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	The '''Battle of the Coral Sea''', fought between ] – ], 1942, with most of the action occurring on ] and ], was a major ] in the ] of ] between the ] and the ] forces of the ] and the ]. It was the first fleet action in which ]s engaged each other. It was also the first naval battle in history in which neither side's ships sighted or fired directly upon the other.		The '''Battle of the Coral Sea''', fought between May 4 – May 8, 1942, with most of the action occurring on May 7 and May 8, was a major ] in the ] of ] between the ] and the ] forces of the ] and the ]. It was the first fleet action in which ]s engaged each other. It was also the first naval battle in history in which neither side's ships sighted or fired directly upon the other.

	It is considered a tactical victory for ], since the United States lost fleet carrier ] in exchange for the light carrier ]. At the same time, the battle was a strategic victory for the Allies because the Japanese abandoned their attempt to land troops to take ], ]. The engagement ended with no clear victor, but the damage suffered and experience gained by both sides set the stage for the ].<ref>{{cite book		It is considered a tactical victory for ], since the United States lost fleet carrier ] in exchange for the light carrier ]. At the same time, the battle was a strategic victory for the Allies because the Japanese abandoned their attempt to land troops to take ], ]. The engagement ended with no clear victor, but the damage suffered and experience gained by both sides set the stage for the ].<ref>{{cite book
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	==Background==		==Background==
	On ], 1941, using aircraft carriers, ] the US Pacific fleet at ], Hawaii. The attack crippled most of the US Pacific Fleet's battleships. In launching the ], Japanese leaders sought to neutralize US naval power, seize colonies rich in natural resources, and obtain strategic military bases to defend a ]. Soon after, other nations, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand joined the U.S. as Allies in the war against Japan. In the words of the Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet Secret Order Number One, dated ], 1941, the goals of the initial Japanese campaigns in the impending war were to, "(eject) British and American strength from the Netherlands Indies and the Philippines, (and) to establish a policy of autonomous self-sufficiency and economic independence."<ref>Parker, ''A Priceless Advantage'', p. 3.</ref> The plan was to set up a defensive perimeter around Japan to protect its production facilities and ensure victory in the ]. More importantly, given the lack of raw materials in the Japanese ], Japan hoped to protect its shipping routes so the much needed raw materials and oil could be shipped without interruption. To support these goals, during the first few months of 1942 Japanese forces also attacked and took control of the ], ], ], ], the ], ], ], and ].<ref>Murray, ''War to be Won'', p. 169–195</ref>		On December 7, 1941, using aircraft carriers, ] the US Pacific fleet at ], Hawaii. The attack crippled most of the US Pacific Fleet's battleships. In launching the ], Japanese leaders sought to neutralize US naval power, seize colonies rich in natural resources, and obtain strategic military bases to defend a ]. Soon after, other nations, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand joined the U.S. as Allies in the war against Japan. In the words of the Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet Secret Order Number One, dated November 1, 1941, the goals of the initial Japanese campaigns in the impending war were to, "(eject) British and American strength from the Netherlands Indies and the Philippines, (and) to establish a policy of autonomous self-sufficiency and economic independence."<ref>Parker, ''A Priceless Advantage'', p. 3.</ref> The plan was to set up a defensive perimeter around Japan to protect its production facilities and ensure victory in the ]. More importantly, given the lack of raw materials in the Japanese ], Japan hoped to protect its shipping routes so the much needed raw materials and oil could be shipped without interruption. To support these goals, during the first few months of 1942 Japanese forces also attacked and took control of the ], ], ], ], the ], ], ], and ].<ref>Murray, ''War to be Won'', p. 169–195</ref>

	] ], commander of the Japanese 4th Fleet (also called the South Seas Force) consisting of most of the naval units in the South Pacific area, advocated the seizing of ], ], and ] in ] and ] in the ]. Inoue believed that the capture and control of these locations would provide greater security for the major Japanese base at ] on New Britain. Japan's ] endorsed Inoue's argument and began planning further operations, using these locations as supporting bases, to seize ], ], ], ], and ] and thereby cut the supply lines between Australia and the United States, with the goal of reducing or eliminating Australia as a threat to Japanese positions in the South Pacific.<ref>Parker, ''A Priceless Advantage'', p. 5, and Frank, ''Guadalcanal'', p. 21–22.</ref>		] ], commander of the Japanese 4th Fleet (also called the South Seas Force) consisting of most of the naval units in the South Pacific area, advocated the seizing of ], ], and ] in ] and ] in the ]. Inoue believed that the capture and control of these locations would provide greater security for the major Japanese base at ] on New Britain. Japan's ] endorsed Inoue's argument and began planning further operations, using these locations as supporting bases, to seize ], ], ], ], and ] and thereby cut the supply lines between Australia and the United States, with the goal of reducing or eliminating Australia as a threat to Japanese positions in the South Pacific.<ref>Parker, ''A Priceless Advantage'', p. 5, and Frank, ''Guadalcanal'', p. 21–22.</ref>
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	===Tulagi===		===Tulagi===
	{{Details\|Invasion of Tulagi (May 1942)}}		{{Details\|Invasion of Tulagi (May 1942)}}
	''Lexington'' joined ''Yorktown'' on ]. The Japanese occupied Tulagi without incident on ], and began construction of a seaplane base. After fueling, ''Yorktown'' closed on Tulagi and on ] launched three successful strikes against Japanese ships and aircraft there, revealing her presence, yet sinking the ] ] and five merchantmen, crippling the island's ] reconnaissance capability, and damaging other vessels. ''Yorktown'' then retired south to rendezvous with the ''Lexington'' and the newly-arrived ]s.		''Lexington'' joined ''Yorktown'' on May 1. The Japanese occupied Tulagi without incident on May 3, and began construction of a seaplane base. After fueling, ''Yorktown'' closed on Tulagi and on May 4 launched three successful strikes against Japanese ships and aircraft there, revealing her presence, yet sinking the ] ] and five merchantmen, crippling the island's ] reconnaissance capability, and damaging other vessels. ''Yorktown'' then retired south to rendezvous with the ''Lexington'' and the newly-arrived ]s.

