The USS Lexington (CV-2) was one of the most significant early losses suffered by the U.S. Navy during World War II. As an important part of the Pacific Fleet, the carrier helped launch aircraft that struck Japanese forces across the region during the early stages of the war.
During the Battle of the Coral Sea, Lexington was heavily damaged and ultimately deemed beyond repair. To prevent the ship from being captured, U.S. naval commanders made the decision to scuttle her, sending the carrier to the bottom of the ocean.
For more than 70 years, the exact location of her wreck remained unknown. It was only in modern times that explorers were able to locate and document the long-lost carrier resting on the seafloor.
USS Lexington (CV-2)
Although the USS Lexington was originally designed as a battlecruiser in 1916, the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 ended construction of ships in that class, leading to a major change in her future. Instead of scrapping the unfinished vessel, the U.S. Navy rebuilt her as one of its first operational aircraft carriers. Commissioned on December 14, 1927, she quickly earned the affectionate nickname “Lady Lex,” reflecting the respect and fondness of those who served aboard her. Entering service during a relatively peaceful era, Lexington became an important test platform for developing naval aviation tactics, including participation in mock attacks against Pearl Harbor.
Her service extended well beyond training missions. During the devastating droughts of 1929 and 1930, Lexington supplied electrical power to Tacoma, Washington. In 1931, she also supported humanitarian relief efforts by delivering doctors, nurses, and essential supplies to people affected by the 1931 earthquake in Managua, Nicaragua.
The USS Lexington‘s (CV-2) service during World War II
During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the USS Lexington was en route to Midway Island, transporting fighter aircraft. Swiftly recalled to base, her first mission of World War II initially involved an attack on Japanese targets in the Marshall Islands, aimed at diverting attention from the besieged Wake Island. However, the surrender of the US forces stationed there negated the need for such action.
In early 1942, Lexington was deployed to the Coral Sea, where she spent the majority of her remaining service. Positioned to counter Japanese advancements in the region, she, along with the USS Yorktown (CV-5), engaged enemy shipping near New Guinea.
Following a refit at Pearl Harbor, Lexington returned to the Coral Sea that May. Her timely return proved crucial, coinciding with the Japanese launch of Operation Mo just days later.
Battle of the Coral Sea
The commencement of Operation Mo signaled the onset of the Battle of the Coral Sea, where the USS Lexington, Yorktown and their carrier aircraft defended the area against attacking Japanese vessels. Intercepting their plans to seize Port Moresby, this engagement was unique in that it marked the first sea battle where the combatant ships didn’t come within range of each other. Instead, they waged the battle using their aircraft.
On May 7, 1942, Lexington‘s aerial fleet sank the Japanese light aircraft carrier Shōhō. Deploying bombs and torpedoes, they initiated the attack by setting fire to the aircraft on the vessel’s flight deck, subsequently disabling her power and steering. With the continued assault, Shōhō began to flood. With the assistance of Yorktown‘s aircraft, the carrier ultimately sank at 11:31 AM, accompanied by the famous call from Lt. Cmdr. Robert E. Dixon, “Scratch one flat top!”
A turn for the worse
On May 8, 1942, during the Battle of the Coral Sea, the USS Lexington (CV-2) became the focus of nearby Japanese forces after its early battlefield successes. Rear Admiral Chūichi Hara responded by ordering repeated air attacks against the American carrier. At first, the ship’s defenders proved effective, destroying numerous enemy aircraft before they were able to cause significant damage.
By about 9:00 a.m., the battle had shifted in Japan’s favor. Several Nakajima B5N torpedo bombers penetrated the carrier’s defenses and hit Lexington‘s port side with two torpedoes, flooding compartments below deck. Soon afterward, 19 Aichi D3A dive bombers also broke through and dropped three bombs. One bomb detonated near the forward port ammunition storage, producing a powerful explosion that violently rocked the carrier and ultimately led to the chain of events that resulted in its loss.
Wreck of the USS Lexington (CV-2)
In the ensuing hours, relentless attacks persisted against the USS Lexington. Impressively, she managed to refuel a considerable number of her aircraft. However, at 2:42 PM, an explosion severed all power to the ship’s front, intensifying the fires that raged aboard the carrier. Capt. Frederick Sherman issued the order for the crew to abandon ship at 5:07 PM, ensuring everyone who could be evacuated was safely removed before he followed suit at 6:30 PM.
The difficult decision was made to scuttle Lexington to prevent the Japanese from seizing the vessel. Tasked with this mission, the USS Phelps (DD-360) launched five torpedoes, all of which found their mark, leading to the aircraft carrier’s sinking, along with 35 of her aircraft.
The majority of the crew successfully escaped, with reports indicating that 2,735 were evacuated, while 216 tragically lost their lives. Despite the heavy toll, the resolute defensive stand made by the USS Yorktown and Lexington bore immense significance. This stance thwarted the Japanese carriers from reaching New Guinea and Australia, thus preventing their involvement in the Battle of Midway.
The wreck of the USS Lexington (CV-2) is discovered near Australia
Although the USS Lexington’s (CV‑2) scuttling coordinates were documented in 1942, the carrier’s final resting place was undiscovered for decades. That changed on March 4, 2018, when an exhaustive six-month search finally pinpointed her resting place.
The expedition was led by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, whose team aboard the research vessel Petrel located the wreck approximately 800 kilometers off the coast of Queensland, Australia, resting nearly 3,000 meters beneath the ocean surface.
Using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), the team verified the ship’s identity, streaming live footage back to Petrel. The ROV captured the carrier’s nameplate on the stern and revealed that Lexington had broken into several large sections lying close together. Scattered across the debris field were 11 aircraft—three Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers, seven TBD Devastator torpedo planes, and a single Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter—silent remnants of the battle that claimed the “Lady Lex” and sent her to her final underwater resting place.