How a 1914 Battleship Became the First Ship to Fire on Nazi-Occupied France During D-Day

USS Texas

The USS Texas had one job on June 6, 1944: blow up Nazi bunkers before Allied troops hit the beach. For hours, this old battleship hurled massive shells at German positions along Omaha Beach. The guns got so hot they nearly melted.

Here’s what went down that morning, and how you can tour the ship today.

Early Morning Approach to Normandy

USS Texas and British cruiser HMS Glasgow moved through rough seas at 3:00 AM on June 6, 1944. Both ships entered their firing positions under darkness.

Texas reached its spot by 4:41 AM, stopping 12,000 yards from a rocky cliff called Pointe du Hoc.

The battleship joined 702 ships gathered for the largest seaborne invasion ever attempted.

General Eisenhower had visited Texas on May 19. He spoke to the crew about their key role in breaking through the Nazi defenses.

Intense Bombardment of Pointe du Hoc

Texas opened fire at 5:50 AM, aiming at six German guns on Pointe du Hoc. These weapons threatened both American landing zones at Omaha and Utah beaches.

The battleship fired 255 massive shells in just 34 minutes, stopping at 6:24 AM.

Gun crews kept up a pace of 7.5 shells per minute, the longest period of non-stop firing during Texas’s entire war service.

This bombardment supported the 2nd Ranger Battalion, who had to climb 100-foot cliffs under fire to destroy the German guns.

Supporting Fire for Omaha Beach Landings

While the main guns hammered Pointe du Hoc, Texas’s smaller 5-inch guns fired at Exit D-1, a road troops needed to move inland from the beach.

At 6:26 AM, the battleship turned its big guns toward Vierville-sur-mer village at Omaha’s western edge.

Texas and HMS Glasgow handled the western half of Omaha Beach. Other ships covered the eastern section.

The powerful guns backed the US 29th Infantry Division. These soldiers landed directly into heavy German fire on western Omaha.

Moving Closer to Shore Under Fire

Texas moved to just 3,000 yards from shore by 12:23 PM. This risky move brought the ship within range of German guns and hidden obstacles.

From this position, gunners fired almost horizontally. These shots cleared German bunkers blocking Exit D-1 near Vierville.

Navy gunfire became the only help for trapped soldiers. Earlier bombing runs had missed targets because of clouds over the beach.

Smaller ships joined Texas in moving dangerously close to shore. Some nearly ran aground to fire directly at German positions pinning down troops.

Continued Bombardment Through D-Day

Texas fired throughout June 6. The battleship steadily blasted inland targets that threatened soldiers on the beach.

Pilots in small planes spotted targets despite enemy anti-aircraft fire. They radioed coordinates back to the ship’s gunners.

The shelling continued until 9:09 PM. By midnight, Allied forces pushed 1.5 miles inland.

Pilots from VOS-7 squadron flew modified Spitfire fighters on these dangerous missions. They trained specifically to direct naval gunfire, helping Texas hit targets accurately.

Rescuing the Isolated Rangers at Pointe du Hoc

On June 7, Texas received an urgent message. The Rangers at Pointe du Hoc were surrounded, running out of ammunition, and taking heavy casualties.

The ship quickly organized help. Sailors filled two landing craft with ammunition, food, water, and medical supplies.

After fighting for nearly 24 hours, the Rangers faced a dire situation. Cut off from other units, they fought off repeated German attacks with shrinking supplies.

Only 90 of the original 225 Rangers could still fight. The others had been killed, wounded, or captured.

Wounded Rangers Evacuated to USS Texas

Two landing craft returned to Texas at 5:30 PM on June 7 carrying 35 wounded Rangers from Pointe du Hoc.

When these boats arrived, something remarkable happened. The entire crew of Texas lined the right side of the ship in silent respect as the wounded came aboard.

Staff Sergeant Leon Otto had severe stomach wounds. Despite treatment in the ship’s medical bay, he died aboard Texas.

The boats also brought back a dead Coast Guardsman. This somber return showed the human cost of the invasion.

Prisoners of War Brought Aboard

The same boats delivered 27 prisoners to Texas on June 7. This group included 20 Germans, 4 Italians, and 3 French.

Sailors fed the prisoners and kept them separate from the crew. Since the ship was still fighting, no formal questioning took place aboard Texas.

The crew balanced military duties with proper treatment of prisoners under war rules.

Later that day, all prisoners moved to a larger ship heading to England. These transport vessels had space to hold captives for the trip across the Channel.

Targeting Inland German Positions

On June 7, Texas aimed its big guns at new targets. The 14-inch guns shelled the German-held towns of Formigny and Trévières several miles inland.

This attack disrupted German reinforcements. Enemy troops moving toward the beach faced devastating naval gunfire.

Texas continued firing through June 7-8. The ship methodically hit German strongpoints that threatened Allied troops pushing inland.

The battleship fired 119 huge shells on June 7 alone. Each shell weighed 1,500 pounds with 100 pounds of explosives, causing massive destruction.

Innovative Flooding Maneuver to Extend Gun Range

By June 15, Allied troops advanced beyond the reach of Texas’s guns. The guns couldn’t point high enough to hit targets farther inland.

The crew found a clever solution. They purposely flooded compartments on the ship’s right side, known as torpedo blisters.

This controlled flooding tilted the ship 2 degrees. With the ship leaning, the guns on the left side could point higher, shooting farther inland.

This creative fix let Texas complete its final missions before targets moved out of range. The battleship left for England on June 18.

Visiting USS Texas

You can visit USS Texas at 3523 Independence Parkway South, La Porte, Texas 77571. The battleship is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with last entry at 4:30 PM.

Admission costs $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and military, and $10 for children ages 5-11. The Hard Hat Tour of restricted areas costs an additional $30 per person.

Free parking is available on site. For the best experience, start at the Visitor Center before boarding the ship. Don’t miss the engine room, gun turrets, and bridge. The museum store offers unique naval souvenirs.

Read More from WhenInYourState.com:

• The Ultimate Texas Gulf Coast Bucket List for 2025
• The Essex-Class Carrier Called “Blue Ghost” After Imperial Japan Lied About Sinking It Multiple Times
• This World War I Dreadnought Battleship Fought Nazis on D-Day and Now Rests Peacefully in Texas