Wikipedia:Today's featured article/May 4, 2017: Difference between revisions
ce |
ce |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{TFAIMAGE|Large explosion aboard USS Lexington (CV-2), 8 may 1942.jpg | }} |
{{TFAIMAGE|Large explosion aboard USS Lexington (CV-2), 8 may 1942.jpg | }} |
||
The '''[[Battle of the Coral Sea]]''' (4–8 May 1942) was the first battle of World War II in which the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] were able to stop a major advance of the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]]. Japanese forces, including two [[fleet carrier]]s and a [[light aircraft carrier|light carrier]], had orders to invade and occupy [[Port Moresby]] in [[New Guinea]] and [[Tulagi]] in the southeastern [[Solomon Islands]]. The US [[signals intelligence|intercepted]] Japanese communications, and sent two carrier task forces and a joint [[Royal Australian Navy|Australian]]–[[US Navy|American]] [[cruiser]] force to stop them. On 3–4 May Japanese forces took Tulagi, although several of their supporting warships were sunk or damaged by aircraft from the US carrier {{USS|Yorktown|CV-5|2}}. On 7–8 May the opposing carrier forces exchanged airstrikes in the [[Coral Sea]]. After ''Yorktown'' was damaged and the carriers {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Shōhō||2}}, {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Shōkaku||2}} and {{USS|Lexington|CV-2|2}} were sunk or [[scuttling|scuttled]], the Port Moresby invasion was scrapped, and never reattempted. Japan's loss of two carriers and many aircraft led to a greater loss a month later in the [[Battle of Midway]]: all four of their large aircraft carriers were sunk. Two months later, the Allies launched the [[Guadalcanal Campaign]], hastening Japan's ejection from the South Pacific. {{TFAFULL|Battle of the Coral Sea}} |
The '''[[Battle of the Coral Sea]]''' (4–8 May 1942) was the first battle of [[World War II]] in which the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] were able to stop a major advance of the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]]. Japanese forces, including two [[fleet carrier]]s and a [[light aircraft carrier|light carrier]], had orders to invade and occupy [[Port Moresby]] in [[New Guinea]] and [[Tulagi]] in the southeastern [[Solomon Islands]]. The US [[signals intelligence|intercepted]] Japanese communications, and sent two carrier task forces and a joint [[Royal Australian Navy|Australian]]–[[US Navy|American]] [[cruiser]] force to stop them. On 3–4 May Japanese forces took Tulagi, although several of their supporting warships were sunk or damaged by aircraft from the US carrier {{USS|Yorktown|CV-5|2}}. On 7–8 May the opposing carrier forces exchanged airstrikes in the [[Coral Sea]]. After ''Yorktown'' was damaged and the carriers {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Shōhō||2}}, {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Shōkaku||2}} and {{USS|Lexington|CV-2|2}} were sunk or [[scuttling|scuttled]], the Port Moresby invasion was scrapped, and never reattempted. Japan's loss of two carriers and many aircraft led to a greater loss a month later in the [[Battle of Midway]]: all four of their large aircraft carriers were sunk. Two months later, the Allies launched the [[Guadalcanal Campaign]], hastening Japan's ejection from the South Pacific. {{TFAFULL|Battle of the Coral Sea}} |
||
Revision as of 02:10, 20 April 2017
,_8_May_1942_(80-G-16651).jpg)
The Battle of the Coral Sea (4–8 May 1942) was the first battle of World War II in which the Allies were able to stop a major advance of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Japanese forces, including two fleet carriers and a light carrier, had orders to invade and occupy Port Moresby in New Guinea and Tulagi in the southeastern Solomon Islands. The US intercepted Japanese communications, and sent two carrier task forces and a joint Australian–American cruiser force to stop them. On 3–4 May Japanese forces took Tulagi, although several of their supporting warships were sunk or damaged by aircraft from the US carrier Yorktown. On 7–8 May the opposing carrier forces exchanged airstrikes in the Coral Sea. After Yorktown was damaged and the carriers Shōhō, Shōkaku and Lexington were sunk or scuttled, the Port Moresby invasion was scrapped, and never reattempted. Japan's loss of two carriers and many aircraft led to a greater loss a month later in the Battle of Midway: all four of their large aircraft carriers were sunk. Two months later, the Allies launched the Guadalcanal Campaign, hastening Japan's ejection from the South Pacific. (Full article...)