	===]===		===May 6===
	Land-based ] attacked the approaching Port Moresby invasion fleet on ] with the usual lack of success. Almost another year would pass before the ] realized high-altitude bombing attacks against moving naval targets were pointless. Although both carrier groups flew extensive searches on ], cloudy weather kept them hidden from each other, and the two sides spent the night only 110 kilometres (70 mi) apart. Other Allied aircraft joined the battle, from airbases at ] and ] on ], Australia.		Land-based ] attacked the approaching Port Moresby invasion fleet on May 6 with the usual lack of success. Almost another year would pass before the ] realized high-altitude bombing attacks against moving naval targets were pointless. Although both carrier groups flew extensive searches on May 6, cloudy weather kept them hidden from each other, and the two sides spent the night only 110 kilometres (70 mi) apart. Other Allied aircraft joined the battle, from airbases at ] and ] on ], Australia.
	]		]

	That night, Fletcher, whose role was to protect Port Moresby, made the difficult decision to detach Crace to block the probable course of an invasion. Fletcher and Crace knew exposing surface ships to attack by land-based aircraft without air cover risked a repeat of the ] five months before. Their fears were nearly realized when the cruisers were spotted and came under an intense air attack from a squadron of ]s on the afternoon of ]. The ships escaped with few casualties and little damage. Only minutes after the Japanese raid Crace's force was inadvertently attacked by friendly B-17s. ''Farragut'' and ''Perkins'' once again had to endure near misses.		That night, Fletcher, whose role was to protect Port Moresby, made the difficult decision to detach Crace to block the probable course of an invasion. Fletcher and Crace knew exposing surface ships to attack by land-based aircraft without air cover risked a repeat of the ] five months before. Their fears were nearly realized when the cruisers were spotted and came under an intense air attack from a squadron of ]s on the afternoon of May 7. The ships escaped with few casualties and little damage. Only minutes after the Japanese raid Crace's force was inadvertently attacked by friendly B-17s. ''Farragut'' and ''Perkins'' once again had to endure near misses.

	].]]		].]]

	===]===		===May 7===
	On ], both fleets launched all available aircraft, but neither found the main body of the other, mistakenly attacking subsidiary enemy forces instead. Japanese aircraft found and attacked the U.S. ] ] and her escorting destroyer ], mistaking them for a carrier and a cruiser. Two waves of torpedo and dive bombers swarmed over both ships resulting in ''Sims'' being sunk and ''Neosho'' crippled.		On May 7, both fleets launched all available aircraft, but neither found the main body of the other, mistakenly attacking subsidiary enemy forces instead. Japanese aircraft found and attacked the U.S. ] ] and her escorting destroyer ], mistaking them for a carrier and a cruiser. Two waves of torpedo and dive bombers swarmed over both ships resulting in ''Sims'' being sunk and ''Neosho'' crippled.

	Meanwhile, U.S. aircraft, sent in the wrong direction by a miscoded contact report, had missed ''Shōkaku'' and ''Zuikaku'' but found the invasion fleet, escorted by the small carrier ''Shōhō'', which was soon sunk with heavy casualties. In the previous five months, the Allies had lost numerous major warships and had been unable to sink a single major Japanese combatant in return. ''Shōhō'' was small by carrier standards, but the ] phrase “scratch one ],” radioed back to ''Lexington'' by then-] ],<ref></ref> announced the first Allied naval success of the Pacific War. Dixon's phrase was quoted by ''Chicago Tribune'' war correspondent Stanley Johnston in a June 1942 article and subsequently requoted in most accounts of the Pacific War.<ref name="proceedings">Mason (June 1982, )p.45.</ref> ''Lexington'''s commanding officer, Captain Frederick C. Sherman, USN, credited Dixon with coining the word "flattop" which became standard slang for an aircraft carrier.<ref name="proceedings"/>		Meanwhile, U.S. aircraft, sent in the wrong direction by a miscoded contact report, had missed ''Shōkaku'' and ''Zuikaku'' but found the invasion fleet, escorted by the small carrier ''Shōhō'', which was soon sunk with heavy casualties. In the previous five months, the Allies had lost numerous major warships and had been unable to sink a single major Japanese combatant in return. ''Shōhō'' was small by carrier standards, but the ] phrase “scratch one ],” radioed back to ''Lexington'' by then-] ],<ref></ref> announced the first Allied naval success of the Pacific War. Dixon's phrase was quoted by ''Chicago Tribune'' war correspondent Stanley Johnston in a June 1942 article and subsequently requoted in most accounts of the Pacific War.<ref name="proceedings">Mason (June 1982, )p.45.</ref> ''Lexington'''s commanding officer, Captain Frederick C. Sherman, USN, credited Dixon with coining the word "flattop" which became standard slang for an aircraft carrier.<ref name="proceedings"/>

	===]===		===May 8===
	Finally, with dawn searches on ], the main carrier forces located one another and launched maximum effort raids, which passed each other in the air. Hidden by rain, ''Zuikaku'' escaped detection, but ''Shōkaku'' was hit three times by bombs. Her deck damaged, ''Shōkaku'' was unable to land her aircraft and effectively put out of action.		Finally, with dawn searches on May 8, the main carrier forces located one another and launched maximum effort raids, which passed each other in the air. Hidden by rain, ''Zuikaku'' escaped detection, but ''Shōkaku'' was hit three times by bombs. Her deck damaged, ''Shōkaku'' was unable to land her aircraft and effectively put out of action.

