CORAL SEA - BATTLES OF WWII cont.
Pacific War, 1942
Battle of the Coral Sea
Location: Southwest of Solomon islands, Pacific Ocean
Date: May 7-8, 1942
Commanders and Forces:
U.S: Task force 17 (Fletcher), Task Force 44 (Crace);
Japanese: Carrier Striking Force (Tajaki), Port Moresby Invasion Group (Hara)
Casualties
U.S: 1 aircraft carrier destroyed, 1 damaged, 1 oiler and 1 destroyer sunk, 66 aircraft lost, and 543 men killed or wounded;
Japanese: 1 small carrier destroyed, 1 carrier severely damaged, 1 destroyer and 2 small naval ships sunk, 77 aircraft lost, and 1,074 men killed or wounded.
Key Actions
On May 8, U.S. carrier Lexington was scuttled after being seriously damaged. Also, the Japanese carrier Shokaku from the Carrier Striking force was seriously damaged, to the extent that it was removed from the battle and sent back to its base in Truk.
Key Effects
The Battle of the Coral Sea was only the first of six battles between opposing aircraft carrier forces in the war.
This naval engagement was the first time in history that opposing ships did not see each other nor fire on each other. This was the first time the Japanese had experienced failure in the major operation. The U.S Victory stopped the Japanese seaborne invasion of Port Moresby andi marked the end of the Allied defense only activities.
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