In 1910, the Texas Navy completed its fleet expansion to 4000 men. It had more than doubled its hull strength and started the transition to fuel oil instead of coal. The first of the two cruisers was commissioned, and the second would follow in 1911, the same year as the scheduled Congressional Review.
The last of the sail fleet passed when the Canadian and Frio were scrapped, and the Cruiser Independence, overshadowed by her bigger cousin Invincible, was struck and sent to the breakers as the Campeche took her slip at the Navy Yard:
Campeche and her sister ship San Jacinto represented everything the Texas Navy aspired to be, but were the last ships built according to the familiar design parameters used by the Design Bureau. She was an oil burner by design, not by conversion, used the newer, longer range guns and mounted the largest yet for the navy - 10" rifles. And they had armor to protect against similar ordnance.
Displacement:
9,766 t light; 10,239 t standard; 11,491 t normal; 12,493 t full load
Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
(420.00 ft / 420.00 ft) x 60.00 ft x (28.00 / 29.96 ft)
(128.02 m / 128.02 m) x 18.29 m x (8.53 / 9.13 m)
Armament:
4 - 10.00" / 254 mm 40.0 cal guns - 1899 Model
8 - 6.00" / 152 mm 50.0 cal guns - 1898 Model
6 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm 50.0 cal guns - 1900 Model
Main Torpedoes
4 - 18.0" / 533 mm, 10.00 ft / 3.05 m torpedoes
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 10.0" / 254 mm 273.00 ft / 83.21 m 9.30 ft / 2.83 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Upper: 8.00" / 203 mm 273.00 ft / 83.21 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 10.0" / 254 mm 5.00" / 127 mm 10.0" / 254 mm
2nd: 6.00" / 152 mm - -
- Armoured deck - single deck:
For and Aft decks: 1.00" / 25 mm
Forecastle: 1.00" / 25 mm Quarter deck: 1.00" / 25 mm
- Conning towers: Forward 10.00" / 254 mm, Aft 0.00" / 0 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
Direct drive, 2 shafts, 25,242 ihp / 18,831 Kw = 22.00 kts
Range 5,000nm at 15.00 kts
Complement:
554 - 721
Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
Adequate accommodation and workspace room
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily
But by 1911, the battleship race was on and a 10" cruiser wouldn't stand against the 12" guns taking to the water in rival navies such as Brazil and Argentina. And 4000 men with 21 ships won't meet the Navy's vision for its future. More growth and bigger ships are to come before the Great War starts and puts it all to the test.