 While four of the ships were eventually canceled and scrapped on their building ways in 1922 to comply with the Washington Naval Treaty , two , ( Lexington and Saratoga ) were converted into the United States ' first fleet carriers . Both saw extensive action in World War II , with Lexington conducting a number of raids before being sunk during the Battle of Coral Sea and Saratoga serving in multiple campaigns in the Pacific and the Indian Ocean . Though she was hit by torpedoes on two different occasions , Saratoga survived the war only to be sunk as a target ship during Operation Crossroads . 
