 Around 1918 , the U.S. naval staff in Great Britain became extremely impressed by the British 's newest battlecruiser , HMS Hood of the Admiral class . Her side armor was comparable to that of previous battleships and her deck armor was the most extensive of any British capital ship . Because this ship was described as a " fast battleship " and the British Admiralty considered her a replacement for both the battleship and the battlecruiser , the staff advocated that the United States should develop a similar vessel of its own . Chief Constructor David Taylor agreed . On 8 April 1918 , he told the Lexington design staff to plan a vessel combining the principal features of battleship and battlecruiser so that it would have the maximum possible speed , main armament and protection . Specifically , this meant arming her with the 16 " 50 caliber guns planned for the South Dakota class battleships , reducing armor protection 10 percent , a freeboard of at least 28 feet ( 8 @.@ 5 m ) ( compared to 32 feet ( 9 @.@ 8 m ) for the 1917 battlecruiser and 29 feet ( 8 @.@ 8 m ) for the Hood ) and a speed of at least 30 knots . Moreover , designs were to be prepared and submitted quickly . 