	]. Note planes parked aft, where fires have not yet reached.]]		]

	''Lexington''s CXAM-1 ] detected the inbound Japanese aircraft at a range of 68 mi<!--assuming nm given Macintyre--> (126 km),<ref name="macintyre">Macintyre, Donald, Captain, RN. "Shipborne Radar", in ''United States Naval Institute Proceedings'', September 1967 p.73</ref> but the Americans underestimated the performance of the ] and positioned their fighters too low to intercept.<ref name="greene">Greene(1995)p.186</ref> Both American carriers were hit: ''Yorktown'' by a bomb; the larger, less maneuverable ''Lexington'' by both bombs and torpedoes. Although the latter survived the immediate damage and was thought to be repairable, leaking aviation fuel exploded a little over an hour later. ''Lexington'' had to be abandoned and ]d to prevent her capture.		''Lexington''s CXAM-1 ] detected the inbound Japanese aircraft at a range of 68 mi<!--assuming nm given Macintyre--> (126 km),<ref name="macintyre">Macintyre, Donald, Captain, RN. "Shipborne Radar", in ''United States Naval Institute Proceedings'', September 1967 p.73</ref> but the Americans underestimated the performance of the ] and positioned their fighters too low to intercept.<ref name="greene">Greene(1995)p.186</ref> Both American carriers were hit: ''Yorktown'' by a bomb; the larger, less maneuverable ''Lexington'' by both bombs and torpedoes. Although the latter survived the immediate damage and was thought to be repairable, leaking aviation fuel exploded a little over an hour later. ''Lexington'' had to be abandoned and ]d to prevent her capture.

Revision as of 12:58, 28 December 2008

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Battle of the Coral Sea

Part of the Pacific Theater of World War II

.
US Navy aircraft carrier Lexington explodes on May 8, 1942, several hours after being heavily damaged in a Japanese carrier air attack

Date	May 4 – May 8, 1942
Location	Coral Sea, between Australia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands
Result	Japanese tactical victory; Allied strategic victory

Belligerents

Allied forces including:

United States

Australia

Empire of Japan

Commanders and leaders

John Crace (RN/RAN)

Strength

2 fleet carriers,
9 cruisers,
13 destroyers,
2 oilers,
1 seaplane tender

2 fleet carriers,
1 light carrier,
9 cruisers,
15 destroyers,
12 smaller warships,
1 oiler,
1 seaplane tender

Casualties and losses

1 fleet carrier,
1 destroyer,
1 oiler sunk,
1 fleet carrier damaged,
65 aircraft destroyed
543 killed and wounded

1 light carrier,
1 destroyer,
3 smaller warships sunk,
1 fleet carrier,
1 destroyer,
2 smaller warships,
1 transport damaged,
69 aircraft destroyed
1,074 killed and wounded

v t e Japanese offensives, 1940–1942
1940 Manchukuo Chongqing South Guangxi West Suiyuan Wuyuan Zaoyang–Yichang French Indochina Kaimingjie Central Hubei North China 1941 Panjiayu South Henan Western Hubei Shanggao South Shanxi 2nd Changsha Malaya Pearl Harbor Thailand Hong Kong Philippines Guam Wake Sand Island Niihau Gilbert Islands Indian Ocean Borneo Dutch East Indies 3rd Changsha 1942 Timor Burma New Guinea Qantas Short Empire shootdown Singapore Darwin Ellwood Broome KNILM Douglas DC-3 shootdown Operation K Andaman and Nicobar Christmas Island Ceylon Solomons Tulagi Coral Sea Nauru and Ocean Islands Zhejiang-Jiangxi Madagascar Aleutian Islands Midway Sydney Newcastle Fort Stevens Dureenbee Mount Emily

Japanese offensives,
1940–1942

1940

1941

1942

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v t e Pacific War
Central Pacific Pearl Harbor Marshalls–Gilberts raids K Doolittle Raid Midway Gilberts and Marshalls Marianas and Palau Volcano and Ryukyu Truk Ocean Island Indian Ocean (1941–1945) Japanese merchant raids Andaman Islands Homfreyganj massacre Christmas Island 1st Indian Ocean Ceylon Bay of Bengal 2nd Indian Ocean Southeast Asia Indochina (1940) Franco-Thai War Thailand Malaya Hong Kong Singapore Indochina (1945) Malacca Strait Vietnam Jurist Tiderace Zipper Strategic bombing (1944–45) Burma and India Burma (1941–42) Burma (1942–43) Burma and India (1944) Burma (1944–45) Southwest Pacific Dutch East Indies (1941–42) Philippines (1941–42) RY Solomon Islands Coral Sea Timor Australia New Guinea New Britain Philippines (1944–45) Borneo (1945) North America Ellwood Aleutian Islands Estevan Point Lighthouse Fort Stevens Lookout Air Raids Fire balloon bombs Project Hula PX Japan Air raids Tokyo Yokosuka Kure Hiroshima and Nagasaki Mariana Islands Volcano and Ryukyu Islands Starvation Naval bombardments Sagami Bay South Sakhalin Kuril Islands Shumshu Downfall Japanese surrender Manchuria and Northern Korea Kantokuen Manchuria (1945) Mutanchiang Chongjin Second Sino-Japanese War

