Naval Battles: The Battle Of The Coral Sea
BACKGROUND
The Battle of the Coral Sea was a series of several naval battles fought during the 4th and the 8th of May, 1942, between Japanese forces and Allied forces (U.S. and Australian). It represented the first battle in history with aircraft carrier warfare on both sides. The Coral Sea is located just off the northeastern coast of Australia, southwest of the Solomon Islands and east of New Guinea.
Who was involved
There were four major groups of ships engaged in different parts of the fighting over the four-day period.
There was a Japanese Port Moresby Invasion Group, with a Support Force
The Allied Task Force 44, sent to find and attack the Port Moresby Invasion Group. This consisted of a group of Allied warships, including the …show more content…
They were sent to find and attack the Port Moresby Invasion Group. This force was commanded by the Australian Rear-Admiral Crace.
There was also a second Allied force of two aircraft carriers, the USS Lexington (commanded by Rear-Admiral Fitch) and the USS Yorktown (commanded by Rear-Admiral Fletcher), together with protective cruisers and destroyers. Their task was to stop the invasion, and to do this they would have to tackle the Japanese carriers accompanying and protecting it.
The main target of the Allied carriers was the Japanese Carrier Striking Force, with the aircraft carriers Zuikaku and Shokaku, and protecting cruisers and destroyers, commanded by Admiral Takagi.
After the Japanese forces had successfully captured Singapore earlier on in February of 1942, they set their sights upon Port Moresby, located in New Guinea. The capture of Port Moresby would assist the Japanese in their continued expansion into the Pacific and to control the waters around Australia and as a result block off American supplies to the mainland. This would leave Australia isolated and subsequently could force them out of the war. It would also aid continued Japanese expansion in the
The Battle of the Coral Sea was a series of several naval battles fought during the 4th and the 8th of May, 1942, between Japanese forces and Allied forces (U.S. and Australian). It represented the first battle in history with aircraft carrier warfare on both sides. The Coral Sea is located just off the northeastern coast of Australia, southwest of the Solomon Islands and east of New Guinea.
Who was involved
There were four major groups of ships engaged in different parts of the fighting over the four-day period.
There was a Japanese Port Moresby Invasion Group, with a Support Force
The Allied Task Force 44, sent to find and attack the Port Moresby Invasion Group. This consisted of a group of Allied warships, including the …show more content…
They were sent to find and attack the Port Moresby Invasion Group. This force was commanded by the Australian Rear-Admiral Crace.
There was also a second Allied force of two aircraft carriers, the USS Lexington (commanded by Rear-Admiral Fitch) and the USS Yorktown (commanded by Rear-Admiral Fletcher), together with protective cruisers and destroyers. Their task was to stop the invasion, and to do this they would have to tackle the Japanese carriers accompanying and protecting it.
The main target of the Allied carriers was the Japanese Carrier Striking Force, with the aircraft carriers Zuikaku and Shokaku, and protecting cruisers and destroyers, commanded by Admiral Takagi.
After the Japanese forces had successfully captured Singapore earlier on in February of 1942, they set their sights upon Port Moresby, located in New Guinea. The capture of Port Moresby would assist the Japanese in their continued expansion into the Pacific and to control the waters around Australia and as a result block off American supplies to the mainland. This would leave Australia isolated and subsequently could force them out of the war. It would also aid continued Japanese expansion in the