The Battle of the Coral Sea, a major engagement of the Pacific Theatre of World War II, was fought 4–8 May 1942 in the waters east of New Guinea and south of the Bismarck Islands between elements of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval and air forces from the United States (U.S.) and Australia.
To extend their empire in the Pacific to the conquest of Australia, the Japanese first had to capture the naval and air center of Port Moresby on the southeast coast of New Guinea. In order to extend the reach of their air searches for Allied naval forces, they resolved to simultaneously establish a seaplane base at Tulagi in the lower Solomon Islands. The U.S. learned of the Japanese plan, known as Operation Mo, through signals intelligence and sent two United States Navy carrier task forces and a joint Australian-American cruiser force to oppose the Japanese offensive.
The result was a strategic defeat for the Japanese, since their principal goal of landing troops at Port Moresby was thwarted, but a tactical defeat for the Allies, who suffered more significant ship losses.
Because the Japanese assumed the tactical initiative, their forces are listed first.
Losses in parentheses
| Ship Type | IJN | USN | RAN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fleet carriers (CV) | 2 | 2 (1) | |
| Light carriers (CVL) | 1 (1) | ||
| Heavy cruisers (CA) | 4 | 6 | 1 |
| Light cruisers (CL) | 2 | 1 | |
| Destroyers (DD) | 15 (1) | 13 (1) | |
| Amphibious assault vessels | 12 | ||
| Auxiliaries | 26 (3) | 3 (1) | |
Task Force MO
Vice Admiral Shigeyoshi Inoue, Commander, Fourth Fleet in light cruiser Kashima anchored at Rabaul[1]
Vice Admiral Takeo Takagi in heavy cruise Myōkō[2]
Carrier Division 5 (Rear Adm. Chūichi Hara, Officer in Tactical Command in Zuikaku)[1]
2 fleet carriers
(Capt. Takaji Jōjima)[3]
Air Group (Lt. Cmdr. Kakuichi Takahashi)[4]
21 Mitsubishi A6M "Zeke" fighters (Lt. Takumi Hoashi)[5]
20 Aichi D3A Type 99 "Val" dive bombers (Lt. Masao Yamaguchi)[5]
19 Nakajima B5N Type 97 "Kate" torpedo bombers (Lt. Tatsuo Ichihara)[4]
(Capt. Ichihei Yokogawa)[6]
Air Group (Lt. Cmdr. Shigekazu Shimazaki)[4]
25 Mitsubishi A6M "Zeke" fighters (Lt. Kiyokuma Okajima)[4]
22 Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers (Lt. Tamotsu Ema)[4]
20 Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers (Lt. Yoshiaki Tsubota)[4]
Cruiser Division 5 (Vice Adm. Takagi in Myōkō)
2 heavy cruisers
Both : , [7]
Destroyer Division 5
2 destroyers
Both : , [8]
Destroyer Division 7
4 destroyers
All / -class: , , , [9]
1 oiler: [2]
Rear Admiral Aritomo Gotō in heavy cruiser Aoba
Tulagi Invasion Group
Rear Admiral Kiyohide Shima in minelayer Okinoshima[10]
1 transport: Azumasan Maru[10]
Embarking 400 troops from the 3rd Kure Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) plus a construction detachment from the 7th Establishment Squad.[11]
2 minelayers: ,[12] Kōei Maru
2 destroyers: , [13]
5 minesweepers: Wa #1, Wa #2, Hagoromo Maru, Noshiro Maru #2, Tama Maru [14]
2 subchasers: Toshi Maru #3, Tama Maru #8[15]
Support Group/Close Cover Force
Rear Admiral Kuninori Marumo in light cruiser Tenryū[16]
Cruiser Division 18 (Rear Adm. Marumo)
2 light cruisers
Both Tenryū-class: , [17]
2 seaplane tenders[18]
Air group: 12 aircraft[20]
Air group (attached)
3 gunboats: Keijo Maru, Seikai Maru, Nikkai Maru[10]
Covering Group/Main Body Support Force
Rear Admiral Gotō in heavy cruiser Aoba[21]
