The influence of crystallographic texture on the deformation and fracture behavior of strongly textured Ti alloy sheet has been investigated. Uniaxial tensile tests have been performed on Ti-6A1-4V and Ti-5A1-2.5 Sn sheet with both a basal and a basal-transverse texture. The results indicate that, by controlling the ease of through-thickness slip, the crystallographic texture strongly affects the plastic anisotropy of the material but has relatively little effect on the strain-rate sensitivity and work-hardening rates at large strains. A strong resistance to through-thickness slip, manifested by a high R-value, enhances the post-uniform elongation and the ability of the material to retain the load-carrying capacity beyond maximum load. This behavior can be qualitatively understood in terms of the effect of R on the hardening which occurs as the strain state within the diffuse neck shifts from uniaxial tension toward plane strain. A higher R-value also increases significantly the limit strain at the onset of localized necking as well as the fracture strain. The effects of R-value on the limit strain can be qualitatively understood in terms of a critical thickness strain criterion and can be quantitatively predicted by two analyses, one of which assumes an imperfection to be present while the other does not.