the battle of the coral sea in 1942 quizlet the battle of the coral sea in 1942 quizlet

By the end of April, the U.S. was reading up to 85% of the signals broadcast in the Ro code. Inoue did not cancel the recall of the invasion convoy, but ordered Takagi and Got to pursue the remaining Allied warship forces in the Coral Sea. At the same time, Kamikawa Maru packed up and departed Deboyne. War Crimes The Battle of Midway occurred between June 4thand June 7th, 1942 approximately six months after the surprise attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harborand only one month after the Battle of Coral Sea. A third explosion occurred at 15:25 and at 15:38 the ship's crew reported the fires as uncontrollable. Along with the battles at Milne Bay and Buna-Gona, the Guadalcanal campaign marked the Allies' transition from . Allied carriers were diverted to the Coral Sea, where the Japanese fleet was attempting to capture Port Moresby on New Guinea's southeastern coast. [102], Moreover, Yamamoto apparently missed the other implications of the Coral Sea battle: the unexpected appearance of U.S. carriers in exactly the right place and time (due to cryptanalysis) to effectively contest the Japanese, and U.S. Navy carrier aircrews demonstrating sufficient skill and determination to do significant damage to the Japanese carrier forces. Her captain, Takatsugu Jjima, requested permission from Takagi and Hara to withdraw from the battle, to which Takagi agreed. Lexington represented, at that time, 25% of U.S. carrier strength in the Pacific. Torn apart, Shh sank at 11:35 (1029S 15255E / 10.483S 152.917E / -10.483; 152.917). Each side readied the rest of its carrier attack aircraft to launch immediately once the enemy was located. 300x-52), a description of-- (1) the purposes for which the grant funds received by the State under such subsection. Allied forces had been experiencing. Two minutes later, a Shkaku search plane commanded by Kenz Kanno sighted TF17 and notified Hara. May 30, 2022 In a meeting held in late May, the Australian Advisory War Council described the battle's result as "rather disappointing" given that the Allies had advance notice of Japanese intentions. In 1942 submarine commander Jeff Conway secretly photographs Japanese aircraft carriers in the Coral Sea but his submarine is damaged and he's forced to surrender. On 8 December 1941 (7 December U.S. time), Japan declared war on the U.S. and the British Empire, after Japanese forces attacked Malaya, Singapore and Hong Kong as well as the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. The goal was to isolate Australia and New Zealand from the Allied United States . During their return, aircraft from the two adversaries passed each other in the air, resulting in more air-to-air altercations. On 13 April, the British deciphered an IJN message informing Inoue that the Fifth Carrier Division, consisting of the fleet carriers Shkaku and Zuikaku, was en route to his command from Formosa via the main IJN base at Truk. When did the battle end. Shkaku herself was unable to conduct further aircraft operations, with her flight deck heavily damaged, and she required almost three months of repair in Japan.[99]. During the Battle of Dunkirk from May 26 to June 4, 1940, some 338,000 British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and other Allied troops were evacuated from Dunkirk to England as German forces closed in. Instead, aircraft launched from carrier decks were sent out to attack the enemy with bombs and torpedoes. The failure of the Japanese to take Port Moresby, and their defeat at Midway, had the effect of dangling their base at Tulagi and Guadalcanal without effective protection from other Japanese bases. MacArthur's headquarters radioed Fletcher with reports of the attacks and the locations of the Japanese invasion forces. Takagi elected to take his carriers 120nmi (140mi; 220km) north during the night so he could concentrate his morning search to the west and south and ensure that his carriers could provide better protection for the invasion convoy. The Japanese forces immediately began construction of a seaplane and communications base. Another Shkaku scout aircraft quickly confirmed the sighting. The invasion convoy, Got, and Kajioka steered towards a rendezvous point 40nmi (46mi; 74km) east of Woodlark Island to await the outcome of the carrier battle. Overview. [71], Yorktown's dive bombers, led by William O. Burch, reached the Japanese carriers at 10:32, and paused to allow the slower torpedo squadron to arrive so that they could conduct a simultaneous attack. Based on these reports, Takagi, who was still awaiting the return of all of his aircraft from attacking Neosho, turned his carriers due west at 13:30 and advised Inoue at 15:00 that the U.S. carriers were at least 430nmi (490mi; 800km) west of his location and that he would therefore be unable to attack them that day. Similarly, Why was the US victory at the Battle of Guadalcanal