Introduction Battle of the Coral Sea May 4–8, 1942 Coral Sea, The Pacific Theatre First time in WW2 that Japanese experience failure in a major operation The battle stopped the sea-borne invasion of Port Moresby This battle saved Australia as the Japanese would have conquered the sea ports of Australia, and the supply line and base from the U.S. would be cut. Japan wanted to continue expansion & control of the Pacific Ocean by invading Australia’s sea ports and islands. The Japanese expand into the south eastern Solomon Islands wanting to take over other various sea-ports. The Japanese won a tactical victory by sinking more ships while the Americans won a strategic by preventing sea port invasion of Port Moresby

The Japanese Attack Plan The plan was to ascend around the already taken Solomon Islands and then come around to take over various port cities on Australia. The Japanese didn’t have it so easy as the US were there to surprise them.

Event: Battle of The Coral Sea The battle of the coral sea was a major naval battle It was also the first naval battle in which neither side fired or sighted upon each other and so it was an all air battle It consisted of the Japanese Empire against the Allied forces; United States and Australia Basic attack for both sides was that the enemy’s ships were to be destroyed by planes launching torpedo’s or dropping bombs. Japanese planes getting ready for takeoff from the aircraft carrier Shokaku

Japanese Carrier Shokaku

The Leaders of the Two Sides The Allies’ Leaders -U.S. Admiral Frank Fletcher -Admiral and operational commander of the U.S. fleet or task forces during the battle -Australian Rear Admiral John Grace -Rear Admiral or commissioned officer next in rank below the Vice Admiral The Japanese Leaders - Admiral Shigeyoshi Inoue - Was a admiral and vice minister in the Imperial Japanese Navy during WWII - Vice Admiral Takeo Takagi -Senior Japanese Commander of the carrier task force Shokaku & Zuikaku

Aircraft Used Both sides used few types of air units, basically sticking to a version of a heavy bomber and fighter plane. -Main Aircraft used: U.S. Consolidated B-32 Dominator (heavy bomber), Japanese Nakajima Ki-44 (fighter aircraft), U.S. P-51 Mustang (fighter aircraft) and the Japanese Kawasaki Ki-48 (heavy bomber) Planes getting ready for takeoff on U.S.S. Yorktown

Vessels Used Main Warships used: Aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers (heavy or light) and destroyers. There were three major groups of ships involved -The Japanese Port Moresby Invasion Group, example : Shoho -The Allied Task Force 44; consisted of allied warships, heavy and light cruisers sent to find and eliminate the P.M.I.G.. This force was commanded by Read Admiral Grace. -There was a second Allied force of two aircraft carriers, the U.S.S. Lexington (commanded by Fitch), and the U.S.S. Yorktown (commanded by Fletcher), together with protective cruisers and destroyers. They were sent as well to eliminate the P.M.I.G.. -The fourth group & main target of the Allied carriers was the Japanese Carrier Striking Force which consisted of aircraft carriers Zuikaku and Shokaku and protecting cruisers and destroyers, all commanded by Takagi. U.S.S. Yorktown U.S.S. Lexington bombed and destroyed

U.S.S. Yorktown U.S.S. Yorktown drydocked at Pearl Harbor, May 1942

Weapons The main weapons were those either dropped from a plane, or fired from a vessel. -The main weapons used were torpedoes, 1 kg bombs, machine guns, or gunships on a heavy carrier. Sailors clear away debris on the Yorktown after the ship receives a direct hit from a Japanese torpedo A crew member aboard the U.S.S. Yorktown readies bombs for loading on to aircraft A large carrier with mounted guns

Tactics and Strategies Each carrier had a “screen” of other warships around it to protect it from air attack. -The job of these surrounding ships was to shoot down attacking aircraft before they reached the carrier. The basic plan of attack by both sides was for the enemy’s ships to be destroyed by planes launching torpedoes or dropping bombs. To defeat the enemy, one had to first destroy the runways which allowed the attacking aircraft to operate from. If planes could not be launched, they became useless Carriers could be sunk by aircraft zooming in low to drop torpedoes which would hole the ship at or under the waterline, or by dropping bombs which seriously damaged the ship or could ignite ammunition or fuel on it. Fighter planes would also defend planes that were getting ready To launch. Example of a “screen”

Sources Bibliography us&q=battle%20of%20the%20coral%20sea&um=1&ie=UTF- 8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1099&bih=760 us&biw=1099&bih=760&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=battle+of+the+coral+sea+ships&aq=f&a qi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= Video Clips