USS Lexington found in Coral Sea

[Frazod]

There's a video in the link, but I got an error message when trying to post it.

https://www.paulallen.com/uss-lexing...ated-rv-petrel

Wreck of Aircraft Carrier USS Lexington Located in Coral Sea After 76 Years


Wreckage from the USS Lexington was discovered by the expedition crew of Research Vessel (R/V) Petrel on March 4. The Lexington was found 3,000 meters (about two miles) below the surface, resting on the floor of the Coral Sea more than 500 miles off the eastern coast of Australia.

“To pay tribute to the USS Lexington and the brave men that served on her is an honor,” said Paul Allen. “As Americans, all of us owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who served and who continue to serve our country for their courage, persistence and sacrifice.”

As one of the first U.S. aircraft carriers ever built, the Lexington became known as “Lady Lex” and went down with 35 aircraft on board.

“Lexington was on our priority list because she was one of the capital ships that was lost during WWII,” said Robert Kraft, director of subsea operations for Mr. Allen. “Based on geography, time of year and other factors, I work with Paul Allen to determine what missions to pursue. We’ve been planning to locate the Lexington for about six months and it came together nicely.”

The USS Lexington was originally commissioned as a battlecruiser but was launched as an aircraft carrier in 1925. She took part in the Battle of the Coral Sea (May 4-8, 1942) along with the USS Yorktown against three Japanese carriers. This was the first carrier versus carrier battle in history and was the first time Japanese forces suffered a permanent setback in its advances on New Guinea and Australia. However, the U.S. lost the Lexington and 216 of its distinguished crew.

The Lexington had been hit by multiple torpedoes and bombs on May 8 but it was a secondary explosion causing uncontrolled fires that finally warranted the call to abandon ship. The USS Phelps delivered the final torpedoes that sank the crippled Lady Lex, the first aircraft carrier casualty in history. With other U.S. ships standing by, 2,770 crewmen and officers were rescued, including the captain and his dog Wags, the ships ever-present mascot.

During the Battle of the Coral Sea the Japanese navy sank USS Lexington (CV-2), USS Sims (DD-409), and USS Neosho (AO-23), and damaged the USS Yorktown. The Japanese lost one light carrier (Shōhō) and suffered significant damage to a fleet carrier (Shōkaku).

“As we look back on our Navy throughout its history, we see evidence of an incredible amount of heroism and sacrifice. The actions of Sailors from our past inspire us today,” said Sam Cox, Director of the Naval History and Heritage Command and retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. “So many ships, so many battles, so many acts of valor help inform what we do now.”

The Battle of the Coral Sea was notable not only for stopping a Japanese advance but because it was the first naval engagement in history where opposing ships never came within sight of each other. This battle ushered in a new form of naval warfare via carrier-based airplanes. One month later, the U.S. Navy surprised Japanese forces at the Battle of Midway, and turned the tide of the war in the Pacific for good.

Based on some initial success with his M/Y Octopus, Allen acquired and retrofitted the 250-foot R/V Petrel with state-of-the-art subsea equipment capable of diving to 6,000 meters (or three and a half miles). Since its deployment in early 2017, the ship was active in several missions in the Philippine Sea before its transition to the Coral Sea off the Australian Coast.

Allen-led expeditions have also resulted in the discovery of the USS Indianapolis (August 2017), USS Ward (November 2017), USS Astoria (February 2015), Japanese battleship Musashi (March 2015) and the Italian WWII destroyer Artigliere (March 2017). His team was also responsible for presentation to the British Navy in honor of its heroic service. Allen’s expedition team was permanently transferred to the newly acquired and retrofitted R/V Petrel in 2016 with a specific mission around research, exploration and survey of historic warships and other important artifacts.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by notorious

Kick ass.

On a side note I toured the USS Iowa last week. The Lex was much older, but it’s always cool to see, touch, and feel those badass war machines.

I've seen or been alongside all manner of warships, including the Iowa, but the only one I've ever actually boarded is the Intrepid.

