Significance Of Australia's Involvement In The Battle Of The Coral Sea

The war right on Australia’s coast, The Battle of The Coral Sea is still rarely recognised as an esteemed achievement for Australia. Many people believe that Australia’s contribution to the Battle of The Coral Sea in World War ll was their bare minimum. However, Australia’s Involvement in the Battle of The Coral Sea -although not well recognised- was very significant. By discussing why Australia was involved, where the battle occurred and why, the outcome for Australia and America; as well as the number of assets each country committed and loosed during the battle, it is evident that Australia’s involvement was significant to the Pacific War. As the Imperial Japanese Army came dangerously close to the shores of Australia, there was expectation
The raid on Tokyo, a month earlier had stirred the Japanese to extend their sphere of influence and establish air bases; and soon enough operation Mo Sakusen- a Japanese plan to take control of the Australian Territory of New Guinea- was mounted to capture Tulagi and Port Moresby covered by large Japanese carriers (Pelvin, 2018). According to Dr David Stevens who is a Naval historian and currently an author on the Official History of Australian Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, “what the Japanese was trying to do was control the waters around Australia”. While the main Japanese invasion force that was headed for Port Moresby -on May 4- Allied outposts were held at Lae and Salamana in Northern New Guinea; 650km south of Talugi (Battle of The Coral Sea Summary, 2018). At this point of time, the Japanese took a circuitous route to the east; eventually clashing with American and Australian Naval forces. Clearly, Australia continued to contribute the bare minimum, as Japan reached the Coral Sea. The battle was the first time in the pacific where both sides did not see each other; however, the outcome did not prove any less important than other
Three Allied task forces took part in the battle: 17, 11 and 44 (Australian/American). In Task Force 44, Australia committed the HMAS Australia & Hobart; two out of seven ships in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) at that point of time (Straczek, 2018). Conversely, America committed twenty-four of their ships; out of the hundred and twenty-two, which they had in the American Navy (Ships at the Battle of the Coral Sea, 2017). Nevertheless, America lost over 500 men killed, three ships sunk and one damaged. Agreeing with the Royal Australian Navy, two Australian war veterans Tommy Simms and Ted Simpson, who took part in the Battle of The Coral Sea, states “We were lucky that we never copped one… I felt awful they had lost so many on our coast”. It is clearly highlighted that Australia sacrificed all that they could, despite the fact that the country was very small, as well as the army and navy. An approximate of one third of Australia’s RAN ships was committed, as well as over 16,000 men. It is simply pure luck that the Australian Navy did not lose a ship. Australia’s sacrifice was a vital contribution from the country and was significant for every citizen