description USS Lexington (CV-2) Overview
USS Lexington (CV-2) was a United States Navy aircraft carrier converted during construction from a battlecruiser hull. Commissioned in 1927, it served in the Pacific and was lost on May 8, 1942, after sustaining damage during the Battle of the Coral Sea; American forces scuttled it after its crew evacuated. Its wreck was located in 2018 by an expedition organized by Paul Allen, resting about three kilometers below the Coral Sea.
help USS Lexington (CV-2) FAQ
Why was USS Lexington CV-2 so much larger than many early aircraft carriers?
Lexington began construction as a battlecruiser before the Washington Naval Treaty changed American naval plans. The hull was converted into an aircraft carrier and commissioned in 1927.
How was USS Lexington lost at the Battle of the Coral Sea?
Japanese aircraft hit Lexington with bombs and torpedoes on May 8, 1942. Internal fires and explosions made the carrier impossible to save, so the American destroyer USS Phelps scuttled it after the crew evacuated.
Where is the wreck of USS Lexington CV-2?
The wreck lies in the Coral Sea at a depth of roughly 3,000 meters. An expedition backed by Paul Allen located it in March 2018.
Is USS Lexington CV-2 the same ship preserved in Corpus Christi?
No. The museum ship in Corpus Christi is USS Lexington CV-16, an Essex-class carrier commissioned during World War II and named after CV-2 was lost.
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