Career (US)
Ordered:	1916 (as battlecruiser) 1922 (as aircraft carrier)
Builder:	Fore River Ship and Engine Building Company
Laid down:	8 January 1921
Launched:	3 October 1925
Commissioned:	14 December 1927
Reclassified:	1 July 1922 battlecruiser to CV
Struck:	24 June 1942
Honours and awards:	American Defense Service Medal ("Fleet" clasp) / Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2 stars) / World War II Victory Medal
Fate:	Sunk by Japanese at the Battle of the Coral Sea, 8 May 1942
General characteristics
Class and type:	Lexington-class aircraft carrier
Displacement:	Design: 36,000 tons standard 38,746 tons Actual: 49,000 tons (1940) 50,000 tons (1942)
Length:	888 feet (oa)
Beam:	105 feet 5. The Fore River Shipyard, more formally known as the Fore River Ship and Engine Building Company, was a shipyard in the United States from the late 1800s until 1986 Events 871 - Battle of Ashdown - Ethelred of Wessex defeats a Danish invasion army Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 972 - Battle of Cedynia, the first documented victory of Polish forces takes place Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from May 4 – May 8, 1942, with most of the action occurring on May 7 and May 8, was Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Development The original battlecruiser design studies had much in common with Jackie Fisher 's "large light cruiser" concept studies were made on low-displacement An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with 25 inches (waterline) 106 feet (overall)
Draught:	24 feet 3 inches (design)
Propulsion:	Design: 16 × boilers at 300 psi Geared turbines and electric drive 4 × shafts 180,000 shp; 209,710 hp reached in service
Speed:	33. 25 knots (design); 34. 82 knots reached in service
Range:	10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h)
Complement:	2,122 officers and men
Armament:	As built: 4 × twin 8-inch (200 mm) 55 caliber guns 12 × single 5-inch (130 mm) guns
Armour:	Belt: 5-inch (130 mm) to 7-inch (180 mm) 2-inch (51 mm) protective 3rd deck 3-inch (76 mm) flat to 4. 5-inch (110 mm) over steering gear
Aircraft carried:	As built: 91 aircraft 2 × elevators 1 × flywheel catapult

The fourth USS Lexington (CV-2), nicknamed the "Gray Lady" or "Lady Lex", was an early aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with She was the name ship of the Lexington class, though her sister ship Saratoga was commissioned a month earlier. Development The original battlecruiser design studies had much in common with Jackie Fisher 's "large light cruiser" concept studies were made on low-displacement Pre-War Years 1928 – 1940 Saratoga, the first fast carrier in the Navy quickly proved the value of her type

Construction

The Lexington is named after the Battles of Lexington and Concord that took place in Lexington, Massachusetts. The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. Lexington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. She and her sister ship Saratoga were originally authorized in 1916 as battle cruisers of 35,300 tons with seven funnels and boilers disposed on two deck levels. Battlecruisers were large Warships in the first half of the 20th century that were first introduced by the British Royal Navy. After the war, and as a result of the lessons thereof, plans were to a large extent re-cast in 1919. Designated CC-1 and CC-3, they were laid down as smaller battle cruisers on 8 January 1921 by Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts. Battlecruisers were large Warships in the first half of the 20th century that were first introduced by the British Royal Navy. Events 871 - Battle of Ashdown - Ethelred of Wessex defeats a Danish invasion army Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar The Fore River Shipyard, more formally known as the Fore River Ship and Engine Building Company, was a shipyard in the United States from the late 1800s until 1986 Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States.

