The Battle of Coral Sea

1239 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: 200 word summary of the battle of the coral sea

May 7-8, 1942, an important battle happen, that is the Battle of Coral Sea. The Battle was fought by air planes on both sides, There was no ship involved at all. The Japanese wanted to capture New Guinea and leave Australia out. The Coral Sea actions happen from a Japanese operation, they wanted to capture Port Moresby, on New Guinea's southern-eastern coast. Japanese air base threaten Australia and supported plans for future expansion, trying to help Australia get out of the war and exchange the strategic defense of Japan's oceanic empire.
In the spring of 1942, the Japanese had great gains in the Far East. The conquest of the Philippines, Burma, Malaya, and Dutch East Indies had cost the Japanese Navy 23 warships. Also, 67 transportation ships had also been lost. The naval command had expected a greater loss. Some of the people thought it would be best if they continue spearheading territorial gains, Admiral Nagano was a supporter of these. Others, followed Admiral Yamamoto, wanted to an all out attack on America's aircraft. Yamamoto believed that the destruction of America's aircraft, would make sure they had a security for Japan. Because of these, Yamamoto wanted an attack on Midway, as he believed that such an attack would definitely draw the American navy into a battle, which he believe that Japan would win.
However, everything changed when the Americans forced the Japanese. On April 18th, 1942, America launched bombs from two aircrafts carrier, which bombed Tokyo. Because of these, it gave Yamamoto more stregth against the Americans aircraft carriers on May 5th. General Headquarters Navy Order 18 was notified, and he ordered Yamamoto to carry out an attack on Midway, this operation was all taken place in June 1942.
...

... middle of paper ...

...er 'Phelps' finished off the 'Lexington' with five torpedoes, the Lexington sank. Japanese later called off trying to capture Port Moresby, for they feared that the American still has the power to destroy many of their landing crafts. The Japanese came out the best in Battle of Coral Sea. The loss of the 'Lexington' was great and far outweighed the loss of the “Shoho'. In total the Japanese lost 43 planes to the Americans. The battle is seen as an American victory because in the end it stopped the Japanese from doing what their plan was to do, and that is capture Port Moresby and it excluded Australia. This was a great victory for the Americans. The Battle of Midway did more damage to the Japanese, then the others did.

Works Cited

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/coralsea/coralsea.htm

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_coral_sea.htm

Show More
Related

  • The Fall Of Singapore And Australia

    759 Words  | 2 Pages

    On the 15th of February in 1942 one of the biggest defeats of the British Empire was accomplished by the Japanese, Singapore was surrendered. The Fall of Singapore was relatively destructive to the relationship between Britain and Australia. Australia relied on Britain holding Singapore as it was the last defence against the Japanese and it was feared that Japan would go on and invade Australia if it fell, Australia openly showed that they could not rely on the British for defence by becoming a strong ally with America and asking them to help with the feared Japanese invasion. Australia feared the threat of invasion constantly throughout the war, when Singapore fell the Australian government predicted a certain attack by the Japanese.

    Read More

  • Kokoda Campaign Analysis

    735 Words  | 2 Pages

    3 September 1939 when Australia joined the war playing a significant role in World War 2, winning a lot of their campaigns. Almost million Australians, both men and women helped win WW2 all over the world. The war started for Australia when Great Britain declared war on Germany. This lead to Australia fighting in Germany and Italy in Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa, Japan in south-east Asia and other parts of the Pacific. Australia was involved in one of the most important battles in WWII, Kokoda track campaign in 1942. There are several reasons why this battle was so significant. Firstly, Kokoda track campaign stopped the invasion of Australia. Secondly, the Kokoda track campaign lead to the victory of WWII with the defeat of Japan. Lastly, the conditions that all the troops at the Kokoda campaign had to go through was atrocious and against the ally troop’s odds. This battle leads to the development of the nation. This is why Kokoda was the most important battle fought by the Australian’s in WWII.