Pacific War

Central Pacific

Indian Ocean (1941–1945)

Southeast Asia

Burma and India

Southwest Pacific

North America

Japan

Manchuria and Northern Korea

Second Sino-Japanese War

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v t e New Guinea campaign
1942 Battle of Rabaul 1st Lae-Salamaua Coral Sea Kokoda Track Milne Bay Goodenough Island Buna–Gona Lilliput Merauke 1943 Wau Bismarck Sea I-Go 2nd Lae-Salamaua Chronicle Markham-Ramu-Finisterres Wewak Raid Huon Peninsula New Britain Bombing of Rabaul 1944–45 Neutralisation of Rabaul Admiralties Emirau Take Ichi Bombing of Hollandia Western New Guinea

New Guinea campaign

1942

1943

1944–45

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The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought between May 4 – May 8, 1942, with most of the action occurring on May 7 and May 8, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and the Allied forces of the United States Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. It was the first fleet action in which aircraft carriers engaged each other. It was also the first naval battle in history in which neither side's ships sighted or fired directly upon the other.

It is considered a tactical victory for Japan, since the United States lost fleet carrier USS Lexington in exchange for the light carrier Shōhō. At the same time, the battle was a strategic victory for the Allies because the Japanese abandoned their attempt to land troops to take Port Moresby, New Guinea. The engagement ended with no clear victor, but the damage suffered and experience gained by both sides set the stage for the Battle of Midway.

Background

On December 7, 1941, using aircraft carriers, the Japanese attacked the US Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack crippled most of the US Pacific Fleet's battleships. In launching the Pacific War, Japanese leaders sought to neutralize US naval power, seize colonies rich in natural resources, and obtain strategic military bases to defend a Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere. Soon after, other nations, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand joined the U.S. as Allies in the war against Japan. In the words of the Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet Secret Order Number One, dated November 1, 1941, the goals of the initial Japanese campaigns in the impending war were to, "(eject) British and American strength from the Netherlands Indies and the Philippines, (and) to establish a policy of autonomous self-sufficiency and economic independence." The plan was to set up a defensive perimeter around Japan to protect its production facilities and ensure victory in the Japanese invasion of China. More importantly, given the lack of raw materials in the Japanese Home Islands, Japan hoped to protect its shipping routes so the much needed raw materials and oil could be shipped without interruption. To support these goals, during the first few months of 1942 Japanese forces also attacked and took control of the Philippines, Thailand, Malaya, Singapore, the Dutch East Indies, Wake Island, New Britain, and Guam.

Vice Admiral Shigeyoshi Inoue, commander of the Japanese 4th Fleet (also called the South Seas Force) consisting of most of the naval units in the South Pacific area, advocated the seizing of Lae, Salamaua, and Port Moresby in New Guinea and Tulagi in the Solomon Islands. Inoue believed that the capture and control of these locations would provide greater security for the major Japanese base at Rabaul on New Britain. Japan's Naval General Staff endorsed Inoue's argument and began planning further operations, using these locations as supporting bases, to seize Nauru, Ocean Island, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Samoa and thereby cut the supply lines between Australia and the United States, with the goal of reducing or eliminating Australia as a threat to Japanese positions in the South Pacific.

The Japanese Imperial Army supported the idea of taking Port Moresby and in April 1942, with the Japanese Navy, developed a plan for the attack that was titled Operation Mo. The plan also included the seizure of Tulagi, a small island in the southern Solomon Islands, where a seaplane base would be set up for potential air operations against Allied territories and forces in the South Pacific. Although Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, commander of the Combined Fleet, was concurrently planning an operation that he hoped would lure the U.S. Navy's Pacific fleet into a decisive showdown in the central Pacific, he detached some of his large warships to support the Mo operation and placed Inoue in charge of the naval portion of the operation.

Forces involved

Further information: Coral Sea order of battle

A large force consisting of one light and two fleet aircraft carriers, a seaplane carrier, nine cruisers, and 13 destroyers, split into several elements, was to guard the Japanese Port Moresby invasion convoy as well as to engage any Allied warships that approached to contest the invasion.

Allied intelligence personnel had deciphered much of the Japanese Mo plans through radio intercepts at the Allied Fleet Radio Unit in Melbourne, Australia and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Based on this intelligence, on April 22, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC) Admiral Chester Nimitz, headquartered at Pearl Harbor, directed Allied forces towards the Coral Sea area to interdict Operation Mo. On April 27, the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown's task force, under the command of Vice Admiral Frank Fletcher, sortied from Tonga and was joined by the carrier USS Lexington's task force near the New Hebrides on May 1. The two task forces, operating semi-independently of each other, prepared to engage any Japanese forces operating in the Coral Sea area.

Prelude to battle

Three Japanese task forces set sail. Two invasion forces headed for the Solomons and Port Moresby, accompanied by a covering force. This force consisted of two large, modern aircraft carriers, Shōkaku and Zuikaku (both veterans of the attack on Pearl Harbor), a smaller carrier, Shōhō, two heavy cruisers, and supporting craft.

Alerted by radio intercepts, the Allies knew Japanese land-based aircraft were being moved south and that an operation was impending. Three main groups opposed the Japanese: Yorktown, which was already in the Coral Sea, Lexington, which was en route (both of which would come under the overall command of Admiral Frank Fletcher) and a joint Allied surface force, Task Force 44, under Australian Rear Admiral John Crace, made up of the cruisers HMAS Australia, HMAS Hobart, and USS Chicago, and destroyers USS Perkins, USS Walke, and USS Farragut. United States carriers Hornet and Enterprise were heading south after the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, but arrived too late to take part in the battle.