so important? [32], Takagi's Carrier Striking Force was refueling 350nmi (400mi; 650km) north of Tulagi when it received word of Fletcher's strike on 4 May. At 10:15 on 15 May, a Kawanishi reconnaissance aircraft from Tulagi sighted TF16 445nmi (512mi; 824km) east of the Solomons. Radar gave the U.S. a limited advantage in this battle, but its value to the U.S. Navy increased over time as the technology improved and the Allies learned how to employ it more effectively. Supporting the Tulagi force was the Covering Group with the light carrier Shh, the IJN's four Furutaka /Aoba-class heavy cruisers, and one destroyer, commanded by Rear Admiral Aritomo Got. "[112] Because of the greater speed with which decisions were required, the Japanese were at a disadvantage as Inoue was too far away at Rabaul to effectively direct his naval forces in real time, in contrast to Fletcher who was on-scene with his carriers. [91], Shkaku reached Kure, Japan, on 17 May, almost capsizing en route during a storm due to her battle damage. The British passed the message to the U.S., along with their conclusion that Port Moresby was the likely target of MO. Inoue was especially worried about Allied bombers stationed at air bases in Townsville and Cooktown, Australia, beyond the range of his own bombers, based at Rabaul and Lae. The remaining torpedo planes successfully employed a pincer attack on Lexington, which had a much larger turning radius than Yorktown, and, at 11:20, hit her with two Type 91 torpedoes. Capable of carrying up to 6,000 passengers and 1,500 tons of cargo, her typical route saw her travel between Cleveland . Lexington's group of nine fighters, 15 dive bombers, and 12 torpedo planes was off at 09:25. He was informed that Allied intelligence sources believed that up to four Japanese carriers might be supporting the MO operation. [38], U.S. B-17 bombers based in Australia[39] and staging through Port Moresby attacked the approaching Port Moresby invasion forces, including Got's warships, several times during the day on 6 May without success. At 14:22, Fitch notified Fletcher that he had reports of two undamaged Japanese carriers and that this was supported by radio intercepts. Undetected, gasoline vapors spread into surrounding compartments. [15] Although the Coral Sea area was under MacArthur's command, Fletcher and Halsey were directed to continue to report to Nimitz while in the Coral Sea area, not to MacArthur. One of the dive bombers, hit by anti-aircraft fire, crashed into the oiler. [9], In April 1942, the army and navy developed a plan that was titled Operation Mo. The second torpedo ruptured the port water main, reducing water pressure to the three forward firerooms and forcing the associated boilers to be shut down. Fletcher understood that Crace would be operating without air cover since TF17's carriers would be busy trying to locate and attack the Japanese carriers. The Japanese suffered much higher losses to their carrier aircrews, losing ninety aircrew killed in the battle compared with thirty-five for the U.S. side. A mushroom cloud rises after a heavy explosion on board USS Lexington, 8 May 1942.US Navy. [43], Believing Takagi's carrier force was somewhere north of him, in the vicinity of the Louisiades, beginning at 06:19, Fletcher directed Yorktown to send 10 Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers as scouts to search that area. Fletcher noted that both his carriers were hurt and that his air groups had suffered high fighter losses. Late in the evening of 9 May, Takagi and Got headed southeast, then southwest into the Coral Sea. USS Lexington during the Battle of the Coral Sea, seen from USS Yorktown, May 8, 1942. [49] Fletcher concluded that the Japanese main carrier force was located and ordered the launch of all available carrier aircraft to attack. [18], The Japanese Port Moresby Invasion Force, commanded by Rear Admiral Ks Abe, included 11 transport ships carrying about 5,000 soldiers from the IJA's South Seas Detachment plus approximately 500 troops from the 3rd Kure Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF). The Battle of Midway became one of the most important American naval victories of World War II. Fletcher and Crace were already well on their way out of the area. Augmenting their search were several floatplanes from Deboyne, four Kawanishi H6Ks from Tulagi, and three Mitsubishi G4M bombers from Rabaul. During the day, U.S. Army bombers attacked Deboyne and Kamikawa Maru, inflicting unknown damage. Takagi now realized the U.S. carriers were between him and the invasion convoy, placing the invasion forces in extreme danger. Parshall and Tully point out that, due to U.S. industrial strength, once Japan lost its numerical superiority in carrier forces as a result of Midway, Japan could never regain it. Yorktown also absorbed both Japanese aerial counterattacks at Midway which otherwise would have been directed at Enterprise and Hornet. Neosho with Japanese Aircraft