Good Morning: Totally new kind of naval combat

[Okla-homey]

May 3, 1942: The Battle of the Coral Sea begins

http://aycu05.webshots.com/image/12764/2001447578471534389_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001447578471534389)

On this day 65 years ago, the first modern naval engagement in history, called the Battle of the Coral Sea begins as a Japanese invasion force succeeds in occupying Tulagi of the Solomon Islands in an expansion of Japan's defensive perimeter.

http://aycu24.webshots.com/image/15823/2001495694852142771_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001495694852142771)

In other words folks, "round two" in the war in the Pacific also goes to Japan.
Japan was still a juggernaut at this stage, but although we couldn't stop the Japanese from achieving their objectives in this big fight, the cost Japan paid was steep and future American victories weren't far away.

As a stage setter, you need to understand that the United States, having broken Japan's secret war code and forewarned of an impending invasion of Tulagi and Port Moresby, attempted to intercept the Japanese armada before it could effect invasion of the entire Solomon Islands chain.

Four days of battles between Japanese and American aircraft carriers resulted in 70 Japanese and 66 Americans warplanes destroyed. This confrontation, called the Battle of the Coral Sea, marked the first air-naval battle in history, as none of the ships used naval gunfire against the other fleet, instead allowing the aircraft taking off from their decks to do the battling.

http://aycu35.webshots.com/image/14954/2001498892648847772_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001498892648847772)

Among the casualties was the American carrier Lexington. She suffered such extensive damage from attacking Japanese aircraft she had to be scuttled by her crew. Two hundred sixteen Lexington crewmen died as a result of the Japanese aerial attacks. The other carrier battle group built around Yorktown survived the fight.

http://aycu35.webshots.com/image/14514/2002437117489518142_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002437117489518142)
The USN workhorse of the fight was the SBD Dauntless dive bomber

Although Japan would go on to occupy all of the Solomon Islands, its victory was a "Pyrrhic" one. The cost in experienced pilots and aircraft carriers was so great that Japan had to cancel its expedition to Port Moresby, Papua, as well as other South Pacific targets.

http://aycu05.webshots.com/image/12764/2001455851959785161_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001455851959785161)

Even after the losses during the Coral Sea battle, the Imperial Japanese Navy remained a force to be reckoned with until its back was broken during the epic and decisive battle of Midway the following month in May 1942.

http://aycu20.webshots.com/image/14819/2002457367698678175_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002457367698678175)

[SCOUT]

May 3, 1942: The Battle of the Coral Sea begins

http://aycu05.webshots.com/image/12764/2001447578471534389_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001447578471534389)

On this day 65 years ago, the first modern naval engagement in history, called the Battle of the Coral Sea begins as a Japanese invasion force succeeds in occupying Tulagi of the Solomon Islands in an expansion of Japan's defensive perimeter.

http://aycu24.webshots.com/image/15823/2001495694852142771_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001495694852142771)

In other words folks, "round two" in the war in the Pacific also goes to Japan.
Japan was still a juggernaut at this stage, but although we couldn't stop the Japanese from achieving their objectives in this big fight, the cost Japan paid was steep and future American victories weren't far away.

As a stage setter, you need to understand that the United States, having broken Japan's secret war code and forewarned of an impending invasion of Tulagi and Port Moresby, attempted to intercept the Japanese armada before it could effect invasion of the entire Solomon Islands chain.

Four days of battles between Japanese and American aircraft carriers resulted in 70 Japanese and 66 Americans warplanes destroyed. This confrontation, called the Battle of the Coral Sea, marked the first air-naval battle in history, as none of the ships used naval gunfire against the other fleet, instead allowing the aircraft taking off from their decks to do the battling.

http://aycu35.webshots.com/image/14954/2001498892648847772_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001498892648847772)

Among the casualties was the American carrier Lexington. She suffered such extensive damage from attacking Japanese aircraft she had to be scuttled by her crew. Two hundred sixteen Lexington crewmen died as a result of the Japanese aerial attacks. The other carrier battle group built around Yorktown survived the fight.

http://aycu35.webshots.com/image/14514/2002437117489518142_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002437117489518142)
The USN workhorse of the fight was the SBD Dauntless dive bomber

Although Japan would go on to occupy all of the Solomon Islands, its victory was a "Pyrrhic" one. The cost in experienced pilots and aircraft carriers was so great that Japan had to cancel its expedition to Port Moresby, Papua, as well as other South Pacific targets.

http://aycu05.webshots.com/image/12764/2001455851959785161_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001455851959785161)

Even after the losses during the Coral Sea battle, the Imperial Japanese Navy remained a force to be reckoned with until its back was broken during the epic and decisive battle of Midway the following month in May 1942.

http://aycu20.webshots.com/image/14819/2002457367698678175_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002457367698678175)

Thanks Homey, these are always interesting.

