Lexington (aircraft carrier) Lexington

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[After World War I]
After the war, the Washington Treaty set limits on the number of battleships, cruisers, and other capital ships that could be owned, and some capital ships were converted into aircraft carriers during construction. Examples of these were the Japanese Akagi (approx. 27,000 tons) and Kaga (approx. 27,000 tons), and the American Lexington (approx. 36,000 tons) and Saratoga (approx. 36,000 tons). However, the practical value of aircraft carriers was still poorly regarded, and they were only expected to play a supporting role to the main fleet. However, with the rapid development of aircraft, a concept was developed that, prior to the battle at sea by capital ships, a long-distance preemptive attack by aircraft carried on aircraft carriers would reduce the fighting power of the enemy fleet, giving an advantage in the fleet battle. These aircraft carriers underwent numerous modifications based on their operational track record, and gradually became fully functional practical aircraft carriers.

*Some of the terminology that mentions "Lexington (aircraft carrier)" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

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［第1次大戦後］
　戦後，ワシントン条約で戦艦，巡洋艦などの主力艦の保有制限が定められ，主力艦のあるものは建造途中で空母に改造された。日本の赤城(約2万7000トン)，加賀(約2万7000トン)，アメリカのレキシントンLexington(約3万6000トン)，サラトガSaratoga(約3万6000トン)などがそれであるが，空母の実用価値についての評価はまだ低く，主力艦隊の補助的役割しか期待されなかった。しかし航空機の急速な発達につれて，主力艦の洋上決戦に先立って，空母搭載機による遠距離先制攻撃で敵艦隊の戦力減殺を図り，艦隊決戦を有利に導こうとする構想が醸成され，これらの空母は，運用実績をもとに幾多の改造を重ねて，しだいに内容の充実した実用空母となっていった。…

※「Lexington（航空母艦）」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報