Cruiser Division 6 (Rear Adm. Gotō)
4 heavy cruisers: , , , [22]
1 light carrier [21]
Air Group (Lt. Kenjirō Nōtomi)[4]
8 Mitsubishi A6M Zero and 4 Mitsubishi A5M "Claude" fighters (Lt. Nōtomi)[4]
6 Nakajima B5N Type 97 "Kate" torpedo bombers (Lt. Michitarō Nakamoto)[4]
1 destroyer: [23]
Port Moresby Invasion Group
Rear Admiral Sadamichi Kajioka in light cruiser Yūbari[24]
Transport Unit (Rear Adm. Kōsō Abe)
5 Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) transports: Mogamigawa Maru, Chōwa Maru, Goyō Maru,[25] [26] Akiba Maru, Shōka Maru.[27]
Embarking approximately 500 troops from the 3rd Kure SNLF plus construction specialists from the 10th Establishment Squad[28]
6 Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) transports: Asakasan Maru, China Maru, Mito Maru, Matsue Maru,[29] Taifuku Maru, Hibi Maru
Embarking South Seas Detachment of approximately 5,000 troops[30]
5 minesweepers: W-20 (Wa #20), Hagoromo Maru, Noshiro Maru #2, Fumi Maru #2, Seki Maru #3.[31]
1 minelayer: (Capt. Inagaki Yoshiaki)[32]
1 salvage tugboat: Woshima[33]
2 oilers: Hoyo Maru, [34]
Screen
1 light cruiser: (Capt. Masami Ban)[35]
6 destroyers: , , , , , [36]
1 or 2 unidentified patrol boats[37]
Captain Noboru Ishizaki
Patrol/Scouting Group: I-21, I-22, I-24, I-28, I-29[38]
Raiding Group: Ro-33, Ro-34[39]
Rear Admiral Sadayoshi Yamada
4th Air Group (based at Rabaul)
17 Mitsubishi G4M Type 1 "Betty" land attack bombers[41]
Tainan Air Group (based at Lae and Rabaul)
18 Mitsubishi A6M Zero "Zeke"
6 Mitsubishi A5M "Claude" fighters (Capt. Masahisa Saitō)[42]
Yokohama Air Group (based at Rabaul, Shortland Islands, and Tulagi)
12 Kawanishi H6K "Mavis" reconnaissance seaplanes
9 Nakajima A6M2-N "Rufe" seaplane fighters[43]
Genzan Air Group (based at Rabaul)
25 Mitsubishi G3M Type 96 "Nell" land attack bombers[44]
Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher in Yorktown[45]
Carrier Air Group (TG 17.5)
Rear Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch, Officer in Tactical Command (OTC)[45]
2 fleet carriers
(Capt. Elliott Buckmaster)[46]
Air Group (Lt. Cmdr. Oscar Pederson)[47]
VF-42: 17 F4F Wildcat fighters (Lt. Cmdr. Charles R. Fenton)[47]
VB-5: 18 SBD Dauntless dive bombers (Lt. Wallace C. Short)[47]
VS-5: 17 SBD Dauntless scout bombers (Lt. Cmdr. William O. Burch, Jr.)[47]
VT-5: 13 TBD Devastator torpedo bombers (Lt. Cmdr. Joe Taylor)[47]
(Capt. Frederick C. Sherman) [46]
Air Group (Cmdr. William B. Ault)[47]
VF-2: 21 F4F Wildcat fighters (Lt. Cmdr. Paul H. Ramsey)[47]
VB-2: 18 SBD Dauntless dive bombers (Lt. Cmdr. Weldon L. Hamilton)[47]
VS-2: 17 SBD Dauntless scout bombers (Lt. Cmdr. Robert E. Dixon)[47]
VT-2: 12 TBD Devastator torpedo bombers (Lt. Cmdr. James H. Brett, Jr.)[47]
4 destroyers
All Sims-class (4 × 5-in. main battery)
(Cmdr. Harry B. Jarrett)
(Lt. Cmdr. John K. B. Ginder)
(Lt. Cmdr. Arnold E. True)
(Lt. Cmdr. Glenn R. Hartwig)[46]
Attack Group (TG 17.2)
Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid[45]
5 heavy cruisers
3 Astoria-class (9 × 8-in. main battery)
(Capt. Howard H. Good)
(Capt. Francis W. Scanland)
(Capt. Frank J. Lowry)
1 Portland-class (9 × 8-in. main battery)
(Capt. Benjamin Perlman)
1 Northampton-class (9 × 8-in. main battery)
(Capt. Thomas M. Shock)
Screen (Capt. Alexander R. Early)
5 destroyers
1 Porter-class (8 × 5-in. main battery)
(Lt. Cmdr. Edward L. Beck)
4 Farragut-class (5 × 5-in. main battery)
(Cmdr. George P. Hunter)
(Lt. Cmdr. Charles F. Chillingworth, Jr.)
