USS Lexington (CV-16)

USS Lexington (CV-16) was an built for the United States Navy during World War II. Initially named Cabot, she was renamed to honor the recently lost USS ''Lexington'' (CV-2) and became the fifth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name. Nicknamed "The Blue Ghost" by Tokyo Rose, she served with distinction in the Pacific War, earning 11 battle stars, and later had a long career as the Navy's primary training carrier.

Construction and commissioning

The ship's keel was laid down on 15 July 1941 at the Fore River Shipyard of Bethlehem Steel in Quincy, Massachusetts. Following the loss of CV-2 at the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox, directed that the hull be renamed Lexington. She was launched on 26 September 1942, sponsored by Helen Roosevelt Robinson, the wife of Theodore Roosevelt Jr., and commissioned on 17 February 1943 under the command of Captain Felix Stump.

Service history

After shakedown in the Caribbean, Lexington joined the Pacific Fleet in 1943. She participated in numerous major campaigns, including the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Her air groups were instrumental in sinking the Japanese battleship ''Musashi'' and the carrier ''Hiyō''. Following kamikaze damage in late 1944, she was repaired and returned to support the Iwo Jima and Okinawa invasions. Post-war, she was modernized and served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. From 1969 to 1991, she served as a dedicated training carrier (CVT-16) at Naval Air Station Pensacola.

Design and armament

As a "long-hull" Essex-class carrier, Lexington displaced over 36,000 tons and featured a strengthened flight deck and the distinctive clipper bow. Her initial anti-aircraft armament included 12 5-inch/38 caliber guns, 32 40 mm Bofors in quadruple mounts, and 46 20 mm Oerlikon cannons. During her SCB-27 and SCB-125 modernizations in the 1950s, she received an angled flight deck, steam catapults, a reinforced hurricane bow, and updated electronics, transitioning her primary role to handling newer jet aircraft like the F-4 Phantom.

Awards and legacy

Over her nearly 50-year career, Lexington received numerous unit awards, including 11 battle stars for World War II, 5 for the Korean War, and 9 for the Vietnam War. She was also awarded the Navy Unit Commendation and the Meritorious Unit Commendation. Her longevity and service as the Navy's sole dedicated training carrier for over two decades earned her a revered place in naval aviation history, with thousands of naval aviators qualifying for carrier arrestments on her deck.

Museum ship

Decommissioned on 8 November 1991, Lexington was donated as a museum ship. She now operates as the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay in Corpus Christi, Texas, docked near the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. The museum features extensive exhibits on naval history, including restored aircraft like the F-14 Tomcat, and offers tours of her engine room, bridge, and flight deck. She was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2003.

Category:Essex-class aircraft carriers of the United States Navy Category:Museum ships in Texas Category:World War II aircraft carriers of the United States Category:Korean War aircraft carriers of the United States Category:Vietnam War aircraft carriers of the United States