 The six Lexington @-@ class ships were named Lexington , Constellation , Saratoga , Ranger , Constitution , and United States and were designated CC @-@ 1 through CC @-@ 6 , with " CC " signifying their status as battlecruisers . Although the class was planned to be the U.S. ' s first battlecruisers , it was not of a new design ; instead , it expanded upon already @-@ existing 10 @,@ 000 – 14 @,@ 000 ton cruiser designs . 
