The Battle of Coral Sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea was fought from May 4-8, 1942. The U.S. successfully stopped a Japanese invasion force in hopes of capturing New Guinea. Japan’s plan was to make air bases on Moresby and Tulagi, but the Allied Powers intercepted their plans, causing a fast response from the Allies. U.S. planes sank several Japanese vessels, then sunk the Japanese Shokaku, but lost the USS Lexington.
Smoke coming off the USS Lexington after being bombed by Japanese planes.
Source: Brittanica
Planes on the deck of the USS Lexington
Source: War History Online
The Japanese retreated, causing the U.S. to declare the battle as a strategic victory; as well as, the first time ships didn’t ever engage with each other in naval combat. (This hinted at how Midway would be fought.)
A full diagram of The Battle of the Coral Sea:
Source: History on the net
Page by Henry S.
The Combat of the Battle of the Coral Sea
Source: Britannica