the battle of the coral sea in 1942 quizlet

Beginning in December 1941, the Japanese had devastated the U.S. Fleet at Pearl Harbor, seized Hong Kong, conquered Southeast Asia, the Dutch East Indies and much of the Philippines, and terrorized the Indian Ocean with a naval sweep. At 10:15 on 15 May, a Kawanishi reconnaissance aircraft from Tulagi sighted TF16 445nmi (512mi; 824km) east of the Solomons. The U.S. carriers each launched a separate strike. Takagi turned on his warships' searchlights to help guide the 18 surviving aircraft back and all were recovered by 22:00. Instead, manned aircraft acted as the offensive artillery for the ships involved. By the end of April, the U.S. was reading up to 85% of the signals broadcast in the Ro code. The photograph was taken from from a TBD-1 torpedo plane that has just taken off from its deck. Both groups found and attacked Crace's ships at 14:30 and claimed to have sunk a "California-type" battleship and damaged another battleship and cruiser. The Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942 A. saw the Americans take the offensive for the first time. To strengthen their defensive position in the South Pacific, the Japanese decided to invade and occupy Port Moresby (in New Guinea) and Tulagi (in the southeastern Solomon Islands). WWII carrier-versus-carrier engagements between American and Japanese naval forces: This page was last edited on 3 February 2023, at 22:09. This may be the explosion reported to have taken place at 1727 hrs, which was followed by a "great explosion" aft as stowed torpedo warheads detonated on the hangar deck. Battle of the Coral Sea, 4-8 May 1942 Japanese intentions By April 1942 the Japanese had formed a defensive perimeter which stretched from the Kuriles southward through the Marshall Islands to New Britain, then westwards to Java, Sumatra, the Andaman Islands and Burma. Of these, three more Zeros, four dive bombers and five torpedo planes were judged damaged beyond repair and were immediately jettisoned into the sea. 4-8th May 1942 Weapons Aircrafts, war ships and submarines. In terms of ships lost, the Japanese won a tactical victory by sinking the U.S. fleet carrier Lexington, an oiler, and a destroyer 41,826 long tons (42,497t) versus a light carrier, a destroyer, and several smaller warships 19,000 long tons (19,000t) sunk by the U.S. side. Escorting Zeros shielded Takahashi's aircraft from four Lexington CAP Wildcats which attempted to intervene, but two Wildcats circling above Yorktown were able to disrupt Ema's formation. The 13 CAP Zeros on patrol at this time shot down three Wildcats. Unlike the Japanese, the U.S. Navy put forth a maximum effort to make Yorktown available for the coming battle. [23], Got's force left Truk on 28 April, cut through the Solomons between Bougainville and Choiseul and took station near New Georgia Island. According to the Compensation Guide for Anti-Fraud Professionals 2017/2018, you are likely to earn 31% more as a CFE professional than your colleagues who are not CFE certified, which is clearly showed prominent increase in certified fraud examiner salary. The Japanese found the American fleet at 1118. [37], At 10:00, a Kawanishi reconnaissance flying boat from Tulagi sighted TF17 and notified its headquarters. Yorktown's group consisted of six fighters, 24 dive bombers, and nine torpedo planes and was on its way by 09:15. Since Yamamoto had decided the decisive battle with the U.S. was to take place at Midway, he should not have diverted any of his important assets, especially fleet carriers, to a secondary operation like MO. The sighting was confirmed by a Kinugasa floatplane at 08:30. Battle of the Coral Sea Courtesy of the Naval History and Heritage Command [106], In the meantime, the Allies learned in July that the Japanese had begun building an airfield on Guadalcanal. In May 1942, the United States Navy thwarted a Japanese attack against Australia in the Battle of the Coral Sea. Both sides raced to launch their strike aircraft. The B-17s actually saw the same thing as Nielsen: Shh, Got's cruisers, plus the Port Moresby Invasion Force. Fearing more air attacks, Got withdrew his warships to the north, but sent the destroyer Sazanami back at 14:00 to rescue survivors. The U.S. aircraft carriers had slightly larger aircraft complements than the Japanese carriers, which, when combined with the land-based aircraft at