Following the Washington Naval Conference, they were both redesignated and re-authorized to be completed as aircraft carriers on 1 July 1922. The Washington Naval Conference was a military conference called by the administration of President Warren G "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. As such, they were reduced in displacement by 8,500 tons, achieved mainly by the elimination of eight 16-inch (406 mm) guns in four twin turrets (including mounts, armor, and so on). The main belt armor was retained, and the deck armor was heavily reinforced. The general lines of the hull remained unaltered, and the special system of underwater protection was adhered to. The flight deck was 880 feet (244m) long and 85 to 90 feet (25. 9-27. 4m) wide, mounted 60 feet (18. 3m) above the waterline. The mean draught was 24 feet 1. 5 inches (7. 4m). The ships had a complement of 169 officers and 1730 men, including flying personnel. They carried eight 8 inch (203 mm)/55 caliber guns, twelve 5-inch (127 mm)/25 caliber anti-aircraft guns,^[1] and four 6-pounder (2. The 5"/25 caliber gun (spoken "five-inch-twenty-five-caliber" was the standard Anti-aircraft gun for United States Washington Naval Treaty 24-inch, 57 mm) saluting guns. These two ships were the last two built with a transverse catapult as part of the original design. The catapult had a travel of 155 feet (47 m), and was strong enough to launch the heaviest naval aircraft then in existence within 60 feet (18. 3m). As built, these two ships had cranes for launching and retrieving seaplanes and flying boats, a capability removed during the war and replaced by additional anti-aircraft guns. The ships were designed to carry a maximum of 120 aircraft of various types, including fighters, scouts, and bombers. Each ship cost a total of $45,000,000 with aircraft.

Lexington was launched 3 October 1925, sponsored by Mrs. Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Theodore Douglas Robinson (wife of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy), and commissioned 14 December 1927, Captain Albert W. Theodore "Teddy" Douglas Robinson ( April 29, 1883 - April 10, 1934) was an American Politician and member of Assistant Secretary of the Navy ( ASN) is the title given to certain senior officials in the United States Department of the Navy. Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Marshall in command.

Lexington and Saratoga had turboelectric drive with 16 Yarrow boilers powering four General Electric steam turbines spinning generators that powered the four slower speed main drive motors. Lexington's engines provided electricity to Tacoma, Washington for thirty days during a power shortage in the winter of 1929/1930.

1928-1941

After fitting out and shakedown, Lexington joined the Battle Fleet at San Pedro, California, 7 April 1928. San Pedro is a beach community within Los Angeles California, USA Events 529 - First draft of Corpus Juris Civilis (a fundamental work in Jurisprudence) is issued by Eastern Roman Emperor Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Based there, she operated on the west coast with Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet, in flight training, tactical exercises, and battle problems. Each year she participated in fleet maneuvers in Hawaii, in the Caribbean, off the Panama Canal Zone, and in the eastern Pacific. The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting The Panama Canal Zone (Zona del Canal de Panamá was a 553 square mile (1432 km² territory inside of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally On trials, Lexington achieved an average speed of 30. 7 knots, and maintained a speed of 34. 5 knots for one hour.

The Captain of the vessel in 1930 and 1931 was Ernest King, who was later to serve as the Chief of Naval Operations during the Second World War. Fleet Admiral Ernest Joseph King GCB ( November 23, 1878 &ndash June 25, 1956) was Commander in Chief United States

In 1931, Robert A. Heinlein, later science fiction writer, worked on radio communications, then in its nascent phase, with the aircraft carrier's planes. Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7 1907 – May 8 1988 was an American Novelist and Science fiction Writer. ^[2]

World War II

1941

In the fall of 1941 she sailed with the battle force to the Hawaiians for tactical exercises.

On 7 December 1941 Lexington was at sea with Task Force 12 carrying marine aircraft from Pearl Harbor to reinforce Midway when word of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was received. Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Pearl Harbor is a Harbor on the Island of O{{okina}}ahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Midway Atoll (or Midway Island or Midway Islands; Hawaiian: Pihemanu Kauihelani) is a 2 For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The attack on Pearl Harbor (or Hawaii Operation, as it was called by the Imperial General Headquarters) was a surprise Military strike conducted by She immediately launched search planes to hunt for the Japanese fleet, and at midmorning headed south to rendezvous with Indianapolis and Enterprise task forces to conduct a search southwest of Oahu until returning to Pearl Harbor on 13 December. Service before World War II Indianapolis was laid down on March 31 1930 by the New York Shipbuilding Corp Initial operations Enterprise was launched on 3 October 1936 at Newport News Shipbuilding, sponsored by Lulie Swanson wife of Secretary of the Oahu (usually Oahu outside Hawaiian and Hawaiian English) known as ''"The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Events 1294 - Saint Celestine V abdicates the papacy after only five months Celestine hoped to return to his previous life

