Coral Sea in WW2 History | World War II Database

7 May 1942

Pacific Ocean

At Coral Sea, Japanese carriers attacked US oiler Neosho and destroyer Sims thinking they were a carrier and cruiser, while US carriers attacked escort carrier Shoho and nearby cruisers and destroyer thinking it was part of the main carrier force. At 1747 hours, 12 Japanese dive bombers and 15 torpedo bombers in search of the US carrier fleet was intercepted by 11 US fighters; 9 Japanese and 3 US aircraft were destroyed during the subsequent engagement. At the end of the day, both sides decided against a night battle and prepared for new attacks at dawn. ww2dbase [Battle of Coral Sea | Coral Sea | CPC]
USS Astoria covered USS Yorktown during the Battle of the Coral Sea. ww2dbase [Astoria (New Orleans-class) | Coral Sea | CPC]
Shoho sank in the Coral Sea at 1135 hours after an hour-long carrier aircraft attack that saw 13 bomb and 5 torpedo hits; 631 were killed, 203 survived. ww2dbase [Shoho | Coral Sea | CPC]

8 May 1942

Pacific Ocean

In the Battle of the Coral Sea, USS Hammann fired on incoming Japanese aircraft and then rescued 500 survivors of the disabled carrier USS Lexington. ww2dbase [Hammann | Battle of Coral Sea | Coral Sea | CPC]

Photo(s) dated 8 May 1942

Explosion amidships aboard USS Lexington, 1727 on 8 May 1942, photo 1 of 3

Explosion amidships aboard USS Lexington, 1727 on 8 May 1942, photo 2 of 3

Mushroom cloud rose above USS Lexington after an explosion, 8 May 1942; carrier Yorktown on horizon and destroyer Hammann to the left of photograph

Explosion aboard USS Lexington, 8 May 1942, photo 2 of 2; note USS Hammann nearby; seen from cruiser USS Minneapolis

See all photos dated 8 May 1942

9 May 1942

Pacific Ocean

Yugure and Ushio took on fuel from a tanker in the Coral Sea at 0015 hours. At 0515 hours, Yugure was ordered to escort the damaged Shokaku to Yokosuka, Japan; Shokaku was administratively reassigned to Carrier Division 5 of 1st Air Fleet for the upcoming dramatic dash past a cordon of American submarines alerted to intercept the Japanese carrier. Meanwhile, Ushio was ordered to escort Zuikaku, which was ordered to pursue any American ships remaining in the Coral Sea area. ww2dbase [Yugure | Zuikaku | Shokaku | Coral Sea | CPC]

20 May 1942

Pacific Ocean

USS S-38 came across a debris field which her officers believed was from the Battle of the Coral Sea. ww2dbase [S-38 | Coral Sea | CPC]

5 Aug 1942

Pacific Ocean

While underway in the Coral Sea, USS S-39 reported that her executive officer had been placed on the sick list. ww2dbase [S-39 | Coral Sea | CPC]

7 Aug 1942

Pacific Ocean

USS S-39 reported that her executive officer's health conditions worsened and might be developing pneumonia. The submarine was ordered to set sail for Townsville, Australia, to disembark the sick officer. ww2dbase [S-39 | Coral Sea | CPC]

15 Sep 1942

Pacific Ocean

Japanese submarine I-19 sank USS Wasp (3 Type 95 torpedo hits; 194 were killed, 1,969 survived) in the Coral Sea at 1444 hours; USS North Carolina and USS O'Brien were also damaged in the attack. ww2dbase [Type 95 | O'Brien | Wasp (Wasp-class) | North Carolina | Coral Sea | TH, CPC]

20 Oct 1942

Pacific Ocean

While cruising in support of the operations in the Solomon Islands, USS Chester was struck by one of six Type 95 torpedoes fired from Japanese submarine I-176, killing eleven and wounding twelve. ww2dbase [Chester | Type 95 | Coral Sea | DS]

3 Jan 1943

Pacific Ocean

USS Grayback sank Japanese submarine I-18 in the Coral Sea, hitting her with 1 of 2 torpedoes; she also fired six torpedoes at other Japanese warships four hours later, all of which missed. ww2dbase [Grayback | Coral Sea | CPC]

4 Mar 2018

Pacific Ocean

The wreck of USS Lexington was found on the seabed about 800 kilometers (about 500 miles) east of Australia. ww2dbase [Lexington (Lexington-class) | Coral Sea | CPC]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis

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