I wonder how that headline would read today.

[Scott D]

psst....June 2nd - June 4th 1942 isn't the following month in May 1942 ;)


Scout probably as "Another 1700 US Servicemen killed in South Pacific"

[TUSooner]

psst....June 2nd - June 4th 1942 isn't the following month in May 1942 ;)


Scout probably as "Another 1700 US Servicemen killed in South Pacific"
Word!

Great post, Homey (despite the "psst" correxion) :D

[Okla-homey]

Word!

Great post, Homey (despite the "psst" correxion) :D

Opinions vary on when these big honkin' Pacific fandangos began. I think a colorable argument can be made Midway started when the forces started trying to find each other.

[TUSooner]

Opinions vary on when these big honkin' Pacific fandangos began. I think a colorable argument can be made Midway started when the forces started trying to find each other.
Ehh, either way is close enough for the SO, in any event. Good stuff.

[Scott D]

Opinions vary on when these big honkin' Pacific fandangos began. I think a colorable argument can be made Midway started when the forces started trying to find each other.

Well if you want to get technical, the entire process of finding out if it was Midway or the Aluetians began back in mid to late April of 1942. The attempts to get the Japanese to communicably force their hand were in the days leading up to the Battle of the Coral Sea, and the overtime work in making the Yorktown (barely) Sea-worthy were still in May.

technically The Battle of Midway began May 27th, 1942. The Naval conflict as it's known via history was still June 2nd through June 4th.

and for the record, Admiral Yamamoto wanted to secure Midway in late January of 1942 as a forward operating station to carry out missions on the Hawaiian Islands and the California coast while our Navy was still reeling from Pearl Harbor. He was overruled by the Army and Tojo. Americans should be glad that he wasn't running the show for Japan.

[Okla-homey]

Well if you want to get technical, the entire process of finding out if it was Midway or the Aluetians began back in mid to late April of 1942. The attempts to get the Japanese to communicably force their hand were in the days leading up to the Battle of the Coral Sea, and the overtime work in making the Yorktown (barely) Sea-worthy were still in May.

technically The Battle of Midway began May 27th, 1942. The Naval conflict as it's known via history was still June 2nd through June 4th.

and for the record, Admiral Yamamoto wanted to secure Midway in late January of 1942 as a forward operating station to carry out missions on the Hawaiian Islands and the California coast while our Navy was still reeling from Pearl Harbor. He was overruled by the Army and Tojo. Americans should be glad that he wasn't running the show for Japan.

Therefore, the Battle of Midway began in May 1942. That's what I said in the first place. sheesh.;)

[Scott D]

Therefore, the Battle of Midway began in May 1942. That's what I said in the first place. sheesh.;)

no you said may was the month following may ;)

[Okla-homey]

no you said may was the month following may ;)

Look, these things get editted before 0600 most days. I'm lucky anything in them is accurate.;)

Actually. I think its good when people point out discrepancies. That way, our Sooner homies know they get accurate history, vetted by their fellow peeps.

[Frozen Sooner]

MFers occupied Attu and Kiska islands. :mad:

[SoonerJack]

Homey, if I lived in Tulsa I'd buy you lunch someday as a measure of gratitude for your outstanding efforts toward the edification and furtherment of our collective historical knowledge.

[Okla-homey]

Homey, if I lived in Tulsa I'd buy you lunch someday as a measure of gratitude for your outstanding efforts toward the edification and furtherment of our collective historical knowledge.

Thanks! Instead of buying me lunch, spend that money on a membership to the Oklahoma Historical Society. They need the money, plus you get cool benefits. There is a link on my sig line.

[Scott D]

Look, these things get editted before 0600 most days. I'm lucky anything in them is accurate.;)

Actually. I think its good when people point out discrepancies. That way, our Sooner homies know they get accurate history, vetted by their fellow peeps.

Oh c'mon at 0600 you've been up for 0200 hours already :D

Funny Midway fact...had either fleet left a day earlier or not been impeded by weather, they would have overshot the other fleet by 300 nautical miles.