on May 7, 1942; Subsequent Loss of U.S.S. By 10:13, the U.S. strike of 93 aircraft18 Grumman F4F Wildcats, 53 Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers, and 22 Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bomberswas on its way. Japan moves southerly hoping to take control of Southern nations 2. At 13:00 on 10 May, Takagi concluded that the enemy was gone and decided to turn back towards Rabaul. Dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan surrendered in August 1945 because the United States? (Bibliography of Japanese-language sources), South West Pacific theatre of World War II, Pacific Theater aircraft carrier operations during World War II, U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific) 1946, "A Stochastic Salvo Model Analysis of the Battle of the Coral Sea", "Chapter 16: To the Central Pacific and Tarawa, August 1943Background to Galvanic", History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, The Campaigns of MacArthur in the Pacific, Japanese Operations in the Southwest Pacific Area, United States Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific), "Alternative Endings to the First Aircraft Carrier Battle", "HIJMS Furutaka: Tabular Record of Movement", "HIJMS Submarine I-28: Tabular Record of Movement", "HIJMS Submarine RO-33: Tabular Record of Movement", "HIJMS Submarine RO-34: Tabular Record of Movement", "IJN Seaplane Tender Kiyokawa Maru: Tabular Record of Movement", "IJN Kikuzuki: Tabular Record of Movement", U.S.S. The Battle of the Coral Sea is unique in the annals of naval history. [27], On the morning of 1 May, TF17 and TF11 united about 300nmi (350mi; 560km) northwest of New Caledonia (.mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}1616S 16220E / 16.267S 162.333E / -16.267; 162.333). The Japanese carrier was protected by four Zeros and two Mitsubishi A5M fighters flying combat air patrol (CAP), as the rest of the carrier's aircraft were being prepared below decks for a strike against the U.S. carriers. [48], At 08:15, a Yorktown SBD piloted by John L. Nielsen sighted Got's force screening the invasion convoy. At 07:45, the scout confirmed that it had located "one carrier, one cruiser, and three destroyers". After the refueling was completed on 6 May, he planned to take his forces north towards the Louisiades and do battle on 7 May. Japanese carrier aircraft numbers by ship: The B-17s were from the 40th Reconnaissance Squadron. . [61], At 17:47, TF17 operating under thick overcast 200nmi (230mi; 370km) west of Takagi detected the Japanese strike on radar heading in their direction, turned southeast into the wind, and vectored 11 CAP Wildcats, led by Lieutenant Commanders Paul H. Ramsey and James H. Flatley, to intercept. The sun set at 18:30. Although the damage was estimated to take 90 days to repair, Nimitz gave the shipyard only three days, and only the most critical repairs were made to make the ship seaworthy. [59], Shortly after 15:00, Zuikaku monitored a message from a Deboyne-based reconnaissance aircraft reporting (incorrectly) Crace's force altered course to 120 true (southeast). [29], Early on 3 May, Shima's force arrived off Tulagi and began disembarking the naval troops to occupy the island. [13], Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the new commander of U.S. forces in the Central Pacific, and his staff discussed the deciphered messages and agreed that the Japanese were likely initiating a major operation in the Southwest Pacific in early May with Port Moresby as the probable target. [67], At 06:15 on 8 May, from a position 100nmi (120mi; 190km) east of Rossel Island (1025S 1545E / 10.417S 154.083E / -10.417; 154.083), Hara launched seven torpedo bombers to search the area bearing 140230, out to 250nmi (290mi; 460km) from the Japanese carriers. Why did the Japanese want to take Port Morseby. [25], En route to the Coral Sea, Takagi's carriers were to deliver nine Zero fighter aircraft to Rabaul. SIMS (DD-409) by Japanese Bombers in the Coral Sea on May 7, 1942, U.S.S. At the same time, Vice Admiral Shigeyoshi Inoue, commander of the IJN's Fourth Fleet (also called the South Seas Force) which consisted of most of the naval units in the South Pacific area, advocated the occupation of Tulagi in the southeastern Solomon Islands and Port Moresby in New Guinea, which would put Northern Australia within range of Japanese land-based aircraft. About that same time, the dive bombers that had attacked Neosho returned and landed. [79], The 33 Japanese dive bombers circled to attack from upwind, and thus did not begin their dives from 14,000ft (4,300m) until three to four minutes after the torpedo planes began their attacks. Unbeknownst to the two adversaries, their carriers were only 70nmi (130km) away from each other by 20:00 that night. [93] The Japanese public was informed of the victory with overstatement of the U.S. losses and understatement of their own. Fletcher was concerned that the locations of the rest of