uss
WARSHIP PICTORIAL #33
LEXINGTON CV-2
by Steve Wiper
::--,r
.. CLASSIC WARSHIPS PUBLISHING P . O. Box 5759 1 • Tucson, AZ. 85732 • USA
Web Sile: www .class icwarships.com ·Te lephone(520)748-2992
Copyri ght © October 2009
ISBN 978-0-9823583-3-7
Prinled by Arizona Lithographers, Tucson, Ari zona
1
(;ENERAL HISTORY OF THE The nrirnarv thcus of this hook will be of USS .EX1NGTON CV her operations in the months of fhe Pacific War and her eventual loss. coverage of her prc-wnr history will be offered in borh lext aud photography. rOf SL:1lis.ticaI information nboul plea~e refer 10 the sources li~led at the buck of til is book. The fourth LEXINGTON designated CC-L was l
USS LEXINGTON CV-2
TON was at the Peml Harbor 1 air search radar system. The antenna was installed simjlar io that of her SARATOGA, at the top, forward edge, of [he funnel. A funnel cap, only on the forward fined to funnel and whistle steam from inter fering \~/ith 1 antl.!,nna, The co]}[wl room fOT that radar \vas instaHed on the forward face of the funnel, of the of the conning and contra] stations, At some time during lak August 11)/11, CY-2 was at the Puget Sound Navy Yard for a refit. It i;, helieved that at sometime during this period her 3 in. /\A mounts Wele e
and were manuaJ1y operated, Also, no directors wen~ availabk ror inslallation at that Imle. A catwalk was fit leu from the back of the bridge to the eXAM-I radar control slat10n on the leading face of tht" funnel She was aho at the Hunter"s Point Navy YaId for dry abt)ul 15 October 1941, Task Force 12 and LEXINGTON departed Pearl Harbor 5 DecL~mbcr, ell roule to Midway. On 7 Decemher j 941, LEXINGTON, at sea with cruise" CHICA GO, PORTLAND, ASTORJ1\ and five carry ing Marine Stout Homber Squadron 231 Pead Harbor to fCinforce M'lh"AV apane,se attack I)n Pearl Harbor was received.
of the TF. The oiler NEOSHO was sent west while LEX INGTON launched ain.:rJft fur a ~trike" The ·\:fI1Tier" tumed out to be a derelict barge. On 17 Decemher, LEX INGTON's cruiser f'scort (;Ondll(;ted anll-air(;raft plac upon which thev disc~)Vl:ICd that aU their Sin. arrunu ni!ion was Orders to auack JalUll were canceled 20 DccellTIbcr, and TF-l 10 was directed [0 cover con of CIi,2's SARATOGA, cruisers , ASTORIA. SAN FRANCISCO, Destroyer Syua,jIC'" shIp TANGIER and the oiler III LEXINGTON's Tf, 12 was headed towards Wake Island from lhe s,"Htll as a cover force for Tf-14, when they TF-3, lead rarrier ENTERPRISE, rwiser, NORTHAMPTON, CHESTER, SALT LAKE CITY. Destroyer Squadron 6, alld lhe fleet oiler PLATTE, who were headed towards. Wake from the easL At 09! Ihrs. 22 Decemher, all of the US Navy carrier task forces were ordered to break off the to relieve the US Marines On Wake Island; as the apeine);e invasion had overrun the l:-.bnd fortre&s hy that time. LEXINGTON's TF ] L along with [he other caJTier TFs set course for Pearl Harbor by 1400 hrs. 23 as all US forces on Wake arriving at Pearl Harbor on 27 December 11)/11, LEXINGTON Ie,fueled. fonned minor for two HarDi)L 30 1941, and oatrolled
raid:.- in the news W
or
departed with crashed on Ihe stern of the carrier. ending up in the sea the uiJol rescued, theIeby blillging her VF2 counl down Hel total rut" group numbered 16 F2As, 33 and l5 TBf)~. Returning to Pearl Harbor, 3 January 1942, Ie-fueling, re~supplyjng, but with an f'xtendcd stay for (;few lest, ami J ll1ajor elf?ctricaJ prob Jem with one of her main elenric dIlve motors that she Iemained at Pearl Harbor triangle..
j
I with LEXINGTON Pearl Harhor, 7 hnuary, to patrol northeast of Johnston hland. On 10 January, a patIO] of F2;\s spolled a sub mmine running on the !>ulface, about 60 miles south of 'iT-1I. The sub crashed dived, but CV·2 later di"paldicd
F2As and TBDs with depth charges to the location, which sparred the sub again on the surface. The F2As lead the attack by strafing the sub with their .50cal MGs and the TBDs dropped rheir depth charges, as the sub crash dived again. The aircraft circled for about an hour, bur the Japanese sub did not surface. It is believed that the sub was 1-19, which was recorded as arriving at Kwajalein, 15 January. TF-ll relumed to Pearl HJrbor 16 January 1942. LEXINGTON then departed Pearl Harbor, again as flagship for TF-] 1, supporLed by cruisers, MIN NEAPOLIS, INDIANAPOLIS. PENSACOLA. SAN FRANCISCO, Destroyer Sqnadron I, and fleet oiler NECHES, 22 January, to begin operations against Japanese forces at Wake Island. Steaming about 135 miles west of Oahu, Hawaii, 23 Jannary 1942, NECHES was tmpedoed by 1-72 and sank mid-day. With the neces sity 10 refuel dnring such a long range operation and then havlng been deprived of their oiler, TF-ll \vas forced to cancel the operation and return to Pearl Harbor. SARATOGA had been torpedoed Just J 2 days earlier, southwest of Oahu by a submarine from the same UN 3rd. Submarine Division. TF-ll anived at Pear] Harbor, 25 January 1942. On 26 January 1942, VF-2 and it's 16 F2A Brewster Buffalo fighters were transferred to Marine Air Group 21 on Ford Island. On 30 January, 12l'4F Wildcal fighters were. trallsferred to LEXINGTON, but these were limn VF3. While SARATOGA was laid up for lor pedo damage repairs, her fighters nested aboard the LEX INGTON. LEXINGTON and TF-I I departed Pearl Harbpr, 3] January ]942. Their purppsc was 10 cover eight troop transports with 20,000 troops which were reinforcing garrisons on Christ-mas, Canton and New Ca]edonia Islands. During this operation, TF-Il was tem porarily Joined by lhe cruisers QUINCY and VIN CENNES, who were part of the escort for the transports from the US East Coast, transiting the Panama Canal. This was accomplished by 15 February, with the empty transports, QUINCY and VINCENNES, all depaned for Pearl Harbor. TF-ll separated from the troop convoy and was then directed to operate under direction of lhe Australia-New Zealand Allied Command (ANZAC) Force. On 16 February, the force headed north-\vest from the New Hebrides in order to carry out a cillTier
based raid upon Rabau], New Britain. Whl]e approaching their air strike launch destination to the east of New Britain, 20 February, LEXINGTON's radar picked up a "bandit." Six F4F fighters were dispatched from the com bat air patrol (CAP) and soon discovered rhree IJN four engined Hying boats, shooting dowu two, 1he third escap ing. Later that afternoon, CV-2's radar again picked up multiple "bandits," lau nchi ng an additional s.ix F4Fs, just as the enemy aircraft closed in on TF-l ]. The first engagement of tbe Pacific War between United States Navy and Imperial Japanese Navy calTier based aircraft had begun. TF-ll, more specifjcally LEXL'JGTON, was attacked by two 'Naves of enemy air craft, nine planes per wave. The action begau at 1620 hrs., and continued intern1ittently until just after 1800 Ius, The carTier's own CAP and anl-i -aircraft (AA) fire was believed 10 have shot down 17 pf the aftJckers. During a siogle sonie Lt. "Butch" O'Hare won the Medal of Honor by shooling down five Japanese Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" torpedo bombers with his Grumman F4F "Wildcat" fighter. As it turned out, the AA fire from LEXINGTON and her escorts in TF-Il, was wildly inac curate and was more a danger to CV-2's own CAP air craft. There was strong evidence that all lJN aircraft downed in this action was hy USN aircraft and not the AA fire from the \varships of TF-ll. The element of sur prise was lost, and due to the fact that at that time, the USN then had just three caniers in the Pacific l-hea1er, and could not afford to lose any, the next day's planed arrack upon Rabaul was cancelled and TF-ll turned back ro the south. By 24 February. LEXINGTON and TF-II turned west and headed inlo the Coral Sea to hunt for suspected LIN vessels. Her offensive patrols in the Coral Sea continued until 6 March, when she rendezvoused west of the New Hebrides with TF-17. Togerher they were organized as CTF-ll (Combined), comprised of carriers LEXINGTON, YORKTOWN, cruisers MIN NEAPOLIS, SAN FRANCISCO, INDIANAPOLIS, PENSACOLA. ASTORIA, LOUISVILLE, CHICAGO, HMAS AUSTRfU.lA, 14 destroyers and two tleet oilers. They proceeded wesl, back into lhe Coral Sea and headed nOI1h-west towards the Gulf of Papua, off southern New Guinea. Initially, the plan was to hunch a carrier based attack upon Rabanl, but just as CTP-ll arrived in the Gulf of Papua on 10 March, the plan changed to al1ack
Salamaua and Lae, localed on the eastern New Guinea coasl, on Huon Gnlf. Japanese forces had just landed there on 7 March and they were completely unaware of the approaching Allied task force. The task force was split, with the c:1lTiers, four crnisers and ten destroyers con1inning HPrth to their launching ppint and the two neet oilers, four cruisers and four deslroyers sl-eaming to a rendezvous point to the south. The carriers then launched their aircraft for a thoroughly successful sur prise attack flown over the 7500 ft. Owen Stanley Mounl-ains of New Guinea Lo inllict moderate damage on shipping and installations at Salam ana and Lae, 10 March 1942. Only one US aircraft was ]osl in this raid. Although this was not a crucial raid, it was a huge boost in moral fur a depressed navy and was also a imporlant operation in the experience thal was gained. CIT-II depaned I-he area to avoid any reprisal attacks from Japanese aircraft based at Rabaul. They later joined their fleet oilers to refuel in the centr;:ll Coral Sea, on 14 March, then continued east tp\var'ds the New Hebrides. LEXINGTON's TF-II detached from YORKTOWN and TF-17, 16 March, sooth of the New Hebrides Islands and proceede.d toward Peml Harbor, auiving 26 March 1942. TF-IIIlLldjust performed the longest war cruise in the US Navy with 54 days continuous operation in a very hostile war zone. LEXINGTON and the other ves sels of TF-ll would spend the next three weeks at Peml Harbor tp perform repairs and maintenance to those war ships. CV -2 was immediately taken in-hand by navy yard personnel for major modifications to her armament. Her 8 in. gun tunets were removed over a four day period and in their place a total of seven quadruple I.I in AA mounts \vcre installed. A total pf 22 of the new 20 mm AA machine guns were also fitted at the starboard base of the funnel. al the fore and an ends of rhe ship, and in hinged platforms projecting from the hoat wells in the hull side. LEXINGTON \vas also re-painted into a nev,/ camonflage measure, #11, using the new Navy Blue paint. Painting begun while the 8 in. WHets were being removed. but hy [he end of the first week of April, the massive aJrcraFt calTier \vas complctely painted overall a dark blne-gray. On 14 April, she hoisled 1,1 F2A-3 fighters of VMF--21 1, US 1vlarine Corp fighters aboard to feny them to a Central Pacific island. These were the same fighters that the F4F Wildcat fighters of VF-3 had replaced back at the end of January 1942. CV-2 also received additional 3
