14" Shell Loading  

Ship Staff and First Texas Volunteers

Load 14" shells back into #5 magazine

This project was spearheaded by volunteer Wesley Grace with the guidance of the ship staff.

The purpose of this project was to enhance the interpretation of loading and handling of the 14" shells aboard the Battleship Texas.

If you take the Hard Hat Tours you will see this area of the ship first hand.

This project was funded by the Battleship Texas Foundation.

The week prior to our actually moving the 14" shells Wesley Grace, Wesley Grace Jr., Paul Valdez, Chris Edsall, Ed Morrison, Steve Bostick and Andrew Bostick installed the missing sections of overhead steel rails on the ammo handling level.  Wesley fabricated a total of 14' of rails that were missing.

These were the six 14" shells that were relocated to the #5 turret ammo magazine. 

Ship staff member Walter Johnson

This shows the rear section of the 14" shell. Note the two odd shaped holes above and below the center part of the shell. This is where you insert the "Pad-Eye" to lift the shell.

This is Wesley Grace inserting the "Pad-Eyes" into one of the shells.

The "Pad-Eyes"........

Wesley Grace and the ships manager Mr. Barry Ward preparing to lower the shell into the ship.

Ship staff maintenance supervisor Mr. George Templin and Wesley Grace preparing the next 14" shell to be moved. Ship staff member Norman Snipe is driving the forklift.

Mr. Barry Ward and Dennis Mitchell lowering the shells.

Ship staff member Norman Snipe driving the forklift, Andrew Bostick checking to make sure all hands are clear and safe and Dennis Mitchell guiding the shell.

The 14" shell as it was passing the second deck headed for the first platform.

Looking down from the main deck past Lisa Kolb on the second deck, is the shell on its way to the First Platform level where the shells are stored in their magazines.

Looking up from the "First Platform" at the shell being lowered from the main deck.

Mr. Don Fischer (left) and Chuck Moore on the third deck level guiding the shell past the hatch on its way down to the next level which is the "First Platform". This is the level where the shells are stored in their magazine.

Mr. Barry Ward, Chuck Moore,  and Wesley Grace moving the shell along the rail system below #5 turret.

Ron Roemer (right) Paul Valdez (left) Andrew and Steve Bostick behind moving the 14" shell along the rail system.

Ron Roemer (left) and Paul Valdez (right) placing the 14" shells into their storage racks.

One of the 14" shells in the magazine.

The shells stored in their holding racks.

Group shot in the #5 turret starboard side magazine.

On the back row from the left

Ron Roemer, Don Fischer, Mike Fisk, Andrew Bostick (red shirt) Chuck Moore, Robert Somers (light blue shirt on the right).

Second row from the left bent over with his hands on his knee is Wesley Grace, to his left is Paul Valdez, Lisa Kolb in the center, Steve Bostick in the dark blue coveralls on the right.

Front row ALL on one knee from the left is Wesley Grace Jr., Dennis Mitchell, and the ship's manager Mr. Barry Ward on the right.

Others that worked very hard on this project but was not in this photo is ship's staff members Mr. Norman Snipe, Mr. Walter Johnson