Battle of Coral Sea

The Battle of Coral Sea was the first time since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that the enemy’s seemingly relentless advance into the Pacific was checked.

It was also the first major U.S. Navy fleet action against Japan and the first naval engagement in history in which the participating ships never sighted or fired directly at each other.

Our first victory in the Pacific was hard fought, but largely forgotten. Until now.

The Battle of Coral Sea Video

Remembering the Battle of Coral Sea

The Battle of Coral Sea, fought from May 4 to May 8, 1942, between the Imperial Japanese navy and naval and air forces from the United States and Australia, took place in the Pacific Theater of World War II. This is the first time aircraft carriers engaged each other and the first time ships from neither side sighted or fired directly upon the other.

Aircraft were key to this battle. When the smoke cleared lost to the Allies were four vessels, 69 aircraft and 656 men. Lost to the Japanese were five ships with a further four heavily damaged, 92 aircraft and 966 men.

Remembering the Battle of Coral Sea Video

The battle marked the first time since the start of the war the Allies had stopped a major Japanese advance. More importantly, the Japanese fleet carriers Shōkaku and Zuikaku did not fight in the Battle of Midway the following month. The Allies saw more victories in the Pacific and ultimately broke the Japanese lines contributing to the end of the war.

On this 75th anniversary of the battle we remember all those who gallantly fought and those who paid the ultimate price.