F4F abollt this time and Ihey were all re-des:ig naled to VF 2. LEXINGTON's TF-II, wilh Ihc crllisers NEW "LeeU'", MINNEAPOLIS and 7 destroyers, sortied from Pearl Harbor 15 April 1942, headed south, SOl1th-W'''l, towards New Hebrides. At Iha( time, S Air consisted of 21 F4F fighters, 37 SBD dive bombers and 12 THD torpedo bombers, Dlus the 14 F2A f,n-lift.,." she was ferrying 18 April, TF II slearned near to of the Line Islands the Equator, Chnstmas Island being (he most infamous, to launch the 14 F2A Buffalo fighters of VMF-211 to that destiuation. That uccomplishcd, LEXINGTON and TF II steamed to rendezvous with the old battleships of TF-I for batlle tralIlmg. This waS cancelled 131e that due to Navai rn!elligcncc having information about ,';t move
towards the South P3cific. TF l j was
to steam to
a point 200 miles to the north of the hlands. En route 10 [hat location, YF-2 launched for their firsl nlght the cruise, with 17 llir emft takl11g oil on 19 Aptil 1942. While the fighters of VF-2 were aloft on their tmining l11ission, LEXINGTON rcndezvoused with (he fleel oiler USS KASKASKIA AO-27. The next day, as CV-2 crossed the the crew perfoolled the the Line" ceremony, the seasoned "Sheellbacks" the clown the leoQth of the flight deck, 10 before and be
or
h
Neptune and his Court. VF-2 flew an exercise with TED Devaslators On 21 April 1942, orders came from the Commander in Chief, Pacific Flee!, for TF I I to reo dczvous with TF 17 ahou! 250 miles northwest of New Caledonia .on 1 May 1942. As TF-II. with LEXINGTON steamed in a VF-2 iook up air p::ltrols. On 25 Aprll. they rendezvous with thc neel oiler KASKASKIA1IJO miles northeast of Fiji Islaod. Out on t.he opeu occaD, 30 CV-2 conducted 5 in. gun practice, Also, ou that VS-2 lost all SBD in a ditching, afier a while to land, dur ing one of many training during period. US Nayal Intelligence concluded that the Japanese were about to make a move into Solomon Islands, the Coral Port Moresby, and soon after Australia. US Navy FJeet Admiral Nimitz, in an attempt to repel this move hy organiLed lhe aITiva1 of both 'IF-II and 17, around the aircraft ccuTiers LEX
4
INGTON and U~S YORKTOWN CV-5, to the Coral Sea, He alf'o of(l~red TF- 16, centered around the c(Jrrkrs USS ENTERPRISE CV-6 and lJSS HORNET CV-S, to nrrive as soon (IS they returned from their assauJt .Japan, nying off General Doolittle', B-25 bombers HORNET, The SARATOGA was still under Sound, USS RANGER CV-4 was ""''''OU''" P-/lO fighters Deross the Atlantic Ocean, Lo the Gold Coast of we;;tern Africa and 1..iSS WASP CV ~ 7 was her second run of British Spitfire to Mnlt::l in the Mediterrane::m Sea. That Idt carri ers to hold back the Japanese advance across the Pacific. About 0630, TF II and ]7, as well as the Southwest Pacific Forces, known as the ANZAC Forees, rendezvoused al the '"Point Buttercup," 260 miles northwest of ~ew Caledonia, the two task forces then hecame one under the: TF-17. The warship" in TF~ l7 then consisted of the fleet caniers )'ORKTOWN, 1 J:VIl\,nTn,l CIlICAUO, NEW ASTORIA, MINNEAPOLIS, J.l and '1 fleer oilers. A1 this time, the task force was to refuel from Ihe two fleet oilers, but this was LEX INGTON until the uext day and be'lond. By 3 May, Admiral Fletcher aboard YORK TOWN, and TF-17 commtmdeL, headed nonh to f'coul for Japanese forces, while Admiral FItch aboard LEX lNGTON, with difficulty, continued to refuel. Also, on 1his day, a Japanese invasion force made an unopposed landing at Tulagi) just to the nOIth of GuadakanaL As the YORKTOWN group headed north, Ihe LEXINGTON group steamed 10 lhc west after fueling was completed in lhe early aFtcrnOOl'L Late in the afternooll AdmlJul Fletcher aboard YORKTOWN received word the the apanese had taken With that news, YORKTOWN's llrOUD increased sneed north to 27 kts. still in the Coral Sea, the YORKT( 100 miles south of Guadalcana da wn, at 06:l0 launched an air strike Oll att.l-!c ked the m the harbor clive bombers. ML"'-U'~ -"ext, the torpedo to sink ,mother headed bnck south to V()t?lCr( lu·s., not one plane lost III the meantime, the LEXINGTON group, out
in Ihe Coral Sea, was Joined, by the oiler USS NEOSHO AO-23 and a destroyer, at 0800 ill'S, Later, at 0900 ill'S" the LEXINGTON group was also joined the Al1&tl'allau elllisers IIMAS AUSTRALIA and HOBART and a USN destroyer of TF-fH. At that time, (he !hen I ,EXINGTON group, headed 10 the southeast. Back at tbe YORKTOWN, she launched a sec ond slrike upon Tulagi at 1030 hrs" but her airCJaft !l1nn:lgc.d ro damage a small palm] craft, a and sink two seaplanes., while. losing three of their own air craft. A rhird srrike \-vas Jaunched ai 1400 hrs, :sinking rour landing barges and all aircraft reru1Y1ed to YORK TOWN by 1632 hrs, At t.hat time Admiral Fletcher tUIlled YORKTOWN SQuth l1nd quickly departed the arca, headlllg towards the LEXINGTON group al high The LEXI-"(;TO-" and YORKTOWN groujls rendezvoused at 0816 hIs.,:) May aboul 200 miles south of Rennell Island. Once meet, the YORK TOWN group refueled lrom NEOSHO for most of the this
s sea was at lYUU hrs., the entire task force fumed arollnd and headed northwest at 1930 hrs. in antic:iDDtlOI1 of Jaoanese forcL'~ nil va ,",,'" 0 from RahauL towards Port Moresbv, on the sou!h side of New Guinea. The of 6 Jvfay 1942 was much the same as the day before, combined Allied Jleet conlinued to steam in a norlhwesterly direction, but the.n proceeded to steam in a very large 80 mile as a holding posilion in the Coral Sea to the south of Rermcll island. Aboul half way through this course, whjlc heading southeast, at sC"uplane was sported, just 1 ! 00 h.I's., anot her fOllr as it spotted the AWed and then made good it's nonh, Admiral Fletcher, in command of the fleel, new his w'lrshjns 755 hrs., the oHer and a detachf'.d and ordered to steam south to a reluetmg ren The rest of Ihe Allred Heel t.hen steamed at to the northwest in an effort to had been qi!2:hled by the Japanese seaplane. at 0625 Ihc American
Support GrmJ!), cruisers
hilt TF-44 A11iect
KALlA, CHlCAGO and
continued on the original course as a diver~ s10n and ro attack Ihc Japanese jnvasion force reporled h",.dillg for Port MoresbY. Al 0810 hr, .. TF·c\4 eneOllll tered nn UN float plane that shadowed theur for almost an hour. Meanwhile, as TF·17 headed north, al 0815 hrs., USN carrier reconnalS$noce spotted, what 10 the rnougnr Wf1S the main UN strike force, nOlI;' of Iheir pOSItIon 175 miles. By 0\126 LEX· JNGTON launched her strike a!feraft, followed abollt 30min, later YORKTOWN. LEXINGTON's aircraft carrier HUMS SIIOHO and her lhe IlN cruiser e~corl at I 100 1m;. and began 10 attack At first, no hits \Vere scored, but a near-mts blew five air erafl off Ihe flight deck. AI I 110 h".. SBD dive bombers altacked, TB D torpedo bombers aHacked al 1117 hrs, and YORKTOWN's aircraft joined in I 125 hrs. SHOHO was overwhelmed by al least 93 aircraft, which no warship at that date could witnst;;u!d 11 \vas estimated carrier was hit 7 !orpcdoes and 13 that the UN 1000 lb. bombs, dead in the water at 1131 hrs. and by J at 1O'29'S by 152"5)'8, This first Arnel'le'ln sinking of an UN carrier was a suc CG:)S, with the famous fermi from one of "Scralcir 0110' Flollop," Bolh LEXI.NGTON and YORKTOWN recovered aj] bul 3 aircraft by 1338 hrs. and were ready to launch a second strike ]450 hIS. to go after the UN cmisers, but this was called ofL At 1630 the Japanese fleet cOJricrs, HUMS SHOKAKU and ZTJlKAKU, Ihen unlocated Ihe AnlCricans, launched 12 djve aud l5 torpedo bomber~ to search for the US Navy carriers, They were un::;uccessful and whHe to their were discovered hy fighters fmm the carrier:). In the ensuing "Dog " the 10M 9 Qtt"craft, while the Americans lost 2 fighters. As this battle ended, with the oncoming about 1900 hr5., confusion set in for th0 Jnpanesc of their aircraft mislook the American carriers as their own, and attempted to Jand on theml The Americans, quickly realizing the sil'uarioJ1, lured them in and managed !o shot down 1, possihly 2 aircraft before the Japanese reah7,f"~ their mistake and headed 01 r in the direction of their own carriers. Because of this both tled:-; then knew where the other was. both sending combined ""'/d,''',",v,>r forcps erich other, but both to keen those
escolis wilh their respective Heets. By 2200 the UN fleer was headed norlh, while the USN fleet WI" headed to the southeast. As dawn approached on 8 1942, LEXING· TON was the task of searchmg Ihe Japanese eell'l'lI"s. launching her aircraft at 062:) hIS, 08 I5 hIS., the IJN fleet carriers SHOKAKU and ZUlKAKU were located, both YORKTOWN and LEX1NGTON launch· Iheir attack aircraft by 091 S h1'5. YORKTOWN air· slarted their allack UpOIl SHOKAKU al 1054 11Is.. scoring Dilly two bomb hits, one on the t1ight deck all tbe way forward and another aft. SIIOKAK1! could recover aircraft after that hi!. AU USN bombers missed their targel. YORKTOWN lost 4 ill this attack. LEXINGTON', aircmft did not fare as well. They had great difficulty with the overcas!. some becoming lost in the cloud cover and to rdum. About half of her allack aircraft reached the fleet attacking at 1140 ms., scoring only one bomb hit and no lorpedo hits on SHOKAKU. Unknown to the American's, the had lmmched a strike of 90
AA guns and ii's crew. as wen as half the crew to the adjacent mount were killed. The from the bomb thnt hit the funnel was extensive. It hit the P01t top of the funoel, exploding on the .50 cal. 10 the stnrboarti SIde, as form, with fragments weB as to the back and tbe after director:'! all positions mentioned fined to the funnel. Many crew \verc klUed this hit. One of the five neal" misses, near the port forwa.rd hinged 20mm severely da:mag. that olatform, putting all mounts out of action several crew. 1132 hrs., the last Japanese aircraft len the area, thus ending [he fight control teams aboard both carriers went aboUT their to qUJckJy make tem ref'''"s. LEXINGTON hud a 7' list to POlt, but Irs.. this v/a~ soon corrected hull 'paces to starboanl. The abou1 6 fL, but was able to make 25 kts., even boilers were put out of action by !hc port mH1sl1ws lorpedo hit During all CV·2 was ahle to recover aircraft It seemed as if the carrier was battle ready but in a famous quote from tbe control office, "I take any more hits, you would suggest thallf take !hcm on the s.ide." Then suddenly at 1247 hr>. LEXINGTON wa, shaken by a tremendous caused hy the jor:1,",n of g(Jsoline vapors below. out of controL with another massiV0 explosion a1 1445 hrs., and one more at 1530 hIS. At 1558 hrs. the ea[)tall!. for the safety of men working below, orcler<:d the flight deck. ticslroyer> were dW'''';''UC, to aid the slJ'ickcn warship. At 1707 hJ's., was ordered ilnd by 1727 hrs .• just [IS the last men were leaving the carrier~ yet OIlC more mJssive eXjploswn OCCUlTed. LEXI:'
5
The LEXINGTON in the #3 dry dock at the Boston Navy Yard, 12 January 1928, soon after cOllunissioning. The images on the opposite page are from another sequence of photos taken while CY-2 was in the #3 Drydock at the Bost.on Navy Yard during the early 1930s. All of the images on these two pages give one an idea as to the mass ive size of LEXINGTON and her sislership SARATOGA.
