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A MUSICAL VOYAGE - Royal Australian Navy

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- 103 –<br />

TF44 arrived off the Jomard Passage, near the Louisiade Islands, at about 2 pm on 7 May:<br />

this was the sea route through which the Japanese force was headed towards Port Moresby.<br />

Due to the major air threat that faced the cruisers, Admiral Crace ordered his ships to take<br />

up an anti-aircraft diamond formation. Japanese aircraft were sighted at about 3 pm.<br />

Admiral Crace ordered his Task Force to alter course so that the ships were heading directly<br />

towards the oncoming aircraft. In an attempt to make as difficult a target as possible each<br />

of the ships commenced evasive manoeuvring. This presented the narrowest possible target<br />

for the torpedoes launched by the Japanese aircraft, all of which, thankfully, missed. After<br />

releasing their torpedoes the aircraft strafed the ships and a number of sailors were<br />

injured. Admiral Crace’s Task Force then faced another wave of aircraft attack from high<br />

level bombers, which seemed to single out HMAS AUSTRALIA. Fortunately, the bombing<br />

attack proved to be ineffective. The skilful ship handling of Admiral Crace and his<br />

commanding officers also contributed to the safety of the ships.<br />

While the brunt of the battle was fought in other areas of the Coral Sea by US servicemen,<br />

TF44 including the <strong>Australian</strong> seamen on the heavy cruiser AUSTRALIA and the light cruiser<br />

HOBART played a very significant role in ensuring Japanese ships did not exit the Jombard<br />

Passage towards Moresby. Their presence in this area was important in influencing the<br />

decision by the Japanese Commander to turn back the Moresby landing force.<br />

Tactically the Battle of the Coral Sea was pretty much a draw, but strategically it was an<br />

Allied victory as the Japanese Port Moresby invasion force—scheduled to land on 10 May—<br />

was ordered to turn back. And although both fleets withdrew simultaneously from the<br />

engagement, crucially, the Japanese had two vital fleet carriers too badly damaged to be<br />

available for the decisive Battle of Midway one month later.<br />

Had all the Japanese carriers been present at Midway, the chance of American victory<br />

would have been greatly reduced, with incalculable consequences for the war in the<br />

Pacific.<br />

In essence, the Battle of the Coral Sea was the indispensable prelude to success at Midway.<br />

However, our success during the Battle of the Coral Sea came at great cost:<br />

� one of the American carriers was destroyed and one was badly damaged,<br />

� one oiler and one destroyer both sank,<br />

� 66 aircraft were lost, and<br />

� more than 543 allied sailors and airmen were killed or wounded.<br />

Today, we remember with thanks and pride the courage shown and the sacrifices made<br />

during the Battle of the Coral Sea.<br />

We shall never forget.<br />

<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Navy</strong> Band: A Musical Voyage

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