Battle of Coral Sea

[Diagram by types of ship] [Diagram by Task Groups]

Start: Thursday May 7, 1942 Ending: Friday May 8, 1942

First naval battle entirely fought beyond the horizon. It is a missed attempt by the Japanese to invade Port-Moresby in New Guinea, stopped by the intervention of a US task force. The first exchange took place on May 7th with Fletcher attacking the covering force of the convoy to Port Moresby, while the Japanese Takagi reciprocated by sinking the American logistic group. The final confrontation between the fleet carriers took place on the following day.

Place: New Guinea

AlliedAxis
Forces
  • Fletcher (TF 17 and overall command): 2 carriers, 5 heavy cruisers, 9 destroyers, 39 fighters, 71 dive bombers, 26 torpedo planes.
  • Crace (detached on May 7th for a raid to the Louisiades): 2 heavy cruisers, 1 light cruiser, 2 destroyers.
  • Philips (TG 17.6, logistic group): 2 destroyers, 2 oilers.
  • DeBaun (TG 17.9, exploration group based at Noumea): 1 seaplane tender, 12 seaplanes.
Total: 2 carriers, 7 heavy cruisers, 1 light cruiser, 13 destroyers, 1 seaplane tender, 2 oilers, 39 fighters, 71 dive bombers, 26 torpedo planes, 12 seaplanes
  • Takagi (striking force): 2 carriers, 2 heavy cruisers, 6 destroyers, 38 fighters, 43 dive bombers, 42 torpedo planes.
  • Goto (distant cover of the convoys to Tulagi and Port Moresby): 1 light carrier, 4 heavy cruisers, 1 destroyer, 1 oiler, 12 fighters, 6 torpedo planes.
  • Marumo (close cover of the convoy to Port Moresby): 2 light cruisers, 1 seaplane tender, 3 gunboats.
  • Kajioka (escort the convoy to Port-Moresby): 1 light cruiser, 5 destroyers, 1 escort or patrol boat, 1 auxiliary ship.
  • Abe (convoy to invade Port-Moreby): 1 mine laying cruiser, 12 transports.
  • Logistic (Takagi's logistic group): 1 destroyer, 1 oiler.
Total: 2 carriers, 1 light carrier, 6 heavy cruisers, 3 light cruisers, 13 destroyers, 1 seaplane tender, 1 escort or patrol boat, 3 gunboats, 1 mine laying cruiser, 1 auxiliary ship, 12 transports, 2 oilers, 50 fighters, 43 dive bombers, 48 torpedo planes
Losses 1 carrier, 1 destroyer, 1 oiler, 76 aircraft lost.
1 carrier, 1 destroyer damaged.
1 light carrier, 108 aircraft lost.
1 carrier damaged.


Webmaster's question(s) and remark(s): Could anyone give me the name of the 11 transports in the convoy to Port-Moresby ?.

Additional information on the web : [Warships1][Microworks]

Made by LemaireSoft on July 2, 2001