·f- .
6
\
'.
,
One of the SBC -4 's (BuNo 1273) from VS-2 suffers a landing accident on USS LEXINGTON (CV-2) on 18 January 1940. Tb.is image also offers one of very few views of CV-2's superstructure during that time period. USN Ph oto, Capt Adair Collection, courtesy of Lee Hastings
8
. --
The photograph on this page is of the pOlt side LEXIN GTON' s bridge, taken 10 December J 933.
po
\
Ii I
"'"
• 9
USS LEX INGTON CV-2, pierside at the Pu get Sound Navy Yard, 26 March 1937, showing the modification to her forward flight deck. This was widened to aid in the launching, Jandjng and deck stowage of her aircraft.
&
10
•
b!lilii!i!!: E
/
/\ !
\
1 I '\:'
~< ,
""", '.~ ,
•
'i
\'
Another view of LEXINGTON at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, this of the entire starboard side of the island struc ture, showing the bridge and the funneL This image was taken on the same date as the jrnage on the prevjous page. Note the boat stowage at the base of the funnel.
u. S. S. LEXINGTON CV-2 Booklet of General Plans
As Fitted
May 7th ., 1941
Pu get Sound Navy Yard
;
Bureau of Ships
UNITED STATES NAVY
r"w_"j
.,"1
II'
U
". .uo
. _ ,.
.
, ' ~ . .,--, :~;.~~" -~ ~',1" 'O"~, rOii~~+~-""' ' '
... . - - - - ',,,,'- I
~~ ,:
':: " C'~~~'l'.__~E~'~t~~~:;L,· . :; 'I~Ti c
_~F:"~;
.
--~.
.J o
'~" ~..~s.' ORli-"-B 1 lJArB ;S";''tili::' ~ !I'...... .' . ' ". •.
........
L
..
,
. '"
.•
,.
.'
' :--:-
i
".
i\
'"
.:.:.::. A,' Y '" '., L , I .' ..'1.. " . "' .,-L . !!iIl:'"
\L;;m .__ ..i-------,;----- _.
--~--
...•.
il?,'::B;;;'. ,; i~:;~~~jlJi t'2, ;~~-~"~~'1~B1i·~:. '~!t~1,",· b~_",."3.~a.~om,
Jl~.
I~~';-"~/' //
-'
•~• .. "' --;'..-.. -
~ -
A
i
•• ~-o.--::;:.:---J.--;I . "':"..
~.
ti,
i'l.: ' ,j.
-,.-
•
, '. 'j~
--- ...-. 1····--- ...-.-,.------- ...... "1"----..-
." ' ...
16
....
.~ ~,,~~ ~.; -rl~~::,~ 1
••L •
.
.•';;-: ." ,.
~~~"
,7. . . . .,. " ; , , _
n~' :!;_. ~ __--hr~j;;;3~.~·~]~~=rI~·
;
!- ~ L i --t ., , : ! 'I
.~ -!
> :
.
~- ~
\\ 0
:
~ :
: "- - :
!:~'--.T
: --- ' -"~
/ // / / II
-.
/1
, /
/ ,-If
/
/
r'
-'<# ---,--t---;~~,
,
,\ rl!
,
~
I
-d- _,-l
'i
I
\
l
1
J iii '~ '"'
n
>""' 00<
j
EXINGTON CV-2
"
I
' l ~..
. ,. . .
. __~
Bureau of Ships
'4
"-u.'~"'''''"'
.... .....'t"l
",
C ~'"'''''~'
' -
-
_ ' . '''._,
~~ ~~~
"'>OT
"'~..
,~
.
~~--
•
~I"
~U!~:,;~urn"'_t......... ..
f Ot..
"""
" ..,""J1~"'"
"':;-. ~
tl
-"" " ........
,
DE-CK 6
......._!
"1:lI....:
"
n~T' O.r
~
:~
• •0
~j-..~ -;;:;:;-t-- • . , +.
,
BR-IOGE
fIM 9
' ld
,.•<::::-~
..,
~ _1 {ii v::v
' '''.'
STATES NAVY
-=-- ". . . . .
"!p . . . B
..
U.S,5. LEXfNGi ON
'9 ~ '" ~" . I l1 0ufl
<~. .;mij'i1:!~ n.
"". ' ""00 •
I
-,. . ,... j-:' "
As Fitted May 7th., 1941 Puget Sound Navy Yard
. . ..."'T.'T>.
- _ . ..
~. ! .-"" ~
_'T~ ' ~3J.-:-~: Lt~ ~h-O
of General Plans
,
]
~:: . ....~ :1 '_A ••_ "-4' ~
'.!!!!.......~~ cmITV!?I. " ...... '.,..
~~
,
a
a
,..;,
·--·-·-,,~-I.. -
.. ~;;':.-.".:"".•___+~-
In
I
,
,
,~
a ~~ -~ "~ Ml: D---- --",..---r' ~ ••_ k
...
/'1 ,.. ~~-
-~5 .S. LEXJNGTON P"l,.IGHT OEcK
V . 5 . 6 . L E'l.INaTON MA rN DEC K.
19
I
Th e two docume nfs o n th is pa ge were parl of
""'~:-=--r.::..-:A:-:=:L-;;-;T~E~R--;;:-;.A-;;-:T-;-,-IO------"N_S--:--------,-::-;::-;:;;;;r,:1
CO MP L E. M E. NT
DESCRIP T ION AP p' R COMMAND ING OFfiCER. I. RE ''''. 0 ANO ""tt>Jt1tE" T O 10 - 15.-';5 ' , <" II-,-W.~"" ,;-;;-;R-:::;;D,=R,:.::.O,:O~M~=O ::-:;F;:F~IC;:,;Ec;.R.::;.::S:...,~,.,....______-.:4 ~Z~ . AriD To CoNF"o RM WITH !W C."R A 1·_ . . . NY.P.5 ;;-~k:J' NO. EN7/A2-1/-(ZTI) !,; lJiu . JUNIOR. OFFICE.R.S (ENSIGN) Z I
Ihe Booklet of General Plans from LEXING TON' s May 1941 refil.
INA Y Y~RD DATE
TRA TED REvISED .Li'TTER. SI-'; - (4)(RI)
Jli'°r- ..
OF"24JAH.I~~4}AND. BU.C. e.:R . LETTE~
51-:l-(4)(DC) EN7/j\2 - 11 of lOMAR'" I~~·-'. SEARC HL IGHT ' ' '7\
1\J;'t'.P.$ p(\'!P\
NE. W
:
rt
PI.:. ATFORM ON STACK
8A.RR IER5T.AR l;;'t~T" KCi
GEAR
a:.
V El.ETE.P. · V£,C.K E.;(-
~, ~':)V
AN D Nl1r-1!}e ItS IVIOPIFIE.f',
AN D oTH'RM,""OR C"ANGlC5 ,co••"TE9To'I"".
1-:----I----t~f:."p"'-:cO:'.-:p:"C'-'O="T HOUSs:.: FL,11.,4 PLoT.
WA'RDR"OOM
'EXTENOE'D . "" :." 'FL.-B.,Hi PItC:: 40 · M.B . c.~N.co.e.p "TO qO ' M . L . ., M"AI'Ii D 'fC. ·, H.A.Tc.H ·F1l. :Il~R -ReLOc.AlEo , "O.~"Je;o> RAPIO ~"O~Eli:.001'1 c.itA N4E.O TO'Mev 1E. ' Soo"TH, fR . St-cot.. IJPPE5i 1-4A.l..F PK: 1~,.. LIEuT. 0 Fr-:. CffAH~ED To A'Sst"'~~ ~·~EPA.'R OFF. , Vf·l. 5quAOR:OI'l OFF. "-,IU l'':J $Ig.~EG> .
