Lesson 9: World War Two in the Pacific / Coral Sea and Midway

Question 1

Japanese objectives at the Battle of the Coral Sea

Answer 1

Aim: Operation MO: Japanese decided to invade Port Moresby + Solomon Islands in order to strengthen defensive
position in the Pacific
* If successful, it would deny Allies access to bases for counterattacks
* Cut supply routes between Australia and USA
* Consolidate Japan’s shipping routes of resources from Dutch East Indies + Malaysia back to Japan

Question 2

Outcomes of the Battle of the Coral Sea

Answer 2

Japanese = one aircraft carrier sunk + two damaged and unavailable + couldn’t be used for Midway
* US = one aircraft carrier sunk and one other damaged
However, overall battle → US = strategic victory
* First time Japanese advance checked + stopped invasion of New Guinea.
* Two Japanese aircraft carriers = unavailable in the next battle (Midway)
* Victory against the Japanese → increase in US morale

Question 3

Japanese objectives at the Battle of Midway

Answer 3

Aims at Midway (small/isolated island):
1. Deliver another (and final) crushing blow to America
2. Eliminate threat of American aircraft carriers – control skies & sea
3. Capture vital American outpost close to Pearl Harbour

Question 4

Outcomes of the Battle of Midway

Answer 4

Japanese military suffered its first defeat
* With 4 aircraft carriers destroyed, US had air supremacy in the Pacific
* They had lost their most skilled and experienced aircrew
* Could attack Japanese supply lines + bomb cities/outposts
Japan would be on the defensive for rest of war
* Japan didn’t launch another major offensive for the rest of the war
* Allies started to push back Japanese across the Pacific
* Japan was unable to replace casualties, planes and ships at the same
rate the USA was.
7 June: USS Yorktown is hit by a Japanese submarine and sinks