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The strategist Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto drew up the plans for Operation MO, with main objectives of Tulagi in the Solomon Islands and Port Moresby in New Guinea. The successful occupation of these key positions would set up bases necessary for a potential invasion of Australia. As an added bonus, the occupation of these bases would also give Japan direct access to phosphate found on Nauru and Ocean islands, which was important for Japan's agricultural industry. Since most of Japan's available carriers were under preparation for Operation MI (Midway) and AL (Aleutians), Operation MO was to be supported by a relatively modest fleet. Vice Admiral Shigeyoshi Inouye led the fleet, which was centered around fleet carriers Zuikaku and Shokaku and light carrier Shoho.

On the Allied side, intelligence indicated a large naval build-up in the Japanese base at Rabaul. Chester Nimitz deducted on 29 Apr 1942 that the Japanese were planning on an attack around 3 May. Nimitz assigned US Navy Task Force 11, centered around Lexington and under the command of Rear Admiral Aubrey Fitch, and Task Force 17, centered around Yorktown and under the commander of Rear Admiral Frank Fletcher. Douglas MacArthur's Task Force 44 under the command of Vice Admiral Herbert Leary would also be sent to counter this likely Japanese offensive; Leary's force also included two Australian cruisers.

When the Japanese landed at Tulagi on 3 May, Fitch and Fletcher's task forces were each hundreds of miles from the Solomons refueling, not realizing that the Japanese operation had already begun. Admiral Fletcher came to the realization and race toward Tulagi without waiting for Admiral Fitch. Japanese capital ships broke off with the landing forces early in order to prepare for the landing operations at Port Moresby. The battle started with Fletcher launching 28 dive bombers and 12 torpedo bombers against the landing force in Tulagi, damaging a destroyer and sinking three minesweepers. This gave the Japanese the clue that at least one American fleet carrier was in the vicinity. In response, carriers Zuikaku and Shokaku sailed south to reinforce, but they arrived too late to be able to counter the American air strike. While the Japanese bombed Port Moresby to soften up defenses for the subsequent landing, aircraft from both sides searched out for opposing carriers, but to no luck even though the two fleets sailed within 70 miles of each other at one point. American land-based B-17 bombers did find the light carrier Shoho briefly, but the bombing attack on the said carrier failed.

Finally, in the morning of 7 May, Admiral Takagi's patrol planes made contact. The patrol planes found the oil tanker Neosho, and mistook it for a light carrier. As the result of this mis-information, Rear Admiral Tadaichi Hara, in tactical command of Zuikaku and Shokaku, launched Shokaku and Zuikaku's aircraft to attack this support ship, seriously upsetting the entire succeeding battle plan; the attack sank the destroyer Sims and disabled Neosho (later the crew of the Neosho would be rescued by a US destroyer on 11 May). On their return flight path, the Japanese attack force, with their bombs already expended, stumbled upon the American carriers. In darkness, some Japanese aircraft mistook the American fleet for a friendly fleet, and attempted to fall into landing pattern for carrier Yorktown. Yorktown, just as confused, turned on her lights to welcome the aircraft, not realizing they were Japanese until they were 250 yards from the flight deck. The first aircraft that attempted the landing was shot down. A repeated episode happened again moments after the first. It was not until then the Japanese realized by attacking Neosho they had struck the wrong target.

Around noon time on the same day, Fletcher's task force was attacked by Japanese aircraft after some of Fletcher's cruisers detached to attack the landing convoy at Port Moresby. Destroyer Farragut was attacked by Japanese bombers, but stayed afloat. During the engagement, Fletcher's aircraft reported the discovery of Japanese carriers, but like the Japanese episode mentioned above, these American pilots made the same mistake of mis-identification; they were actually merchant ships. The American pilots were luckier than their Japanese counterparts, however. By pure luck, the attack party sent to intercept the merchant fleet ran across the Japanese group centered around the light carrier Shoho. The attack spurred a large scale dogfight that lasted into the night, and Shoho was sunk after receiving 7 torpedoes and 13 bombs. While the loss of Shoho was devastating, the loss of aircraft were minimal since most of her aircraft were in the air and were able to land on other carriers or on land.

Unbeknownst to the pilots on either side, the opposing fleets were actually about 30 miles from each other, hence the confusion with the identification of aircraft and ships on both sides. Both sides decided against launching major attacks on each other during the darkness of the night.

Next morning on 8 May, each side launched about 120 aircraft. American aircraft found Shokaku first, missing with torpedoes but two bombs started a fire aboard the Japanese carrier; the attack cost the Americans 43 aircraft. Shokaku's firefighter crew put down the fire, and her captain turned her around for home. The Japanese attack also found the American fleet, scoring a hit on Yorktown with an 800-pound bomb and on Lexington with two. Lexington's fuel lines ruptured, leaking fuel fumes that eventually caused a chain of explosions. "Lady Lex" was scuttled as the fire burned beyond control.

The final score of the Battle of Coral Sea looked bad for the Americans, and Japan promptly declared it a victory. However, the victory was only tactical. Strategically, Japan suffered a loss as the invasion fleet turned back, abandoning their objective of Port Moresby. Opportunity for a large-scale naval landing Port Moresby would never present itself again for the remainder of the war. Because of battle damage suffered by Shokaku, the Shokaku and Zuikaku group was unavailable for the Battle of Midway that would take place a month later, where their participation might change the outcome of that key battle.

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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Anonymous says:
   18 Apr 2007 09:19:34 PM
   
   Im not sure about something. I know the Japanese thought they destroyed a US carrier that later turned up at Midway, but was it Yorktown, or Enterprise? Or even Hornet? I cant remember.
2. Anonymous says:
   25 Apr 2007 08:48:51 AM
   
   The carrier the Japanese thought they had sunk at Coral Sea was the Yorktown. It was hastily repaired in 3 days at Pearl Harbour, in time to fight (and be sunk) at the Battle of midway
3. Anonymous says:
   21 May 2007 10:27:52 PM
   
   Yep, then the new Yorktown was an Essex-class fleet carrier. I believe there was an Essex-class Enterprise, too.
4. Anonymous says:
   21 May 2007 10:32:38 PM
   
   There was a lot of confusion during these battles. At one time, a group of Japanese dive bombers came in for landing on an American carrier, thinking it was their own. The Americans on board thought they were American planes so they put on their landing spotlights and stuff. It wasnt until the first plane got to a few hundred yards or so from the carrier that the Americans realized their mistake and opened fire. That plane was shot down and the others got away.
5. Anonymous says:
   22 Oct 2007 10:22:39 AM
   
   i am doing a report on the battle of coral sea and it is very hard to understand. i dont get it.
6. Anonymous says:
   20 May 2008 01:16:38 PM
   
   i did a report on this battle because i knew nothing about it and i learned so much from just doing this report and i thank my treacher making us do it.
7. Anonymous says:
   3 Jul 2008 02:06:00 AM
   
   Im doing an extended essay on aircraft chainging the tide of the wat and its **** confusing
8. friend in need of help says:
   14 May 2009 06:39:22 PM
   
   why did the americans believe the coral sea battle was a victory

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