Battle of the Coral Sea

1942-05-04 - 1942-05-08

Naval battle of 4-8 May 1942 in the Pacific Theatre of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and US-Australian forces, fought from 4 to 8 May 1942. It was the first naval battle in history in which the opposing fleets never sighted each other, fighting entirely with carrier aircraft. Tactically a Japanese victory on ships sunk, it was strategically an Allied victory: damage to the carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku's air groups kept them out of the Battle of Midway, and Japan's planned invasion of Port Moresby was abandoned.