Midway, the availability of Yorktown, and the loss of two Japanese carriers, meant that the Japanese Navy and the U.S. Navy would have near parity in aircraft for the impending battle. [114] Two studies used mathematical models to estimate the impact of various alternatives. On the evening of 6 May, the two carrier fleets closed to within 70nmi (81mi; 130km) but did not detect each other in the darkness. Although Got's force included the light carrier Shh, Nielsen thought that he saw two cruisers and four destroyers and thus the main fleet. . Hara in turn believed Fletcher was south of him and advised Takagi to send the aircraft to search that area. On 8 May, both sides finally located and attacked the other's fleet carriers, with the Japanese fleet carrier Shkaku damaged, the U.S. fleet carrier Lexington critically damaged and later scuttled, and the fleet carrier Yorktown lightly damaged. After recovering its aircraft late in the evening of 4 May, TF17 retired towards the south. Yorktown, Air Operations of Yorktown Air Group against Japanese Forces in the vicinity of the Louisiade Archipelago on May 8, 1942 (Preliminary), Action Report: USS Yorktown (CV-5), Report of Action of Yorktown and Yorktown Air Group on May 8, 1942, Personal observations of SIMS No.409 disaster, "Report on Historical Sources on Australia and Japan at war in Papua and New Guinea, 194245", United States Pacific Fleet: Task Unit Seventeen Two Two, Action Report, Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 19411942, Interrogation Nav No. [50], At 09:15, Takahashi's strike force reached its target area, sighted Neosho and Sims, and searched in vain for the U.S. carriers for a couple of hours. Beginning on June 4, 1942, the U.S. fleet, under the command of Admiral Chester Nimitz, defended Midway from Imperial Japanese forces, while launching a withering attack upon the Japanese fleet -. Seaplanes from Deboyne assisted Takagi in searching for TF17 on the morning of 10 May. Takagi commenced refueling his ships 180nmi (210mi; 330km) west of Tulagi in preparation for the carrier battle he expected would take place the next day. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Special Exhibit at The National WWII Museum, on view from April 18 - July 8, 2012. for the first time, the Allies had stopped the Japanese advance.You just studied 10 terms! At 12:10, Shkaku, accompanied by two destroyers, retired to the northeast. Takagi, approximately 300nmi (350mi; 560km) east of Fletcher (1312S 15805E / 13.200S 158.083E / -13.200; 158.083), launched 12 Nakajima B5Ns at 06:00 to scout for TF17. codebreakers. Takagi and Hara were determined to attack immediately with a select group of aircraft, minus fighter escort, even though it meant the strike would return after dark. [72], Lexington's aircraft arrived and attacked at 11:30. [40], At 18:00, TF17 completed fueling and Fletcher detached Neosho with a destroyer, Sims, to take station further south at a prearranged rendezvous (16S 158E / 16S 158E / -16; 158). [80], As the Japanese aircraft completed their attacks and began to withdraw, believing that they inflicted fatal damage to both carriers, they ran a gauntlet of CAP Wildcats and SBDs. The Battle of the Coral Sea, from 4 to 8 May 1942, was a major naval battle between the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and naval and air forces of the United States and Australia. [92], Both sides publicly claimed victory after the battle. ships. The destroyer was hit by three bombs, broke in half, and sank immediately, killing all but 14 of her 192-man crew. Based on these reports, Takagi, who was still awaiting the return of all of his aircraft from attacking Neosho, turned his carriers due west at 13:30 and advised Inoue at 15:00 that the U.S. carriers were at least 430nmi (490mi; 800km) west of his location and that he would therefore be unable to attack them that day. Late in the evening of 9 May, Takagi and Got headed southeast, then southwest into the Coral Sea. Lexington's TBDs missed Shkaku with all 11 of their torpedoes. Battle of the Coral Sea is a 1959 war film directed by Paul Wendkos. The Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 was no exception. Director Paul Wendkos Writers Daniel B. Ullman (screenplay) Stephen Kandel (screenplay) Stars Cliff Robertson Gia Scala Teru Shimada See production, box office & company info In launching this war, Japanese leaders sought to neutralize the U.S. fleet, seize territory rich in natural resources, and obtain strategic military bases to defend their far-flung empire. By 12:00, the U.S. and Japanese strike groups were on their way back to their respective carriers. What was destroyed during the Battle of Coral Sea? Following the loss of Lexington, improved methods for containing aviation fuel and better damage control procedures were implemented by the U.S.