    Read More

  • Th Battle of Tora Bora

    1764 Words  | 4 Pages

    The battle I will be discussing is the battle of Tora Bora. The engagement took place in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan from December 12, 2001 to December 17, 2001. The units involved were from the CIA, numerous Special Forces groups, Pakistani soldiers and local anti-Taliban fighters. The mission given to the forces was to kill Osama bin Laden from the caves, leave the body with the Taliban and disrupt the Al Qaeda organization by removing their leader. The intent was to infiltrate the cave system, remove bin Laden and return home.

    Read More

  • Should We Have Dropped the Atomic Bomb?

    1528 Words  | 4 Pages

    General Hideki Tojo was the Premiere of Japan. He and other Japanese leaders did not like the fact that Americans were sending war supplies to China and other countries in Asia. A surprise attack was ordered by Japan on December 7, 1941. The target was the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. 360 planes bombed the naval base killing about 3,000 people and destroying many warships, aircraft carriers, and submarines. This was a catalyst that brought the United States into World War II.

    Read More

  • The Significance of the Battle of Midway

    1393 Words  | 3 Pages

    On June 4th, a legendary battle took pace over the pacific sea. The battle of midway was the turning for America in World War 2. The air attacks of Japan and America would continue for many days. America won the battle and took out half of Japans carriers. It battle was a great victory for America, considering the fact that japan had much greater forces. This battle was the start of America taking control of the war over the pacific. This battle took place six months after japans first strike a Pearl Harbor. Many histories say this was the greatest air battle of all time. America not only proved that numbers didn’t matter, but showed that only leaders with clear eyes and soldiers with heart can win a battle of any size.

    Read More

  • The Battle of Midway

    1041 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...whereas the U.S only lost 1, the USS Yorktown which was already heavily damaged from previous conflicts in the Coral Sea. Had the U.S lost at Midway, the Japanese would have achieved their goal, and finished what Pearl Harbor started by permanently crippling the U.S Navy. In a Preface from an excerpt by Japanese Airman Fushida Mituso (Who famously Shouted “Tora, tora, tora”) the Japanese loss at Midway did the exact opposite of crippling the Navy. “During the Next two years while Japan’s Shipyards Splashed out six new heavy carriers, America’s turned out 17” (Mituso).

    Read More

  • Battle Of Midway Dbq

    1500 Words  | 3 Pages

    The execution of the principles of surprise and economy of force, made by the Americans in the Battle of Midway created an emphatic American victory when the preponderance of Japanese naval and air power indicated that events should have gone otherwise.

    Read More

  • Why Did Japan Attack Hawaii

    283 Words  | 1 Pages

    Japan attacked us to interfere with the attack on Southeast Asia, against overseas territories of the United Kingdom. The Japanese attacked us at 7:48 AM, Hawaii was struck with 353 japanese fighting planes, Bombers, Torpedo planes in two waves. All eight U.S. ships were damaged. Four sank and 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed. On December 8, 1941, the United states declared war on Japan.

    Read More

  • The Battle of Midway

    1931 Words  | 4 Pages

    As the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 the United States officially entered World War Two. The Japanese government later learned later that this single event sets off an explosion that subsequently caused the United States to attack the Midway Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Pearl Harbor was one of the United States largest naval bases and the largest in the Pacific Ocean. This attack ceased all trade with Japan and officially added Japan as one of the US enemies. With a new world war started it created new concerns for the army. “World War II introduced a whole new set of problems in naval tactics” (Smith, 1). The main change driving these changes was the fact that aircraft carriers became more prevalent and common in every major countries naval force. Japan was able to pull off the Pearl Harbor attack as a result of aircraft carriers to launch their airplanes. As a result of the battles leading up to the Battle of Midway and conflicts with Japan this created a lot larger of an impact on WWII as a whole and to boost unity in America leading to a more prosperous period of history following the war.

