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Wednesday 1 March 2017

Rumours claimed US Navy wanted to break up new aircraft carriers USS Lexington and Saratoga cruisers according to the Dutch magazine dated Marineblad 1929 no. 5

Lexington-class battle cruiser

Design for converting Lexington-class battle cruiser into aircraft carrier dated 18-02-1922

USS Saratoga

An item referred to the magazine Schiffbau dated 1 May 1929 reporting that the USA seemed to have decided to break up the 33.000 tons aircraft carriers USS Lexington (1) and Saratoga (2), just 16 months earlier decommissioned. Armed with 8-20,3cm/8” guns were this the largest, fastest and most expansive carriers until then build. Building costs each 110 million Dutch guilders and annual maintenance costs each another 10 million. The decision was a result of the conclusions that the ships were insufficient protected, hardly able to pass the Panama Canal and in wartime a continuous problem for the navy regarded the measures to be taken to protect her against attacks. Both ships were to be broken up as soon as the new 14.000 tons aircraft carriers were completed.

Notes
1. Former Lexington-class battle cruiser, CV-2, laid down by Fore River Ship and Engine Building Company, Quincy, Massachusetts, USA on 8 January 1921, launched on 3 October 1925, commissioned on 14 December 1927 and finally sink in the battle of the Coral Sea against the Japanese fleet on 8 May 1942.
2. Former Lexington-class battle cruiser, CV-3, laid down by New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey, USA on 25 September 1920, launched on 7 April 1925, commissioned on 16 November 1927 and finally sunk during atomic bomb tests on 25 July 1946.