As night fell, Japanese planes were launched to locate their hidden enemy but, hampered by low cloud, were forced to ditch their bombs and head back to base, bn route, they happened across the USS Yorktown
Above: USS Lexington sustains critical damage at the Battle of the Coral Sea.
Which sent up aircraft for a confrontation. In total I"’Japanese planes were lost that night against only three American casualties. In fact, for a while both sides suffered from the main disadvantage that this new, long-distance warfare offered. .Neither could locate the enemy ships.
The next day both sides sent waves (it aircraft in pursuit of the other. The U. S tally included three direct hits on the aircraft carrier Shokaku which was forced to limp back to its home port for major repairs.
Meanwhile, the Japanese struck the carriers 't’orktown and
Lexingron. The Yorktown escaped with comparatively minor damage while the Lexington was crippled by three bombs and two torpedoes. It was to sink days later following an internal explosion. Both admirals decided against continuing the battle
The Lexington was to sink days later following an internal explosion
And pulled away from their respective battle lines.
Japan appeared to have inflicted the most damage on the opposition. In reality, however, the tactical victory belonged to the Americans. The Japanese had been contained and were forced to call off their strike at Port Moresby due to the large losses of essential aircraft.
World History
