In 1930, the Navy replaced the Campeche Class Cruiser with its newest, most technologically advanced (and largest) ships, the Rio Grande Class Heavy Cruiser:
Like most large-displacement capital ships, they were built in the United States. Originally designed for 10" guns, Texas was forced to accept an 8"/55 main battery when the US refused to build a 10" cruiser. Treaty restrictions forbade the larger gun, and though Texas was not a signatory to the treaty it reluctantly accepted the change.
The secondary battery was a point of contention. The fleet was looking for dual-purpose armament, but none was readily available in 1927 when they were laid down. They were built with 6"/53s. Those guns would be replaced with a dual purpose weapon during the first refits.
Anti-aircraft battery was paltry, only 4 3"50s in single mounts. In later years it would be augmented by 40mm and 20mm guns.
Like many cruisers of the time, she carried 21" torpedos, and though built with internal anti-torpedo bulkheads, as warhead yields increased she would be increasingly vulnerable to torpedo attack.
Her armor was 8" thick at the sides with a 2" armor deck over her vital spaces. She is the last capital ship built with an "all or nothing" armor scheme. Later ships would have armor over the ends to protect against flooding from multiple smaller-caliber hits.
Machinery was turbo-electric drive, in standard use for all Texas capital ships built after WWI. She had a maximum speed of 28 knots and an endurance of 7000 miles at the cruising speed of 14 knots.