Hood versus Lexington in a battlecruiser duel

With similar crews, which would win a one-on-one fight: Hood or Lexington?

He would back Hood, unless Lexington landed an early decisive hit.

The Lexington design answered an American need for a battlecruiser while drawing on what the United States could learn publicly from Hood. In the duel itself, Hood carries 15-inch guns against Lexington's intended 16-inch battery but has the stronger armour scheme. Either ship could win through an early lucky hit, so detection and the first effective salvos matter greatly. Unless Lexington exploits Hood's vulnerability immediately, Hood is likely to inflict the more serious early damage. By the third or fourth salvo both ships may be hitting hard, but damage accumulated in the opening exchanges gives Hood the advantage.