The Coral Sea 1942 by Mark Stille

Author:Mark Stille
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: The Coral Sea 1942: The First Carrier Battle
ISBN: 9781780969930
Publisher: Osprey Publishing

THE AMERICAN CARRIER RAID ON MAY 4

By May 4, the Tulagi Invasion Force was without air cover. Shoho had departed to move north to cover the Port Moresby invasion convoy then departing Rabaul and the MO Carrier Striking Force was still in the area of Rabaul attempting to complete its frustratingly difficult ferry mission. When American carrier aircraft appeared over the skies of Tulagi on the morning of May 4, the Japanese were caught completely by surprise and were essentially defenseless.

Northampton-class heavy cruiser Chester in August 1942. Chester was active early in the war as a carrier escort, including at the battle of the Coral Sea. Her port side 5in. gun battery can be seen pointed skyward. Armed with a total of eight 5in. guns, four 1.1in. quadruple automatic cannon mounts and a variable number of 20mm guns, the Northampton-class cruisers possessed an impressive anti-aircraft fit by early 1942 standards. (US Naval Historical Center)

At 0630hrs, Yorktown began launching what would be the first of four strikes. The first wave included 28 dive-bombers and 12 torpedo bombers. No fighter escort was provided as no air opposition was expected. The attack began at 0820hrs. Large targets were few with the large minelayer Okinoshima and two destroyers being the most valuable. The most notable result of the first strike was the damaging of destroyer Kikuzuki, which was later beached and lost. The same aircraft were turned around for a second strike with 27 dive-bombers and 11 torpedo bombers attacking again just after noon. Later, a third wave was sent in with 21 dive-bombers, departing Yorktown at 1400hrs and returning at 1630hrs. The results of this intense effort, and of a wave of four fighters launched to strafe the Type 97 flying boats located in Tulagi harbor, was very disappointing. Fletcher claimed that two destroyers, one freighter and four patrol craft had been sunk and a light cruiser driven aground. The real tally was much less. In addition to the destroyer Kikuzuki, three small minesweepers and four landing barges had been sunk. Perhaps the most important result was the destruction of the five Type 97 flying boats. Total Japanese casualties were 87 killed and 124 wounded.

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