Battle of the Coral Sea order of battle

This is an order of battle for the Battle of the Coral Sea. The battle, fought during 4–8 May 1942, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval and air forces from the United States (U.S.) and Australia.

An explosion on the US Navy aircraft carrier Lexington, damaged by a Japanese carrier air attack on 8 May, blows an aircraft off the deck into the sea.

In an attempt to strengthen their defensive positioning for their empire in the South Pacific, Imperial Japanese forces decided to invade and occupy Port Moresby in New Guinea and Tulagi in the southeastern Solomon Islands. The plan to accomplish this, called Operation MO, involved several major units of Japan's Combined Fleet, including two fleet carriers and a light carrier to provide air cover for the invasion fleets, under the overall command of Shigeyoshi Inoue. The U.S. learned of the Japanese plan through signals intelligence and sent two United States Navy carrier task forces and a joint Australian-American cruiser force, under the overall command of Frank Jack Fletcher, to oppose the Japanese offensive.

Japanese forces

Task Force MO

Shigeyoshi Inoue
Shōhō
Yubari
Tsugaru
Shōkaku
Zuikaku
Takeo Takagi

Allied forces

Frank Jack Fletcher
HMAS Australia
USS Yorktown
USS Lexington (the 8" guns were removed shortly before the battle)
USS Neosho
USS Sims
John Gregory Crace

Task Force 17 – Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher[56]

South West Pacific Area – General Douglas MacArthur[77]

