Coral Sea, Battle of the

CORAL SEA, BATTLE OF THE

CORAL SEA, BATTLE OF THE (7–8 May 1942). As part of its World War II plan to isolate Australia, Japan sought to capture Port Moresby, in southeastern New Guinea. In early May 1942 an invasion force of three carriers under Rear Adm. Sadamichi Kajioka moved into the Coral Sea, east of New Guinea. American intelligence had broken the Japanese code, however; and a task force under Rear Adm. Frank J. Fletcher, including the carriers Lexington and Yorktown, was in position to intercept.

On the morning of 7 May, Japanese planes sank an American oiler and an American destroyer in an attack on what they thought was the main body of Fletcher's task force. American fliers, meanwhile, sank the Shoho. When the Japanese finally did go after Fletcher's force, they failed to locate it in the growing darkness and lost a score of planes in the effort. The next morning Fletcher's pilots missed the Zuikaku in a rainsquall but seriously damaged the Shokaku. The Japanese sank the Lexington but suffered heavy plane losses. Deprived of air cover, Kajioka called off the Port Moresby invasion.

The Battle of the Coral Sea, history's first carrier battle, was tactically a draw: the Americans lost more ships, and the Japanese, more planes. But it was an American strategic victory. Not only was Port Moresby saved, but both surviving Japanese carriers had been put out of action—the Shokaku for repairs and the Zuikaku in order to replenish its aircraft. Neither could take part in the great battle of Midway, in June, whereas the Yorktown was repaired in time to participate.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hoyt, Edwin P. Blue Skies and Blood: The Battle of the Coral Sea. New York: Jove, 1975.

Lundstrom, John B. The First South Pacific Campaign: Pacific Fleet Strategy, December 1941–June 1942. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 1976.

Morison, Samuel Eliot. History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Vol. 4. Boston: Little, Brown, 1949.

Stanley L. Falk / a. r.

See also Aircraft Carriers and Naval Aircraft ; Bismarck Sea, Battle of ; Midway, Battle of ; World War II, Navy in .