USS Saratoga

Lexington-Class Aircraft Carriers (USS Saratoga & Lexington) were built for the United States Navy during the years of 1920 to 1927. The Lexington class was originally intended to be Battlecruisers, under the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, all U.S. battleship and battlecruiser construction was cancelled and the unfinished holes were converted into the United States first operational aircraft carriers.

Lexington-Class Aircraft Carriers served between the years of 

Preceded by: USS Langley

Succeeded by: USS Ranger 

Lexington-Class Aircraft Carriers proved highly successful as carriers and convinced the Navy of the value of large carriers. They remained the largest aircraft carriers in the USN until the Midway-class arrived. Lexington was sunk in the first carrier battle in history (the Battle of the Coral Sea) in 1942, but Saratoga served throughout the war. She was torpedoed twice. She was at the Battle of the Eastern Solomons in mid-1942 where her aircraft sank the Japanese light carrier Ryūjō. She supported Allied operations in the Indian Ocean and South West Pacific Areas. Saratoga protected American forces during the Battle of Iwo Jima in early 1945, but was badly damaged by kamikazes.