P..s. N . V. ,,)
:..\
.1
:'\ "\
~
.
_.'
,11
p;('f..;.
SERVICE
I;rtJ
BR NC A H
'i5l
~HAH,"et.> T~ P-'iJ'3"~1', D·Z.O\·B<:WA).l4Et:.·TOP·t.O\-\';'·; '. 1\' ~ PoRTA.-Le &AT,'.C.HAR<;IN<; " STA'\ a !-I; ." >, I" ~
31i:'P. Qk
C,",ANGE..C TO E\..EGT : 5TORIO:RO", M . PP.. \32 4... \£T". ~ i."'O.Pt-AT"' ~ p -z..O:"f CIi..... HG;ED T.aDI~s'" L aIL.
F O \...LoW11"", ' '''OI D C 6MPTs . CH.... NGED
T O FR.~~H 'NATE R S,.co.LLAST TAt-IK.~:
'
SHIP FORCE
AVIAT ON I
refitlings, while the doc ument to th e ri ght li s t
94
-
the ship' s personnel and
2. 1 1 r .5 . '197
eRE W
pw.: I50T }..IEUT., .N ...."ICOjATok.• a.. . ~A.MAC;~ . CO W,RO\... o1'"Flce.s REL.Oc.,.....,"'TED . 2..w.P&"l-(A"CjEit p,;::L-lo· S ......,.B. F~.I~'"S.AOQED,tI:'3Db-l
dur ing rh al and pa sl
•
OFFICERS
e
.,"?\
B .a '.
SHIPS OFFICERS
OFF"ICER..S
t'UPPI..E HALf
The leftmost docume m list the a) terations made
1.8
OFFICERS IOTA L "A.,VIATION OFFICERS TOTAL OFFICEf2..S
JUNIOR.
I.
OF"FICER.S TOTAL
-'AVI~TION
pj....
_!~~5~~N INA~g~g. :'I~~~~TB~~~~~~s~~~;;2Jro~~ 1~'I " "IS1 COf'(\I"T.AS ~ \GNME"TS
WAR.RANT
"_:
her co mplement boats.
I
. _ "IRCRAFTSG.IJAD"R,ONS,! SUM MAR Y OF' . ANO FLAG C,P.D. &. CREW
.
. .
C.P.O. CREW c.P.O. CREW C.P. O.
CRE.W
.
CR.E.W
c.p.c .
iHfi
SEAMAN If "trtJ7 ARTIFICER 14 182. ENGINEER 24 400
A_22. _ ""' . A _z.. ~_VV.A
. . -" ,, ·w.
A- C;6-W , A - 7 0- VV. A - 72 - VV J A·78-VV A - 4S4 · W.A'4-5 ~-W.A· 45B ·vv ... A · 4 E>O -\N .
A - 46"2.-W - AUTH. -eu.C-IJ.R LE "'T&~ -s ("c tl. DC) CF -, .JAN . 193'9· A-,?_:~. J.;.:T C.~A."~E:D T O A - 'i>14 ~- T 1 AND
GV2..j S 2. 9
OTH ER.
. ,. '. ',
,".
.
MI S,-=-· L. . M(t-( O R
1\01
C.I-l A t-4Go E'.5.
Z NO . PLAT>ORM :
CHANG EO A' SIOM 1'0 ;i/ SO CAL . A.A. AM... .
.. D·515 ATOO·SI 5MOR. ON"'NC~
CHANG E.D D - SI<.AT03"A.A . AMM.. p-S,.a M •
S T OR.E S .
3';~\'~~;;:"RANSOMS IN
COM1'r1'SSA~' Z SPECIAL I I. MESSMEN AVIATiON II
·53 AlP
MARI.NE
83
A -308L., A - ~09L. ANO A- 31 0 l.. .
SH\P~
SERVo S'iOp"ES _
O"L"'f.O CAPSTAN ROOM.
MlbDLE. HALF' DECK: Ci-lANGE.O A-11 6·"iL TO
P.5 .N.'f. 5' 7· 4-1
D, "o · A ,0 LAU NO'W
CRE.W.
I~3UE
U':Eo"L~~::;-~ oD~C:': SHO. IN
CHANGED
A - OI Oo ' A.
MAIN DeCK:
A D DE 0
~.. A.A. G UN
FORE. AND AFT.
ON . C;;UN PLATF OR M5
E..x'TENOE.O F OR. WARD
F"'Fi~;::;C~;f.'i,K ~RABH
BARRIER'. AODEoO
1..IFE NE.T1NGS P. "'~ . S\OE~ .
BRIOG t=. S:
CHANG~O TOP OF OECK HOUSE:; & SAlU'iIN.ca GUN Pl..AiFORM . A opt! 0 50 C ~ t. . A . A. MACon I N E GUN!) 0 N 'i URR ~'i i 0 P. AN 0
20
r
. . ".'
c;J
I
7/
,'!9-t '
GUN P\.A'rFORM.
OT~eR
ft\'c"' ,
\ i
ROOM .
MISCEl..\..AN'E.OU5 MINOR CHANG;ES.
.
1'34-
I:; 25
B 7 ~
40
I
r
2: 5
440
8
4 :2 CO
I ':l
3 I'L
~
{
2.
'Z/I
.3.3
Z
I I 2, ~Z' ~ 08
4 3
27
~'"
11D7
~
oJU
821 Z0:47i
l\ 12
S MAL LBO'~J\T.",,;,J C!'
'CHANGED 0 - 343 A 70 G.S.X . S.OR"'''. CHAN-GED 0 -34 "1 A 'iO
134
TOTAL
C.P.O.Q UAR.lCRS ..
~ ND, DeCK:
2.
z,~
88
1 I
Ii
.
MEN
"'" I E '__~~__
Q N .
-.J
'4 50 FT.
Z.
.
.. . .
EACH TOTAL
LAU NCHES MOTOR 80ATS
MOTOR
5 40 FT.
,.
1901 760 37
1&5
.'
1f-~,-I--4:"O-F T-M~O~;;'T · -O~ R.'-"-L-A':U':""'N"'C:"H"· " 'E:-S=-----l--:3-0+-=0-0,...
a
#
•
2
.310 fT. MOTOR. LAUNCH 30 FT. MOTO R LAUNCH
Z
Z~
,To
MOToR:
Z
14
pr.
PlJt-l"T~ .. ... .
\.
WHALE .'''~
70 140 49 80 BOATS
ZZ
44
-
-. .
.
I~--f--:-"':"';'"",,,,,,,,,~" ..;.c, ' ""';'',,e:;;';-;;~"":'-"'--"':"-7~,-j---t-;-;;~n TOTAL · CAP~CITY ... ,.1Z:8~
of
This photograph of USS LEXINGTON CV-2 was taken as she entered the Hunter's Point Navy Yard, pm1 of the Mare Islmld Navy Yard Complex. Many sources cite this image as CV-2 departing San Diego's North Island Naval Air Station on 14 October 1941. [t has has been believed that her overall painting wa.s in Ms. I, consisting of Dark Gray (5-D), which was chalked very badly from weathering. She is also paint ed with a Ms. 5 False Bow Wave. Her flight deck is dark, whi ch means she could have had that stained with the blue flight deck stain, which was not applied unti l late October 194 1. The carrier was a.lso repaint ed at that I'jme in Sea Blue (5-S) . Because of the evidence in view , there is a chance. thaI thb image. is 8CtU ~ al ly from sometime ill November 1941 , gi ving enough time for t.be amount of weathering seen here to have taken place. The images on tbe back cover were taken during her lime at Hunter'~ Point in October 1941. Note the .50 cal. 1141chine guns fitted atop her 8 in. tUlTets, as well as the elevator wells painted white. This photograph is s'lightly blurred from the motion of the aircraft that took the image.
One more photograph, newly discovered, of LEXING TON at Hunter's Point, loading a Grumman J2F amphibi ous aircraft, known as the "DUCK," aboard, during October 1941. Note how clean the ship's paint work appears. See the image on the back cover from a color motion picture film, shot at virtually the same moment this still photo was taken. Splinter mattresses were also hung on the railing atop the 8 in. gun moun ~-s, around the .50 cal. machine guns.
1
!'
.,,--fC" "'l '~ ,OC_'
. ~''lE~~- - . _.
I
I~.
U •
~-
~rs~ '; '
....
'
22
~
....
-
Both of the photographs on this page were taken while LEXINGTON was transporting Marine Corps Vindicator Dive Bombers to Midway Island. She and her escort depru.1ed Pearl Harbor on 5 December 1941. In the upper image, CV -2 is with one of her cruiser escorts, USS CHICAGO CA-29.
<:,r,;:::;;:.
1
F: ; ,''''~ __ ~:..; ..~ . ~~~' }.J~~.:~~~=~~ -....
rn this image LEXINGTON has come to almost a com p lete stop ~bout 450 mjles to the east of Midway Island on 7 December 1941, with the news of the attack upon Pearl H~rbor. On both this photograph and the one ab ove, a US Navy censor has blotted out the radar antenna on CV-2 and CA-29. Both images were pho 10&Iap\!.ed from the cruiser USS PORTLAND CA-33.
,-
The photographs on this page all date from approximately the same time period, early 1942, All of the aircraft in view we re painted with the--fed and while stripped tails, which was started in late December 194 1 and was stopped by May 1942, The lower images are still photos pulled from a motion picture fi lm, exact dale unkoowo.
'! 'a.
"
-
-
., ~.
- ....--
~
.,.::.
~
-
~---l _
This image was copied out of an old US Navy magazine. The warship in the image wa s not li sted, but onc can determine that this is indeed LEXINGT ON by the anti aircraft gun platform fitted high on her funnel. The date of this photograph is also from the late December 194 I thru early May 1942. More than likely, this photo is from the February 1942 period.
-,
~
25
USS LEXINGTON CV -2 moored on, or possibly passing by the southwest side of Ford l sland, Pearl Harbor Nav y Yard , during late March 1942, for what was to be her last refit. Note the boat stowage was prev iously removed from the base of the funnel. which fea tured a small funnel cap on the leading uplake venl.
26
.• it'
· f i
tv
"
""~;
-.. " @J[~l(i~mir.t nr~~ ',~ J~;;'~, ". 1 \'\' 0 ~ ' , ~~·~. ~~i\i.~k,~~::':~:~I8~~;~ _ 'f'\ . i ~ ':'":.'.~·'· " !.<. ;~<~
iiillf:;aIIlIl'N:t. .. . .i;), ~ W,>. .:::.,'0>.__ ,."' ".