Battle

Tulagi

Further information: Invasion of Tulagi (May 1942)

Lexington joined Yorktown on May 1. The Japanese occupied Tulagi without incident on May 3, and began construction of a seaplane base. After fueling, Yorktown closed on Tulagi and on May 4 launched three successful strikes against Japanese ships and aircraft there, revealing her presence, yet sinking the destroyer Kikuzuki and five merchantmen, crippling the island's seaplane reconnaissance capability, and damaging other vessels. Yorktown then retired south to rendezvous with the Lexington and the newly-arrived cruisers.

May 6

Land-based B-17s attacked the approaching Port Moresby invasion fleet on May 6 with the usual lack of success. Almost another year would pass before the USAAF realized high-altitude bombing attacks against moving naval targets were pointless. Although both carrier groups flew extensive searches on May 6, cloudy weather kept them hidden from each other, and the two sides spent the night only 110 kilometres (70 mi) apart. Other Allied aircraft joined the battle, from airbases at Cooktown and Mareeba on Cape York Peninsula, Australia.

That night, Fletcher, whose role was to protect Port Moresby, made the difficult decision to detach Crace to block the probable course of an invasion. Fletcher and Crace knew exposing surface ships to attack by land-based aircraft without air cover risked a repeat of the loss of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse five months before. Their fears were nearly realized when the cruisers were spotted and came under an intense air attack from a squadron of torpedo bombers on the afternoon of May 7. The ships escaped with few casualties and little damage. Only minutes after the Japanese raid Crace's force was inadvertently attacked by friendly B-17s. Farragut and Perkins once again had to endure near misses.

May 7

On May 7, both fleets launched all available aircraft, but neither found the main body of the other, mistakenly attacking subsidiary enemy forces instead. Japanese aircraft found and attacked the U.S. fleet oiler Neosho and her escorting destroyer Sims, mistaking them for a carrier and a cruiser. Two waves of torpedo and dive bombers swarmed over both ships resulting in Sims being sunk and Neosho crippled.

Meanwhile, U.S. aircraft, sent in the wrong direction by a miscoded contact report, had missed Shōkaku and Zuikaku but found the invasion fleet, escorted by the small carrier Shōhō, which was soon sunk with heavy casualties. In the previous five months, the Allies had lost numerous major warships and had been unable to sink a single major Japanese combatant in return. Shōhō was small by carrier standards, but the laconic phrase “scratch one flattop,” radioed back to Lexington by then-Lieutenant Commander Robert E. Dixon, announced the first Allied naval success of the Pacific War. Dixon's phrase was quoted by Chicago Tribune war correspondent Stanley Johnston in a June 1942 article and subsequently requoted in most accounts of the Pacific War. Lexington's commanding officer, Captain Frederick C. Sherman, USN, credited Dixon with coining the word "flattop" which became standard slang for an aircraft carrier.

May 8

Finally, with dawn searches on May 8, the main carrier forces located one another and launched maximum effort raids, which passed each other in the air. Hidden by rain, Zuikaku escaped detection, but Shōkaku was hit three times by bombs. Her deck damaged, Shōkaku was unable to land her aircraft and effectively put out of action.

Lexingtons CXAM-1 radar detected the inbound Japanese aircraft at a range of 68 mi (126 km), but the Americans underestimated the performance of the Nakajima B5N and positioned their fighters too low to intercept. Both American carriers were hit: Yorktown by a bomb; the larger, less maneuverable Lexington by both bombs and torpedoes. Although the latter survived the immediate damage and was thought to be repairable, leaking aviation fuel exploded a little over an hour later. Lexington had to be abandoned and scuttled to prevent her capture.

Crace continued to stand between the invasion force and Port Moresby. Inoue was misled by returning fliers’ reports as to the strength of the Allied cruiser and destroyer force, and he recalled the invasion fleet. With Shōkaku damaged and Zuikaku short of aircraft, neither was able to take part in the crucial Battle of Midway a month later. The damaged Yorktown returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs.

Aftermath

**6 May:**
—I Refueling group, *Sims* and *Neosho* —II Task force Fox, *Lexington* and *Yorktown*
—I Invasion group, *Shoho* —II *Shokaku* and *Zuikaku*
**7 May:**
—III Cruiser group --- American carrier based bombers
--- Japanese carrier based bombers
--- Allied land based bombers
--- Japanese land based bombers
1. *Sims* sunk, *Neosho* damaged.
2. *Shoho* sunk by carrier aircraft.
3. Cruiser force attacked, no damage.
**8 May:**
4.Lexington and *Yorktown* damaged.
5. *Shokaku* damaged.
6. *Lexington* sunk.
7. *Neosho* scuttled 11 May by *Henley*

Tactical analysis

Despite heavier personnel casualties due to the quick sinking of Shōhō, the Japanese had achieved a narrow tactical victory. One small carrier was lost and a large carrier severely damaged against the Americans’ loss of a large carrier and significant damage to another.

Strategic analysis

In strategic terms, the Allies had won because the seaborne invasion of Port Moresby was averted. Port Moresby was vital to Allied strategy and could not have been defended by the ground forces stationed there. This was the first time that a Japanese invasion force had been turned back without achieving its objective. In addition, it was a moral victory. From the Allied point of view, after five months of continuous defeat in the Pacific, a battle that came out almost even was a victory.

