The Battle Of The Coral Sea

The months prior to the Coral Sea Battle, Japan entered the war on December 7, 1941 with a plan for supremacy in South East Asia, Philippines and the Dutch East Indies. From pre-war documentation seized by the US Forces after Japan's surrender, historians know Japan planned to invade Australia.

Most Australians felt invasion was getting closer each day and repeated media reports and idle gossip did nothing to calm their fears. Reports of what Australia would be like under Japanese rule gave the grimmest accounts. Japanese servicemen were prepared to fight to win or die.

For some time Japanese spotter planes were seen around the Pacific Islands, New Guinea and Australia, and 1942 newspapers carried stories of the capture of an enemy plane carrying photos of major military installations, civilian factories and ports. The Herbert River Express carried reports of 40 enemy planes sighted in the north but the editor, Charles Cockrell played the incidents down as rumours.

Singapore fell to the Japanese on February 18, 1942 and 14,000 Australians were prisoners. The Philippines had also fallen to the Japanese and they invaded New Guinea early in 1942. The AIF were recalled from Europe to reinforce the AMF in Milne Bay and the Owen Stanley Ranges.

There was great concern when the Government drew the Brisbane Line, an imaginary line dividing the country in two, the most important area being a coastal strip taking in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne where the majority of troops were to be based. It was felt the Japanese could have the rest of Australia. Australians felt more secure when General Douglas MacArthur arrived on March 18, 1942. He felt strongly against the Brisbane Line Plan and told the Government his troops would halt the Japanese invasion in New Guinea.

The Japanese invasion force was approaching Port Moresby via the Coral Sea and the US Navy acting on intelligence reports, despatched the carriers USS Yorktown and USS Lexington to the area on May 1, 1942. The HMAS Australia and HMAS Hobart joined the Allied fleet in the Coral Sea.

By May 7, 1942 the carrier battle began with the first casualties being a tanker USS Neosho and destroyer USS Sims, sunk by aircraft from "Soho" and a number of Japanese and United States aircraft. At 0900 on May 8, both sides located each other simultaneously and at 1100 the Japanese carrier Shokaku was damaged, the US carrier Lexington was hit by two torpedoes and at least two bombs, and by late afternoon Lexington was abandoned and sunk. After the battle the Japanese claimed a tactical victory and the Allies claimed a strategic victory by preventing the assault on Port Moresby.

Today historians know the Battle of the Coral Sea did not prevent Australia from Japanese invasion, nor save Port Moresby from Japanese occupation, but the Allied forces inflicted significant losses to the Japanese Invasion Force. Forced them to enter battles ill-equipped and undermanned, and re-assess their plan of ultimate supremacy in the Pacific Region.

Contributed with thanks by Robert Lang, President of the Cardwell RSL Sub Branch. From the Cardwell 1993 booklet 'Coral Sea Battle Memorial: 1942 the experiences and memories of World War II, through the eyes of the local residents.