Lexington sailed next day to raid Japanese forces on Jaluit to relieve pressure on Wake Island; these orders were canceled 20 December, and she was directed to cover the Saratoga force in reinforcing Wake. Jaluit Atoll is an atoll of 91 islands in the Pacific Ocean. It is a legislative district of the Marshall Islands. Wake Island (also known as Wake Atoll) is a Coral atoll having a Coastline of 12 miles (19 kilometers in the North Pacific Ocean Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. When the island fell on 23 December, the two carrier forces were recalled to Pearl Harbor, arriving 27 December. Events 962 - Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops stormed the city Events 537 - The Hagia Sophia is completed 1512 - The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the

1942

Lexington patrolled to block enemy raids in the Oahu–Johnston–Palmyra triangle until 11 January 1942, when she sailed from Pearl Harbor as flagship for Vice Admiral Wilson Brown commanding Task Force 11. Oahu (usually Oahu outside Hawaiian and Hawaiian English) known as ''"The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Johnston Atoll is a 130 km² Atoll in the North Pacific Ocean at, about 1400 kilometers (750  nm) west of Hawaii. Palmyra Atoll is an incorporated Atoll administered by the United States government. Events 1055 - Theodora is crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. flagship is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels a designation given on account of being either the largest fastest newest most heavily armed or for publicity purposes the most well Wilson Brown is the name of Wilson Brown (admiral, World War II naval commander Wilson Brown (Medal of Honor recipient, (1841-1900 On 16 February, the force headed for an attack on Rabaul, New Britain, scheduled for 21 February; while approaching the day previous, Lexington was attacked by two waves of enemy aircraft, nine planes to a wave. Events 1249 - Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khan of the Mongols Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province Papua New Guinea. This article discusses the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea Events 362 - Athanasius returns to Alexandria. 1245 - Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland The carrier's own combat air patrol and antiaircraft fire shot down 17 of the attackers. Combat air patrol (CAP is a type of flying mission for Fighter aircraft. Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of engaging hostile military Aircraft in defence of ground objectives, ground or naval forces During a single sortie, Lieutenant Edward O'Hare won the Medal of Honor by downing five planes. Sortie is a term for deployment or dispatch of one military unit be it of Aircraft, Ship or in older times of columns of troops from a fort Lieutenant Commander Edward Henry "Butch" O'Hare (March 13 1914 &ndash November 26 1943 was a Naval aviator of the United States Navy who The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government.

Her offensive patrols in the Coral Sea continued until 6 March, when she rendezvoused with Yorktown's Task Force 17 for a thoroughly successful surprise attack flown over the Owen Stanley Mountains of New Guinea to inflict heavy damage on shipping and installations at Salamaua and Lae on 10 March. The Coral Sea is a Marginal sea off the north-east coast of Australia. Events 1079 - Omar Khayyám completes the Iranian calendar. 1454 - Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of Early career Yorktown was laid down on 21 May 1934 at Newport News Virginia, by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co Owen Stanley Range is the south-eastern part of the central mountain-chain in Papua New Guinea. New Guinea, located just north of Australia, is the world's second largest island, having become separated from the Australian mainland when the area now known Salamaua ( German: Samoahafen) was a small town situated on the north-eastern coastline of Papua New Guinea part of Morobe province. Lae, the capital of Morobe Province is the second largest city in Papua New Guinea Events 241 BC - First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates Islands - The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing She then returned to Pearl Harbor, arriving 26 March. Events 1026 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor.

Lexington's task force sortied from Pearl Harbor on 15 April. Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English She went through a short overhaul, during which her 8" turrets were removed and replaced by quadruple 1. 1 inch anti-aircraft guns. She rejoinined TF 17 on 1 May. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. As Japanese fleet concentrations threatening the Coral Sea were observed, Lexington and Yorktown moved into the sea to search for the enemy's force covering a projected troop movement; the Japanese had to be blocked in their southward expansion or sea communication with Australia and New Zealand would be cut, and the dominions threatened with invasion. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The Battle of the Coral Sea was the result. The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from May 4 – May 8, 1942, with most of the action occurring on May 7 and May 8, was

