The Battle of Coral Sea was the first of six Pacific War battles fought between aircraft carriers. It was indeed the first naval battle in history where the opposing ships never saw or fired upon each other.
By May 1942, the Japanese had enjoyed five months of great success in the Pacific Theatre. Determined to continue the offensive, the Japanese sought to capture Port Moresby, on New Guinea’s southeastern coast. This gain would allow the Japanese to run an airbase there, which would allow for further conquests in the South Pacific. Additionally, the Japanese hoped to “draw out” the US carriers and destroy them.
The Japanese fleet, under command of Vice Admiral Takeo Takagi and Rear Admiral Tadaichi Hara, committed two seaborne invasion forces to the effort. These were supported by land-based airpower as well as gunboats, cruisers, seaplane tenders and a small aircraft carrier. The United States communications intelligence was aware of the Japanese plans and prepared the US Navy accordingly. The Navy, under command of Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, prepared for battle with two aircraft carriers, submarines, destroyers, patrol seaplanes, cruisers, and land-based bombers. The Australian Navy also committed two cruisers to the battle.
May 7, 1942 was the first day of battle in the Coral Sea. The Americans and Japanese began the day looking for enemy carriers in the area. The Japanese scouts discovered the U.S. oiler Neosho and her escort, as well as the destroyer USS Sims early in the morning. Unaware that these were minor players in the United States defense, the Japanese launched a series of attacks on the American vessels. The USS Sims was sunk and the Neosha was reduced to driftwood. The attack caused heavy casualties; however, the main US forces in the area remained untouched.
The Americans found themselves in a similar situation around noon the same day. Misinterpreted scouting reports sent a massive attack against the Japanese light carrier Shoho. The Shoho was sunk, however the majority of the Japanese fleet remained intact. In the evening of May 7, the Japanese sent out more scouts to determine the location of Admiral Fletcher’s main fleet. Most of these planes were either shot down or crashed while attempting to land at night. This greatly decreased the Japanese power. Both sides retired for the remainder of the night determined to resume battle in the morning.
Before dawn on May 8, 1942 both the Japanese and Americans sent scouts to locate what they now realized was the main fleet of their opponent. Having found their targets each side attacked the other at approximately 11 am. Planes from the USS Yorktown and Lexington attacked the Japanese carrier Shokaku, leaving her unable to launch planes. The Japanese torpedoed and bombed the USS Lexington. Fire spread throughout the ship and she was abandoned. The USS Yorktown was badly damaged but remained operational. With damages including the loss of a light carrier, a destroyer and 1,074killed, the Japanese called of their Port Moresby Operation.
In November of 1940 the Italian Fleet was poised at Taranto, in Southern Italy, in an attempt to threaten the British naval lifeline to Africa. The Italians were practicing “Fleet in Being”; A military strategy that runs on the premise that the mere presence of a military of significant size will deter the enemy, without having to ever engage in battle. Therefore, the Italians stayed in port at Taranto, rather than risk their fleet in battle with the British. The British, however, did not choose to avoid battle in fear. Rather they planned Operation Judgment; a surprise attack on Taranto. Winston Churchill was determined to reduce the Italian Fleet before the Germans could arrive and reinforce them.
The Battle of Taranto took place on November 11 and 12, 1940. A British task force launched Operation Judgment from the British carrier the HMS Illustrious. The plan called for British planes to attack the Italian Fleet in two waves. Twenty-one Swordfish torpedo bombers were poised on the Illustrious to take off on the night of November 11. Eleven of the planes were armed with torpedoes, the remainder carried flares and bombs. The first wave of fighters arrived at Taranto Harbor at approximately 10:58 pm. The second wave arrived at approximately midnight. The Italians were surprised and the British succeeded in halving the Italian Fleet. The Italian Battleship Conte Di Cavour was sunk and two other battleships were damaged. The British lost only two Swordfish to anti-aircraft fire. The Italians withdrew the remainder of their sea worthy vessels to harbors on Italy’s west coast.
The success of the British in the Battle of Taranto changed the way military experts viewed aircraft carrier attacks. It had been military practice to attempt torpedo attacks against ships only at water depths of 100 ft or over. The port at Taranto had a shallow depth of 40ft. The British compensated for the shallow water by designing special torpedoes and dropping them from a very low altitude. This method was studied by the Japanese and subsequently used in the attack on Pearle Harbor.
After the fall of mainland Greece, it became essential that the Germans take the Ally controlled island of Crete. From the island of Crete, the Allies controlled shipping in the Aegean Sea. From the air fields on the island the Allies could potentially raid the Romanian oil fields which the Germans relied on heavily. Hitler also needed Crete under German control in order to move forward towards Cyprus and the Egyptian Delta. Operation Mercury began on May 20, 1941. The plan was contingent on two waves of attacks quickly overtaking the islands air fields.
On the morning of May 20, unaware that Allied intelligence knew of the attack, German Fallschirmjager (paratroopers) began to drop on the Maleme air field. Many Germans were killed during their descent as Allied forces peppered the paratroopers from well concealed hiding places. Simultaneously another group of German paratroopers landed at Hania and the Souda Bay area. These groups also met with significant resistance from the Allies.
Unaware of the difficulties the first wave of paratroopers were facing, the second wave began their descent. These troops attempted landings at Heraklion and Rethymnon airfields. This wave of parachutists suffered greater devastation than the first. By the evening the Germans had not succeeded in taking any of the airfields. However, the Germans were making some progress at the Maleme field, taking the hill at the north end of the airfield.
During the night of May 20 - 21, the German and British Navies battled in the waters around Crete. The Germans succeeded in sinking one British destroyer and damaging two cruisers. After this initial evening battle, the German convoy continued on to the island where troops were awaiting supplies and reinforcements. However, at 23:00, the Germans were once again attacked by the British. This time the British succeeded in stopping the convoy.
On the morning of May 22 the German Luftwaffe attacked the British fleet. This battle ended in a German victory, changing the course of the battle for Crete. Paratroopers continued to land on the island, while troop carriers sailed into ports carrying men and supplies. The Allied forces persisted in battle despite the fact that the Germans now maintained air and sea superiority. Local rebels also fought to avoid German occupation. Greek men, women and children fought valiantly using whatever means available; including pans, shovels, knives and bare hands.
After six more days of grueling battle, Allied forces began to evacuate the island of Crete on the night of May 28, 1941. The evacuation lasted three days. Approximately 16,500 troops escaped the island.