One of these days I need to take a trip south and tour the Texas.

[mcaj22]

how much money does Paul Allen have he can just fund side missions to find sunken ships while also owning the Seattle Seahawks and paying out the wazoo for a bunch of bums on the Portland Trailblazers

[eDave]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

how much money does Paul Allen have he can just fund side missions to find sunken ships while also owning the Seattle Seahawks and paying out the wazoo for a bunch of bums on the Portland Trailblazers

$21.7b

[Simply Red]

neat

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by eDave

$21.7b

At least he does some worthwhile stuff with it.

[Hydrae]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

how much money does Paul Allen have he can just fund side missions to find sunken ships while also owning the Seattle Seahawks and paying out the wazoo for a bunch of bums on the Portland Trailblazers

Hey now, those bums are in 3rd place in the West right now!

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by notorious

Holy shit! One of my favorite warships.

Mine also, in big part because she was built at the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts, which is very close to where I grew up.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Chief Northman

Just toured the tribute “Blue Ghost” Lexington in Corpus Christi less than two weeks ago...
Amazing feats of human engineering those carriers. These modern day ones are scary.

Seriously. I toured the USS Midway in San Diego a few years ago, and it seemed ridiculously large. Then someone mentioned that the modern warship across the bay, which we could see but not board as it was active -- the Ronald Reagan maybe? -- was something like four times larger.

[L.A. Chieffan]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

how much money does Paul Allen have he can just fund side missions to find sunken ships while also owning the Seattle Seahawks and paying out the wazoo for a bunch of bums on the Portland Trailblazers

I had dinner with Paul Allen, twice, in London. Just ten days ago.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Originally Posted by eDave

$21.7b

but has he saved for retirement???

[notorious]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Seriously. I toured the USS Midway in San Diego a few years ago, and it seemed ridiculously large. Then someone mentioned that the modern warship across the bay, which we could see but not board as it was active -- the Ronald Reagan maybe? -- was something like four times larger.

The Reagan displaces about twice the amount of water and its flight deck is much larger.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Seriously. I toured the USS Midway in San Diego a few years ago, and it seemed ridiculously large. Then someone mentioned that the modern warship across the bay, which we could see but not board as it was active -- the Ronald Reagan maybe? -- was something like four times larger.

Several of my buddies were on the Midway and some were on the Wasp which didn't even have an angled flight deck. They were dinky compared to the Nimitz class carriers of today. The USS Enterprise was the big badass nuke carrier back then.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Several of my buddies were on the Midway and some were on the Wasp which didn't even have an angled flight deck. They were dinky compared to the Nimitz class carriers of today. The USS Enterprise was the big badass nuke carrier back then.

I was always in awe of how big the modern carriers were, especially when my ship was directly alongside one during an UNREP. At 581 feet, the Concord wasn't exactly small, but it was dwarfed by the carriers, which extended far beyond the bow and stern and towered above us.

[Coyote]

Yeah the evolution of air capable ships is amazing, when you see the WWII vessels compared to today. I learned how to land at sea on the 2nd Lady Lex (CV-16) https://usslexington.com/about-the-uss-lexington/
Heck we don’t count our large deck amphibs as carriers but they are to the rest of the planet. Some Navy/Marine marketing recently about the Wasp and Lightning’s:
http://www.amphib7flt.navy.mil/Media...-marine-corps/

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by Frazod

I was always in awe of how big the modern carriers were, especially when my ship was directly alongside one during an UNREP. At 581 feet, the Concord wasn't exactly small, but it was dwarfed by the carriers, which extended far beyond the bow and stern and towered above us.

Yeah, it is hard to comprehend just how big they are until you are up next to one.
My FIL took me to the exact hanger I had been stationed at NAS Norfolk 25 years earlier in 96 and one of those big carriers was in at that time.
Then, a few years ago saw one tied up in San Diego. Holy crap, words don't do justice.