Coral Sea

5.5.1942 - 8.5.1942

PacPG: 5.5.1942 - 11.5.1942

Scenario Map:

When you move the mouse pointer over the map, unit name, strength and coordinates are displayed as a label. When you press terrain button object name is displayed (city, river, sea, ...)

Changes and corrections of map:

Original map:

When you move the mouse pointer over the map object (city, river, ...), its name, coordinates, optionally flag are displayed as a label

Historic overview:

Operation codename: MO Port Moresby was needed to ensure Rabaul and the northern New Guinea, to obtain a basis for exclusion of airports in northern Australia and finally for the side protection of the future advance to New Caledonia, Fiji and Samoa Islands. (Ivan Hrbek, Jaroslav Hrbek - Krvavé oceány, Naše vojsko, 1994) Article on Czech Wikipedia Article on English Wikipedia Scenario in dates: January 3, 1931: Japan - British writer Lily Adams Beck (one of her many pseudonyms), author of novels and biographies such as The Thunderer, dies in Kyoto. Her real name is Elizabeth Louisa Moresby and she is the daughter of British naval officer John Moresby. He became famous for exploring the coast of New Guinea and discovering the excellent site on which the harbour bearing his name later grew. Port Moresby would become strategically important during the Pacific War when the Japanese attempted to capture it, first by naval landing and later by land attack, both unsuccessfully. April 29, 1942: In New Guinea - Operation MO is being prepared by the Japanese. It calls for an amphibious assault on Port Moresby. April 30, 1942: In the Southwest Pacific - Japanese carriers, Shokaku, Zuikaku and Shoho leave Truk for the Coral Sea to take part in Operation MO, the invasion of Port Moresby. May 2, 1942: In the Coral Sea - The Japanese begin the concentration of forces for what will become the battle of the Coral Sea. Their objective is to occupy Port Moresby. Admiral Takagi commands a covering force including the aircraft carriers Zuikaku and Shokaku. Admiral Goto commands the naval support force for the landing, including the carrier Shoho and four heavy cruisers. Admiral Inouye is in command of the main invasion force concentrated at Rabaul. American code breaking allows Admiral Nimitz to concentrate Allied forces to oppose the Japanese forces. Initially these forces include only Admiral Fletcher´s Task Force 17 with the carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5). Later Task Force 11 (Admiral Fitch) with the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-2) and Task Force 44 (Admiral Crace) with Australian and American cruisers. May 5, 1942: In the Coral Sea - Japanese Admiral Takagi´s carriers enter the Coral Sea. American Admiral Fletcher´s TF17 is there refueling, but the Japanese do not find it. May 7, 1942: In the Coral Sea - American Admiral Fletcher sends Task Force 44 to attack Japanese troop transports bound for Port Moresby. The Japanese retaliate with attacks from land based aircraft. The Japanese also sight the American tanker Neosho and the destroyer Sims, they send aircraft after the ships and the Sims is sunk. The Americans find Japanese Admiral Goto´s close support force and they proceed to sink the carrier Shoho. Meanwhile, Japanese Admiral Takagi sends planes out in an attempt to find the American fleet. Twenty-one of the Japanese planes are lost without engaging the enemy, including a small group which attempt to land on the American aircraft carrier Yorktown. The Japanese troop transports return to Rabaul to await the outcome of the battle. May 8, 1942: In the Coral Sea - Both the Japanese and the American fleets become aware of each others positions due to aerial reconnaissance. In the battle that follows, the USS Lexington is badly damaged and abandoned. (She will late be sunk by an American destroyer) The USS Yorktown is also hit. On the Japanese side, the Shokaku is seriously damaged. Of major importance is the loss of trained pilots on the Japanese side, as they take severe aerial losses. The battle is noteworthy for several reasons. The Japanese are forced to abandon their attack on Port Moresby, the first real stumbling block in their expansion. It is also the first time that a naval battle has taken place without visual contact between the main combatants. The damage done to the ships was achieved by aircraft launched from carriers and not by naval guns. May 23, 1943: Coral Sea - South of New Caledonia, the Japanese submarine I-17 sinks the Panamanian tanker Stanvac Manila. The torpedo boats PT-165 and PT-173, which was being carried on as deck cargo, are also lost. Literature sources: Šnajdr, Miroslav: Airacobra v amerických službách : USAAF 1941-1944 (Aircobra in US service),   Votobia, 1996, Olomouc Jordan, David, Wiest Andrew: Atlas Of World War II.,   Ottovo nakladatelství, 2006, Praha Skřivan, Aleš: Cestou samurajů (By Path of Samurais),   Mladá fronta, 1984, Praha Tillman, Barrett: The Dauntless dive bomber of world war II,   Mustang, 1997, Plzeň . Swanston, Alexander & Malcolm: The Historical Atlas of World War II,   Columbus, 2007, Praha . Skřivan, Aleš: Japonská válka 1931 - 1945 (Japanese War 1931 - 1945),   Libri, 1997, Praha Hrbek, Jaroslav, Hrbek Ivan: Krvavé oceány (Bloody oceans),   Naše vojsko, 1994, Praha Stille, Mark: USN Carriers vs IJN Carriers - The Pacific 1942,   Grada Publishing a.s., 2009, Praha Hoyt, Edwin P.: Blue Skies and Blood,   Naše vojsko, 2013, Praha . Ireland, Bernard: Jane´s Naval Airpower, The Complete History From 1914 To The Present Day,   Naše vojsko, 2008, Praha Bruce, George: Die Seeschlachten des XX. Jahrhunderts (Sea Battles of the 20th Century),   Area, 2007, Praha Hubáček, Miloš: Pacifik v plamenech (Pacific in flames),   Mladá fronta, 1997, Praha Hoyt, Edwin P.: The Carrier War,   Beta - Dobrovský a Ševčík, 1999, Praha, Plzeň Kovář, Daniel: Douglas TBD Devastator,  HPM No. 6-7/1997

Game play matters:

Scenario data:

Map size: 66 x 51 hexes 20 turns, 3 turns per day Version: PacPG 1, Starting side: Axis, Campaign: Japanese campaign, Order in campaign: 9.
Axis states:     Japan Allied states:     Australia & New Zealand, USA Neutral states:     -
Axis:     attack Allies:     defend
Experience of Axis purchased units:     Experience of Allied purchased units:
Climate region:      Oceania, tropics Weather character in region:      Rain regularly all year round.
Game time costingness of scenario:    18.82 % (product of units and turns numbers divided by difference between the most long and the most short scenario)
Number of Axis units: 42 units, from them are 17 core units and 25 auxiliary units 17 air units, 15 naval units and 10 ground units 0 of units are loaded to air transport and 9 to naval transport	Transports Air/Naval: Axis - Allies 0/12 - 0/0
Number of Allied units: 46 units 19 air units, 11 naval units and 16 ground units 0 of units are loaded to air transport and 0 to naval transport	Initial prestige + every turn donation: Axis / Allies 100 + 0 / 196 + 48
Max number of Axis units: 45 units, from them are 20 core units and 25 auxiliary units - on start of scenario is possible to purchase 3 unit    (3 core + 0 auxiliary)
Max number of Allied units: 48 units - on start of scenario is possible to purchase 2 unit
Transport units: Axis - air:     not available Allies - air:     not available Axis - naval:     Transport Allies - naval:     not available

The same time period scenarios:

Map names list:

Tactical map (large & detail):

	Basic map
	Map with unloaded transports and order numbers of units

Battlefield map: