The first week in May marks the anniversary of what many consider a turning point in the Allied involvement in WWII. The Battle of the Coral Sea was a 4-day event that impacted Australian forces particularly. With every anniversary and commemoration, we are again reminded of the sacrifices made by patriotic and dedicated people who leave their homes and families to fight for the greater good. Their bravery and dedication to the cause in such battles have shaped our nation.
Initiated by the Japanese and targeting Allied forces, the Battle of the Coral Sea was significant for many reasons and occurred at a critical stage of WWII. It was a major battle between naval fleets – specifically the Japanese, USA, and Australia. The goal of the Japanese forces was to strengthen their position in the Pacific region, by occupying Port Moresby in New Guinea.
They had created a defence permitter that ran from northern Japan to the Marshall Islands, and the southern parts of Indonesia to Burma. The extension of this would enable them to gain access and control of Australia and New Zealand, the key Pacific allies in the region – and secure the upper hand in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Thankfully, they were unsuccessful in achieving this.
The Japanese kicked off their plans on the 4th of May 1942, The battle was fought in the Coral Sea between the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and Australia’s northeast coast. This area covered thousands of square kilometres – a fact that would ultimately be the downfall of the Japanese forces. The first planes took to the air on the 4th of May, and over the next 4 days, innovative strategies and tactics were implemented by all sides. Unusually, the battle was not won on strength alone. Several factors contributed to the Japanese defeat, including bad weather that resulted in low visibility for the planes sent out by the respective carriers to fight on their behalf. Some of these planes also had limited reach and the footprint of the battleground was beyond the scope of many of them to access targets.
The Battle of the Coral Sea was unique for several reasons, the greatest being that it was the first failure of Japanese forces during WWII. It was also the first naval battle where none of the ships sighted each other, and a naval or sea battle was fought via combat that was conducted in the air. The fact that this battle could be fought without the fleets even seeing each other is astonishing. The blind reliance on reconnaissance aircraft and the sheer bravery of those involved make their sacrifice even more moving. Today’s veterans will reflect on this campaign on the 8th of May and understand deeply the dedication required to undertake such an astonishing campaign thousands of miles from home.
The Battle of the Coral Sea was the largest naval battle fought off the Australian coast and defeat by the allies of Japan altered the course of our country’s history.
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