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'''The Battle of the Coral Sea''', fought in the waters southwest of the [[Solomon Islands]] and eastward from [[New Guinea]] on May 7-8, 1942, was the first of the Pacific War's six fights between opposing aircraft carrier forces, and the first battle in naval history in which the opposing fleets never saw each other. Though the Japanese could rightly claim a tactical victory on "points", it was an operational and strategic defeat for them, the first major check on the great offensive they had begun five months earlier at Pearl Harbor. The diversion of Japanese resources represented by the Coral Sea battle would also have immense consequences a month later, at the [[Battle of Midway]].

'''The Battle of the Coral Sea''', fought in the waters southwest of the [[Solomon Islands]] and eastward from [[New Guinea]] on May 7–8, 1942, was the first of the Pacific War's six fights between opposing aircraft carrier forces, and the first battle in naval history in which the opposing fleets never saw each other. Though the Japanese could rightly claim a tactical victory on "points", it was an operational and strategic defeat for them, the first major check on the great offensive they had begun five months earlier at Pearl Harbor. The diversion of Japanese resources represented by the Coral Sea battle would also have immense consequences a month later, at the [[Battle of Midway]].

==Japanese intentions==

==Japanese intentions==

On May 3 a small Japanese naval force carried out a landing at Tulagi, on the northern side of the Coral Sea, where they quickly established a seaplane base to provide reconnaissance deeper into Allied waters. Leaving ''Lexington'' behind and detaching ''Neosho'' to join her, Rear Admiral Fletcher took ''Yorktown'' off to interfere with the landings. On the morning of the 4th, his planes hit the invasion force. Though results were modest, to some extent due to humid air fogging the dive bombers' sights, the destroyer ''Kikuzuki'' was fatally damaged and a few other ships and seaplanes were sunk.

On May 3 a small Japanese naval force carried out a landing at Tulagi, on the northern side of the Coral Sea, where they quickly established a seaplane base to provide reconnaissance deeper into Allied waters. Leaving ''Lexington'' behind and detaching ''Neosho'' to join her, Rear Admiral Fletcher took ''Yorktown'' off to interfere with the landings. On the morning of the 4th, his planes hit the invasion force. Though results were modest, to some extent due to humid air fogging the dive bombers' sights, the destroyer ''Kikuzuki'' was fatally damaged and a few other ships and seaplanes were sunk.

Fletcher then turned back south, rejoining Fitch on May 5 to top off his fuel tanks. The Japanese were now advancing into the Coral Sea with the Port Moresby Invasion Force and the separate Covering Force and aircraft carrier Striking Force. Both the American and Japanese carrier commanders spent the 6th moving westward, unaware just how close they had come -- at one point they were but 70 miles apart.

Fletcher then turned back south, rejoining Fitch on May 5 to top off his fuel tanks. The Japanese were now advancing into the Coral Sea with the Port Moresby Invasion Force and the separate Covering Force and aircraft carrier Striking Force. Both the American and Japanese carrier commanders spent the 6th moving westward, unaware just how close they had come—at one point they were but 70 miles apart.

==The Battle==

==The Battle==

By the end of the day, both sides had retired from the immediate battle area. The Japanese sent ''Zuikaku'' back for a few days, even though her aircraft complement was badly depleted, but they had already called off their Port Moresby amphibious operation and withdrew the carrier on May 11. At about the same time ''Yorktown'' was recalled to Pearl Harbor, where she would receive enough repairs to make her battle-ready in time for her vital role in the [[Battle of Midway]] in early June.

By the end of the day, both sides had retired from the immediate battle area. The Japanese sent ''Zuikaku'' back for a few days, even though her aircraft complement was badly depleted, but they had already called off their Port Moresby amphibious operation and withdrew the carrier on May 11. At about the same time ''Yorktown'' was recalled to Pearl Harbor, where she would receive enough repairs to make her battle-ready in time for her vital role in the [[Battle of Midway]] in early June.

==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://www.historyanimated.com/CoralSeaPage.html Battle of the Coral Sea] at Historyanimated.com

*[http://www.historyanimated.com/CoralSeaPage.html Battle of the Coral Sea] at Historyanimated.com