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Hyder Gulam

Dixon to Carrier. Scratch One Flattop

Battle of the Coral SeaBattle of the Coral Sea

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Battle of the Coral SeaBattle of the Coral Sea

AIM:

Application of aerospace

power capabilities to the

Battle of the Coral Sea

Key events of the Battle

of the Coral Sea

Key aerospace lesson to

be drawn from the Battle

of the Coral Sea

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ReferencesReferences

Department of the Navy (USN) - Naval Historical Center: Battle of the

Coral Sea at

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/coralsea/coralsea.htm

Wikipedia: Battle of the Coral Sea athttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Coral_Sea

Robert Lewis, Anzac Day: The Battle of the Coral Sea at

http://www.anzacday.org.au/history/ww2/bfa/coralsea.html

Emiliano Springer, The Battle of the Coral Sea at

http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/st/~michaelm/coral1.html

Sea Power Centre (RAN), General RAN History - The Battle of the Coral Seaat http://www.navy.gov.au/spc/history/general/coralsea.html

The Battle of the Coral Sea at

http://users.skynet.be/advocaat.depickere/Text/coral.html

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Battle of the Coral Sea - OverviewBattle of the Coral Sea - Overview

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ORBATORBAT Combatants:

United States Navy, Royal Australian Navy

Imperial Japanese Navy.

Commanders:

Frank J. Fletcher, John G. Crace.Shigeyoshi Inoue,Takeo Takagi.

Strength:

2 large carriers, 3 cruisers

2 large carriers,1 light carrier, 4 cruisers.

Casualties:

1 fleet carrier,1 destroyer,1 oil tankersunk. 543 killed.

1 light carrier,1 destroyersunk, 69 aircraft destroyed,1,074killed

TBD-1 - Douglas DevastatorTBD-1 - Douglas Devastator

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Time line: 03-05 May 1942Time line: 03-05 May 1942

Japanese naval force lands at Tulagi, establishseaplane base to provide reconnaissance.

RADM Fletcher takes Yorktown to interfere with

landings. Lexington refueling. Yorktowns planes hit Tulagi, destroying Kikuzuki,

other ships and seaplanes.

Fletcher rejoins Lexington, refuels Yorktown.

Port Moresby Invasion Force and Covering Forceadvance into Coral Sea from the north. Aircraftcarrier strike force enter Coral Sea from the east.

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Aerospace LessonAerospace Lesson

Battlespace Management - Early Warning

and Control.

Offensive air support - land Combat Support - Operations support/Force

multiplier (refuelling, logistics etc).

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Time line - 06 May 1942:Time line - 06 May 1942:

Land based B-17s attack the Port MoresbyInvasion Force with usual no success - pointless inhigh-level bombing against moving naval targets.

Fletcher detaches RADM Crace (Task Force 44 -3 cruisers and destroyers) to block course of PortMoresby Invasion Force: risky as exposes surfaceships to land-based aircraft without air cover.

Both fleets search for each other, including thoseAllied aircraft based at Cooktown and Mareeba onCape York Peninsula.

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Time line - 07 May 1942:Time line - 07 May 1942:

Searching for each others carriers - get first blow. Japanese scout planes spot US oiler Neosho and

USS Sims (destroyer) - mistaken for carrier andcruiser. Attacked by ineffective high level

bombing, and accurate dive bombers.

Scout plane from Yorktown finds CoveringGroup, light carrier Shoho and 4 heavy cruisers.Faulty message coding transformed as 2 carriersand 4 heavy cruisers.

Strike force from Y & L overwhelmShoho - sinks in minutes.

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Time line - 07 May 1942:Time line - 07 May 1942:

Japanese land-based torpedo planes andbombers attempt to strike TF 44 with nosuccess due to skillful seamanship.

Japanese order Port Moresby Invasion forceto turn back.

Late in the day, cream of Japanese carrierpilots are sent to search for carriers - mostare shot down or lost in night time landings.

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Aerospace LessonAerospace Lesson

Force protection of TF 44 - vulnerable to

airpower.

Defensive Counter Air - sinking of oilerNeosho.

Offensive Air Support - Maritime: B-17

strike against Port Moresby Invasion Force

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Time line - 08 May 1942:Time line - 08 May 1942:

Respective scouts locate opponents - attackeach other at 1100 h - Japanese partlyconcealed by thick weather, Americans underclear skies.

Shokaku attacked - unable to land/launch

planes. Lexington struck, situation deteriorates, and she

is scuttled.

Yorktown badly damaged, but still operational -recalled to Hawaii for repairs - Midway.

Port Moresby amphibious operation called off.Japanese carriers return to Japan for repairs -not available for Midway.

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Key Aerospace Power lesson:Key Aerospace Power lesson:

Air Superiority - the degree of dominance in theair battle of one force over another whichpermits the conduct of operations by the formerand its related land, sea and air forces at a

chosen time and place without prohibitiveinterference by the opposing force.

Offensive Counter Air (offensive capability,which has both long range and endurance, byneutralising an enemys aerospace power,infrastructure and assets, at its source.

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Summary:Summary:

Good intelligence allowed the allies to prepare to meetthe Japanese offensive against Port Moresby - use ofradar.

Gave pilots and sailors above Yorktown combatexperience.

Allies needed better fighters and torpedo planes.

Higher altitude for combat air patrols to thin-outJapanese bombers.

Better cooperation b/w land based aircraft and navalunits.

More effective use of land based aircraft.

Stealth over strength

War of attrition - economic factors.

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Questions?Questions?