This covers an area of many thousands of square kilometres, and for much of the time the opposing forces did not know where the enemy was. A map of this area appears as part of the battle description later. The battle took place in the Coral Sea, in an area separating the Solomon Islands, the eastern tip of New Guinea, and the north-eastern coast of Australia from Townsville to Horn Island. But we need to try and understand what it was like at the time, and to appreciate the great variety of factors that contributed to the outcome-including poor communications and intelligence creating uncertainty, variable weather conditions, the vulnerability and slowness of massive ships, the human weaknesses and strengths of crew and pilots, the limitations of technology and equipment, and the bravery or lack of it of the men involved. Sixty years on it is easy to see the apparent inevitability of what actually happened. The battle certainly seemed more significant at the time than modern history books rate it. This is an exaggerated claim, but there is some validity to it. the battle stopped the Japanese sea-borne invasion of Port Moresby.įor many people this was the ‘battle that saved Australia’.it was the first time in World War 2 that the Japanese experienced failure in a major operation and.The battle was significant for two main reasons: All attacks were carried out by aeroplanes.It is also the largest naval battle that has ever been fought off Australia’s shores. It was the first aircraft carrier battle ever fought, and the first naval battle in which the opposing forces of surface ships at no stage sighted or fired at each other. Some of the aircraft involved were land-based, but most were from the opposing aircraft carriers.

It was fought by Allied (United States and Australian) and Japanese aircraft against four different major groups of warships. The Battle of the Coral Sea was a series of naval engagements off the north-east coast of Australia between 4 and.

Battle of warships anti air forces