Changes

The Coral Sea contains the [[Great Barrier Reef]] off the Queensland coast and other outstanding areas of maritime wonder in and around Vanuatu.  While usually of an equable climate, further tempered by the south-east [[Trade winds|Trades]], it is an area where [[hurricane|tropical cyclones]] form, which devastate areas of north Queensland with some frequency. The area was first traversed by [[Luis Vaez de Torres|Torres]] in 1606 and [[James Cook]] explored its western edge in 1770. During May 1789, [[William Bligh]] with the 18 loyal members of his crew of the “Bounty” crossed the sea in an open boat on his way to Timor.

The Coral Sea contains the [[Great Barrier Reef]] off the Queensland coast and other outstanding areas of maritime wonder in and around Vanuatu.  While usually of an equable climate, further tempered by the south-east [[Trade winds|Trades]], it is an area where [[hurricane|tropical cyclones]] form, which devastate areas of north Queensland with some frequency. The area was first traversed by [[Luis Vaez de Torres|Torres]] in 1606 and [[James Cook]] explored its western edge in 1770. During May 1789, [[William Bligh]] with the 18 loyal members of his crew of the “Bounty” crossed the sea in an open boat on his way to Timor.

It gives its name to the [[Battle of the Coral Sea]] (4 May to 8 May, 1942) where United States carriers, assisted by Royal Australian Navy warships, had a number of engagements with a large [[Japan]]ese force en route to [[Port Moresby]]. Each  force was assisted by land based aircraft from Australia or New Guinea.  It gave Japan its first defeat in the [[Second World War]], saved Port Moresby for the Allies and enabled the first step towards reversing the Japanese thrust down through New Guinea.

It gives its name to the [[Battle of the Coral Sea]] (4 May to 8 May 1942) where United States carriers, assisted by Royal Australian Navy warships, had a number of engagements with a large [[Japan]]ese force en route to [[Port Moresby]]. Each  force was assisted by land based aircraft from Australia or New Guinea.  It gave Japan its first defeat in the [[Second World War]], saved Port Moresby for the Allies and enabled the first step towards reversing the Japanese thrust down through New Guinea.

==Reference==

==References==

''”The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea”'' 1997 p.205

''”The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea”'' 1997 p. 205

[[Category:Seas of the Pacific Ocean]]

[[Category:Seas of the Pacific Ocean]]

[[Category:Oceania]]

[[Category:Oceania]]