[117] Coordination between the Allied land-based air forces and the U.S. Navy was poor during this battle, but this too would improve over time. Up to 12 near misses damaged Yorktown's hull below the waterline. Escorting the transports was the Port Moresby Attack Force with one light cruiser and six relatively old Kamikaze and Mutsuki-class destroyers under the command of Rear Admiral Sadamichi Kajioka. Fletcher radioed MacArthur the approximate position of the Japanese carriers and suggested that he attack with his land-based bombers. Critically low on fuel, Takagi's warships spent most of 9 May refueling from the fleet oiler Th Maru. Two fleet carriers and a light carrier were assigned to provide air cover for the invasion forces, under the overall command of Admiral Shigeyoshi Inoue. The battle of the Coral Sea took place in May 1942 and was the first battle in history where aircraft carriers engaged each other directly with fighters.Loading Screen Tip Coral Sea is a map featured in Battlefield 1943 and is exclusive to the Air Superiority mode. Yorktown left Pearl Harbor with three of her boilers inoperative and a maximum speed of 27 knots. After the operation's flagship, minelayer Okinoshima, was sunk by the U.S. submarine S-42 on 12 May (0506S 15348E / 5.100S 153.800E / -5.100; 153.800), the landings were postponed until 17 May. [73], With her flight deck heavily damaged and 223 of her crew killed or wounded, having also suffered explosions in her gasoline storage tanks and an engine repair workshop destroyed, Shkaku was unable to conduct further aircraft operations. After the refueling was completed on 6 May, he planned to take his forces north towards the Louisiades and do battle on 7 May. On 13 April, the British deciphered an IJN message informing Inoue that the Fifth Carrier Division, consisting of the fleet carriers Shkaku and Zuikaku, was en route to his command from Formosa via the main IJN base at Truk. Cast What was the Japanese plan. 8 May 1942. In early May 1942, the Japanese despatched an invasion fleet from Rabaul to take Port Moresby, Papua. In the meantime Yamamoto detached some of his large warships, including two fleet carriers, a light carrier, a cruiser division, and two destroyer divisions, to support Mo, and placed Inoue in charge of the naval portion of the operation. TF17 changed course and proceeded at 27kn (31mph; 50km/h) towards Guadalcanal to launch airstrikes against the Japanese forces at Tulagi the next morning. [87], At 22:00 on 8 May, Yamamoto ordered Inoue to turn his forces around, destroy the remaining Allied warships, and complete the invasion of Port Moresby. Fuel was also a concern due to the loss of Neosho. [63], In the meantime, at 15:18 and 17:18 Neosho was able to radio TF17 she was drifting northwest in a sinking condition. Unbeknownst to the two adversaries, their carriers were only 70nmi (130km) away from each other by 20:00 that night. [116], The U.S. did not perform as expected, but it learned from its mistakes in the battle and made improvements to its carrier tactics and equipment, including fighter tactics, strike coordination, torpedo bombers and defensive strategies, such as anti-aircraft artillery, which contributed to better results in later battles. The next day, both fleets launched airstrikes against what they thought was the enemy fleet carriers, but both sides actually attacked other targets. [13], Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the new commander of U.S. forces in the Central Pacific, and his staff discussed the deciphered messages and agreed that the Japanese were likely initiating a major operation in the Southwest Pacific in early May with Port Moresby as the probable target. Thus, the respective commanders were participating in a new type of warfare, carrier-versus-carrier, with which neither had any experience. In the meantime, having heard nothing from Fletcher, Crace deduced that TF17 had departed the