'"
·'''~r~~:
,_
To
'
.. '.' Sub,1ect:
'lot::
.~ .•. _ ., 't:9
"., ~- ---- .
t'
~ ..
,, - ~,,-
,.,:lltCli tT.·..
.
"., .. , lttJtr;.l$I~I"'. i.. ~~" ' "" 5;i ~ \'
, K'l'Il!
-;~~ ~;~:~::n~~-;;~),~N'~'~i-yu~·fp~~·r"l~~;~~~-. The Chiel( o f .... :tt'/-h " nu:rm~u .o.t-:.Shlpo • . •..•.~.-t'.j ..
-'-'-' --':.-. .:.:'
:\ ·:': .'::".\:~!-!.~~_!,l~4'~l · '
usa LnXINO'i'LiN '('le va) (11)
Enclo3uret (tler6I'1ith) ,
(A) -
'<.:~ . '1:;. ' •.
f·.
H". :.. .
." .:......
.. '
'
.:
h .,·[, -:c.l'k-:
c.y 2/L' (170)"",
. '"
, -< .
".. ,
~ -"
' :'\
"' I
. _ 44(j.: "42 ".l 44Q_42.
:;;: ;.- ·~~~: ~~~·~:":. v ..
!
,
_,
. --'
,'::
OUV;DL()' }~t &6?~t
..
a
2. F:nclooure (t.), pictur"s tHken dnr the work, Ilre {or"",lrded for the Burr-nula inform
"
"'I
I YAM
th,~iotba:rlla -'r
on.
/If
The commandant, Navy Yard, Pearl BB.rbor, T. H. The Chief of the Bureau of Ships. U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV2) - In&tallation of 20 MM
and 1.1 A.A. ~UDS.
Reference I
(a)
Enclosure ~ (BeroUth)
( b)
Buships Conf. Despateh 022212 of April, 1942. Comdt. P.B. CODt. Itr C-S14jCV/ NYlO, Serial Y-0110 ot 11 April, 1942.
(A)
P. H. Photo. #646-42
(B )
P. B. Photo. #541-42
(e)
P.
ID )
P. H. Photo. #649... 42
(E)
P. H. Photo. #650-42
(F)
P. H. Photo. #551-42
(0)
P. H. Photo. #652-42
2 pr1nts
each
sh1p'''iwo
(a) Prior to the ur1va1 of th~ 500 . ton borGeo "!Were ohorod intl3rnally and cribbed to ponnit eaoh ' to oarry one 0" itun mount, c o mp lete. CriQbinc wao propared on the ~ook under the 2~0 ton ha~8r-he8d cruoe to ~erm1t two mounte bein, 4anded there. Fab rioution " o rk on the 1iftin~ pede woo ot a rtllld-';" -··' r (b) I : ~I"a\l1r.te11 upon the arriv_1 of the LEXII'IOTOR. ordnance TilDohinists COll\.lQencoll otl.utino: the four tIlOuntll ·adrirt at the levol or the rollel~ pHth oturtinR with No.4 I!Iount nnd . working torwH.rd. Forty elQ:ht hours after the Ilrrivul of the ship the No. ' 4 mount was ready to be liftod. RIt;ntnp; orrllnftet'aentar prooeeded and by the fourth d",y the tirot lift woo raady. · On thIs da:r 2 mountl ooraplote with found Qti on st oo ls were re~oved. Threo ~1fts were required tor 8nch ~ount. 'I.'he heavIest, the rotu.t1n ~ struoture above the roller path, we1ched appro,dmlitely 330,000' pound3. Theoe t"o r:'Iounta wore placed on the previously prspured bur~oo "h10h httd boen plaoed as oc.mel. \.Jetwsen the ahlp and tuo rlock. . ,'· "., : ·~ -:.' t,.,I,. . (c) On tha. ro110w1n" day No. ~ and .No • . 2 mounts "ere litted 1e. aimi1ur manner und p l.(Jced on the prepilred oribbin" on the dock. In or d er to p~umb thoae mounte "ith the hellv1 hook of ttl -~~-he.d or u ne, it l'lldJ nccesollry to buok the L t!. ;nlH1TO.N 340 ft. of tho ahip proJectod beyond the end of th(bOkRJ/~ tt'D\ held in that pueitlon for about f o ur hourtl. In 811 )t M.:Y'JJor,e'\ required. to r-emOVe th " ant1ro bllttl'r:r. :0 !4e/ '.://'f ;--~\ .....~
(8) P.
'
f
1
i
H. Photo. #648-42
B. Photo. #653-42
~
(J) P. B. Photo. #554-42
" ~
(K)
II
!S
. ~
(hI
'f 360 (M)
USS LEXINGTON - 3 - 20MK guns on hinged plat . port alde forward frs.121-132 . ee Jed" staAhse in small u-.s IHtg. e_Jlt. A egg lI. 20 MIl· clip. I'm and details.
F. E. Pie eve
'1a,la 1
P. B. Pl ... CV2-7Bj'-2
h-.
cc:
-1/
l}uord (..,.ith 1 print Qt1 ~ . Cncl (I, ) li''' ~' , ~
'/0'lr
-(J C. s.-lJU;r. ' TTP.. Ci " ,1..,~S/.rt~O ·, Il1 rJ1root1on
nrr. '~
G 0hfi!Ei;tj;t~iar "'" "CO" 051642
'.
1
40'->Ll1
Above are two copies of ori gi nal USN documen ts pertain ing to CV -2. They prov ide a parlial description of Ihe las I refi l accomplished on LEXI NGTON, In them, a descrip' tion is given of the work done to remo ve the 8 in. gun turrets and replace them with the 1.1 in. medium anti-aircraft mounts, as well as the addilional 20rnm light anti- aircraft 28
i} K
USS-LEXINGTON - 5 - 20 YB gune OD hinged plat. at'bd side. frs 142-102. USB LEXINGTON .. 3 .. 1.1 quad mounts abaft stack fr.. 12'i-13~. USS LEXINGTON - 2 - 20 W @UD8 on atter end of staok. USS .LEXINGTON - 20MM gun. at port after corner of flight deck. USS LEXINGTON ~ 20W guns at at'bd ~ter corner of tlight deck. USS LEXINGTON - 6 - 20MM guns outboard of stack frs. 9s1-109j. Note olip. rm. in foregroucd . USS LEXINGTON .. 4 - 1.1 quad mounts forward of staok tree 65-66. USS LEXINGTON - 4 .. 1.1 quad mounts forward of staek frs. 65-66. USB LEXINGTON.. 4 - 20MM guns on hinged plat. port eide forward frs. 85i 9~ •. ,
P. ' 8. Photo. #655-4-2
M
*
KTIA
Nay I, 1942
Y10
Subjectl
...
~ '.
U. S. NAVY YARD PI3.A.RL HARBOR, T. H .
'
.
1. Tho removal or the 0" halter,. rrom t.be IJ!SS Ll::llllOTON a u thorlzflJd bj' reforonce (a) \tUf) M-coomp11Qhed dur1na the early part of her ourrant aVllilHbl1ity. In or der to .oomp1ete the romoval tn the ahorteot p ooolhla t1me so ao ' to perrrt1t JJork- ~ to.be started on the instullu tion or 1.1 foundll tiOrIS, tho fo110wlns: prooedure "ao uo.dl . , ~ '_ ': "'-"- , r,
•
0
P. II~ Pho~ORra P hO - , U?S > Llf~ I.NGTON;- ReMovtll or 8"
(2 pr1nt eBoh) , -- Batteri~r"J,No'. '1g..;402, .: ~?2-42, 424-42, 426-42. ·"'~P-1:.!, ' 42a-42, , , \ . 2 ,,,._ ,_ ~ (: 431 .~42, 432- 42, 434-.,,2. ' 441-42, '.' .
W-Pf C-87tfCV\ ;:
- - --, .- ._.~
~~nu~ .. C(jri1~~~!,_8.p..?.:~.;:~_1~~O ~ -~~l~.~ar~,. ~~f. .. ' "
Dm~mnt!l S~t",
000 01.
Ser~ y-08 5 0
om.
-'- _.":."-::;:.-:..::-:.:.....- :-..::::-.:..--::
Reciov~n-o!~~R".. .aat!oer,.•.__
-' I
RefeJ'onoe:
.
"
April 14, 1942
'IIi ~ !l"i', ;'<'" ''~?0,?' ~~ ~ :-J v... ,"" i. ,..:, f~ ~ . !i.,;l,n,fhhJ! g;.
D
r
D
elk .
i'l .. "; ,
mount s that were fitted. In both doc uments , one can read [hal photographs of the work accomplished were encl osed, Unfortunat.ely, only the images of the removal of the 8 in. turrelS have been localed al Ihis time. The pilolographs of the fin al fill ing of LEXING, TON have yel to be located. if they will ever be fo und ,
Removal of LEXINGTON's 8 inch twin gunned tUlTets , by the huge yard crane at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard began on 26 Marc h 1942 and finished four days later. Because of the size and capacity of that huge crane, the turrets were lifted in their entirety from (he caniel" and set onto awaiting barges. The two turre ts in this image were mounts #1 and 2, Note that the tops of the gu n tur rets were painted dark, possibly Dec k Blue (20-B) the j time of this phot ograph, The warship itself came into the yard painted in Ms, 12, so that portion of the ship where the tunets were fitted was painted Ocean Gray (5 -0),
r
II
\
In this image, 8 inch gun turret #3 was being removed, again by the huge yard crane, Turrets #2 and 3 were fitted with rangefiriders, while turrets #1 and 4 were nol. The platform attached to the after end of the funnel and just above the 8 jnch gun turret being removed wa s th e 8 jnch Fu'e Control Station, Just above that, was the 5 inch AA Fire Control Station platform,
I
-1 1.111 ' ~~ . -"""""~"",,,."~~
or"" · .
~
1
•
r.
,1i.~ I.
1', ",', ..
•
J''':-''''''I~~ 'I! ~ M
11"
•
• f~
-...
.tt
.
•
•
In this, a second photograph of the remo val of gun tUlTet #3, is a better view of both the 8 and the 5 inch Fire Control Stations, The use of Splinter Prorec!.i ve Matting was still widespread, as much of thi s was attached to platform railing and to the sides of smaller enclosed platforms, The platform high up on the fun nel was th e .50 cal. AA machine gun gallery, both port and starhoard, AI the time of the laking of lhis photograph , repainling of LEXINGTON 's camo u fl age was started, as the dark patch of painL shows on Ihe hull side,
'\
1
~I~l
"I "
.... ·ri~~!,~f.JI"'I!III:!·
This close-up view o f tUrret #3, as it was lifted into the
air from the superstructure of LEXINGTON , shows the mu1titude of rivets used in the construction of this of g un mount.
