USS Lexington found

[DJR-351]

USS Lexington found: Paul Allen finds aircraft carrier that saved Australia in World War II

IT was the day that decided Australia’s fate. The aircraft carrier USS Lexington was lost in 1942 in a desperate bid to block a Japanese invasion force. Now, 76 years later, she’s back.......

Amazing, see links for full story video & pics.......

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-0...al-sea/9517986

http://www.news.com.au/technology/sc...5a12cd1782d2f1

[marty351]

The lady Lex shines again.

[lovford]

Don't get carried away. It supposedly saved Australia. Anyway, I think its cool that it has been found.

[Road_Warrior]

Love those photos. Was curious if the 8 inch guns were still on it but they were removed in March 1942.

[roddy1960]

That's cool..I think one shot even showed one of the aircraft that was still well and truly looking like a plane as with the ship itself . Quite remarkable after well over 70 years. I trust that the right sort of respect will be paid for the wreck now that it's location is now known . For so many souls it's their final resting place.

[93EB_SXR6]

There are internationally recognised laws in place that protect the wreck as a war grave.

Hopefully these laws aren't ignored as they have been so many times in the past...

[jaydee]

Originally Posted by 93EB_SXR6

There are internationally recognised laws in place that protect the wreck as a war grave.

Hopefully these laws aren't ignored as they have been so many times in the past...

Like in Indonesia where they've been raiding ship wrecks for scrap metal and even admit finding human bones, but that doesn't stop them.

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by jaydee

Like in Indonesia where they've been raiding ship wrecks for scrap metal and even admit finding human bones, but that doesn't stop them.

https://www.fordforums.com.au/showth...ht=ship+wrecks

Hopefully sitting at a depth of nearly 2 miles will keep the rats away....

[Tonz]

did you know there are more aircraft in the seas and oceans than there are ships in the sky.

Thought that would brighten your day

[whitelion65]

Originally Posted by Tonz

did you know there are more aircraft in the seas and oceans than there are ships in the sky.

Thought that would brighten your day

That doesn't sound right!! I'm gonna Google it ;-)

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by jaydee

Like in Indonesia where they've been raiding ship wrecks for scrap metal and even admit finding human bones, but that doesn't stop them.

Apparently Australia doesnt have a "treaty" with Indonesia protecting war graves. Hence the scumbags have been allowed to pillage the wreck of HMAS Perth. The US apparently has such a treaty and the wreck of USS Houston has been left alone. Highly doubt there'd be any bones left though.

[CoupeKing]

RIP... we would mostly be speaking Japanese (and Deutsch as a secondary language) if it wasn't for these strangers.

[solarite_guy]

The year 1942 was a crucial year for both the allies and the axis powers.

As I recall from relatives and school (some details could be a little of) after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour in December of 1941, the US officially entered the war. The US armed forces really were not war ready. The Pacific Fleet was a shambles, yet quickly saved what ships it could. Some key ships were fortunate to have been put at sea during the attack and a strategy was put in place to make as many ships as possible visible in as many places a possible to give an appearance of a still healthy Fleet.

Here in what we call the spring of 1942 the Lexington found itself in a not so desirable situation that made it a grave memorial today.

The US ground forces scattered across many locations in the Pacific were under maned, lacking wartime training and discipline, and under equipped. I am only speculating, but I imagine the Australian forces were in a similar situation at the time.

The US Army Air Force (USAAF) of the time had, for the most part, under performing aircraft. The saving grace being the proliferation of the 1919 .50 cal Browning Machine gun. Under performing aircraft when equipped with these guns could put enemy targets under very heavy "weight of fire" and at good distances.

The now infamous Industrial War Machine launched into life. Daily life changed. Many were conscripted and many volunteered.

Two uncles went to Europe to fly twin engine bombers. Two other uncles left their black powder rifles at home in Appalachia and discovered what it means when a US Marine was issued an older 1903 Springfield with funny looking sights. Even today all Marines are Riflemen. The ones with '03 Springfields in 1942 were Snipers.

Beginning our summer of 1942, these 2 found themselves on the Island of Guadalcanal. They quickly discovered why they were issued these bolt action rifles instead of the semi automatic M1 Grands. This skills they had learned from hunting in the thick woods of the Appalachian mountains with their single shot black powder rifles primarily "gifted" them with 2 qualities needed for them in this role. 1, each shot has to count. 2, get to your position quietly when needed and remain out of sight. They actually felt bad about their role. To them taking out the Japanese officers in charge of command and control gave them a sense of remorse over time. Their targets never knew they were targets.

During that same summer to the west of Guadalcanal several groups of outnumbered and under equipped Australian soldiers, also considered Riflemen, found themselves at what would become known as the Kokoda Track Campaign. This Campaign included the Battle of Isurava where the outnumbered and outgunned Australian forces, taking fire from multiple directions convinced the Japanese that was as far as they were going to go as far as that piece of property.

The tenacious fighting on ground, sea and air during that year was a turning point on Imperial Japanese expansionism.

[Maka]

Dont forget the brave & enterprising Australian coastwatchers too, their role in protecting the north of Australia in ww2 can never be underestimated & forgotten imo.

cheers, Maka