area. The four torpedo planes which attacked Yorktown all missed. Sailors abandon ship from the USS Lexington "the Lady Lex" during the Battle of the Coral Sea, May 8, 1942. Zuikaku arrived at Kure on 21 May, having made a brief stop at Truk on 15 May. At 11:00, Yorktown's air group attacked the burning and now almost stationary carrier, scoring with up to 11 more 1,000lb (450kg) bombs and at least two torpedoes. The two carriers were protected by 16 CAP Zero fighters. During the day, U.S. Army bombers attacked Deboyne and Kamikawa Maru, inflicting unknown damage. After the carrier's survivors were rescued, including Admiral Fitch and the ship's captain, Frederick C. Sherman, at 19:15 the destroyer Phelps fired five torpedoes into the burning ship, which sank in 2,400fathoms at 19:52 (1515S 15535E / 15.250S 155.583E / -15.250; 155.583). The battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 was the first naval battle in history fought? Lexington's group of nine fighters, 15 dive bombers, and 12 torpedo planes was off at 09:25. By then, the Allies had reinforced New Guinea with additional troops (primarily Australian) starting with the Australian 14th Brigade which embarked at Townsville on 15 May. The battle's strategic background was set by the Japanese plan formulated in early 1942 that saw the country's forces advance south and southeastward from the Bismarcks and Solomons, with the. At 14:22, Fitch notified Fletcher that he had reports of two undamaged Japanese carriers and that this was supported by radio intercepts. Takagi detached his two carriers with two destroyers under Hara's command to head towards TF17 at 20kn (23mph; 37km/h) in order to be in position to attack at first light the next day while the rest of his ships completed refueling. [52], The U.S. strike aircraft sighted Shh a short distance northeast of Misima Island at 10:40 and deployed to attack. Why did the Japanese want to take Port Morseby. [20], Leading the invasion of Tulagi was the Tulagi Invasion Force, commanded by Rear Admiral Kiyohide Shima, consisting of two minelayers, two older Mutsuki-class destroyers, five minesweepers, two subchasers and a transport ship carrying about 400 troops from the 3rd Kure SNLF. The Battle of the Coral Sea ushered a new era in sea warfare. TF44 was a joint AustraliaU.S. The Yorktown dive bombers commenced their attacks at 10:57 on Shkaku and hit the radically maneuvering carrier with two 1,000lb (450kg) bombs, tearing open the forecastle and causing heavy damage to the carrier's flight and hangar decks. [12], In March 1942, the U.S. first noticed mention of the MO operation in intercepted messages. [48], At 08:15, a Yorktown SBD piloted by John L. Nielsen sighted Got's force screening the invasion convoy. Caption: Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942. Finally, at 10:51 Shkaku scout aircrews realized they were mistaken in their identification of the oiler and destroyer as aircraft carriers. Fletcher's forces had entered the Coral Sea area before the submarines took station, and the Japanese were therefore unaware of their presence. [93] The Japanese public was informed of the victory with overstatement of the U.S. losses and understatement of their own. They did not sight any Allied ships in the area and returned to Rabaul on 23 and 24 April respectively. By committing crucial assets to MO, Yamamoto made the more important Midway operation dependent on the secondary operation's success. [97] For the Japanese, who focused on the tactical results, the battle was seen as merely a temporary setback. The navy's general staff and the IJA accepted Inoue's proposal and promoted further operations, using these locations as supporting bases, to seize New Caledonia, Fiji, and Samoa and thereby cut the supply and communication lines between Australia and the United States. Nielsen, making an error in his coded message, reported the sighting as "two carriers and four heavy cruisers" at 103S 15227E / 10.050S 152.450E / -10.050; 152.450, 225nmi (259mi; 417km) northwest of TF17. In just over six weeks, German armed forces overran Belgium and the Netherlands, drove the British Expeditionary Force from the Continent, captured Paris, and forced the surrender of the French government. Dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan surrendered in August 1945 because the United States? [46], At 08:20, one of the Furutaka aircraft found Fletcher's carriers and immediately reported it to Inoue's headquarters at Rabaul, which passed the report on to Takagi. Because of a damaging air attack by Allied land- and carrier-based aircraft on Japanese naval forces invading the Lae-Salamaua area in New Guinea in March, Inoue requested Japan's Combined Fleet send carriers to provide air cover for Mo. 