The photograph on the opposite page was of turret #3 being lowered onto the barge placed between the pier and LEXINGTON. Note the de-degaussing cables on the hullside of CY-2. These were massive cables that an electrical current was run through to neutrali z.e the
warships magnetic fie ld , in an effort to combat mag netic mines.
\\
;H I
.~
'~
'''-.·L
~ 'Ir
32
Gun (urrel #3 being low ered onto a barge.
The following page is a c los e-up image of the Jacc of g un turret. #1 being de r.ached from rhe lining cradle after it was placed upon the barge .
.
{
·.
-~
'f\
I
-. 1 ~'"
.
I[
.
~'1~1 '--i' j'
I' "hJ~; ,i-
J
[tif7jr:"
.
.-' ,,:~
;, :. j
"
c· · '1
I~
..
,
j
;.~
.,
;1 , •
i .' . .1
.,
,
.;;, ' I;
-
I
1I it l', ~ . ". i • ~
!
.- 1,
.. , •
I
,
)
"
'\
. ,{
•,
,
oJ •
II
/,1 .....
• ~
I
l
! '
.,
,
..,;..
f--
.•.
..
Ir -. <. ~
'j
='.6 0
t.
,1''1
:
•'I ;
..
t f
,.2 ~ ,.-<
[.i
,~. l
i
- I~r"'
~
.,.,.,
!' ~
r
i '
,.
:t
~
'",
0
I
~
:,
!
r
I
;\
•
.., I
The upper photograph is of the barges with gun turrets #3 and 4 with their lower power mechanisms aboard.
The lower photograph is of LEXINGTON with all 8 inch gun turrets removed, as well as the progression of the change in camouflage pajnting from Ms. 12 to Ms. 11. Measure 11 camouflage consisted of painting all vertical surfaces Navy Blue (5-N), as Sea Blue (5-S) had been phased out by that time. Dark patches of Navy Blue are visible on the huliside below the bridge andjust aft of the funnel.
38
NAVY YARD, PEARL HARBOR, T.H.
I PEAf'RLLA~A:~ORCIL~-:14j2 - J SCALE..8::?_-"iJ:i.Q lIJt.L.._D
ALr. I
RA WN a'L_Rf?::C _\6J,_""-i:iR!;'!Y~~;;L______ BY___ ,___ ~.:-SUPERVl~O
TRACED
, // /l ""'-- •
/0-~05::{~¥'
f--..':N~~+..!...c-'2'---"'-
APPROVED:
---.--.. --.--~-~~~~~::::..~l:~:E:SiG:N-~t U.S.N. D SUPT..
o p
~K~~~~f;~~~~~~i~~~~~
PLANNING OFFICER
P.H,NQCV2 "-_-"L
f(E.'5ER:YEO
! _ Vv>::>F~\:'~ \'0 ~t. \ZE Ff,l(C
',",
tJ
."T
u)
V,
2_'_ WORJK,_.,_1'']0'''' _~~
L, I, G,AJB,u,E,
."t
FIRE..
Cd0'TF<:.6 L'
r;.,
.
~
"~""
"
. '.'
,L:....
eUREAU PF; SHIPS PLAN
'
,il,
l_A"i~~
DATE. Ji'-1CU.1
X.
INC \ \jDe-\........,z ~, , .'-
C,H,M,
It'E pcL ' T 'c __ F[' \ '___ ')'_"''''''<:;
,p)f\:.,O,S .
""'" .
f '
I
Both of the documents on this page were part or the plans from CV 2's final ---------1-' d,,:'cri,birrg rhc work to be don:: and that which was to be at a later !--'-+~.....j~::::::...:~:..:::.:..:;;:..::;..e:;:;::;~Ii'T:':;;:;IO'-N.:..;:=..:.:....::::===:::r,;;;;;!t"----r'-':=4 APP'P PATE . would become (lvm' j;11>"(~l 'tor y;)Id'fune. T l 'Hems mc rc 11' DEseR da1\.' when the warship lese edc d MARK PANEL shown on the pages. in the dated
39
In this and the tw.o ph.ot.os .on the f.oll.owing page, LEX INGTON maneuvers wildly in an attempt t.o av.oid t.orpe does and b.ombs from attacking Japanese canier aircraft. The attack came sh.ortly before 12 n.o.on, 8 May 1942. Japanese "Kate" torpedo b'Ombers-and "Val" dive bOmbers attacked sirnullaneously, hitting CV -2 with tw.o t.orpe~ces , .one midships and .one f.orward .on her p.ort side. The dive b.ombers hit her ,with one b.omb .on the flight deck, th e other on the island and several damaging near misses. N.ote the Japanese IOrpedo b.omber ju st .off LEX-ING TON' sb.ow.
LEXINGTON maneuvering to avoid Japanese dive bombers, the near misses throwing up huge columns of spray. She was such a heavy and long ship that she was slow to maneuver, especially in the large sweNs of the Pacific Ocean. For the Japanese torpedo and dive bomber pilots, she was a very large target.
l'Ullh~~'ll~Htl!'~lIi!~jji:!itl~I'~T.j l~ill~'l~~' . 1to~~;;41T]·1"'" ':' I·I:li]l\J" "I, ,I' , - I ," l ' 1,1, I. I,I~, 'I ",'IL "'~I:!ll.!" ...I.IoI"'l4j"liWftr~tI'r.,.. ,fliUIoI ":.;...II"'I;:I',",I,f'lI"II,., "i'" ," ~llItdt: I
'h'll, ,I":' "
"I ~,JI'!~' ,:1,,,,,,: ,,' Ill' ' , ..I III: ,,' I:~,,~::~.:: ,~",:,:~,!I\I t.,
.I! ~
'
. "
~,: ;'!"'.i, ':; .1"'; ~~~!:·'~;;i"~; ,"
"
".,.
nl' .n .
.. ",,' ~ .. ~ .. 1
I. ~.I"~'
l!,"
.,',:--,. S&2LJ&iiZ
,,,.
~",,~-. c: ., &I
""
I 1,1 ,,"1.. 1 Hi.. '"
" ......
Smoke billowing up from the bomb hit at the base of her funnel , LEXINGTON continu es to maneuv er to avoid the attacking Japane se ca rrier aircraft. Note th e diving Japanese aircraft jus t above this text.
Below. a pair of escorting destroyers rushing to aid the then crippled carrier, as she began to slow after taking two
torpedo and two bomb hils.
".
---
...
""'I'
. ~..,.... ~"
..." ....
~
.F
·" -"",,"~ .i
.-,
....
.~
,
...
"1"'' ' ' "... ,_l
-
I~ ._ .. . . . , ""'-1'" ;. ~
,j" .. t
'~I""
,
~ ~. ,:-
'. . ! ; .. ,,\Hoj
'.
...
~
''''*f~'''j
ft- .
~ " ql~I " ' , : ., tI!~ ...
----r.'I·I: "
j
...
•
--"'''
~
" -
,-;... I·
........
~'" .".~if"' ".
_
. ·-"'t,. ·~~"''''~'1.'''' ...... .
't'o
~. - .
_ -W'=--.:;i. • ·i~::'"
·t,I: ..
·."'II'-~'''''' '"'I~~''
"'I""
,.~
LEXINGTON still able to make at leas t 25 knots . as USN "Wildcat" fighters J1y over head 10 protect their "nest." She wa s smoking heavily from her funnel being hit by a bomb in this attack. The time waS shortly after 12 noon. 8 May 1942.
43
Just landed from their attack upon the SHOKAKU , a TBD taxies on the flight deck as an F4F-3 is about to land 011 the "ftemoon of 8 May 1942, at about 1400 . hrs. This view is looking aft on the ship's port side, along the bomb damaged 5 in. AA gun gallery.
The crew continue to inspect the damage to LEXING TON, starboard side, aft. The 5 in. gun mount in the fore ground was put out of action by a bomb hit, visible just beyond that gun. Repair crew, work to repair the damage and make the warship battle-ready.
..
~
Another view of the port 5 in. gun gallery and it's dam age. The two guns in the foreground were still opera tionaJ , the nt?£t 'w as put out of action. The white on the
flight deck and gun mount is fire retardant foam.
46
One more view of t.he damage to the port forward 5 inch AA gun gallery. Repair crews work to clean up and repair what damage t.hey are able to, in an effort to get the cani er ready for flight operations.
Damage [ 0 the port forward 5 inch AA g un gall e ry. Thi s was ca used by a bomb from a Japanese dive bomber that near the #4 gun on the after end of that gu n gall e ry. T he white spray ovec many o f the item s in th e ph o tog r aph is from fire suppress ion foam, whi ch helps to depri ve a fire of th e air it needs to burn .
rut
"
• \ ;:
1>
~
~
.. .
'-
Th e imag e on the followin g page wa s actually t aken abo ard th e aircraft carrier USS ENTERPRISE CY-6, of one of her .50 cal. machine gun ga lJeri es. Th is wa s very si milar to the gallery near the top o f LEXIN GTON ' .' fuo .-,;;;" - ~ III ne l , a nd w hat it and g un crews wo uld ha ve looked I,i ke during a lull in [h e bailie .
t
....
~
' .-
, 'li..... .......
'!. .)
,
~ 0(:.
LEXINGTON about 1430hrs., 8 May 1942, just after recovering Torpedo Bomber Squadron Two and Fighting Squadron Two. She is down by the bow from a torpedo hit. 1t is believed that her camouflage painting at thi:lt Lime was Ms. 11 , overall Navy Blue (5-N), llight deck stained dark blue and aJl steel decks Deck Blue (20-B). About the time of the attack upon Pearl Harbor, the linoleum had been removed from aJl decks. Tllis photograph was taken from the heavy cruiser USS PORlLAND CA-33.
xl - Single 20mmAA Port & Starboard (2 total)
x2
xl - Quadruple l.lin AA Port &
Starboard (2 total)
50
x2 - Single .50cal. AA Port &
,3 - Singl!, 5in.!25cal. AA Port &
x3 - Single
x4 - Single
20mmAA Port Boat Pocket
20mm AA Port Boat Pocket
~~
x6 - Single .50cal. AA
Port &
Starboard (12 total)
u.s.s. LEXINGTON CV-2
YE Aircraft Homing Beacon Antenna eXAM-! Radar Antenna
MAY 1942 ARMAMENT
I
5in.l25 cal. Single Mount Heavy AA 1.1in.l75cal. Quadruple Mount Light AA 20mmJ70cal. Single Mount Light AA .50<:al. Single Mount Light AA
p h' ~
,\
xl2 x12 x22 x20
Fe Radar Antenna
/
x3 - Singlc
5in.!25cal. AA
Port &
xl - Quadruple
!.lin AA
Port &
Starboard
(2 total)
"';:'
sf
'rhe photograph on the left page is of the torpedo hit on LEXINGTON' s portside, look ing through the damaged flight deck life netting. This hit, midships, on her anti-torpedo . bulge, blew some of the hull plating upward, visible in thi ,s image. The photograph on this page was from the 01 level on the island structure abou t 1630 preparation to abandon ship. A to 1700 hrs. as the crew muster on the flight deck series of explosions aboard, LEXINGTON, mort ally crippling her, the captain had little choice, but to exeeute that orde r. The hea vy cruiser USS MINN EA POLIS CA-36 passed by forward, seen through th e haze of smoke, Note the rectangul ar shape to the gun tub all the fal' right edge of this image, as well as the tips of the 1.1 inch AA mount in that tub. ,The flight deck aircraft crane is in the haze just beyond.
in
The scene aboard LEXINGTON was grim_ In this photo one can see (he smoke from the fires below emitting from the flight deck elevator. The fires were not under control in the hangar spaces.