The battle had a substantial effect on the morale and the strategic planning of both sides. Without a hold in New Guinea the subsequent Allied advance, difficult though it was, would have been much harder still. Because their seaborne invasion had failed, the Japanese chose instead to attack Moresby overland. The consequent delay was just long enough to permit the arrival of the veteran Second Australian Imperial Force to fight the Kokoda Track campaign and the Battle of Milne Bay, which in turn relieved pressure on U.S. forces at Guadalcanal.

Carriers

Although Zuikaku was only slightly damaged, with only 40 aircraft left she was in no condition to fight and had to return to Japan to replenish her air wings. Shōkaku was severely damaged, unable to operate aircraft, and took six months to repair. Despite the likely availability of sufficient aircraft between the two ships to re-equip Zuikaku with a composite air group, the Japanese made no serious attempt to get her ready for Midway.

The loss of Lexington was a severe blow, as she was one of the Navy's largest carriers. Yorktown was still able to operate aircraft. Though her damage was estimated to require 90 days of repairs when she arrived at Pearl Harbor on May 27, the Navy Yard worked around the clock and she sailed for Midway on the morning of May 30. Even as she sailed, repair crews remained aboard Yorktown, working to make her more or less battle-worthy.

Responses

The U.S. Navy learned a great deal from the Battle of the Coral Sea. Following the loss of Lexington, better ways to contain aviation fuel and control defensive fighter aircraft were developed. After the costly attacks on the Japanese carriers, it was clear that coordination of dive- and torpedo bombers had to be improved. Most importantly of all, the battle provided a significant morale boost because it showed that the Japanese could be beaten.

Admiral Fletcher continued to command carrier forces and served as the senior USN officer at Midway. Admiral Takagi was relegated to less important assignments in the aftermath of Coral Sea.

Notes

the smaller warships included five minesweepers, 2 minelayers, 2 subchasers, and three gunboats.
Funk and Wagnalls New Encyclopedia (New York, 1986), Volume 7, p. 209, "Coral Sea, Battle of the".
Lundstrom, Guadalcanal Campaign, p. 92. Breakdown of aircraft losses: 19 “Zero” fighters, 19 “Val” dive bombers, and 31 “Kate” torpedo bombers.
Hakim, Joy (1995). A History of Us: War, Peace and all that Jazz. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-509514-6. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
Parker, A Priceless Advantage, p. 3.
Murray, War to be Won, p. 169–195
Parker, A Priceless Advantage, p. 5, and Frank, Guadalcanal, p. 21–22.
Jersey, Hell's Islands, p. 57.
Dull, Imperial Japanese Navy, pp.122–124; D'Albas, p.110; Gill, Royal Australian Navy, p.42; Jersey, Hell's Islands, p.58.
Parker, A Priceless Advantage, p. 11.
Cressman, That Gallant Ship, p. 83–86.
Adm. Robert E. Dixon, Hero of a Naval Battle - New York Times
^ Mason (June 1982, )p.45.
Macintyre, Donald, Captain, RN. "Shipborne Radar", in United States Naval Institute Proceedings, September 1967 p.73
Greene(1995)p.186
Parshall & Tully, Shattered Sword, pp.65–67.
Paul S. Dull. A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy (1941-1945). Naval Institute Press. p. 134. ISBN 1591142199.
Donald A. David (2006). Lightning Strike. Macmillan. p. 103.

References

Printed sources

Brown, David (1990). Warship Losses of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-914-X.
Cressman, Robert (2000 (4th printing)). That Gallant Ship U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-5). Missoula, Montana, U.S.A.: Pictorial Histories Publishing Company. ISBN 0-933126-57-3. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
D'Albas, Andrieu (1965). Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II. Devin-Adair Pub. ISBN 0-8159-5302-X.
Dull, Paul S. (1978). A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941-1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-097-1.
Frank, Richard (1990). Guadalcanal: The Definitive Account of the Landmark Battle. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-394-58875-4.
Hata, Ikuhiko (1975 (original) 1989 (translation)). Japanese Naval Aces and Fighter Units in World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-315-6. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
Hayashi, Saburo (1959). Kogun: The Japanese Army in the Pacific War. Marine Corps Association. ASIN B000ID3YRK. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
Henry, Chris (2003). The Battle of the Coral Sea. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-033-1. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
Holmes, W. J. (1979). Double-edged Secrets: U.S. Naval Intelligence Operations in the Pacific During World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Blue Jacket Books/Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-324-9. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
Hoyt, Edwin P. (2003). Blue Skies and Blood: The Battle of the Coral Sea. I Books. ISBN 0-7434-5835-4. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
Ito, Masanori (1956 (original) 1962 (translation)). The End of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Jove Books. ISBN 0-515-08682-7. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
Jersey, Stanley Coleman (2008). Hell's Islands: The Untold Story of Guadalcanal. College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 1-58544-616-5. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
Lundstrom, John B. (2005 (New edition)). First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign: Naval Fighter Combat from August to November 1942. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-472-8. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
Lundstrom, John B. (2005 (New edition)). The First Team: Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway. Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.A.: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 159114471X. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
Mason, Robert (June 1982). "Eyewitness". United States Naval Institute Proceedings. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
Millot, Bernard (1974)). The Battle of the Coral Sea. Great Britain: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-909-x. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help); Check date values in: |year= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
Morison, Samuel Eliot (1949 (reissue 2001)). Coral Sea, Midway and Submarine Actions, May 1942-August 1942, vol. 4 of History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Champaign, Illinois, USA: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-252-06995-1. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
Parkin, Robert Sinclair (1995). Blood on the Sea: American Destroyers Lost in World War II. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-81069-7.
Parshall, Jonathan (2005). Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway. Dulles, VA: Potomac Books. ISBN 1-57488-923-0. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
Peattie, Mark R. (1999). Sunburst: The Rise of Japanese Naval Air Power 1909-1941. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-664-X.
Rottman, Gordon L. (2005). Japanese Army in World War II: The South Pacific and New Guinea, 1942-43. Oxford and New York: Osprey. ISBN 1-84176-870-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
Spector, Ronald H. (1985). Eagle Against the Sun: The American War with Japan. New York: The Free Press. ISBN 0-02-930360-5. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
Stille, Mark (2007). USN Carriers vs IJN Carriers: The Pacific 1942. New York: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84603-248-6.
Toland, John (2003 (1970)). The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-1945. New York: The Modern Library. ISBN 0-8129-6858-1. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
Willmott, H. P. (1982). Empires in the Balance: Japanese and Allied Pacific Strategies to April 1942. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-535-3. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
Willmott, H. P. (2002). The War with Japan: The Period of Balance, May 1942 – October 1943. Wilmington, Delaware: Scholarly Resources Inc. ISBN 0-8420-5032-9. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