References

Notes

  1. Lundstrom (2006), p. 138.
  2. Lundstrom (2006), p. 147; Bullard, pp. 51–52.
  3. Willmott, p. 84.
  4. Okinoshima was commanded by Captain Nomi Minoru and was flagship of Mine Division 19. Okinoshima was sunk by US submarine S-42 on 10 May 1942 during Operation RY. Hackett, Okinoshima.
  5. From Destroyer Squadron 6 (Bullard, p. 56 says Destroyer Squadron 23). Willmott, p. 84; Dull, p. 136.
  6. The latter three ships were from the 14th Minesweeper Flotilla. Bullard, p. 56; Willmott, p. 84.
  7. From the 56th Submarine Chaser Squadron. Bullard, p. 56; Willmott, p. 84.
  8. Bullard, p. 56; Jersey, pp. 58–60.
  9. Hackett, Tenryu. Marumo also commanded Cruiser Division 18.
  10. Cruiser Division 18. Gill, p. 40; Bullard, p. 52; Hackett, Tenryu and Tatsuta. Tatsuta's commander was Captain Yoshifumi Baba and Tenryu's was Captain Mitsutaru Goto (Hackett).
  11. Dull, p. 136.
  12. Hackett, Tenryu; United States Army Center of Military History, p. 135.
  13. Kiyokawa Maru was under repair at Yokohama, Japan but its airgroup was at Rabaul and assisted Kamikawa Maru'ss airgroup in the invasion of Tulagi. When Kamikawa Maru departed Santa Isabel on 4 May to support the Port Moresby invasion from Deboyne, the Kiyokawa Maru aircraft remained at Santa Isabel and Tulgai and/or were attached to Kamikawa's airgroup for the Deboyne deployment. Hackett, Tenryu and Kiyokawa Maru.
  14. Nikkai Maru and oiler Iro helped establish a Japanese port and seaplane base in the Shortland Islands on 28 April 1942 prior to participating in Mo. Willmott, p. 84.
  15. Gotō was in tactical command of the Mo invasion forces. Willmott, pp. 85–86.
  16. Willmott, pp. 85–86.
  17. Lundstrom (2005), p. 188.
  18. Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Commanded by Nōtomi.
  19. Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Commanded by Lieutenant Michitarō Nakamoto.
  20. Cruiser Division 6. On 8 May Furutaka and Kinugasa were attached to Carrier Division 5 and helped escort Zuikaku back to Truk. Aoba and Kako helped cover the Port Moresby invasion convoy's return to Rabaul. Bullard, p. 52; Willmott, pp. 85–86; Hackett, Furutaka; Gill, p. 40.
  21. Dull, p. 136; Willmott, pp. 85–86.
  22. Also commander of Destroyer Squadron 6. Hackett, Yubari.
  23. Willmott, p. 86; Dull, p. 135; Hackett, Yubari. Flagship of Destroyer Squadron 6. Commanded by Captain Masami Ban (Hackett).
  24. Oite and Asanagi were from Destroyer Squadron 29, Mutsuki, Mochizuki, and Yayoi from Destroyer Squadron 30, and Uzuki from Destroyer Squadron 23. Bullard, p. 56; Willmott, p. 86.
  25. Hackett, Ojima.
  26. Member of Mine Division 19 with Okinoshima. Commanded by Captain Inagaki Yoshiaki. Hackett, Tsugaru.
  27. Goyo Maru was later converted into an oiler. Willmott, p. 86; Bullard, pp. 56–57. Apparently, the Azumasan Maru was supposed to join from the Tulagi Invasion Group but did not, perhaps as a result of battle damage (Bullard, pp. 56–57). Willmott spells Akihasan Maru as Akibasan Maru.
  28. Iwashige (2009), p. 78–79
  29. Bullard, p. 58, 64; Willmott, p. 86; Dull, p. 135; Hackett, Tsugaru. Asakayama Maru was equipped with extra anti-aircraft guns (Bullard). The IJA commander was on Matsue Maru (Bullard).
  30. Bullard, pp. 56–57; Willmott, p. 86; Hackett, Tsugaru. Some sources spell this ship's name as Oshima. Her ship's side name is をしま, not おしま おじま.
  31. Iro and gunboat Nikkai Maru helped establish a Japanese port and seaplane base in the Shortland Islands on 28 April 1942 prior to participating in Mo. Iro and destroyer Uzuki remained at the Shortlands to refuel Gotō's Covering Group after it completed its support mission of the Tulagi invasion. Hackett, Ojima; Willmott, pp. 84, 86; Hackett, Tsugaru.
  32. All the minesweepers from Shima's Tulagi Invasion Group were to have joined the Port Moresby Invasion Group. Only Hagoromo Maru and Noshiro Maru #2 survived the Yorktown's airstrikes to do so. Bullard, pp. 56–57; Willmott, pp. 85–86; Hackett, Tsugaru. Hackett does not list Seki Maru #3 as part of Abe's force.
  33. Bullard, pp. 56–57.
  34. The South Seas Detachment was primarily from the 55th Division commanded by Major General Tomitarō Horii and included troops from the 55th Infantry Group, centered on the 144th Infantry Regiment, as well as the 47th Field Anti-Aircraft Battalion and attached medical and water supply support units. Rottman, p. 84.
  35. Willmott, p. 87.
  36. Captained by Takaji Jōjima. Lundstrom, p. 140; Willmott, p. 87.
  37. Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Flew in an Aichi D3A dive bomber.
  38. Gillison, p. 525; Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Commanded by Lieutenant Takumi Hoashi. Three aircraft were reserved for delivery to the Tainan Air Group.
  39. Gillison, p. 525; Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Commanded by Lieutenant Masao Yamaguchi.
  40. Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Commanded by Lieutenant Tatsuo Ichihara.
  41. Captained by Ichihei Yokogawa. Lundstrom (2006), p. 140; Willmott, p. 87.
  42. Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Shimazaki flew in a Nakajima B5N torpedo bomber.
  43. Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Commanded by Lieutenant Kiyokuma Okajima. Five of the fighters were reserved for delivery to the Tainan Air Group.
  44. Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Commanded by Lieutenant Tamotsu Ema.
  45. Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Commanded by Lieutenant Yoshiaki Tsubota.
  46. From Cruiser Division 5. Gill, p. 40; Willmott, p. 87; Bullard, p. 52.
  47. From Destroyer Squadron 7. Willmott, p. 87; Bullard, p. 52.
  48. From Destroyer Squadron 27. Willmott, p. 87; Bullard, p. 52; Dull, p. 135.
  49. From Submarine Squadron 8. I-28 was sunk by the US submarine Tautog on 17 May as I-28 returned to base at Truk. Willmott, pp. 84–85.
  50. From the 21st Submarine Group. Bullard, p. 57.
  51. Bullard, pp. 47, 61. Aircraft numbers are of 1 May 1942.
  52. Bullard, pp. 47, 53, 61.
  53. commanded by Captain Masahisa Saitō. Bullard, pp. 47, 53–54, 61.
  54. Six Kawanishi deployed from Rabaul to the Shortlands on 28 April. Lundstrom (2006), p. 138; Bullard, pp. 48, 52, 61.
  55. Bullard, p. 61; Crave, p. 447. Crave states the Genzan had 27 aircraft.
  56. Willmott, p. 190; Lundstrom (2006), p. 519.
  57. Minneapolis and New Orleans were designated Task Unit 17.2.1 under Kinkaid and the other three cruisers were Task Unit 17.2.2 under Rear Admiral William W. Smith. Captains of each ship (all at the rank of Captain): Minneapolis- Frank J. Lowry, New Orleans- Howard H. Good, Astoria- Francis W. Scanland, Chester- Thomas M. Shock, Portland- Benjamin Penman. Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), p. 10; Lundstrom (2006), p. 519.
  58. Task Unit 17.2.4 under Captain Alexander R. Early. Captains of each ship: Phelps- Lieutenant Commander Edward L. Beck, Dewey- Lieutenant Commander Charles F. Chillingworth, Jr., Farragut- Commander George P. Hunter, Aylwin- Lieutenant Commander Robert H. Rogers, Monaghan- Lieutenant Commander William P. Burford. ONI, p. 10; Lundstrom (2006), p. 519.
  59. Task Unit 17.3.1 under Crace. Cruiser captains: Australia- Captain H. B. Farncomb, Chicago- Captain Howard D. Bode, Hobart- Captain H. L. Howden. ONI, p. 10; Lundstrom (2006), p. 519.
  60. Task Unit 17.3.4 under Commander Francis X. McInerney. Destroyer captains (Lieutenant commanders): Perkins- Walter C. Ford, Walke- Thomas E. Fraser. ONI, p. 10; Lundstrom (2006), p. 519.
  61. Both carriers together were designated Task Unit 17.5.1 under Fitch. Willmott, p. 190; Lundstrom (2006), p. 519.
  62. Skippered by Captain Elliott Buckmaster. ONI, p. 11; Lundstrom (2006), p. 519.
  63. Lundstrom (2005), p. 190.
  64. Lundstrom (2005), p. 190. Commanded by Lieutenant Commander Charles R. Fenton.
  65. Lundstrom (2005), p. 190. Commanded by Lieutenant Wallace C. Short.
  66. Lundstrom (2005), p. 190. Commanded by Lieutenant Commander William O. Burch, Jr.
  67. Lundstrom (2005), p. 190. Commanded by Lieutenant Commander Joe Taylor.
  68. Skippered by Captain Frederick C. Sherman. ONI, p. 11; Lundstrom (2006), p. 519.
  69. Lundstrom (2005), p. 190. Ault flew an SBD not assigned to either of the SBD squadrons.
  70. Lundstrom (2005), p. 190. Commanded by Lieutenant Commander Paul H. Ramsey.
  71. Lundstrom (2005), p. 190. Commanded by Lieutenant Commander Weldon L. Hamilton.
  72. Lundstrom (2005), p. 190. Commanded by Lieutenant Commander Robert E. Dixon.
  73. Lundstrom (2005), p. 190. Commanded by Lieutenant Commander James H. Brett, Jr.
  74. Task Unit 17.5.4 under Captain Gilbert C. Hoover. Destroyer skippers: Morris- Commander Harry B. Jarrett, Anderson- Lieutenant Commander John K. B. Ginder, Hammann- Lieutenant Commander Arnold E. True, Russell- Lieutenant Commander Glenn R. Hartwig. ONI, p. 11; Lundstrom (2006), p. 519.
  75. Lundstrom (2006), p. 519.
  76. Dull, p. 136; Hoyt, p. 13; Willmott, p. 190; Lundstrom (2006), p. 519; Morison, p. 20.
  77. Willmott, p. 191.
  78. Gill, p. 42; Morison, p. 20; Willmott, p. 191. Only S-38, S-42, S-44, and S-47 were involved in the battle.
  79. Willmott, p. 192.
  80. Willmott, p. 195; Crave, pp. 424–425.
  81. Willmott, p. 195.
  82. Willmott, p. 195; Crave, pp. 411, 416.
  83. Willmott, p. 195; Crave, p. 425.
  84. Willmott, p. 195; Crave, p. 416; Salecker, p. 177. Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Connally (first name unknown).
  85. Bowman, p. 85.
  86. Salecker, p. 177.
  87. Bowman, p. 85; Salecker, p. 177.
  88. Crave, pp. 425, 448.
  89. Willmott, p. 195; Crave, pp. 414, 425.
  90. Willmott, p. 196.
  91. Willmott, p. 196; Gillison, p. 519.
  92. Willmott, p. 143; McCarthy, p. 112.
  93. ""Order of Battle – Port Moresby Garrison", War Diary, New Guinea Force Headquarters, March–April 1942, AWM52 1/5/51" (PDF). Retrieved 28 November 2009.
  94. McCarthy, p. 44. Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel H. M. Conran.
  95. McCarthy, pp. 43–44.
  96. Willmott, p. 143.
  97. McCarthy, p. 45.
  98. McCarthy, p. 45. Consisted of four 3.7 inch stationary guns and three mobile 3 inch guns.
  99. McCarthy, p. 42, 45.
  100. McCarthy, p. 45. Commanded by Major W. T. Watson.

