In July 1921, the US Navy appeared to be assembling an exceptionally large battle fleet, including six Lexington-class battlecruisers. The Lexington design emphasized reconnaissance, scouting, and economic warfare. Its speed suited those missions, while limited armour and subdivision made a gun battle against other battlecruisers a poor proposition. In a running fight, survival would depend on disengaging rather than absorbing hits. That ambitious capital-ship programme helps explain why Congress could see a powerful fleet on paper and give less attention to continuing destroyer construction.
Notable Point · 37:46-38:28
The planned Lexington battlecruisers relied on speed for scouting
Six planned Lexington-class battlecruisers helped make the 1921 fleet programme look formidable even as Congress neglected destroyer continuity.