Lexington

About the ship

Following the Washington Naval Conference, a decision was made to convert two Lexington-class battlecruisers into aircraft carriers. These ships exerted a substantial influence on future aircraft carrier design; the flight deck and outer sides of the hangar were integrated into the hull, providing longitudinal strength to the entire ship. Such a design allowed for a fully enclosed hangar space. At the time when the Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor, USS Lexington was in the process of transferring planes to Midway. During the Battle of the Coral Sea, USS Lexington sustained several bomb hits. Eventually, the decision was taken to scuttle the ship, and destroyer USS Phelps was tasked with sinking Lexington using torpedoes.