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RAN in Coral Sea |
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The battle for the Coral Sea occurred over four days between 4 and 8 May 1942. The battle has entered the national mythology as the battle that saved Australia. Following their rapid conquest of Malaya, the NEI and capture of Rabaul, the Japanese set their sights on the capture of Port Moresby, the establishment of a position in the lower Solomons, the securing of PNG and the extension of the depth of their Pacific defence. Two Japanese fleets, one sailing from Rabaul and another from Truk (Carolines), were intercepted in the Coral Sea when ULTRA codebreakers intercepted Japanese wireless messages. These were the covering ships for the troop transports and consisted of three carriers, the Shokaku, Zuikaku and the smaller Shoho, cruisers and submarines. An American fleet under Rear-Admiral F. J. Fletcher consisting of the carriers Yorktown and Lexington, eight cruisers and eleven destroyers were sent to intercept the Japanese fleets. The cruisers HMAS Australia and Hobart were part of the allied fleet. The remarkable aspect of the battle was that this was the first time in which the ships of the opposing fleets never actually saw each other. Instead the planes from the carriers and on the Allied side, additional squadrons from the land bases in North Queensland, hunted and stalked the enemy ships over the four days. Losses for both sides were relatively even but enough damage was inflicted on Japanese forces for the invasion for the convoy to be withdrawn. The Japanese were thus denied a foothold in southern Papua from which they could have further threatened vital Allied communication and supply lines. Moreover the Japanese fleet was critically weakened for the showdown at Midway the following month where America won a clear-cut victory. RAN The Anzac Naval Squadron was commanded by Rear Admiral Grace, an Australian born Royal Navy officer and included the cruisers Australia, Hobart and American Chicago. While the main force engaged the Japanese landing force at Tulagi and searched out the carrier force at sea, Grace's squadron as part of Task Force 44 was despatched toward New Guinea to prevent any invasion force sailing through the Jombard passage. This force was incorrectly identified by the Japanese as including two battleships and played a part in a battle in which, although the losses were by all accounts even, (including a carrier lost on each side), the strategic benefit was gained by the Allies RAAF RAAF planes flying out of bases in North Queensland, along with US squadrons, provided support for the allied fleet during the Battle of the Coral Sea. A RAAF No. 32 Squadron crew, flying Hudsons, located a Japanese aircraft carrier and other warships - information that proved to be of great value to allied commanders during the Battle of the Coral Sea. |
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