Printed sources

  • Bowman, Martin (2003). B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the Pacific War. Great Britain: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-481-7.
  • Dull, Paul S. (1978). A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941–1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-097-1.
  • Hoyt, Edwin Palmer (2003). Blue Skies and Blood: The Battle of the Coral Sea. I Books. ISBN 0-7434-5835-4.
  • Jersey, Stanley Coleman (2008). Hell's Islands: The Untold Story of Guadalcanal. College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 978-1-58544-616-2.
  • Lundstrom, John B. (2006). Black Shoe Carrier Admiral: Frank Jack Fletcher at Coral Sea, Midway, and Guadalcanal. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-475-2.
  • Lundstrom, John B. (2005). The First Team: Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway (New ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-471-X.
  • Morison, Samuel Eliot (2001) [1949]. Coral Sea, Midway and Submarine Actions, May 1942 – August 1942, vol. 4 of History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Champaign, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-252-06995-1.
  • Rottman, Gordon L. (2005). Japanese Army in World War II: Conquest of the Pacific 1941–42. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 1-84176-789-1.
  • Salecker, Eric (2001). Fortress Against the Sun: The B-17 Flying Fortress in the Pacific. United States: Da Capo Press. ISBN 1-58097-049-4.
  • Willmott, H. P. (1983). The Barrier and the Javelin: Japanese and Allied Pacific Strategies February to June 1942. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-535-3.
  • Iwashige, Tashirō (2009). The visual guide of Japanese wartime merchant marine. Japan: Dainippon Kaiga. ISBN 978-4-499-22989-0.

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