Concept/Program: A group of six large battlecruisers ordered in 1916 as fast "battle scouts", part of a large program of fleet scouting ships, which included many smaller cruisers and destroyers. These ships were essentially scaled up from contemporary cruiser designs, rather than scaled down from battleship designs, as was typical foreign practice. The ships would have been large and powerful, but poorly protected and thus vulnerable in battle. By 1921 the weaknesses of the design, and of the type in general, were apparently recognized, and consideration was given to either converting some of the ships to aircraft carriers or building new carriers using materials assembled for the battlecruisers. Ultimately all six were cancelled under the Washington Treaty, and two were completed as carriers.
Class: Sometimes identified as the Constellation class, apparently because Constellation (CC 2) was the first to be laid down. These were the only US Navy ships to which the battlecruiser classification was applied. The designation "CC", which was not formally applied until the 17 July 1920 fleet redesignation, is thought to have been derived from "Cruiser, Capital", indicating their status as capital ships.
Design: The original (1916) design for these ships was quite different from their final design. In 1916 the planned specifications were: 36,350 tons full load with 10 14"/50cal and 18 5"/51cal guns, very light armor, half of the 24 boilers located above the protective deck, and seven funnels. The entire program was suspended in 1917 to facilitate construction of merchant ships for WWI service. The class was completely redesigned 1917-1919, taking into account improved technology such as watertube boilers, foreign development of more powerful ships, the need for improved armor and anti-torpedo protection, and the lessons of Jutland. The resulting design was considerably better than the original version, but still relatively lightly armored.
During winter 1929-1930 Lexington supplied Tacoma, Washington with electrical power from her generators when the municipal power supply failed. Overhauled and modernized 1936, flight deck widened forward, general modernizations, 36 .50 cal AA added; 43,054 tons full load. Was transporting aircraft to Midway 7 December 1941. Guns altered March-April 1942; 8 inch guns removed for shore defense in Hawaii; 12 quad 1.1 inch AA and 32 single 20 mm AA were added. Briefly carried 5 3/50 AA. A major modernization was planned but never carried out because the ship was badly needed in service.
Struck by several bombs and torpedoes at Coral Sea 8 May 1942. Damage was initially controlled and the ship was able to make 25 knots and recover her aircraft, but was down by the bow. Fumes from ruptured fuel lines ignited and exploded several hours later; fire rapidly became uncontrollable. Ship was abandoned and sunk by US torpedoes.
Planned pre-war upgrade/overhaul cancelled because the ship was urgently required in service. 24 .50 cal AA added 1936. Was at San Diego 7 December 1941. Torpedoed by I-16 11 January 1942; suffered minor damage. Repairs at Bremerton Navy Yard included general modernization: hull bulged, flight deck widened forward, superstructure cut down, 8 inch and .50 cal guns removed; 5 dual 5/38 DP, 8 single 5/38 DP, 4 quad 40 mm AA, 5 quad 1.1 inch AA and 30 single 20 mm AA added.
Torpedoed by I-26 with serious damage 25 August 1942; disabled by shock and towed to Tonga for temporary repairs. Permanent repairs at Pearl Harbor included AA battery modification; new AA outfit was 9 quad 40 mm, 52 single 20 mm. Served with the Carrier Task Force mid-war. Refit at Hunters Point Navy Yard 9 December 1943 to 3 January 1944; 2 twin 40 mm AA and 7 quad 40 mm AA added. Operated with the Royal Navy in the Indian Ocean early 1944. Refit at Puget Sound Navy Yard summer 1944.
Used mostly for training 1944-1945; returned to combat 1945. Bombed 21 February 1945 with severe damage. Repaired at Bremerton Navy Yard; rear elevator removed, half the hanger converted to berthing. Final wartime displacement well over 52,000 tons. Used as troopship postwar. Postwar was deemed unfit for further service due to age and wear; used as target ship for Operations Crossroads atom bomb tests. Survived first test blast, but was sunk by second test 25 July 1946. Stricken 15 August 1946.
Concept/Program: These are the most misunderstood of all US cruisers. Although often called "battlecruisers", they were truly an outgrowth of cruiser design. They were in effect "big cruisers", whereas battlecruisers were better considered "lightly armored battleships". The Alaskas were intended as cruiser-killers, to hunt down and destroy enemy 8"-gun cruisers engaged in commerce raiding. They were a response to the powerful 8" cruisers being built abroad, and the end of the arms limitation treaties allowed the design to grow without artificial limits.
By the time the first two ships were completed, their entire mission had vanished due to major changes in the nature of naval warfare, so they are often considered "white elephants". They were very briefly considered for conversion to carriers. In the end these two ships saw service mainly as escorts for the fast carriers.
Several other nations had planned to build similar ships for similar roles, but the events of war prevented any of the foreign designs from coming to fruition.
Design: The design was based in conventional US cruiser design practices, although the general appearance was more similar to the battleships. The 12"/50cal gun was a completely new design, and consequently quite expensive. The design originally included two triples and one twin turret, but this was revised to three triples in the interests of efficiency. Armor against 12" shells was provided, although initial plans had included protection of the machinery spaces against 8" shells only. Two aircraft catapults, hangars and cranes were fitted midships. They had only one rudder, resulting in relatively poor maneuverability. The bridge and pilothouse configuration was considered deficient. In 1945-46 it was proposed to replace the aircraft facilities with two additional 5"/38cal mountings, but this was not done. Other proposed improvements included changes included replacement of the 40 mm with 3"/50cal.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Both decommissioned shortly after the war and laid up in reserve for many years, but saw no additional service. They were considered for conversion to guided missile ships, but it was more practical to convert the numerous heavy cruisers (CA) that were in reserve, as the smaller vessels could carry nearly as many missiles as the Alaskas, with lower operating costs. The third ship was retained in reserve, in an advanced stage of completion, and was considered for several conversions, but was never put into service.
Operated with the Carrier Task Force throughout 1945, as an escort; also saw very limited shore bombardment duty. Was assigned to the force protecting the crippled carrier Franklin.
Reduced to commissioned reserve 13 August 1946, decommissioned to reserve 16 February 1947. Stricken for disposal 1 June 1960, sold 30 June 1960, scrapped at Newark starting July 1961.
Operated with the Carrier Task Force starting March 1945, as an escort. Was assigned to the force protecting the crippled carrier Franklin.
Decommissioned to reserve 17 February 1947. Stricken for disposal 1 June 1960, sold 24 May 1961, scrapped at Baltimore starting August 1961.
Redesignated CBC 1 26 February 1953 for conversion to a command ship, but this project was also cancelled; redesignated CB 3 9 October 1954. Stricken for disposal 9 June 1958, sold 1959, scrapped at Baltimore starting January 1960.