the Japanese fleet carriers were still unknown. The ship could still make 24kn (28mph; 44km/h) with her remaining boilers. Yorktown would go into battle with her own scouting squadron, but Saratoga's torpedo bomber, dive bomber, and fighter squadrons. The Japanese did not know the location of the remaining carrier, but did not expect a U.S. carrier response to MO until the operation was well under way. The B-17s actually saw the same thing as Nielsen: Shh, Got's cruisers, plus the Port Moresby Invasion Force. Nimitz's staff also concluded that the Japanese operation might include carrier raids on Allied bases in Samoa and at Suva. The two carriers were protected by 16 CAP Zero fighters. [35], In the meantime, Takagi's carrier force steamed down the east side of the Solomons throughout the day on 5 May, turned west to pass south of San Cristobal (Makira), and entered the Coral Sea after transiting between Guadalcanal and Rennell Island in the early morning hours of 6 May. Finally, at 10:51 Shkaku scout aircrews realized they were mistaken in their identification of the oiler and destroyer as aircraft carriers. The U.S. Navy also exaggerated the damage it inflicted, which later caused the press to treat its reports of Midway with more caution. For the first time ever opposing fleets used carrier-launched aircraft to fight each other. Operating from this base the Japanese would threaten the shipping supply routes to Australia. A total of 78 aircraft18 Zero fighters, 36 Aichi D3A dive bombers, and 24 torpedo aircraftbegan launching from Shkaku and Zuikaku at 08:00 and were on their way by 08:15 towards the reported sighting. Nielsen, making an error in his coded message, reported the sighting as "two carriers and four heavy cruisers" at 103S 15227E / 10.050S 152.450E / -10.050; 152.450, 225nmi (259mi; 417km) northwest of TF17. While not originally part of the game, it was later added to each platform when their community reached a collective count of . On the evening of 6 May, the two carrier fleets closed to within 70nmi (81mi; 130km) but did not detect each other in the darkness. Instead, manned aircraft acted as the offensive artillery for the ships involved. E. marked the first important victory by the United States against Japan. Japan planned to use these conquered territories to establish a perimeter defense for its empire from which it expected to employ attritional tactics to defeat or exhaust any Allied counterattacks. Yorktown's planes sank the Sry, located Hiry, and helped Enterprise planes sink Hiry. Signed Bob. [55], Apprised of the loss of Shh, Inoue ordered the invasion convoy to temporarily withdraw to the north and ordered Takagi, at this time located 225nmi (259mi; 417km) east of TF17, to destroy the U.S. carrier forces. In spite of damage, Yorktown and Lexington were both able to recover aircraft from their returning air groups. Inoue, whose reconnaissance aircraft sighted Crace's ships earlier that day, recalled the invasion convoy to Rabaul, postponed MO to 3 July, and ordered his forces to assemble northeast of the Solomons to begin the RY operation. General MacArthur provided Australian Prime Minister John Curtin with his assessment of the battle, stating that "all the elements that have produced disaster in the Western Pacific since the beginning of the war" were still present as Japanese forces could strike anywhere if supported by major elements of the IJN. [64], As nightfall ended aircraft operations for the day, Fletcher ordered TF17 to head west and prepared to launch a 360 search at first light. Battle of the Coral Sea, (May 4-8, 1942) World War II naval and air engagement in which a U.S. fleet turned back a Japanese invasion force that had been heading for strategic Port Moresby in New Guinea. 46: Coral Sea Battle, 78 May 1942, Battle of Eastern Solomons (Interrogations of: Commander Sekino, H., and Commander Okumiya, Masatake, IJN), Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany, Rape during the Soviet occupation of Poland, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_the_Coral_Sea&oldid=1137296243, Naval battles of World War II involving Japan, Naval battles of World War II involving the United States, Naval battles of World War II involving Australia, World War II aerial operations and battles of the Pacific theatre, Military history of Japan during World War II, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Japanese expansion in World War II Neosho Detail: Engagement of U.S.S. Only 203 of the carrier's 834-man crew were recovered. "[7], To support these goals, during the first few months of 1942, besides Malaya, Japanese forces attacked and successfully took control of the Philippines, Singapore, the Dutch East Indies, Wake Island, New Britain, the Gilbert Islands and Guam, inflicting heavy losses on opposing Allied land, naval and air forces. codebreakers. Two hundred and sixteen of the carrier's 2,951-man crew went down with the ship, along with 36 aircraft. At 