World War II Database

1. Wm L Rhoades says:
16 Nov 2008 12:13:07 AM

Oooops. Another incorrect labeling. Both the USS Lexington and Saratoga, were initially designed, and laid down in the 20's as 'full battlecruisers', models of how they looked are available as are the full drawings in US Naval Archives. Since the Naval Conference and Treaty laying out Tonnage Ratios for the countries, many navies had to scrap existing or building ships, and some even did 'conversions'. This latter (conversion) was what transpired with these 2 sisters, of an original 6 ship class of Battlecruisers. However, even as you have seen the great pics in this collection of the Saratoga and Lex building, you'll also see that that construction had stopped.
However, during the conversion process, BOTH the Sara and Lex were fixed with 4 double barreled 8" gunned turrets...as clearly seen in this picture of the Saratoga, and the others of the Lex off DiamondHead. Prior to hostilities, only Lexington had had them removed and not replaced. The Sara did have hers removed and eventually replaced with the (what became standard Duel Purpose, Dbl Barrelled) 5" turrets, which she finished the war with. When the Lex went down in Coral Sea, she had no turrets near the stack.
So neither the Lexington nor the Saratoga were ever finished as 'Battlecruisers'. However, when they were completed after conversion from the all gun battlecruisers that they were begun with, and with the naval thinking still based on BIG GUN Warefare, they were given the heavier 8" cruiser guns in turrets.
Thus the impressive 'look' they always carried. If you notice, they did have the 'full flight deck's and I believe their flight decks were the only ones on US Carriers during the war that were STEEL, all the others were wood.