Web

Australian War Memorial. "Battle of the Coral Sea". Encyclopedia. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
Bullard, Steven (translator) (2007). Japanese army operations in the South Pacific Area New Britain and Papua campaigns, 1942–43. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. ISBN 9780975190487. {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help)
Gill, G. Hermon (1968). Volume II – Royal Australian Navy, 1942–1945. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 2006-11-20.
McCarthy, Dudley (1959). Volume V – South–West Pacific Area – First Year: Kokoda to Wau. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 2006-11-02.
Office of Naval Intelligence (1943). "The Battle of the Coral Sea". Combat Narrative. Publications Branch, Office of Naval Intelligence, United States Navy. Retrieved 2006-11-20.
Parker, Frederick D. "Part One: The Battle of the Coral Sea". A Priceless Advantage: U.S. Navy Communications Intelligence and the Battles of Coral Sea, Midway, and the Aleutians. National Security Agency, Central Security Service. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
United States Army Center of Military History. "The Campaigns of MacArthur in the Pacific, Volume I". Reports of General MacArthur. Retrieved 2006-12-08. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |accessyear=, |coauthors=, and |month= (help)
United States Army Center of Military History. "Japanese Operations in the Southwest Pacific Area, Volume II - Part I". Reports of General MacArthur. Retrieved 2006-12-08. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |accessyear=, |coauthors=, and |month= (help)
United States Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific) - Naval Analysis Division (1946). "Chapter 4: The Battle of the Coral Sea". The Campaigns of the Pacific War. United States Government Printing Office. Retrieved 2006-11-20.

Further information

Brett, J. H., Jr. (May 10, 1942). "Task Force 11 Report". United States Navy. Retrieved 2008-11-06. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |accessyear=, |coauthors=, and |month= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: year (link) (Primary source)
Cagney, James (2005). "The Battle of The Coral Sea, May 3-8, 1942". Pacific War Animated. Retrieved 2008-11-06. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |accessyear=, |coauthors=, and |month= (help)
Generous, William Thomas, Jr., (2003). Sweet Pea at War: A History of USS Portland (CA-33). University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-2286-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Greene, Jack (1995). The Midway Campaign. Pennsylvania: Combined Books. ISBN 0-938289-11-X.
Nelson, Hank. "Report on Historical Sources on Australia and Japan at war in Papua and New Guinea, 1942-45". Retrieved 2006-12-13. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |accessyear=, |coauthors=, and |month= (help)
Nowack, H. F. (May 15, 1942). "USS Lexington (CV2)". United States Navy. Retrieved 2008-11-06. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |accessyear=, |coauthors=, and |month= (help)CS1 maint: year (link) (Primary source)
Sinclair, Don (1997). Cooktown at War: A Record of Activities in Cooktown During World War II. Cooktown and District Historical Society.
Smith, Douglas V. (2006). Carrier Battles: Command Decision in Harm's Way. US Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1591147948. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
United States Naval Historical Center (2000). "Battle of the Coral Sea, 7-8 May 1942". Online Library of Selected Images: EVENTS -- World War II in the Pacific. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
United States Navy (May 8, 1942). "Preliminary Report, U.S.S. Lexington, Loss in Action". United States Navy. Retrieved 2008-11-06. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |accessyear=, |coauthors=, and |month= (help)CS1 maint: year (link) (Primary source)

World War II

General

Topics	Air warfare of World War II In Europe Blitzkrieg Comparative military ranks Cryptography Declarations of war Diplomacy Governments in exile Home front Australian United Kingdom United States Lend-Lease Manhattan Project British contribution Military awards Military equipment Military production Naval history Nazi plunder Opposition Technology Allied cooperation Mulberry harbour Total war Strategic bombing Puppet states Women Art and World War II Music in World War II Weather events during World War II
Theaters	Asia and Pacific China South-East Asia Pacific North and Central Pacific South-West Pacific Indian Ocean Europe Western Front Eastern Front Mediterranean and Middle East North Africa East Africa Italy West Africa Atlantic timeline Americas
Aftermath	Chinese Civil War Cold War Decolonization Division of Korea First Indochina War Expulsion of Germans Greek Civil War Indonesian National Revolution Keelhaul Marshall Plan Occupation of Germany Occupation of Japan Osoaviakhim Paperclip Soviet occupations Baltic Hungary Poland Romania Territorial changes of Germany Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany United Nations
War crimes	Allied war crimes Soviet war crimes British war crimes United States war crimes German war crimes forced labour Wehrmacht war crimes The Holocaust Aftermath Response Nuremberg trials Italian war crimes Japanese war crimes Nanjing Massacre Unit 731 Prosecution Croatian war crimes Genocide of Serbs Persecution of Jews Romanian war crimes Sexual violence German military brothels Camp brothels Rape during the occupation of Germany / Japan / Poland Rape during the liberation of France / Serbia Sook Ching Comfort women Rape of Manila Marocchinate

