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The USS Texas, constructed in 1892 with hull designation AC1, was a 301' long armored cruiser boasting two single 12" guns, six 6" guns, twelve 6 pounders, ten 1 pounders, Gatling guns, and torpedoes; a dreadnought to be reckoned with in her day. Similar to the more famous USS Maine, hull designation AC2, the main difference being the main guns: while the Texas possessed single 12" guns along the centerline, in offset fore and aft turrets, the Maine had two guns per turret, increasing her displacement and overall dimensions.

After the destruction of the Maine in Havana harbor, the Texas served proudly during the Spanish-American War, pounding the Spanish fleet during a fierce battle off Santiago. After the war, the USS Texas joined Roosevelt's Great White Fleet during that epic voyage flaunting American might. Soon thereafter, however, she became obsolete as technological advances passed her by. Rather than attempting to modernize her, the Texas was to be utilized as a target for ordinance tests and naval gunnery exercises. In February, 1911, her name was officially changed to San Marcos, with the designation of USS Texas soon to be passed on to her successor. She was stripped of her armament, with the exception of her 12" guns, and towed into the Chesapeake Bay, off Tangier Island.

March and April of 1911 witnessed numerous ships hurling projectiles and casting torpedoes at the once proud warship. During an interval following the first round of exercises, the 12" guns were salvaged, as well as other accessible brass and copper fittings. The San Marcos was allowed little relief; following World War I, Billy Mitchell utilized the target vessel as practice prior to sinking the Ostfriesland and other German war prizes.

The past 80 years has seen the sunken hulk battered by weather, continued naval exercises and aerial bombardment, salvage, and demolition. The former armored cruiser did not go quietly, however. She sought her revenge on several unaware vessels that would run aground on her submerged hulk and sink. Currently, the hulk lies scattered along the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay in 30' of water, with sections rising to within 15' of the surface. Navigation of the wreck is next to impossible given the extensive demolition of the wreck and average visibility of less than 2 feet. There is little potential for artifact recovery due to her salvage history – much of her upperdecks were demolished and pushed into a trench along the side of the wreck in order to prevent further navigation accidents. Portions of the wreck of interest to a visiting diver are likely to be interned beneath twisted bulkheads or buried in sediment. However, a lucky diver may perhaps find a relic from the USS Texas, an ancestor of our contemporary Navy.