(Lt. Cmdr. William P. Burfor
(Lt. Cmdr. Robert H. Rogers)[48]
Support Group (TG 17.3)
Rear Admiral John Gregory Crace, RAN[45]
2 heavy cruisers
1 (9 × 8-in. main battery): Chicago (Capt. Howard D. Bode)
1 (8 × 8-in. main battery): Australia (Capt. H. B. Farncomb, RAN)
1 light cruiser
1 (8 × 6-in. main battery): Hobart (Capt. H. L. Howden, RAN)[48]
2 destroyers[48]
1 Mahan-class (5 × 5-in.main battery): Perkins (Lt. Cmdr. Walter C. Ford)
1 Sims-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Walke (Lt. Cmdr. Thomas E. Fraser)
Fueling Group (TG 17.6)
Captain John S. Phillips[45]
2 oilers
2 destroyers
(Lt. Cmdr. Willford M. Hyman†), Worden[49]
Search Group (TG 17.9)
Commander George H. DeBaun[45]
1 seaplane tender
Patrol Squadron 71 (VP-71): 6 PBY-5 Catalinas
Patrol Squadron 72 (VP-72): 6 PBY-5 Catalinas
General Douglas MacArthur[51]
Allied Naval Forces
Vice Admiral Herbert F. Leary[51]
Task Group 42.1 (Capt. Ralph Waldo Christie in submarine tender USS Griffin at Brisbane)[52]
Subdiv 53 (Lt. Cmdr. Elmer E. Yeomans): S-42, S-43, S-44, S-45, S-46, S-47
Subdiv 201 (Cmdr. Ralston B. Van Zant): S-37, S-38, S-39, S-40, S-41
Task Force 44 – temporarily assigned to Task Force 17, see Task Group 17.3 above
Allied Air Forces
Lieutenant General George Brett[53]
8th Pursuit Group: 26 P-39 Airacobra fighters at Archerfield, Brisbane[54]
35th Fighter Squadron at Port Moresby[55]
36th Fighter Squadron at Port Moresby[55]
49th Pursuit Group: 90 P-40 Tomahawk fighters at Darwin[56]
7th Fighter Squadron at Darwin[55]
8th Fighter Squadron at Darwin[55]
9th Fighter Squadron at Darwin[55]
3rd Light Bombardment Group[55]
8th Light Bombardment Squadron: A-24 Banshee dive bombers at Port Moresby[57]
13th Light Bombardment Squadron: B-25 Mitchell bombers[55]
90th Light Bombardment Squadron: B-25 Mitchell bombers[55]
19th Bombardment Group: 17 Boeing B-17 bombers at Townsville (Lt. Col. Connally (first name unknown))[58]
40th Reconnaissance Squadron[60]
435th Bombardment Squadron[62]
22nd Bombardment Group: 48 Martin B-26 Marauders[63]
Royal Australian Air Force[64]
No. 11 Squadron: Consolidated PBY Catalinas[64]
No. 20 Squadron: PBY Catalinas[64]
No. 24 Squadron: 3 CAC Wirraways at Townsville
No. 32 Squadron: Lockheed Hudsons at Port Moresby[65]
No. 75 Squadron: 3 Curtiss P-40s at Port Moresby[64]
Port Moresby garrison
Major General B. M. Morris
Approximately 5,000 troops[66]
13th Field Regiment[71]
23rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery[71]
Detachment, 1st Independent Company[67]
30th Infantry Brigade Signal Section[67]
30th Infantry Brigade HQ Defence Platoon[67]
Moresby Fixed Defences[67]
Moresby Fixed Defences Fortress Engineers[67]
Moresby Fixed Defences Anti-Aircraft Artillery (six 3-inch guns)[67]
1st Army Troops Company[67]
7th Field Company[67]
1st Section, 1st Mechanical Equipment Company[67]
8th Military District Survey Section[67]
8th Military District Bomb Disposal Section[67]
8th Military District Signals[67]
8th Military District Defence and Employment Company[67]
New Guinea Volunteer Rifles[72]
Papuan Infantry Battalion, [71]
8th Military District Section Intelligence Corps[67]
15th Supply Personnel Company[67]
8th Military District Bulk Issue Petrol and Oil Depot[67]
A Section, 8th Military District Mechanical Transport Company[67]
Base Hospital[67]
3rd Field Ambulance[67]
113th Convalescent Depot[67]
8th Military District Dental Centre[67]
45th Dental Unit[67]
253rd Dental Unit[67]
256th Dental Unit[67]
274th Dental Unit[67]
301st Dental Unit[67]
421st Dental Unit[67]
15th Optical Unit[67]
8th Military District Depot of Medical Stores[67]
16th Field Hygiene Section[67]
8th Military District Ordnance Depot[67]
19th Ordnance Ammunition Section[67]
109th Infantry Brigade Group Field Workshop[67]
109th Infantry Brigade Group Ordnance Field Park[67]
30th Infantry Brigade Provost Platoon[67]
8th Military District Accounts Office[67]
8th Military District Postal Unit[67]
8th Military District Records Office[67]
8th Military District Stationery Depot[67]
8th Military District Printing Section[67]
8th Military District Graves Registration and Inquiries Unit[67]
8th Military District Laundry and Decontamination Unit[67]
8th Military District Army Field Bakery[67]
8th Military District Base Depot[67]
8th Military District Marine Section[67]
8th Military District Canteen Services[67]
8th Military District Training Centre[67]
Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit[67]