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. US Navy Japanese was on the offensive in spring 1942, sweeping across the Pacific after attacking. answer choices 8 May 1942. Believing the Japanese carriers were still well to the north near Bougainville, Fletcher continued to refuel. The Carrier Strike Force was to proceed down the eastern side of the Solomon Islands and enter the Coral Sea south of Guadalcanal. The experienced Japanese carrier aircrews performed better than those of the U.S., achieving greater results with an equivalent number of aircraft. The sailors say the kitten has to. Takagi and Hara, confused by the conflicting sighting reports they were receiving, decided to continue with the strike on the ships to their south, but turned their carriers towards the northwest to close the distance with Furutaka's reported contact. The Japanese aircraft all jettisoned their ordnance and reversed course to return to their carriers. Midway Island is a fairly isolated atoll, so named because it is midway between North America and Asia in the North . All of Shh's aircraft complement of 18 was lost, but three of the CAP fighter pilots were able to ditch at Deboyne and survived. Nimitz ordered Fletcher to return Yorktown to Pearl Harbor as soon as possible after refueling at Tongatabu. Battle of the Coral Sea In the Coral Sea Courtesy of the Naval History and Heritage Command The USS Yorktown is shown operating in the vicinity of the Coral Sea, April 1942. By contrast, suppose one side had located its opponent early enough to launch a first strike, so that only the opponents survivors could have struck back. . Six of the weary dive bomber pilots were told they would be immediately departing on another mission. Fletcher and Crace were already well on their way out of the area. The atolls of Tuvalu acted as a staging post during the preparation for the Battle of Tarawa and the Battle of Makin that commenced on 20 November 1943, which was the implementation of Operation Galvanic. Yorktown skillfully evaded eight . General MacArthur provided Australian Prime Minister John Curtin with his assessment of the battle, stating that "all the elements that have produced disaster in the Western Pacific since the beginning of the war" were still present as Japanese forces could strike anywhere if supported by major elements of the IJN. For the first time ever opposing fleets used carrier-launched aircraft to fight each other. Two U.S. dive bombers and two CAP Zeros were shot down during the attack. [17], During late April, the Japanese submarines Ro-33 and Ro-34 reconnoitered the area where landings were planned. In a meeting held in late May, the Australian Advisory War Council described the battle's result as "rather disappointing" given that the Allies had advance notice of Japanese intentions. Aircraft from Shh covered the landings until early afternoon, when Got's force turned towards Bougainville to refuel in preparation to support the landings at Port Moresby. Takahashi's bombers damaged Lexington with two bomb hits and several near misses, causing fires which were contained by 12:33. Japan's Naval General Staff estimated that it would take two to three months to repair Shkaku and replenish the carriers' air groups. Fletcher elected to take TF17 northwest towards the Louisiades and ordered TF11 to meet TF 44, which was en route from Sydney and Nouma, on 4 May once refueling was complete. [69], At 08:20, a Lexington SBD piloted by Joseph G. Smith spotted the Japanese carriers through a hole in the clouds and notified TF17. Believing that he faced overwhelming Japanese carrier superiority, Fletcher elected to withdraw TF17 from the battle. During their return, aircraft from the two adversaries passed each other in the air, resulting in more air-to-air altercations. They also sent a carrier force to patrol into the Coral Sea to intercept any American carriers sent to thwart their planned attack. [71], Yorktown's dive bombers, led by William O. Burch, reached the Japanese