The USS Lexington: America's First Fleet Carrier and Its Role in the Pacific Theater
The USS Lexington, named after the famous battle during the American Revolutionary War, holds a special place in naval history as America's first fleet carrier. Its journey from being initially designed as a battlecruiser to eventually becoming one of the largest and most iconic aircraft carriers is a testament to the evolution of naval warfare.
Origins and Conversion
Originally designed as a battlecruiser, the USS Lexington was part of the ambitious shipbuilding projects that the U.S. Navy was undertaking during the early 20th century. However, the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, which aimed to limit the construction of large capital ships to maintain peace and stability in the world, made the construction of such a vessel illegal. Despite this, the ship's design continued, and in 1922, the plans were revised to transform the Lexington into a prototype aircraft carrier.
This conversion was a significant shift in naval architecture, moving from focusing on armament to prioritizing the capacity to carry and launch aircraft. The Lexington, built to last, was a marvel of engineering, measuring 888 feet (270 meters) in length, 108 feet (33 meters) in width, and weighing in at 48,500 tons displacement. Commissioned in December 1927, the USS Lexington was the largest aircraft carrier from her commissioning until the commissioning of IJN Shinano in November 1944. Her size allowed her to carry 78 aircraft, a significant deployment for her time.
Arming and Capabilities
The Lexington was heavily armed, with eight 8-inch (203 mm) guns in four twin turrets, positioned two forward and two aft, along with an island that housed the command center. She was also equipped with twelve single 5-inch (127 mm) dual guns. However, the ship was later reinforced with twenty-eight 1.1-inch (28 mm) and twenty-two 0.8-inch (2 cm) automatic cannons. The Lexington could make 32.5 knots and could cruise for 12,000 miles (19,000 km) at 10 knots without refueling. This combination of speed and load-carrying capacity made her a formidable player in naval operations.
Pre-World War II Role
During the interwar years, the USS Lexington played a crucial role in demonstrating the might of the U.S. Navy. She and her sister ship, the USS Saratoga, participated in various displays of power as well as numerous war games to test and refine naval strategies. These exercises were critical for the development of tactics and procedures that would later be essential during the Pacific Theater of World War II.
Entry into the Pacific Theater
With the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the USS Lexington found herself directly engaged in the Pacific Theater. On the 27th of December, she participated in her first combat, where her air group damaged the Japanese submarine I-19, but failed to sink it. This critical mistake would have grave consequences during the Guadalcanal campaign, as I-19 later sank the fleet carrier USS Wasp. In another effort, the Lexington's air group struck Lae and Salamaua, sinking three Japanese troop ships and damaging others, demonstrating the versatility and power of her aircraft.
The Battle of the Coral Sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from May 4 to 8, 1942, saw the USS Lexington engaged in her defining battle. In this engagement, the Lexington and the USS Yorktown were sent to intercept Japanese fleet carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku, who were attempting to raid Australia. The battle began with a misidentification as the Japanese believed they had spotted an American carrier force, but it turned out to be a small convoy. The American planes successfully sank the destroyer USS Sims and the fleet tanker USS Neosho.
On the second day of the battle, the USS Lexington and Yorktown spotted the Japanese carriers and proceeded to attack the light carrier Shoho. Though they were unable to sink the Kaku twins, they managed to sink the Shoho using a combination of planes and bombs. The next day, both sides were spotted at the same time, and the USS Lexington and Yorktown launched their aircraft to counter the Japanese carriers. The fighting was intense, with both carriers launching three bombs into the Shokaku. Dixie Lee, the Lexington, took the brunt of the damage, being hit by two bombs and two torpedoes from the Zuikaku. The fires that followed these strikes proved fatal, leading to the rapid explosion and sinking of the USS Lexington.
Interestingly, the battle to avenge the loss of the USS Lexington would come years later, when Zuikaku would be sunk by the air group of USS Lexington CV-16 during the battle of Cape Engano in October 1944. Today, the legacy of the USS Lexington lives on, with the museum ship preserved in Corpus Christi, Texas, serving as a testament to the brave men and women who navigated her through some of the most pivotal battles in naval history.