This Military Service Page was created/owned by
LCDR Scott Blue (Blue)
to remember
Blue, Victor, RDML.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Last Address Richmond County, NC
Date of Passing Jan 22, 1928
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Rear Admiral Victor Blue died on January 22, 1923 while traveling by train from Florida to Washington D.C. He had been a sufferer of heart disease for years and was on his way to Walter Reed Hospital.
Other Comments:
Victor Blue, was born in Richmond County, North Carolina, 6 December 1865 and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1887. Lieutenant Blue was advanced five numbers for intelligence missions in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. He served on the ''Suwanee'', and attracted general attention in June, 1898, by penetrating 72 miles (116 km) within the Spanish lines in the vicinity of Santiago, Cuba, and definitely determining for the first time the presence of the Spanish fleet in Santiago harbor. He commanded the ''Alvarado'', a gunboat captured from the Spanish, in the attack upon Manzanillo, Cuba|, became Flag lieutenant in the Pacific Squadron, and served in the Philippines in 1900-01. From the ranks of inspector of ordnance, held in 1905-07, he was promoted until he became commander in 1909 and in 1910 chief of staff in the Pacific Fleet. Soon thereafter he was transferred to duty on the General Board of the United States Navy. He served as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation (1913–16 and 1919). Under David Beatty, he commanded USS Texas (BB-35) in the North Sea during her service with the 6th Battle Squadron. He was made rear-admiral on April 1, 1919.
NEC 111X-Unrestricted Line Officer - Surface Warfare
Base, Station or City Not Specified
State/Country United States
Patch
USS Texas (BB-35) Details
Us.Navy
NewYork class Battleship
Hull number: BB-35
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Va.
Keel laid: April 17, 1911
Launched: May 18, 1912
Commissioned: March 12, 1914
Length overall: 573’
Max. beam: 106’ 0.75” (width)
Height: 131’ 7.5” (approx. waterline to radar on top of foremast)
Normal freeboard: 25’ 4” at bow, 22’ at stern (approx. waterline to main deck)
Normal draft: 28’ 6” (waterline to keel)
Rated displacement: 32,000 tons unload
Rated displacement: 34,000 tons, full load
Speed: 20.4 knots (about 24 mph)
Crew Complement: - 1,580 sailors; Officers – 101; Marines – 80; Total – 1,766
Decommissioned: April 21, 1948, when she was transferred to the State of Texas serving as an active museum to this very day and monument to those who served and sacrificed their lives for freedom and liberty.
Ship’s Weapons
Main battery: 10 14-inch/45-caliber guns in 5 turrets
12" torpedo blast belt
Range: Projectiles: 13 miles
Full broadside: 1,500 pounds each (armor piercing) 1,275 pounds each (high explosive) 15,000 pounds (armor piercing)
Rate of fire: 1 round every 45 seconds
Turret crew: 70–110 men
Secondary battery: 6 5-inch/51-caliber guns
10 3-inch/50-caliber guns
Anti-aircraft: 10 40mm four-gun (quad) mounts 44 20mm guns
Worst Moment "Like all ships, the Texas has her own history, at least one episode in which has never been officially published. One night during the War (so the sailors' story goes) the Texas was steaming full speed past Long Island. One of the deck officers on watch was a young Naval Reserve officer, in private life a wealthy yachting dilettante. The waters around eastern Long Island were as familiar to him as had been his nursery floor. When he saw Fire Island dead ahead of the Texas he knew what he saw and rushed from one to another of his superiors giving the alarm, asking permission to change the course. One and all, the Texas' officers pooh-poohed the young busybody, who dashed at last to Rear Admiral Victor Blue, the commandant. Admiral Blue sprang from bed, but too late. The Texas ran aground on Fire Island. In gentlemanly fashion, Admiral Blue took the blame." Time magazine, Jan 16, 1928.