12:10, Shkaku, accompanied by two destroyers, retired to the northeast. [68], At 06:35, TF17 operating under Fitch's tactical control and positioned 180nmi (210mi; 330km) southeast of the Louisiades, launched 18 SBDs to conduct a 360 search out to 200nmi (230mi; 370km). Battle of the Coral Sea, 4-8 May 1942 Japanese intentions By April 1942 the Japanese had formed a defensive perimeter which stretched from the Kuriles southward through the Marshall Islands to New Britain, then westwards to Java, Sumatra, the Andaman Islands and Burma. Yorktown's aircraft surprised Shima's ships and sank the destroyer Kikuzuki (0907S 16012E / 9.117S 160.200E / -9.117; 160.200) and three of the minesweepers, damaged four other ships, and destroyed four seaplanes which were supporting the landings. Take port Moresby by sea. [81], The strike forces, with many damaged aircraft, reached and landed on their respective carriers between 12:50 and 14:30. Assisting in the search were three Kawanishi H6Ks from Tulagi and four G4M bombers from Rabaul. To prevent this from occurring, the U.S. chose Tulagi and nearby Guadalcanal as the target of their first offensive. Lexington's TBDs missed Shkaku with all 11 of their torpedoes. have adopted this kitten, June 19, 1942, born on a cruiser during the height of the Coral Sea battle. [23], Got's force left Truk on 28 April, cut through the Solomons between Bougainville and Choiseul and took station near New Georgia Island. At this time, Fletcher sent Crace's cruiser force, now designated Task Group 17.3 (TG17.3), to block the Jomard Passage. [77][78], The Japanese attack began at 11:13 as the carriers, stationed 3,000yd (2,700m) apart, and their escorts opened fire with anti-aircraft guns. The U.S. carriers each launched a separate strike. At Midway, aircraft flying from Yorktown played crucial roles in the American victory. Crace's ships were low on fuel, and as Fletcher was maintaining radio silence (and had not informed him in advance), Crace had no idea of Fletcher's location, status, or intentions. [58], Crace at 15:26 radioed Fletcher he could not complete his mission without air support. The battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 was the first naval battle in history fought? "[103], The Australians and U.S. forces in Australia were initially disappointed with the outcome of the Battle of the Coral Sea, fearing the MO operation was the precursor to an invasion of the Australian mainland and the setback to Japan was only temporary. In May 1942, the United States Navy thwarted a Japanese attack against Australia in the Battle of the Coral Sea. [53], Attacking first, Lexington's air group, led by Commander William B. Ault, hit Shh with two 1,000lb (450kg) bombs and five torpedoes, causing severe damage. Because of the loss of carrier air cover, Inoue also recalled the Port Moresby invasion fleet. [65], Both sides expected to find each other early the next day, and spent the night preparing their strike aircraft for the anticipated battle as their exhausted aircrews attempted to get a few hours' sleep. Each of these battles was strategically significant, to varying degrees, in deciding the course and ultimate outcome of the Pacific War.[119]. Takagi commenced refueling his ships 180nmi (210mi; 330km) west of Tulagi in preparation for the carrier battle he expected would take place the next day. During the battle, the U.S. Navy would achieve a decisive victory over the Imperial Japanese Navy resulting in irreparable damage to the Japanese Navy. [82], As TF17 recovered its aircraft, Fletcher assessed the situation. [56], At 12:40, a Deboyne-based seaplane sighted and reported Crace's detached cruiser and destroyer force on a bearing of 175, 78nmi (90mi; 144km) from Deboyne. Japan began its land offensive towards Port Moresby along the Kokoda Track on 21 July from Buna and Gona. The film ends with footage of the Battle of the Coral Sea (1942), which according to the film was made possible through the information brought back by the submariners. [70], At 09:15, the Japanese carriers launched a combined strike of 18 fighters, 33 dive bombers, and 18 torpedo planes, commanded by Takahashi, with Shimazaki again leading the torpedo bombers. [22] Inoue directed the MO operation from the cruiser Kashima, with which he arrived at Rabaul from Truk on 4 May. By 27 April, further signals intelligence confirmed most of the details and targets of the MO and RY plans. 