Work began in 1925 on the design of a fourth aircraft carrier for the US Navy, as a follow-on to the small , converted from a collier, and the large and , which were in the process of being converted from incomplete battlecruisers. Carrier number four was the Navy's first opportunity to design a purpose-built aircraft carrier. Preliminary design work occurred before extensive operation of the preceding three. Having limited experience to draw on, key characteristics of the design were derived from wargaming experience at the U.S. Naval War College. During design and construction many alterations would occur as a result of increasing experience with "Langley, Lexington," and "Saratoga".