Shipbucket

Awesome work!

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MS State Guard - 08 March 2014 - 28 January 2023

The Official IJN Ships & Planes List

#FJB

Very fine additions indeed. Its nice to see how this evolves over time.

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Hood's Worklist
English Electric Canberra FD
Interwar RN Capital Ships
Super-Darings
Never-Were British Aircraft

Cool stuff. As a Texan it's always cool to see this AU.

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USN components, camouflage colors, & reference links (World War II only)

An excellent thread, so real like. I enjoy the story as much as the drawings. Very well done Red!

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Thank you Kim for the crest

"Never fear to try on something new. Remember that the Titanic was built by professionals, and the Ark by an amateur"

Republic of Texas, 1880-89

I. Introduction

Between 1880 and 1889, Texas hardly shared the ostentatious wealth that defined the Gilded Age in its neighbor, the United States. But it did reflect a mixture of changes common to the developing western frontier. Population, economic production, and cities expanded, while society and culture began to mature. Partially separate black and Hispanic communities emerged in the face of discrimination.

The population of Texas grew rapidly. Most Texans lived and labored in rural areas—90.8 percent in 1880. The expanding population spread westward to complete settlement of the state by establishing communities on the South Plains, in the Panhandle, and beyond the Pecos River.

The Texas economy of the late nineteenth century experienced tremendous growth, mixed with serious problems and major changes. Agriculture continued to dominate the economy, with a majority of Texans engaged in farming or ranching. Farm prices fluctuated through the period but declined overall. Major ranchers in West Texas joined those in South Texas in raising the largest herds in North America. Prices began to fall because supply outran demand, disease led to quarantines, harsh winters and drought killed animals, and new settlers began to fence the plains with barbed wire.

The development of commercial farming and ranching received important stimulation from the growth of railroads. The new track, more than half of which was laid between 1875 and 1885, crossed the state both east-west and north-south to provide faster and cheaper transportation for people and products. Farmers and small businessmen began to complain of monopolies and trusts, and political debates and government regulations followed. Business and manufacturing also received an important boost from improved transportation. Major industries of the period included lumbering and flour milling. Meat packing, which ranked third in the 1870s, gave way to the manufacturing of cottonseed oil and cake.

The development of industries, primarily in urban areas, stimulated the growth of Texas towns. The patterns of urban growth shifted, however, as newer interior towns expanded more rapidly with advancing settlement. The emerging towns and cities also provided focal points for social and cultural developments. Religion influenced many aspects of life, with evangelical Protestants dominant in much of the country.

The two largest racial minorities in Texas, blacks and Hispanics, developed partially separate social communities during the late nineteenth century, partly because of discrimination, which produced segregation in some activities and lack of opportunity in others. Most blacks labored as sharecroppers, but some herded cattle, and others worked on railroads, in lumber camps, on seaport docks, or as skilled craftsmen. A small but growing number acquired their own land or opened small businesses. Some urban workers joined local unions, yet racial discrimination limited their opportunities. Black Texans formed their own churches, primarily Baptist and Methodist, to acquire leadership roles and control over their religious activities. They attended segregated public schools that generally received less funding than those for whites. Segregation existed in most railroads, ships, and theaters, and blacks faced exclusion from most hotels and restaurants.

Hispanic Texans increased in number, partially through immigration. Mexican Texans formed a majority in the region below San Antonio and along the Rio Grande, where they had some political power. They maintained their culture through Spanish-language newspapers, observance of Mexican holidays, and the formation of sociedades mutualistas (mutual-aid societies). Some owned ranches or operated small businesses, though most herded cattle or sheep and did manual labor in towns or on railroads.

In the last quarter of the nineteenth century Texas had emerged as the leading producer of cotton and cattle, yet its agricultural economy continued to struggle with a variety of problems, while industry made limited advances, including the opening of the first Texas oilfield. The beginnings of a more complex urban society and culture had appeared, but they hardly dominated the country. Blacks and Mexican Americans achieved some progress in education and economic status, offset by more rigid discrimination in public accommodations and treatment under the law. In every area of activity Texans joined the trend toward organization as a means of meeting problems and shaping their society.

II. Geography

• a. Area
  • • Total Area: 268,581 mi2/696,241 km2
    • Land: 261,866 mi2/678,835 km2
    • Water: 6715 mi2/17,406 km2
  b. Country Comparison to the World: 40
  c. Land Boundaries
  • • Total: 2845 mi/4552 km
    • Countries: United States, Mexico
  d. Coastline: 367 mi/591 km
  e. Climate: The size of Texas and location at the intersection of multiple climate zones gives it highly variable weather.
  f. Terrain: Gulf Coastal Plains, Interior Lowlands, Great Plains, and Basin and Range Province.
  g. Natural Resources: timber, arable land, coal, gypsum
  h. Natural Hazards: thunderstorms, tornados, and hurricanes

III. People and Society

• a. Ethnic Groups: White Texans; American, German, Irish and English Immigrants; Free Blacks, and Mexicans
  b. Language: English
  c. Population: 1,591,749 (1880)

