The next day, both fleets launched airstrikes against what they thought was the enemy fleet carriers, but both sides actually attacked other targets. [79], The 33 Japanese dive bombers circled to attack from upwind, and thus did not begin their dives from 14,000ft (4,300m) until three to four minutes after the torpedo planes began their attacks. The models indicated the Americans would have suffered slightly less total damage, with one ship sunk but the other unharmed. At 07:00, the carrier striking force turned to the southwest and was joined by two of Got's cruisers, Kinugasa and Furutaka, for additional screening support. The Japanese attack on the U.S. carriers on 8 May was better coordinated than the U.S. attack on the Japanese carriers. Take port Moresby by sea. [82], As TF17 recovered its aircraft, Fletcher assessed the situation. The results of the battle confirmed the low opinion held by the Japanese of U.S. fighting capability and supported their overconfident belief that future carrier operations against the U.S. were assured of success. Battle of the Coral Sea - 1942 - World War II - YouTube [30], At 17:00 on 3 May, Fletcher was notified that the Japanese Tulagi invasion force had been sighted the day before, approaching the southern Solomons. [51], Four dive bombers attacked Sims and the rest dived on Neosho. The two carriers rejoined the Combined Fleet on 14 July and were key participants in subsequent carrier battles against U.S. forces. Thus, the respective commanders were participating in a new type of warfare, carrier-versus-carrier, with which neither had any experience. Lexington represented, at that time, 25% of U.S. carrier strength in the Pacific. Nevertheless, Fletcher decided the risk was necessary to ensure the Japanese invasion forces could not slip through to Port Moresby while he engaged the carriers. Thus, both carriers would be unable to participate in Yamamoto's upcoming Midway operation. Two Aircraft Carriers Were Stationed In the Great Lakes During WWII Crace overheard radio reports saying the enemy invasion convoy had turned back, but, unaware Fletcher had withdrawn, he remained on patrol with the rest of TG17.3 in the Coral Sea in case the Japanese invasion force resumed its advance towards Port Moresby. At 15:00, Takagi notified Inoue his fliers had sunk two U.S. carriers Yorktown and a "Saratoga-class" but heavy losses in aircraft meant he could not continue to provide air cover for the invasion. The Battle of the Coral Sea Flashcards | Quizlet answer choices 8 May 1942. More importantly, the damage to Shkaku and the aircraft losses of Zuikaku prevented both ships from participating in the Battle of Midway the following month. [38], U.S. B-17 bombers based in Australia[39] and staging through Port Moresby attacked the approaching Port Moresby invasion forces, including Got's warships, several times during the day on 6 May without success. Got and Kajioka were unable to position and coordinate their ships in time to attempt a night attack on the Allied warships. It then give an extremely short summary of the Battle of Coral Sea and then explains the U.S. victory at Midway, six months after Pearl Harbor. The plan, Operation Mo, involved several major units of Japan's Combined Fleet. World War II warship USS Lexington was recovered from the Coral Sea
the battle of the coral sea in 1942 quizlet