carriers at 10:32, and paused to allow the slower torpedo squadron to arrive so that they could conduct a simultaneous attack. SIMS (DD-409) by Japanese Bombers in the Coral Sea on May 7, 1942, U.S.S. The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) rejected the recommendation, stating that it did not have the forces or shipping capacity available to conduct such an operation. The U.S. Navy's decisive victory in the air-sea battle (June 3-6, 1942) and its successful defense of the major base located at Midway Island dashed Japan's hopes of neutralizing the United. "[66] Hara later told Yamamoto's chief of staff, Admiral Matome Ugaki, he was so frustrated with the "poor luck" the Japanese experienced on 7 May that he felt like quitting the navy. Once in the Coral Sea, the carriers were to provide air cover for the invasion forces, eliminate Allied air power at Port Moresby, and intercept and destroy any Allied naval forces which entered the Coral Sea in response. A total of 78 aircraft18 Zero fighters, 36 Aichi D3A dive bombers, and 24 torpedo aircraftbegan launching from Shkaku and Zuikaku at 08:00 and were on their way by 08:15 towards the reported sighting. Taking the Japanese formation by surprise, the Wildcats shot down seven torpedo bombers and one dive bomber, and heavily damaged another torpedo bomber (which later crashed), at a cost of three Wildcats lost. As the invasion convoy reversed course, it was bombed by eight U.S. Army B-17s, but was not damaged. (Bibliography of Japanese-language sources), South West Pacific theatre of World War II, Pacific Theater aircraft carrier operations during World War II, U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific) 1946, "A Stochastic Salvo Model Analysis of the Battle of the Coral Sea", "Chapter 16: To the Central Pacific and Tarawa, August 1943Background to Galvanic", History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, The Campaigns of MacArthur in the Pacific, Japanese Operations in the Southwest Pacific Area, United States Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific), "Alternative Endings to the First Aircraft Carrier Battle", "HIJMS Furutaka: Tabular Record of Movement", "HIJMS Submarine I-28: Tabular Record of Movement", "HIJMS Submarine RO-33: Tabular Record of Movement", "HIJMS Submarine RO-34: Tabular Record of Movement", "IJN Seaplane Tender Kiyokawa Maru: Tabular Record of Movement", "IJN Kikuzuki: Tabular Record of Movement", U.S.S. [82], As TF17 recovered its aircraft, Fletcher assessed the situation. Unknown to Fletcher, TF11 completed refueling that morning ahead of schedule and was only 60nmi (69mi; 110km) east of TF17, but was unable to communicate its status because of Fletcher's orders to maintain radio silence. 1. At 11:27, Yorktown was hit in the centre of her flight deck by a single 250kg (550lb), semi-armour-piercing bomb which penetrated four decks before exploding, causing severe structural damage to an aviation storage room and killing or seriously wounding 66 men, as well as damaging the superheater boilers which rendered them inoperable. [94], From a strategic perspective, however, the battle was an Allied victory as it averted the seaborne invasion of Port Moresby, lessening the threat to the supply lines between the U.S. and Australia. [22] Inoue directed the MO operation from the cruiser Kashima, with which he arrived at Rabaul from Truk on 4 May. In H. P. Willmot's words, the commanders "had to contend with uncertain and poor communications in situations in which the area of battle had grown far beyond that prescribed by past experience but in which speeds had increased to an even greater extent, thereby compressing decision-making time. Without a hold in New Guinea, the subsequent Allied advance, arduous as it was, would have been even more difficult. [19] The Allied garrison at Port Moresby numbered around 5,333 men, but only half of these were infantry and all were badly equipped and undertrained. [31], On 4 May, from a position 100nmi (120mi; 190km) south of Guadalcanal (1110S 15849E / 11.167S 158.817E / -11.167; 158.817), a total of 60 aircraft from TF17 launched three consecutive strikes against Shima's forces off Tulagi. [104], Because of the severe losses in carriers at Midway, the Japanese were unable to support another attempt to invade Port Moresby from the sea, forcing Japan to try to take Port Moresby by land.