The Lexington-class aircraft carrier was a class of two aircraft carriers used by the United States Navy during World War II. These aircraft carriers were originally designed as Lexington-class battle cruisers, however the Washington Naval Treaty prevented their construction as such. As a result, only two unfinished ships, the USS Lexington and the USS Saratoga, were redesignated as a new class of aircraft carriers, keeping the name Lexington. Ordered as aircraft carriers on 30 October 1922, both ships were launched on 7 April 1925 and commissioned 6 November 1927.