The USS Lexington (CV-2), also known as "Lady Lex," played a significant role in the early stages of World War II. But the carrier was sunk during the Battle of the Coral Sea, which took place from May 4 to May 8, 1942. This battle was a pivotal engagement between American and Japanese naval forces and marked the first carrier-vs-carrier battle in history.
During the battle, the US-Australian Task Force 17 intercepted a Japanese fleet that was attempting to capture Port Moresby in New Guinea.
The USS Lexington was attacked by Japanese carrier-based aircraft at around 11:20 AM. It was hit by at least two torpedoes and two bombs. These attacks caused fires which eventually triggered explosions on board, leading to uncontrollable fires and damage to vital systems.
Efforts to control the fires and flooding proved unsuccessful, and as the situation deteriorated, it became clear that the ship was in danger of sinking. The decision was made to abandon ship, and the crew was evacuated to other U.S. Navy vessels. To prevent the Japanese from capturing the USS Lexington, the American destroyer USS Phelps scuttled the carrier by firing torpedoes - most of which failed to detonate. The USS Lexington, however, evetnually sank beneath the waves.
The loss of the USS Lexington was a significant blow to the U.S. Navy, but it demonstrated the effectiveness of carrier-based air power and the crucial role that aircraft carriers would play in the naval battles of the Pacific theatre during World War II.
10 авг 2023