Participants

Allies	Algeria Australia Belgium Brazil Bulgaria (from September 1944) Canada China Cuba Czechoslovakia Denmark Ethiopia Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) Finland (from September 1944) France Free France Greece India Italy (from September 1943) Luxembourg Mexico Netherlands Newfoundland New Zealand Norway Philippines Poland Romania (from August 1944) Sierra Leone South Africa Southern Rhodesia Soviet Union Tuva United Kingdom British Empire United States Puerto Rico Yugoslavia
Axis	Albania protectorate Bulgaria (until September 1944) Wang Jingwei regime Independent State of Croatia Finland (until September 1944) German Reich Hungary Azad Hind French Indochina Iraq Italy (until September 1943) Italian Social Republic Empire of Japan Manchukuo Philippines Romania (until August 1944) Slovak Republic Thailand Vichy France Collaboration
Neutral	Afghanistan Andorra Bhutan Ireland Liechtenstein Portugal Spain Sweden Switzerland Tibet Vatican City
Resistance	Albania Austria Belgium Bulgaria Czech lands Denmark Dutch East Indies Estonia Ethiopia France Germany Greece Hong Kong Italy Japan Jews Korea Korean Liberation Army Korean Volunteer Army Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malaya Netherlands Northeast China Norway Philippines Poland Romania Thailand Soviet Union Slovakia Western Ukraine Vietnam Quốc dân Đảng Viet Minh Yugoslavia
POWs	Finnish prisoners in the Soviet Union German prisoners Soviet Union Azerbaijan United States United Kingdom Italian prisoners in the Soviet Union Japanese prisoners Soviet Union German atrocities against Polish POWs Soviet prisoners Finland atrocities by Germans Polish prisoners in the Soviet Union Romanian prisoners in the Soviet Union

Timeline

Prelude	Africa Second Italo-Ethiopian War Asia Second Sino-Japanese War Battles of Khalkhin Gol Europe Remilitarisation of the Rhineland Anschluss Munich Agreement Occupation of Czechoslovakia Operation Himmler Italian invasion of Albania
1939	Invasion of Poland Battle of the Atlantic Phoney War First Battle of Changsha Battle of South Guangxi Winter War 1939–1940 Winter Offensive
1940	Norwegian campaign German invasion of Denmark Battle of Zaoyang–Yichang German invasion of Luxembourg German invasion of the Netherlands German invasion of Belgium Battle of France Dunkirk evacuation Battle of Britain Battle of the Mediterranean North Africa West Africa British Somaliland Hundred Regiments Offensive Baltic states Eastern Romania Japanese invasion of French Indochina Italian invasion of Greece Compass
1941	Battle of South Henan Battle of Shanggao Invasion of Yugoslavia German invasion of Greece Battle of Crete Anglo-Iraqi War Battle of South Shanxi Syria–Lebanon campaign East African campaign Invasion of the Soviet Union Summer War Finland (Silver Fox) Lithuania Battle of Kiev Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran Second Battle of Changsha Siege of Leningrad Battle of Moscow Bombing of Gorky Siege of Sevastopol Attack on Pearl Harbor Japanese invasion of Thailand Fall of Hong Kong Fall of the Philippines Battle of Guam Battle of Wake Island Malayan campaign Battle of Borneo Japanese invasion of Burma Third Battle of Changsha Greek famine of 1941–1944
1942	Fall of Singapore Battle of the Java Sea St Nazaire Raid Battle of Christmas Island Battle of the Coral Sea Battle of Madagascar Zhejiang-Jiangxi campaign Battle of Gazala Battle of Dutch Harbor Battle of Midway Aleutian Islands campaign Kiska Attu Blue First Battle of El Alamein Battle of Stalingrad Kokoda Track campaign Rzhev Jubilee Second Battle of El Alamein Guadalcanal campaign Torch Chinese famine of 1942–1943
1943	Black May Tunisian campaign Battle of West Hubei Battle of Attu Bombing of Gorky Battle of Kursk Allied invasion of Sicily Smolensk Solomon Islands campaign Cottage Battle of the Dnieper Allied invasion of Italy Armistice of Cassibile Burma Northern Burma and Western Yunnan Changde Second Battle of Kiev Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign Tarawa Makin Bengal famine of 1943
1944	Tempest Monte Cassino / Anzio Korsun–Cherkassy Narva Ichi-Go Overlord Neptune Mariana and Palau Bagration Western Ukraine Second Battle of Guam Tannenberg Line Warsaw Uprising Eastern Romania Liberation of Paris Dragoon Gothic Line Belgrade offensive Lapland Market Garden Estonia Crossbow Pointblank Vietnamese famine of 1944–1945 Philippines (1944–1945) Leyte Syrmian Front Hungary Budapest Burma (1944–1945) Ardennes Bodenplatte Dutch famine of 1944–1945
1945	Vistula–Oder Battle of Manila Battle of Iwo Jima Indochina Vienna offensive Project Hula Western invasion of Germany Bratislava–Brno offensive Battle of Okinawa Second Guangxi campaign West Hunan Italy (Spring 1945) Battle of Berlin Prague offensive Surrender of Germany document Borneo Taipei Naval bombardment of Japan Manchuria Atomic bombings Debate South Sakhalin Kuril Islands Shumshu Surrender of Japan Potsdam Declaration document End of World War II in Asia

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