![]() ![]() They had two powerful aircraft carriers the Shokaku and the Zuikaku and the light carrier Shoho.īut unknown to them, American cryptographers, along with British and Australian intelligence teams, were getting increasingly better at cracking Japanese codes. And they were confident that they would easily dispatch any Allied fleet that entered the Coral Sea to stop them. ![]() The Japanese didn’t expect any large Allied fleet in the area. Operation MO, the operation against Port Moresby, called for the invasion of the port and then for an advance towards New Caledonia, Fiji, Samoa, and Tulagi. As a result, during the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Japanese would be facing a force of equal strength for the first time. This would overextend the Japanese forces. So, the Imperial Fleet would be running concurrent operations. However, the planned operation for Port Moresby and Tulagi had progressed too far to be called off. Nagano ordered Yamamoto to proceed with his Midway plan preceded by a diversionary move in the Aleutian Islands. The Americans Break the Japanese Naval Code Dauntless dive bombers of the USS Yorktown prepare for operations against the Japanese during the Battle of the Coral Sea. Although the damage was very slight, the fact that American bombers could attack Tokyo was shocking to Japanese leaders. This would give the Japanese the quick victory they needed before the American industrial might could be brought to bear.īut the Doolittle Raid changed everything as American land-based B-25 bombers, launched off American aircraft carriers, bombed Japan and Tokyo itself. Then, with their West Coast threatened, the Americans would sue for peace. So, Yamamoto suggested that Japan move against Midway and then threaten Hawaii where the American carrier fleet could be dealt a death blow. Nevertheless, Admiral Yamamoto and the Combined Fleet believed that the only way for Japan to defend her interests would be the destruction of the American aircraft carriers. Admiral Nagano and the Naval General Staff wanted to continue their westward expansion towards Ceylon or India. ![]()
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