LEXINGTON , viewed from the heavy cruiser MINNEAPOLIS, began to abandon ship, as fires and explosions mortall y wounded (he once gallant carrier.
'~-
-""""'f'
"'I,
This image is a close-up view of LEXINGTON enlarged from the photograph on the page to the left . In this enlargement one can see many of the crew on the aft night deck, beginning to abandon ship. The destroyer alongside, starboard, is one from the SIMS class, possibly USS MORRIS DD-417, attempting to aid in tbe fire fighting.
LEXINGTON, again viewed from the heavy cruiser MIN NEAPOLIS, began to abandon ship, as fires and explo sions mortally wounded the ouce gallant carrier. The MORRIS was still along side at this point. Crew are drop ping down to the water by rope, to be rescued by small boats from the cruiser and the destroyers.
55
In tbis photograph of LEXINGTON, many of the crew are lowering themselves down to the sea by rope. N ote the smoke from the hangar fires emilting from the starboard midships 20mm gallery, fonnally a boat welL
,
LEXINGTON, in two more views from the heavy cruiser MINNEAPOLIS, in the process of abandoning ship. The MORRlS is still along the starboard side trying to fight fires, while yet anotl,er SfMS class destroye r pulls up to CV-2's port stern to assist in the rescne of her crew.
1i~
+
a
t
This image is an enlargement from another of the many photographs taken of the abandonment of LEXINGTON. In this image one can see many of the details, such as the degaussing cables, and the SUPPOIts for the 1.1 in. quarulJ pIe, 20rnm single and .50 cal. single AA mounts. The crew were being rescued by a 40ft. launch from the cruiser MINNEAPOLIS.
The rescue destroyers backed away from the burning
car~
rier due to the possibility of danger from exploding ord
--1'
nance. The hangar fire was out of conlrol, as seen by the increase in smoke emitting from the stricken vessel.
LEXlNGTON, in another view from the heavy cruiser MINNEAPOLIS, abandoning ship, as fires grow larger. MORRIS was backing away, with either USS ANDER SON DD-4I \ , or HAMMANN DD-412 off the ports ide of CV-2. One of MINNEAPOLIS's boats approached with a load of survivors, as other LEXINGTON crew lower themsel ves from the flight deck to the sea.
.
" ~,
•
W~q
"
The motion blur in this photograph is probably not from the concussion of the explosion that just rocked LEXING TON, but more likel y just a nervous cam~raman trying to quickly get a shot of that event. It is not certain where the explosion took place, as it appears that the black smoke was emitting from the fUlmeJ, but it cou ld also have come from the elevator pit located adjacent to the island, juSt on the other side of the funnel.
59
This distant view of LEXING TON beginning he r death thro ws. taken by another US Navy heavy crui ser, shows not only CV-2, but two NEW ORLEANS class hea vy cruisers, USS C HESTER CA-27 and three out of the four SIMS class destroyers esco rting the carrier bailIe group.
A 40 ft. launch from the MI NNEAPOLIS, full y loaded, passed the cameraman i n this im age, while it was headed toward s the de stroyer MORRIS 10 off-load CV- 2 SUI
vivors onto that. warship.
-
... •·· ....e
.~I,.
"
,-, ..I>"'''''U!.."
~.~;,~ 'OWW .~ '"'!'I.....~._ .
-"
.......
...,..._, ~-
.':-
'. ~;"iIMIIo..;;...;,-, .;""
.' .~ - 'i~~ J~-~ ' .+' -L~tf.....,. ..::. ' ' 1 1 ~~~_;.';' '. .._..:~:.._ _ ___ ~_ :- . ·~'~~~:.~f~ _~;:~1t!l'.:f:':fb!o!li4'~ oZll!!IIII. _ _ .• . . -
".... ''lI\ ..
..........--.. ---.......
. ._
..
Jli-*F'; ~I'
__ . _ -..
~ -~".. !. ,", ,~
Tilis stem-o n view of LEXINGTON, then starting to bum more heavily, shows the des troyer HAMMANN backi ng away to avoid any unex pec ted ex plos io ns and lec th e small boats do the close-in rescue wo rk .
~
.-
The destroyers MORRIS and HAMMANN backing away from the carri er LEX INGTON and th e ever increa sing fires aboard that std cken warship_Note the rescned crew
men from CV-2 on the steen of MORRIS.
i '\
-~ ~
·'entb
-:;:;:
LEXINGTON stmted to burn heavily at that time, with much more smoke pouring from many openings, as rhe heavy cruiser MINNEAPOLIS backed away. Note the carrier YORKTOWN and her escort on the horizon.
....
·',
.
,,"
Top image; Another large explosion rocks the LEXINGTON, as three SIMS class destroyers and a NEW ORLEANS class heavy cruiser head, or back away from the stricken aircraft carrier.
Three Lower Images: This is a series of photographs of a massive detonation of ord nance deep in the hangar deck. The fires that ragged out of control eventually reached the aircraft ordnance, which exploded at about 1727 hrs.
63
This is the best. quality image of the tenific explosion of the aircraft ordnance aboard LEXINGTON that this author was able to find. AI first I thou ght that the dust and hair in the jmage was just from poor rep rod uction, bUI soon real ized that th ese were actu ally the wood planks fro m the fli ght deck then were rainin g back down to Earth from the mass ive explosion itself. Note also the splashes in the sea from other objects blown up into the air fro m that same explos ion. Visible in the backgro und is a SIMS class destroyer and on the horizon, the USS YORKTOWN CV 5, headed away from the smoke from LEXINGTON. Also note that a few small boats were still rescuing sur vivors un der the carriers steIn.
-64
LEXINGTON, now well on fire and listing, is beginning to sink more rapidly. The fires from the hangar deck were then begiruling to spread up to the fli ght deck. Th is was due to the exploding aircraft ordnance, fu eled by aviation gasoline.
-
--s
65
Numerous fifes can be seen in lrus photogra ph of LEX INGTON burning. T he explosion of her ai rcraft ordnance must have gutted Ihe midships pOJ1ion of the once mighty aircrafl carrier, as she began to list and sink more rapidly at Ihis point.
This photograph, snapped just seconds after another series of terrific explosions amidships on LEXINGTON, send up a massive cloud of billowing smoke, Note the debris splashing in the sea all around the stricken carrier. Even though there is a significant amount of motion blur in this image, one of the cruisers 40ft. launches can be seen in the lower left of this image. It must have been waiting to see if there were more survivors to rescue.
-;,.
' p~' II.i'111A,) ',r '.'
