Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 4:12:43

Lexington reconnaissance and the American battlefleet fist

Lexington's role was to scout and destroy cruisers while the slower, heavily protected American battle line advanced as one concentrated force.

BattlecruisersLexington Class BattlecruisersNaval DoctrineUS NavyWar Plan Orange
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Question

Would the United States need faster Lexingtons to compensate for its slow battle line?

Short answer

No; Lexington was intended to scout and hunt cruisers while the concentrated battleship force closed for a decisive action.

Notes

The American plan did not require Lexington to compensate for battleship speed by joining the line. Its fast ships would find and shadow the enemy, while the battlefleet imposed a choice between retreat and a heavily armoured gun action; the weakness appeared if political demands forced that concentrated fleet to divide.