The Battle of the Coral Sea--a turning point for the War in the Pacific? Yes, as Japan lost two key aircraft carriers which would later prove costly at the Battle of Midway in June of 1942. This epic sea battle took place from 4 May to 8 May 1942. The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) faced off against the United States and Australian naval and air forces, engaging in a revolutionary shift in tactics. It was the first naval battle in history where opposing fleets never sighted nor fired upon one another. Instead, they attacked over the horizon with aircraft carriers, marking a turning point in how naval warfare was conducted. The incorporation of aircraft carriers in naval battles had revolutionized warfare, and the United States and Australia had mastered it. The Allies' victory in the Battle of Coral Sea was vital in turning the tide of World War II's Pacific conflict. It forced Japan to reassess its military strategy and capabilities and reminded them that they were not invincible.

The Japanese launched their offensive with an ambitious plan to capture Port Moresby in New Guinea, a strategic point in the Pacific. However, the Allies responded swiftly, moving to stop the Japanese advance and launching an intense four-day battle that included several surface and aerial engagements. The ultimate victory of the Allies prevented Japan from seizing Port Moresby and gained immense importance for the ongoing war in the Pacific.

The Battle of Coral Sea was a considerable clash between two powerful forces, leading to significant losses on both sides. Although four ships were sunk by each power, it became clear that the United States and Australia had the upper hand in this battle, thanks to their formidable air power. The aircraft carriers played a significant role in the battle and revolutionized warfare, as US carrier-borne dive bombers inflicted more damage on Japanese vessels than any other Allied force in history at that point.

This battle showed that Japan's surface fleet could not compete with the overwhelming air power possessed by the United States and Australia. This shift in naval warfare meant that countries would have to rethink their military strategies and adapt to the new environment. Not only did the Battle of the Coral Sea force Japan to reconsider its expansionist strategy in the Pacific, but it also prompted an evaluation of their military capabilities against Allied forces. The battle occurred as a part of Operation Mo, a Japanese plan to occupy and invade several strategic locations in the South Pacific, including Port Moresby and Tulagi. Japan's Combined Fleet launched the operation by sending several major units, including two fleet carriers and a light carrier, to provide air cover for the invasion forces under the command of Admiral Shigeyoshi Inoue.

However, the United States and Australia became aware of the Japanese plan through signals intelligence and sent their forces to oppose the offensive. The US Navy deployed two carrier task forces and a joint Australian-American cruiser force under the command of Admiral Frank J. Fletcher. The engagement began on May 3-4, when Japanese forces successfully invaded and occupied Tulagi. However, US aircraft carriers damaged several supporting warships in a surprise attack, prompting the Japanese carriers to advance towards the Coral Sea to locate and destroy the Allied forces.

Top photo: View on the flight deck of USS Lexington (CV-2), at about 1500 hours on 8 May 1942, during the Battle of the Coral Sea. The ship's air group is spotted aft, with Grumman F4F-3 fighters nearest the camera. SBD scout bombers and TBD-1 torpedo planes are parked further aft. Smoke is rising around the after aircraft elevator from fires burning in the hangar. Note fire hose, wheels, propellers, servicing stands and other gear scattered on the flight deck. Source: Official U.S. Navy Photograph. In the Public Domain. Click to enlarge.

Bottom photo: Graphic diagram of the Battle of the Coral Sea. Source: Naval Heritage and History Command. In the Public Domain. Click to enlarge.

On 6 May, both fleet carriers came within 70 nautical miles of each other, but the darkness prevented them from detecting each other. On May 7, both sides launched airstrikes against what they thought were enemy fleet carriers but actually attacked other targets. The US sank the Japanese light carrier Shoho, and the Japanese sank the Sims, a destroyer, and damaged the fleet oiler Neosho. On May 8, both sides finally found and attacked each other's fleet carriers, leaving the Japanese fleet carrier Shokaku damaged, the US fleet carrier Lexington critically damaged and later scuttled, and the fleet carrier Yorktown lightly damaged.

One of the most significant effects of the Coral Sea battle was the temporary loss of the Shokaku and Zuikaku to Yamamoto's planned battle against the U.S. carriers at Midway. The loss of these two carriers would prove to be a critical blow to the Japanese Navy, leaving them with fewer resources to achieve their objectives in the Pacific. The Japanese believed that they had sunk two American carriers in the Coral Sea, but this proved to be a miscalculation that would cost them dearly at Midway.

In contrast to the Japanese, the U.S. Navy put forth a maximum effort to make the USS Yorktown available for the coming battle. Despite being damaged in the Coral Sea, the American carrier was repaired in just three days and sent back into battle. The U.S. Navy was willing to put one aircraft carrier's air group on another ship, enabling Yorktown to take to the skies with three of its four squadrons.

Bibliography

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"Battle of the Coral Sea: 29 April–8 May 1942." Naval History and Heritage Command. Accessed January 19, 2024. https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/1942/battle-of-coral-sea.html.

Callo, Joseph F., and Military H. Magazine. "The Lessons We Learned from the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942." Navy Times. Last modified August 19, 2022. https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2019/05/03/the-lessons-we-learned-from-the-battle-of-the-coral-sea-in-1942-3/.

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