Preliminary design of a so-called battle scout dated October 1915
Lexington-class battle cruisers
An item referred to a statement of admiral Knight (1) chairman of the Naval War College before a commission of the Congress in which he said that scouts were an absolute must for the US Navy. The ideal scout was a battle cruiser but while these ships were such large and expensive he suggested the building of cheaper scouts able to serve for a long time at sea and heavily armed. Their displacement was to be 8.000 ton, a main armament of 15cm/5.9” guns and the speed around 35 miles.(2) The US Navy needed larger scouts then other navies caused by the American special demands. Furthermore stated Knight that the USA should be no the second major power but the first and he proposed a program leading to the that rank in 1925. To have a sufficient number of battle cruisers asked he approval for immediately laying down the keels of nine or as much as could be built at the same time.(3) Their displacement was to be around 35.000 tons, the speed of 35 miles and the main armament 8/10-35cm/13.77” guns. Building costs of each ship around 36 million Dutch guilders. The building of the battle cruisers was more urgent then building battleships. Delaying the building of battleships made it also possible to improve the design with actual war experiences.
Notes
1. Austin Melvin Knight (16 December 1854 Ware, Massachusetts, USA-26 February 1927 Washington, D.C. USA) served in the navy between 1873-1918 ending his career as 4-star admiral, president Naval War College 15 December 1913-16 February 1917
2. Between 195-1917 are several preliminary designs for scout cruisers made, even of so-called battle scouts of 32.000 tons, 35 knots speed and 14” guns.
3. The Lexington-class battle cruisers with a displacement of 44.200-45.354 (deep load), a 33 knots speed and a main armament of 4x2-40,6cm/16” guns under the Naval Act of 1916 is never completed. Their original design was 35.000 tons, 35 knots and 10-35,56cm/14”guns.