    Read More

  • Battle Of Midway Turning Points

    1643 Words  | 4 Pages

    World War II may be one of the most important historical events in modern history; its results have impacted everyone worldwide. While the war itself was a long and hard fight, the victory was largely a result of several key turning points. Among these was the Battle of Midway. Success in the Pacific war was critical to America; fighting a two front war is a great task for any military, and a loss in either could have crushed the war effort. The Battle of Midway had a huge impact on the outcome of World War II proving to be the key turning point leading to allied victory in the Pacific theater. In the battles leading up to Midway, Japan had been on a winning streak in the Pacific and was seemingly unstoppable. The massive losses suffered

    Read More

  • The Battle of Okinawa Analysis

    1878 Words  | 4 Pages

    World War II consisted of many devastating battles in both the European and the Pacific Theater. The Battle of Okinawa was fought in the Pacific theater. In the beginning of the battle there was little opposition from the Japanese soldiers but as the American troops traveled more inland the more resistance they met. Eventually, the 10th Army came against the fierce challenge of the intricate defense lines the Japanese held up. Many caves and pillboxes in the hills created a formidable challenge for American troops. Slowly though the Allies gained ground and continued to push back the defensive lines of General Ushijima and his troops. The Japanese tried to use kamikaze air and land attacks as successful offensive measures, these continued to produce little effect and failed each time. Finally, the Allies started to gain ground quite quickly. The Japanese had to move their defensive lines several time because the Americans were boxing them in. At las,t General Ushijima ordered everyman to fight till the death and the fighting became very disorganized. On June 21, all the loss ends were tied up. America had won Okinawa.

    Read More

  • Did Truman Justified To Drop The Atomic Bomb Justified Essay

    733 Words  | 2 Pages

    However, they didn’t know where or how the attack would occur. The surprise attack turned out to be a launch on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This angered Americans to the extent that the US declared war on Japan the next day. Even though the US favored neutrality, the United States was forced to enter war. The progressive violent actions of the Japanese government against the US economic interests are what ultimately triggered the United States’s declaration to enter the war.

    Read More

  • How the Battle of Midway was the Turning Point of WW2 for America

    2189 Words  | 5 Pages

    In May of 1942, Japanese Admiral Isorosku Yamamoto devised a plan to draw the US Pacific fleet into battle where he could completely destroy it. To accomplish this master plan of his, he sought out the invasion of Midway Island which would provide a base for the Japan troops to attack Hawaii. Unfortunately for Yamamoto, America decrypted Japanese radio transmissions and Admiral Chester Nimitz was able to establish a counter attack against this offensive. Nimitz sent three aircraft carriers, The USS Enterprise, The USS Hornet and The USS Yorktown to destroy the Japanese. This is just a short overview of The Battle of Midway, or as commonly referred to as, the battle that changed the war. People argue that it had no affect on the war, but those critics couldn’t be farther from the truth. The Battle of Midway was the turning point of the war because it fully enters America into the war, it kicked off the Pacific Campaign, and it had Japan on the defensive, thus preventing them from helping The Axis Forces.

    Read More

  • Why Did The Battle Of The Coral Sea Occur

    295 Words  | 1 Pages

    This is how the battle of the coral sea began. Japan was fighting against Australia and America for their land and ports. This is what happens during the battle of the coral sea. It first began when japan tried to invade the land that Australia owned. The war started on may, 4th 1942 over the coral sea. Australia began to fight back and made an alliance with America. America began helping Australia fight against Japan. They were fighting for the land in the pacific. Both of the sides began to bomb their opponents boats and aircrafts. Australia also bombed the port of moresby on the edge of japan.

    Read More

  • Tora Compare And Contrast Essay

    2275 Words  | 5 Pages

    The events for the Japanese side begin on December 12, 1932 when Isoroku Yamamoto was appointed Director of the Aeronautical Department of the Navy Ministry. He inspired reliance and assurance with the opportunity to make the air fleet a resourceful part for the Navy. He established a long needed driving force toward the future. It was Yamamoto's temperament that also had to do with his strategy and lead on his next groundwork. Yamamoto's assessment of the war with the United States came from his extensive research he did while attending Harvard University and his service as naval ambassador in Washington. He became familiar with the United States strengths and weaknesses. It was August, 1939 that Yamamoto was appointed Commander in Chief due to his knowledge base of the United States and his Naval command that earned him this position. Yamamoto determined that if Japan was to have the lead in the war, they would have to destroy the US Pacific Fleet in a long range, preventive attack using aircra...

    Read More

More about The Battle of Coral Sea

Open Document