IV. Government

• a. Type: Unitary Federal Republic
  b. Capitol: Austin
  c. Administrative Divisions: 30 Congressional Districts; 159 counties, expanded to 159 counties by 1889

V. Economy

• a. Budget (1880-89 average)
  • • Revenues: $6,773,489 TXD
    • Expenditures: $6,570,284 TXD
  b. Agriculture Products: cotton, corn, sugar cane, wheat, beef cattle, horses, sheep
  c. Industries: iron, meat packing, oil
  d. Exports: cotton, hides, lumber
  e. Imports: iron, manufactured goods

VI. Transportation

• a. Roads: NA
  b. Railways: 8440 mi/13,504 km among 8 incorporated companies
  c. Waterways: 5 navigable rivers (Sabine, Trinity, Colorado, Brazos, Rio Grande)
  d. Ports: Galveston, Sabine Pass, Lavaca, Indianola, Brazos Santiago

VII. Military and Security

• a. Military Branches:
  • • Regular: Army (2700 personnel), Navy and Marines (1400 personnel)
    • Militia (15,917 available for service)
  b. Military Service Age and Obligation: voluntary militia enrollment for white males between the ages of 18 and 45
  c. Military Expenditures: $2,117,385 TXD (average 1880-89); 31% of Budget Expenditures

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Redhorse

Current Projects:
Republic of Texas Navy
FD Scale F-14s

The measured economic growth of Texas between 1880 and 1889 enabled the Navy to keep pace with most developments in naval warfare of the period.

The older, all-wood ships gave way to vessels with composite hulls or all-iron construction. The last of them were sold off or scrapped by 1882. The experience gained building the Corvette Brazos enabled the adoption of composite construction in the Navy Yard and other shipyards in Texas.

The last composite ships constructed were two monitors, the Copperhead and Cottonmouth. Authorized in 1879, they were commissioned in 1881:



Armed with a pair of casemated 7 inch Armstrongs, they were the main defense for Galveston Harbor. Vertical armor was 4 inches thick and deck armor was 1 inch thick. They were considered hideous in appearance, but their crews developed a unique fondness for them.

They were re-armed between 1887 and 1888 with the new M1886 8"/30, but the heavier ordnance stressed their frames and shortened their service life.



Both ships will be scrapped in the 1890s.

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Redhorse

Current Projects:
Republic of Texas Navy
FD Scale F-14s

The first ship of the new decade was the James, the first iron ship of the Texas Navy. The wooden ships of flexible East Texas Pine generally lasted about ten years, with major repairs or a rebuild after 5 years' service. The composite ships lasted much longer, 18-20 years, with major repairs or refits generally every 7 years. The Bureau of Yards and Ships, responsible for ships construction and maintenance, predicted an iron hull might last as much as 30 years.

The James also represents a change in strategy for the Texas Navy. Previously concerned only with the security of the Gulf of Mexico, there was an emerging need to protect trade routes for growing exports from Texas. Friendly relations were maintained with the two largest world powers (Great Britain and France) and the main North American regional power (the United States). Spain was seen as the most likely potential adversary, as its largest Caribbean possession, Cuba, sat between the two routes used by 100% of ship-borne commerce in and out of Texas. The Naval Staff began defining requirements for hypothetical combat against Spain and independent commerce-raiding.

Because the technology to construct her was new and unique, the contract was awarded to the Galveston Drydock Company. The James put to sea in 1883:



The James represents one of many transitions in naval ship design. She has an all metal hull, but is still armed with older ordnance. The main battery is two 5" RBLs, the secondary battery six 3" RBLs. Her engine could maintain a maximum speed of 14 knots or cruise 1660 mi/2656 km at 7 knots. Under sail and steam it was rumored she could make as much as 18 knots.

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Redhorse

Current Projects:
Republic of Texas Navy
FD Scale F-14s

The Archer, originally classified as a frigate but more of a protected cruiser, was the next vessel off the slipways. She took the design characteristics of the previous composite frigates and modified them for an all-metal hull.



Archer, the second ship to bear the name, was 225 feet between perpendiculars, 35 feet abeam and drew 14 feet of water. Her main battery was a pair of brand new M1886 8"30 rifles. Secondary battery was the customary six 6" guns, also of a new design accepted for service in 1885. She is also the first ship with quick firing guns, 6 pounders, specifically for use against small, fast combatants.

Her armor was a protected deck 2 inches thick, with sloped sections on the bulkheads. The armored conning tower, also a first, was also 2 inches thick.

Maximum speed was 15 knots under steam or 7 knots to attain the required range of 1660 miles. 17 knots could be attained under steam and full sail.

She was also a very expensive ship, costing taxpayers $596,000.

A sister ship, Campeche, was authorized in 1888, but did not take to sea until early in the next decade.

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Redhorse

Current Projects:
Republic of Texas Navy
FD Scale F-14s

Incredibly fine drawings of these early steam warships, so life like, they look real life.

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Thank you Kim for the crest

"Never fear to try on something new. Remember that the Titanic was built by professionals, and the Ark by an amateur"

Thank you, Novice. A fine complement.

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Redhorse

Current Projects:
Republic of Texas Navy
FD Scale F-14s