USS LEXINGTON CV-2 1927
Scouting Fleet (A ugu st) USS LEXINGTON CV -2 at Quincy Mass. VJ-2S Ix T3M- I 16x T3M-2 VT-IS Utility Unit 2x UO- IC 1928 Battle Fleet (A ugust) USS LEXINGTON CV-2 VF-3B 12x FB -5, Ix UO- I 2x F6C-2, 17x F6C-3, I x UO-IC VB-IB VS-3B No ajrcraft assigned VT-I B 9x T3M-2, l Ox T4M-I Utilit y Unit 3x 02U- I, Ix T3M-2 1929 Battle Fleet (A pril) USS LEXINGTON CV-2 12x F3B -I , Ix FU-2 VF-3B VB-IB ISx F3B-I VS-3 B 12x 0 2U -2 YT- IB 28x T4M-1 Utilit y Unit Ix UO-I, 3x 02U- I 1930 Battle Fleet (June) USS LEXINGTON CV -2 VF-3B 20x F3B- 1 VF-SB 18x F4B-1 13x 02U-4 VS -3B VT- IB 19x T4M- I Utility Unit I x OL-8, 2x 02U- I 1931 Battle Force, Carrier Division Two (June) USS LEXINGTON CV-2 18x F3B-I , Ix FU-2 VF-2B I1x F4B-I , 8x F4B-2, Ix 02C-2 VF-SB VS-3B 4x 02U-2, 6x 02UA VT- IB 17x T4M-I Utility Unit 2x 02U -I , 3x 02U-2 1932 Scouting Force (Octo ber) USS LEXIN GTON CV-l lOx F4B-I , 8x F4B-2. I x SU-2, VF-2S Ix 02U- I VF-SS 19x F4B-2, I x SU-2 13x SU-2, Ix OL-8 VS-3S VT- IS 15x BM- I VS-15M 4x SU-2 Utility Unit Ix OL-8, Ix 02U- I, 2x 0 2U-2
68
1933 Battle Force (June) USS LEXINGTON CV-2 14x F4B-2, 3x F4B-I , Ix SU-2 VF-2B VF-SB 18x F4B-2, Ix XFF- I , Ix SU-2 VS-3B 3x SU-2, 8x SU-3 6x BM- I , 12x BM-2 VT-IB VS-ISM 6x SU -2 2x OL-9, Ix 02U-I , 2x 02U-2 Utilit y Unit 1934 Battle Force (June) USS LEXINGTON CV-2 VF-2B 20x F4B-2, Ix SF- I, IxS U-2 VF-SB 19x FF-I VS-3B Bx SU-2, 6x SU-3 VT-I B 12x BM- I , 6x BM-2 YS- ISM Sx SU-2, 2x SU-3 2x 02U-2, 2x 03U-I Utility Unit 1935 Battle Force (Ju ne) USS LEXINGTON CV-2 YF-2B 21x F2F- I , 3x F4B-4, Ix 02U-4, IxSU-I VF-SB 2IxFF- I, Ix 02UA, Ix SF- I 18x SF-I VS-3B VB-IB 7x BM-I, 12x BM-2 Utility Unit Ix F3B-I , 2x JF- I, 3x 03U -I 1936 Battle Force (Ju ne) USS LEXINGTON CV-2 YB-3B 17x BG- I VB -5B lOx F4B-4, Ix SBU-I, Ix SUA VF-2B 17x F3F-I , Ix SBU- 1. Ix 03U- I 18x SBU-I VS-3B Utility Unit I x F3B -I , 2x JF- I , 3x 03U-3 1937 Bailie Force, CatTier Division One (June) USS LEXINGTON CV-2 VF-2B 18x F2F- I, Ix SBU-I , Ix 03U -I VB-3B IBx BG-I VS-3B IBx SB U-I VB-5B 19x F4BA, Ix SBU-I, 2x 03U- 1 Utility Unit 2x J2F- I, 3x 03U-3
AIR GROUPS
1938
Battle Force, Carrier Division One (Ju ne) USS LEXINGTON CV-2 VB-2 22x SB2U-I VF-2 20x F2F- I, Ix SBU- I, 2x 03U-3 VS-2 20 x SB U- I VT-2 21x TBD- I Uti lity Unit 2x J2F-I , 3x 03U-3 1939 Battle Force, Carrier Division One (June) USS LEXINGTON CV-2 VB-2 17x SB2U- I, 2x SB2U-2 VF-2 18x F3F- I, Ix SB2U-I , 2x SU-3 YS-2 18x SBC-3 VT-2 IBx TBD- I 2x J2F- I , 2x 03U-3, Ix N2Y -I , Utility Unit Ix SB2U-I (AGC) 1940 Battle Force, Carrier Division One (June) USS LEXIN GTON CV-2 VB -2 15x SB2U- I, 4x SB2U-2 VF-2 21x F2F- I, Ix SB2U-I VS-2 21x SBCA VT-2 2 1x TBD-I 3x SOC-I , 2x J2F-I , Utility Unit Ix SB2U- I(AGC) 1941 Task Force II ( 14 December) USS LEXINGTON CV-2 VF-2 2 1x F2A-3 VB-2 17 x SBD-2 , Ix SBD-3 15 x TBD- I VT-2 VS -2 2x SBD-2, 15x SBD-3 Utility Unit 2x J2F-I , I x SOC-3 1942 Task Force 17 (5 May) USS LEX INGTON CV-2 VF-2 22x F4F-3 IBx SBD-3 VB-2 VT-2 14x TBD- I 18x SB D-3 VS-2
USS LEXINGTON (CV-2) Aircraft Painting & Markings Painting of carrier based aircraft as it pe.tained to USS LEXINGTON CV-2, 1937-1942. I Jul y 1937 Flee t Squadron Re-Organizatioo New# eanier Tai l Color O ld # Carrier Tail Color VB-3B LEXI NGTON VB-2 LEXINGTON Green Yellow VB-5B LEXINGTON VF-2 Green LEXINGTON Yellow VF-2B LEX INGTON Yellow Yellow VS-2 LEX INGTON Yello w VS-3B LEXI NGTON VT- 2 LEXINGTON Yellow 1. Fuselage and wing underside painted/polished aluminum . 2. Upper wings painted Orange- Yellow. 3. Fuselage lettering and code Black. with Whjte on Sectjon Leade r color ba nd s. Letter and code size is 12io. or 18io. 4. National Insignia White Star on Navy Blue circle with Insignia Red dot in center of White Star. S October 1940 US Navy Bureau of Aeronautics Update to previous painting instructions Carrier Tail Color USS LEXINGTON CV-2 Lemon Yellow 1. Fuselage and wing underside painted/po lished aluminum with clear v3.11l ish. 2. Upper wings painted Orange-Yellow. Chevron on upper win gs ma tched section color. 3. Section Colors: 1sl. Section Secti on Color Aircraft # I. 2 & 3 Insignia Red 2nd. Sec tion Aircraft #4. 5 & 6 White 3rd. Secti on Aircraf t #7, 8 & 9 TrLl e Blue 4th. Secti on Aircraft # 10, II & 12 Black 5th. Secti on Aircraft # 13, 14 & 15 Will ow Green 6th. Secti on Aircraft # 16, 17 & 18 Lemon Yellow A. Section colors applied to nose o f cowlin g.
AI. First aircraft (Seclion Leader) entire cowling painted secti on color.
A2. Second aircraft top half cowling painted section color, lower half aluminum.
A3 . Trurd airc raft lower half pa inted secti on color, top half aluminum.
B. Fusclagc band secti on color 20in . wide for secti on leade r only.
C. Fuselage lettering Blac k with White on section leader color bands. Letter and code size is 12in . or 18io . D. Na tional Insigni a White Star on Navy Blue c ircle with Insignia Red dot in ce uter of White Star.
Note: T hese lists pert ain to th e period focus of this book and only covers the information th at was ex tern ally visible. 30 December 1940 US Navy Burea u of Aero nauti cs New D irecti ve to Pai nting of Aircraft I. Exteri or surfaces of al l ship based aircraft painted Non-Specular Light Gray. IA. Fuselage Lelterin g and Codes 12in. tall painted White. 2. Exteri or surfaces of all Fleet Palrol aircraft painted Non-Specular Blue Gray o n upper sutfaces and No n-Specular Light Gray on underside surfaces. 2A. Fuselage Letterin g and Codes 12in. tall painted Black or White. 3. National Insigni a While Star on Na vy Blue circle with Insignia Red dot in center of Star. 26 February 1941 US Navy Burea u of Aeronauti cs Update to prev ious painting instructi ons I. Fuselage lettering and code painted lowest contrast to backg round color. Non-Spec ular Light Gray use White and Non-Specular Blue Gray use Black. 13 October 1941 US Navy Bureau of Aeronautics Update to pre vious painting instru ctions 1. Exteri or surfaces of all carrier and ship based aircraft painted Non-Spec ular Blue Gra y on upper surfaces and Non-Specular Li ght Gray on underside surfaces. lAo Fuselage Lettering and Codes 12in. tall painted Black. 2. Aircraft with upward folding wings were to ha ve the folded underside porti on of that wing painted Non-Specular Blue G ray. 3. National Insignia White Star on Navy Blue c ircle with Insigni a Red dot in center of Star. 5 January 1942 US Navy Bureau of Aeronautics Update to previous painting instrnctions 1. Nationallnsignia altered to larger size, sa me co nfigurati on. 2. Vertical rudders were to be striped horizontally on bo th sides with 13 a1 tem ate Insignia Red and White stripes. 7 Red, startin g at top, 6 Whi te , Non-Spec ul ar. 17 January 1942 US Navy Bureau of Aeronautics Update to previous painting instructions 1. National Insignia on fuselage altered to larger size, sa me co nfi guration. 26 March 1942 US Navy Bureau of Aeronautics Update to previous painting instruc ti ons I. Inside surface or di ve brakes painted Insignia Re d.
69
i
I\
\
\
I
',.. .< ..
r---'
-.
s::r;"'fQ-~{V\<:)cr
?010""iC~;ZZk'X'9lJ; <~ia~~
[ ~
-
J _
--.
, ... ...:., ~
- ~
...
~
~
This pholograph, raken sometime in 1943 , sho ws one of LEXINGTON 's 8 in. twin tur rets in it's emp lacement as a sho re battery. This partic ular battery was loca ted near Opaeula, the northwestern portion of Oahu , a fe w miles east of HaleIwa. AU of these balteries were dismantled and scrapped soon after the end of the Second World War.
71
REFERENCES Action in the Pacific L. Sowinski, Naval Institute Press, 1981
Chronology of the War at Sea 1939·1945 J. Rohwer, Naval Institute Press, 2005
The First Team
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
U. S. Fleet Carriers of World War II R. Humble, Blaudford Press, 1984
Classic Warships
U. S. Naval Weapons
would like to express it's gratitude for
N. Friedmau, Naval Iustitute Press, 1985
assistance frorn the following individuals
Warship Pictorial 11 . Lexington CI. CV s
Ron Smith • Alan McGivern
Pete Clayton • Don Montgomery
Don Preul • Steve Ginter • Nick Spark
S. Wiper, Classic Warships Pub., 2001
J. B. Lundstrom, Naval Institute Press, 1984
Hard Lessons Vol. 1 N. E. Hanns, Scale Specialties, 1987
History of US Naval Operations in WWII S. E. Morison, Atlantic Monthly Press, 1948
Lexington Class Carriers R. C. Stern, Naval Institute Press, 1993
RESOURCES The Floating Drv dock
WARSHIP PICTORIAL SERIES
P. O. Box 9587, Treasure Island, FL 33740 Web Site: www.f1oatingdrydock.com
W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W.
U. S. Naval Historical Center
A. A. Hoehling, Prentice-Hall Press, 1971
805 Kidder Breese SE, Bldg # 57 Washington Navy Yard, Washington DC, 20374-5060 Still Photos (202)433-2765' Web Site: www.history.navy.mil
Naval Radar
U. S. National Archives
N. Friedman, Conway Maritime Press, 1988
8601 Adelphi Rd., College Park, MD. 20740-6001
Naval Weapons of WWII
(30 I )713-6800' Web Site: www.nara.gov
Lexington Goes Down
J. Campbell, Con",ay Maritime Press, 1985
@
College Park
U. S. Aircraft Carriers N. Friedman, Naval Institute Press, 1983 inlaginc thiS phol<\~rapb in color. US N av y 1, Ij:illldesl1ips as ao all color photo album is the topic of
WllrsWP Pictorial 34.
P. P. P. P. P. P. P. P. P. P. P.
# 4 USS Texas BB-35 #10 Indianapolis & Portland #20 HMS Hood #22 USS Tjconderoga #23 Italian Heavy Cruisers #24 Arleigh Burke Class Destroyers #29 North Carolioa Class Battleships #30 UN Takao Class Cruisers #31 USS Buchaoao DD-484 #32 South Dakota Class Battleships #33 USS Lexiogtoo CV-2
AIRCRAFT PICTORIAL SERIES "
A. P. #1 Midway Air Wings A. P. #2 SB2U Viudicator A. P. #3 OS2U Kingfisher
Front Cover: This is a colorized black and white photo graph of LEXINGTON, dating from sometime in 1938, photographed from USS RANGER CV -4. Back Cover: This is a selection of still images pulled [rom a 16mm color film taken during October 1941 while CV-2 was at the Hunters Point Navy Yard. Note that the overall color of the wru'ship was painted in Sea Blue (5-S) at that time. Her flight deck was stained with the Mahogany stain and the deck markings were Insignia Yellow.
72
