As the forums resident USS Texas fanatic, I just tonight finished a book on everbodies favorite dreadnought.
COME ON TEXAS published in 1930 was written by an ex-Texas officer Paul Schubert.
Presented as a novel in the first person, COme on Texas gives us a great day to day look at this icon during her youth starting with the comissioning ceremonies and working up through the Mexico Crisis, sea trials and eventual entry into World War I
All the major keystones are hit including the frustration of running aground in New York, the ardors of coaling ship, and the rivalry with the sailors of the Grand Fleet.
Included you'll find heaving storms, the fear of phantom periscopes and an all out brawl with the crew of HMS Warspite.
Long out of print, this book is a rare find on Amazon and usually goes for over $100. However I managed to score my copy on Alibris.com for a mere $22.
I suppose for me one of the most poignant moments came when an old Scottish man riased his glass saluting, " 'ere's to 'e Texas lads. Long may she float."
Considering that in conjunstion with a later description of the German fleet being escorted to Scapa Flowby Us and British forces, in surrender, and the narroator comments 'Half the worlds dreadnoughts were in one location"
Of those ships...out of them all. Out of the massive lines of battlewagons on that day....Only Texas remains.
And she floats still to this day.
Anyhow, Im 100% biased, but it was a neat insight.