4-5 June 1942; Japanese plan to capture Midway and Aleutians, last 2 locations US could operate against Japan from and gain sea control by luring US carriers out to sea and destroying them; tactically, US victory, US lost 1/3 carriers, Japan lost 4/4; operationally, Japanese failed to achieve sea control in decisive sea battle; strategically, Japanese lost all large carriers, US industry . In the meantime, Halsey's TF16 reached the South Pacific near Efate and, on 13 May, headed north to contest the Japanese approach to Nauru and Ocean Island. Major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II, This article is about the battle. "[66] Hara later told Yamamoto's chief of staff, Admiral Matome Ugaki, he was so frustrated with the "poor luck" the Japanese experienced on 7 May that he felt like quitting the navy. Phelps and the other assisting warships left immediately to rejoin Yorktown and her escorts, which departed at 16:01, and TF17 retired to the southwest. Both the U.S. and Japanese carrier warship forces turned to head directly for each other's location at high speed in order to shorten the distance their aircraft would have to fly on their return legs. Yorktown, Air Operations of Yorktown Air Group against Japanese Forces in the vicinity of the Louisiade Archipelago on May 8, 1942 (Preliminary), Action Report: USS Yorktown (CV-5), Report of Action of Yorktown and Yorktown Air Group on May 8, 1942, Personal observations of SIMS No.409 disaster, "Report on Historical Sources on Australia and Japan at war in Papua and New Guinea, 194245", United States Pacific Fleet: Task Unit Seventeen Two Two, Action Report, Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 19411942, Interrogation Nav No. Takagi turned on his warships' searchlights to help guide the 18 surviving aircraft back and all were recovered by 22:00. [98], One of the most significant effects of the Coral Sea battle was the loss of Shkaku and Zuikaku to Yamamoto for his planned battle in the air with the U.S. carriers at Midway. At 01:00 on 10 May, hearing no further reports of Japanese ships advancing towards Port Moresby, Crace turned towards Australia and arrived at Cid Harbor, 130nmi (150mi; 240km) south of Townsville, on 11 May. Believing that the B-17's sighting was the main Japanese carrier force (which was in fact well to the east), Fletcher directed the airborne strike force towards this target. U.S. carrier aircraft numbers by ship the morning of 7 May: The smaller warships included 5 minesweepers, 2 minelayers, 2 subchasers, and 3 gunboats. [14], On 29 April, Nimitz issued orders that sent his four carriers and their supporting warships towards the Coral Sea. Crace retired southward to a position about 220nmi (250mi; 410km) southeast of Port Moresby to increase the range from Japanese carrier- or land-based aircraft while remaining close enough to intercept any Japanese naval forces advancing beyond the Louisiades through either the Jomard Passage or the China Strait. Believing the Japanese carriers were still well to the north near Bougainville, Fletcher continued to refuel. Taking place in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, the battle is historically significant as the first naval action in which the opposing fleets neither sighted nor fired upon one another, attacking over the horizon with aircraft carriers instead. The returning aviators reported they heavily damaged one carrier, but that another had escaped damage. By committing crucial assets to MO, Yamamoto made the more important Midway operation dependent on the secondary operation's success. Two other dive bombers dove on Zuikaku, missing with their bombs. [11], Unknown to the Japanese, the U.S. Navy, led by the Communication Security Section of the Office of Naval Communications, had for several years enjoyed increasing success with penetrating Japanese communication ciphers and codes. [96], The results of the battle had a substantial effect on the strategic planning of both sides. Once in the Coral Sea, the carriers were to provide air cover for the invasion forces, eliminate Allied air power at Port Moresby, and intercept and destroy any Allied naval forces which entered the Coral Sea in response. It was a fight . [100] Unlike the Japanese, the U.S. Navy was willing to put one aircraft carrier's air group on another ship. The U.S. aircraft carriers had slightly larger aircraft complements than the Japanese carriers, which, when combined with the land-based aircraft at Midway, the availability of Yorktown, and the loss of two Japanese carriers, meant that the Japanese Navy and the U.S. Navy would have near parity in aircraft for the impending battle. Later that evening, MacArthur informed Fletcher that eight of his B-17s had attacked the invasion convoy and that it was retiring to the northwest. Furthermore, Fletcher's ships were under a large, low-hanging overcast which Takagi and Hara felt would make it difficult for their aircraft to find the U.S. carriers. In the ensuing aerial duels, three SBDs and three Wildcats for the U.S., and three torpedo bombers, one dive bomber, and one Zero for the Japanese were downed. [36], On 6 May, Fletcher absorbed TF11 and TF44 into TF17. In launching this war, Japanese leaders sought to neutralize the U.S. fleet, seize territory rich in natural resources, and obtain strategic military bases to defend their far-flung empire. American carrier attacks and sinks Japanese carrier (Shoho) During the Battle of Coral Sea, what happened on May 8th, 1942?