Battle of the Coral Sea Facts
for kids:
Background History
Following the
Doolittle
Raid on Tokyo on April 18, 1942 the Japanese military leaders
were divided on their next course of action. The Japanese Army’s
high command wanted an attack to be centered on isolating Australia
and included an attack on New Guinea. Admiral Nagano wanted to
continue spearheading territorial gains in the Far East whereas
Admiral Yamamoto wanted an all-out attack on America’s aircraft
carriers in the Pacific and destroy the American fleet in order to
protect Tokyo from further bombing.
Battle of the Coral Sea Facts
for kids:
The Japanese split their forces
The Japanese decided on the course of action that
would spilt their forces. The attack on New Guinea had already
started and was too far advanced to be called off, with some
Japanese forces concentrated in the Coral Sea to the south-east of
New Guinea. Admiral Yamamoto would therefore be placed in a position
where he would be unable to call on all the Japanese forces he
needed for an attack on Midway Island.
Battle of the Coral Sea Facts
for kids:
The Japanese War Plan
The two-pronged Japanese plan was to capture Port
Moresby the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea in order to
cut American supply lines to Australia - but only three
Aircraft Carriers were assigned to the mission. All of the other aircraft
carriers were ordered to prepare for an assault on Midway Island,
the last American base in the North Pacific west of Hawaii.
Battle of the Coral Sea Facts
for kids
The following fact
sheet contains interesting information, history and
facts on Battle of the Coral Sea for kids.
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts for kids
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts - 1:
The Coral Sea is located in the South Pacific between
New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, 500 miles northeast
of Australia.
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts - 2: The US had broken the Japanese
Navy’s secret code and knew of their plans. Admiral Admiral Chester
Nimitz sent two US aircraft carriers, the Lexington and the Yorktown
with their respective task force to intercept the Japanese. Both
sides launched all out air attacks on each in a vast area in what
became known as the Battle of the Coral Sea.
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts - 3: The ships engaged in the
conflict over the four-day period between May 4-8, 1942 were, in
order of size, battleships, aircraft carriers, cruisers and
destroyers. The aircraft carriers had to be protected by the other
ships from attack by enemy aircraft, launched from enemy aircraft
carriers.
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts - 4: The main Japanese groups consisted
of:
● The Japanese Carrier Striking
Force commanded by Admiral Takagi, with the aircraft
carriers Zuikaku and Shokaku, protected by cruisers
and destroyers
● The Japanese Port Moresby
Invasion Group that included the aircraft carrier,
Shoho and several cruisers.
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts - 5: The Allied groups consisted of:
● Task Force 11 including the
USS Lexington, commanded by Rear-Admiral Fitch and
Task Force 17 the USS Yorktown, commanded by
Rear-Admiral Fletcher, together with protective
cruisers and destroyers.
● Task Force 44 commanded by
the Australian Rear-Admiral Crace and consisting of
a group of Allied warships, including the heavy
cruiser HMAS Australia and the light cruiser HMAS
Hobart whose target was the Japanese Port Moresby
Invasion Group
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts - 6: Task Force 17
consisted of Yorktown (carrier), Astoria (heavy
cruiser), Chester (heavy cruiser), Portland (heavy
cruiser), Hammann (destroyer), Anderson (destroyer),
Russell (destroyer), Walke (destroyer), Morris
(destroyer) and Sims (destroyer)
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts -
7: Task Force 11
consisted of Lexington (carrier), Minneapolis (heavy
cruiser), New Orleans (heavy cruiser), Phelps
(destroyer), Dewey (destroyer), Farragut (destroyer),
Aylwin (destroyer) and the Monaghan (destroyer)
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts - 8: The Japanese force
included the aircraft carriers ‘Shokaku’, the ‘Zuikaku’
and the 'Shoho'. The Japanese attack on Port Moresby,
codename ‘Operation MO’, was important as its success
would isolate Australia and New Guinea and could then be
used as a platform to attack Samoa and Fiji. Port
Moresby was a key city on the southern coast of New
Guinea.
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts -
9: The Allied force had 128 carrier
aircraft and the Japanese had 127 carrier aircraft
Continued...
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts for kids
Facts
about the Battle of the Coral Sea Facts for kids
The following fact
sheet continues with interesting information, history and facts
on Battle of the Coral Sea for kids.
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts for kids
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts - 10: The Battle of the Coral Sea
began on May 4, 1942 when Japanese naval forces invaded Tulagi in
the southern Solomon Islands. The USS Yorktown launched 3 air
strikes against the Japanese in Tulagi, hitting a destroyer and
several smaller ships. The Yorktown then moved south to rejoin the
USS Lexington
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts - 11: May 5, 1942 was dogged by
terrible weather preventing either side from locating the enemy air
carrier forces. The Allied force received intelligence that the
Japanese intended an imminent attack on Port Moresby.
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts - 12: On May 6, 1942 the Japanese
launched further attacks on the Solomon Islands and enter the Coral
Sea early in the day. The American carriers are located 70 miles
away and the two sides did not come into contact
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts - 13: On May 7, 1942 Japanese
surveillance aircraft sight an American aircraft carrier and the
Japanese begin a raid on the Allied Forces. The HMAS Australia
(cruiser) is hit, but not sunk, the USS Sims (Destroyer) is hit by
enemy planes but not badly damaged. The Allies respond to the attack
by sinking the Japanese aircraft carrier, the Shoho
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts - 14: On May 8, 1942 the main Battle
of the Coral Sea was fought. The Allied forces and Japan bombard
each other with torpedoes and bombs. The Japanese lost ships and 69
aircraft and the Allie losses included the USS Lexington aircraft
carrier which was sunk during the battle and 92 aircraft were
destroyed.
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts - 15: A total of 966 men fighting for the Allies were
killed during the Battle of the Coral Sea. The Japanese lost 656
men.
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts - 16: The Battle of the Coral Sea
was a draw, but it stopped the Japanese from invading Port Moresby
in New Guinea and threatening Australia. Many people refer to the
conflict as the ‘Battle that saved Australia’.
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts - 17: The Battle of the Coral Sea
was also important as it was the first sea battle in history when
neither opposing sides' ships sighted or fired directly upon the
other
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts - 18: The Japanese went on with it plans to attack
Midway...
Battle of the Coral Sea
Facts for kids
Important US Battles in
WW2
For visitors interested in the important US battles
in WW2 refer to the following articles:
Battle of the Coral Sea Facts for kids - President Franklin Roosevelt Video
The article on the
Battle of the Coral Sea Facts provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following
Franklin Roosevelt video will
give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 32nd American President whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945.
Battle of the Coral Sea Facts
●
Interesting Facts about Battle of the Coral Sea for kids and schools
●
Battle of the Coral Sea Facts for kids
●
Battle of the Coral Sea Facts with important dates and key
events
●
Franklin Roosevelt
Presidency from March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945
●
Fast, fun, Battle of the Coral Sea Facts for kids
●
Foreign & Domestic
policies of President Franklin Roosevelt
●
Franklin Roosevelt Presidency and
Battle of the Coral Sea Facts for schools,
homework, kids and children |