UNITED STATES NAVY (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

Ship project history: Largest and fastest aircraft carriers of their time. They are laid down as battlecruisers, but after Washington conference re-ordered as aircraft carriers (CV2 and 3 22/11/1922 and 30/10/1922 respectively).

Concerning an applied naval architecture Lexington and Saratoga appreciable effected on the further development of aircraft carriers. Their flight deck and outside hangar sides made a single whole with the hull, participating in providing of ships longitudinal strength (unlike the subsequent ships on which the deck and a hangar were fulfilled as a superstructure). Similar constructive decision has ensured a certain prize in weight of the hull and allowed to make a single-level hangar completely covered. Aft from hangar there were repair shops, and under it were holds for aircrafts in the taken apart kind.

Two lifts were close enough arranged to each other. Aft one was intended only for fighters, and fore for heavy planes. Curious feature of fore elevator was that it could lift aircrafts with the length of a fuselage bigger of elevator length with help of additional folding 6x8m hatch. At the same time presence on so huge ships of only two elevators became serious miscalculation of designers and further has negatively affected efficiency of usage of carrier aircraft.

Originally ships carried on one 47m catapult intended for launch of seaplanes, but in 1934 they were removed.

Lexington and Saratoga had unusual turbo-electric machinery with huge power: 180000hp. Turbo-generators were in the central compartments, and boiler rooms at the left and to the right of them, along sides.

According to dominating in 1920th tactical doctrines, aircraft carriers were armed by 8 203mm guns in four turrets. In 1941 it was accepted a decision to strengthen antiaircraft armament of the ships at the expense of removing of useless 203mm guns by DP 127mm.

Ship protection:  Main 178mm belt had 161.5m length and 2.9m height. It was connected with flat 51mm main deck at upper edge. 4compartment underwater protection had 4.8m depth.

Modernizations:  1934, both: catapult was removed

4/1942, Lexington: - 4 x 2 - 203/55, 20 x 1 - 12.7/90; + 4 x 4 - 28/75 Mk 1, 22 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, CXAM-1, 2 x Mk 4 radars

5/1942, Saratoga: - 4 x 2 - 203/55, 12 x 1 - 127/25, 48 x 1 - 12.7/90; + 4 x 2 - 127/38 Mk 12, 8 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 4 x 4 - 28/75 Mk 1, 22 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, CXAM-1, SC-1, 2 x Mk 4 radars.

11/1942, Saratoga: - 4 x 4 - 28/75; + 4 x 4 - 40/56 Bofors, 30 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon

9/1944, Saratoga: - 28 x 1 - 20/70, CXAM-1, 2 x Mk 4 radars; + 2 catapults, 20 x 4 - 40/56 Bofors, SK, SM, 2 x Mk 12/22 radars. Breadth was increased by starboard bulge to 34.1 m, and displacement rose to 40000 / 48552 t. Flight deck was lengthened, length oa was 277.2 m (fd - 7,595 m², ha - 2,920 m² / 18,687 m³). Maximal fuel stowage rose to 9748 t. Complement was 3373 men.

Naval service: Lexington 7/5/1942 during battle in Coral sea was badly damaged by Japanese carrier aircraft (from carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku, received two torpedo and two 60kg bomb hits), abandoned by crew and torpedoed by destroyer Phelps. She was sunk 8/5/1942.

Saratoga 11/1/1942 was damaged by a torpedo from Japanese submarine I16 and repair till late May, 1942; 31/8/1942 she was again torpedoed by Japanese submarine I26 and repaired till late November, 1942; during beaching on Iwo Jima island 21/2/1945 she was badly damaged by Japanese aircraft (hits of four bombs and two kamikazes) and was under repair till May, 1945; later she was used at nuclear tests at Bikini, damaged 1/7/1946 and sunk after explosion 25/7/1946.