Exploring WWII wrecks in the pacific

[slinkp]

For the WWII buffs here - a friend of mine works on the Petrel, Paul Allen's ship that's been finding many long-missing WWII wrecks in the Pacific.
Their most recent find is the Lexington, which I just learned was an early carrier that was crippled by Japanese planes, then scuttled to avoid capture.
There are some amazing pictures and videos here, of many other sunk ships (and planes!) too.

https://www.facebook.com/rvpetrel/?hc_ref=ARQzM7_GdPnAVyh4WPMNgNtXeJcQZ_4Tx1t2kLp8g2r473GzU2Zok9DXtrsAarsx4LA

[Denis]

Interestingly, the Lexington wasn't originally designed as an aircraft carrier but as a battlecruiser and was converted after the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty.

[Rob]

Great photos!

[Pilgrim]

The aircraft carrier Lexington is docked in Galveston, TX and tours are available.  https://usslexington.com/  Great photos, too. I have toured it.

I assume this is a later version of the Lexy, as the Navy re-issues names.  This carrier served in WWII and through VietNam.

[Highlander]

Ark Royal and Enterprise, Gents...

[slinkp]

The aircraft carrier Lexington is docked in Galveston, TX and tours are available.  https://usslexington.com/  Great photos, too. I have toured it.

I assume this is a later version of the Lexy, as the Navy re-issues names.  This carrier served in WWII and through VietNam.

Yep, the one that sank is this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Lexington_(CV-2)

[TBird1958]

Interestingly, the Lexington wasn't originally designed as an aircraft carrier but as a battlecruiser and was converted after the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty.

It originally mounted 8" guns in turrets (made for the battle crusier hull) ahead of and behind the island, the were removed before the start of WWII. "Queen of the Flattops" by Stanley Johnson is a pretty good book, he states that after it was torpedoed that the stubborn fires could not be put out in part because the metal of the interior of the ship had been painted so many times - once on fire it was very difficult to extinguish.   

[Denis]

Didn't know that, Mark. If you couldn't even keep the paint from burning it was a lost cause.

[Rob]

Didn't know that, Mark. If you couldn't even keep the paint from burning it was a lost cause.

I didn't know that either.
A good life tip 

[TBird1958]

In related news....

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/uss-juneau-warship-that-sank-with-600-aboard-discovered-4km-down-in-pacific/ar-BBKrY3B?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartandhp 

There were several vicious naval actions around Guadalcanal that resulted in the loss of many U.S. Washington Treaty cruisers and destroyers as well as many lives. The Japanese  were very experiecened at night action and use of torpedoes (Their type 21 "Long Lance" was easily the best developed by any cambatant nation), the Juneau was one of many victims taking most of her crew with her. Sadly almost all that survived were lost as well due to negligence on the part of the navy.
Richard B. Frank's excellent book "Guadalcanal goes into great detail regarding all of the naval actions during the struggle for the island, most were brutal and the U.S. came out on the losing end more once.
   

[Rob]

I plan to give that a read.
Thanks!

[TBird1958]

It's very well researched on all accounts, land, air and especially naval, our navy took heavy losses during the battle for Guadalcanal, there was no lack of courage, but unit tactics, leadership and understand of radar often were wanting.