Nihon Kaigun: Battle of Coral Sea
Battle of the Coral Sea
(May 7-8, 1942)

Fresh from their successes in the Indian Ocean, the Japanese decided (unwisely) to extend their defensive perimeter outwards from their main forward base of Rabaul, in New Britain. Accordingly, they put together two invasion forces; one intending to land troops at Port Moresby, on the southern tip of New Guinea, and a second to put troops ashore on the island of Tulagi, in the southern Solomons. Simultaneously, a powerful screening force centered on the carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku was dispatched from Truk to prevent any interference from any Allied naval forces that might be in the area. As it turned out, the carriers Lexington and Yorktown were in the Coral Sea, the Americans having been alerted to the likelihood of such a Japanese move by radio intelligence. What followed was the first true carrier vs. carrier battle, where neither task force actually came within sight of each other, and the issue was decided entirely by aircraft.

The results of the affair was probably a tactical victory for the Japanese, as they managed to sink the heavy carrier Lexington, heavily damage the Yorktown, and sink a destroyer and an oiler. For their part, the Americans managed to achieve their first substantial warship kill against the Japanese Navy by sinking the light carrier Shoho. They also severely damaged the Shokaku. From a strategic perspective, though, the Americans scored an important, multi-dimensional victory. First, the invasion of Port Moresby was thwarted, thus boosting Allied chances in the bitterly fought New Guinea campaign, and fending off a threat to the supply lines running between the US and Australia. Second, and perhaps equally important, the Japanese were denied the services of their two newest carriers on the eve of the Battle of Midway (although it is debatable whether they would have been used there). Shokaku was in the shop for quite a while, and Zuikaku spent until June 12 replenishing her airwings. Had these two carriers been available on June 4th, things might well have turned out very differently at Midway.

Battle of the Coral SeaJapanAllied
Starting Forces x2
x1
x6
x3
x12
(Includes all task forces in the area.) 		x2
x5, x2
x13

(Includes all task forces in the area.)

Losses x1sunk (Shoho)
x1badly damaged (Shokaku)
 x1 sunk (Lexington)
x1 badly damaged (Yorktown)
x1 sunk (Sims)

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WW2DB article on Battle of Coral Sea


Map of Battle of Coral Sea, part of Captain Mineo YamaokaShoho burning as she was attacked by aircraft, Battle of Coral Sea, 7 May 1942; note TBD-1 Devastator torpedo bomber faintly visible to the right of splashShoho burning during Battle of Coral Sea, photographed by a torpedo bomber pilot from Yorktown, 7 May 1942Shoho burning during Battle of Coral Sea, photographed by a torpedo bomber pilot from Yorktown, 7 May 1942; note the faint outline of a TBD-1 in bottom half of photoShoho heavily damaged, late afternoon of 7 May 1942
Map of Battle of Coral Sea, part of Captain Mineo Yamaoka's interrogation, 19 Oct 1945Shoho burning as she was attacked by aircraft, Battle of Coral Sea, 7 May 1942; note TBD-1 Devastator torpedo bomber faintly visible to the right of splashShoho burning during Battle of Coral Sea, photographed by a torpedo bomber pilot from Yorktown, 7 May 1942Shoho burning during Battle of Coral Sea, photographed by a torpedo bomber pilot from Yorktown, 7 May 1942; note the faint outline of a TBD-1 in bottom half of photoShoho heavily damaged, late afternoon of 7 May 1942
Shoho taking a hit, 7 May 1942Shoho torpedoed, photographed by pilot from Lexington, Battle of Coral Sea, 7 May 1942Shoho under attack, 7 May 1942; note the TBD-1 torpedo bomber visible against the smokeA bomb hole on YorktownA destroyer pulled beside Lexington to help evacuate the men, 8 May 1942
Shoho taking a hit, 7 May 1942Shoho torpedoed, photographed by pilot from Lexington, Battle of Coral Sea, 7 May 1942Shoho under attack, 7 May 1942; note the TBD-1 torpedo bomber visible against the smokeA bomb hole on Yorktown's flight deck, viewed from underneath, 8 May 1942A destroyer pulled beside Lexington to help evacuate the men, 8 May 1942

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