in the Lone Star State with a hankering for a bit of maritime history, you can totally visit this magnificent beast and marvel at its big guns in person.
From Battleships to Nukes: The Texas That Went Fission
Now, the story doesn't end there. The Navy, apparently not done with its Texas obsession, decided to christen a nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser USS Texas (CGN-39) in 1977. That's right, folks, they took Texas from lobbing cannonballs to launching missiles powered by nuclear freaking reactions! Talk about an upgrade. This futuristic Texas patrolled the oceans for a solid 16 years before being decommissioned in 1993.
And for Our Grand Finale: The Texas That's Still Keeping Us Safe
And last, but certainly not least, we have the current torchbearer, the USS Texas (SSN-775). This beauty is a Virginia-class attack submarine, commissioned in 2006 and still very much on active duty. Think of it as a sleek, silent guardian lurking beneath the waves, keeping us safe from all sorts of underwater nasties.
So, to answer your burning question: how many USS Texas have there been? A whopping four! The Navy's got a lot of love for the Lone Star State, and who can blame them? Texas-sized ships deserve Texas-sized respect.
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