The Texas State Guard has one of the most important and advanced diving schools in the State Defense Forces. This elite unit spends their time training in “heavy lift” dive operations as well as maritime Search & Rescue.. They have been assisting law enforcement agencies as well as numerous State agencies in multiple operations.
Recently we discovered the Texas State Guard Diving Team had also been assisting in the maintenance of the legendary US Battleship, USS Texas BB-35. This historic battleship legacy stretches over 100 years having been involved in nearly every US conflict in the 20th Century. Her illustrious history includes participating in the first US major combat operation of World War II, Operation Torch. This operation focused on the liberation of North Africa from the Axis Powers. The Texas also participated in D-Day providing a massive bombardment of Axis positions in Normandy with her massive 14-inch shells.
When Battleship Texas BB-35 arrived at Omaha Beach, it hit the target there and at Pointe du Hoc with several rounds of shells. This took the Germans by surprise and weakened their defenses.
There was a time that the ship fired about two hundred and fifty-five shells in thirty-four minutes leaving extensive craters at the point of impact. This will go down in history as the longest sustained period of firing
The Texas State Guard Dive Team finished their role aboard the USS Texas when the ship was closed due to uncontrollable flooding the ship has been encountering and lack of original parts to fix the ship. To Read more about the closure – Click Here.
We thank the Texas State Guard Diving Team for their time maintaining this legendary ship and their attempts to keep her afloat.
The Texas State Guard Dive Unit was once attached to the dive locker on the battleship, USS Texas BB-35, and has since been a part of her history. Over the past year, members of the Texas State Guard dive team have had the honor through their personal professions toward the historical movement of the USS Texas recent.
Sources: Texas State Guard – USS Texas BB-35 – Wikipedia