Battle of the Coral Sea

Lexington burning during the Battle of the Coral Sea

Confirmed direct hits sustained by Lexington during the battle

On 7 May, search planes reported contact with an enemy carrier task force. The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from May 4 – May 8, 1942, with most of the action occurring on May 7 and May 8, was The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from May 4 – May 8, 1942, with most of the action occurring on May 7 and May 8, was Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses Lexington's air group sank the light carrier Shōhō. Commanding Officers As Submarine Tender Chief Equipping Officer - Capt Later that day, 12 bombers and 15 torpedo planes from still-unlocated heavy carriers Shōkaku and Zuikaku were intercepted by fighter groups from Lexington and Yorktown, which shot down nine enemy aircraft. Design Shōkaku was laid down at Yokosuka Dockyard on December 12, 1937, launched on June 1, 1939, and commissioned WWII Service In 1941 Zuikaku, under the command of Captain Yokokawa Ichibei and her sister ship ''Shōkaku'' made up Carrier Division Five

On the morning of the 8th, a Lexington plane located the Shōkaku group; a strike was immediately launched from the American carriers, and the Japanese carrier was heavily damaged. However, enemy planes penetrated the American defenses at 11:00, and 20 minutes later Lexington was struck by a torpedo to port. The modern torpedo (historically called an automotive automobile locomotive or fish torpedo is a self-propelled explosive Projectile weapon launched above or below Seconds later, a second torpedo hit her portside directly abeam the bridge. At the same time, she took three bomb hits from enemy dive bombers, producing a 7 degree list to port and several raging fires. A dive bomber is a Bomber aircraft that Dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy and limit the exposure to and effectiveness of By 13:00, skilled damage control had brought the fires under control and restored her to an even keel; making 25 knots (29 mph/46 km/h), she was ready to recover her air group. Then suddenly Lexington was shaken by a tremendous explosion, caused by the ignition of gasoline vapors below, and again fire raged out of control. At 15:58, Captain Frederick Carl Sherman, fearing for the safety of men working below, secured salvage operations, and ordered all hands to the flight deck. Frederick Carl Sherman (1888 &ndash 27 July 1957) was an admiral of the United States Navy during World War II. At 17:01, he ordered "abandon ship" and the orderly disembarkation began. Men going over the side into the warm water were almost immediately picked up by nearby cruisers and destroyers. Admiral Aubrey Wray Fitch and his staff transferred to the cruiser Minneapolis; Captain Sherman and his executive officer, Commander Morton T. Aubrey Wray Fitch (June 11 1883 &ndash May 22 1978 was an Admiral of the United States Navy during World War II. Pre World War II She was laid down 27 June 1931 by Philadelphia Navy Yard; launched 6 September 1933; sponsored by Miss Grace Seligman ensured all their men were safe, then were the last to leave.

Lexington blazed on, flames shooting hundreds of feet into the air. To prevent enemy capture, Destroyer Phelps closed to 1,500 yards (1,400 m) and fired two torpedoes into her hull; with one last heavy explosion, Lexington sank at 19:56, in 15°20′S, 155°30′E. See also List of United States Navy destroyers

Honors

Lexington received two battle stars for her World War II service.

In June 1942, five days after the Navy's public acknowledgement of the sinking, workers at the Quincy shipyard where the ship was built twenty-one years earlier cabled Navy Secretary Frank Knox and proposed a change in the name of a carrier currently under construction there to the USS Lexington (from the USS Cabot). William Franklin "Frank" Knox ( January 1, 1874 &ndash April 28, 1944) was the Secretary of the Navy under Franklin ^[3] Knox agreed to the proposal, and by September 23, 1942 the fifth USS Lexington (CV-16) was launched. Service history (World War II After Caribbean shakedown and yard work at Boston, Lexington sailed for Pacific action via the

See also

• List of aircraft carriers
• List of World War II ships
• List of U.S. Navy losses in World War II

Notes and references

Sources

• Friedman, Norman (1983). U. S. Aircraft Carriers. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-739-9.  
• Queen of the Flat-Tops, by Stanley Johnston. Originally published in 1942 by E. P. Dutton & Co. , it was reprinted 1979 as part of the "Bantam War Book"-series. It is an eyewitness account of the final voyage of Lexington by Johnston, a journalist from Chicago.
• This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships ( DANFS for short is the primary reference work for the basic facts about every Ship ever used

External links

• Preliminary battle report
• USS Lexington CV-2 Memorial Page
• Navy photographs of Lexington (CV-2)
• Coral Sea photographs
• Personal account of the sinking of Lexington (CV-2)
• Lexington (CV-2) report about powering City of Tacoma
• USS Lexington (CV-2) at Navsource
• CV-2 Personnel Roster at HullNumber.com