CORAL SEA LOSSES

Grey River Argus, 15 June 1942, Page 3

CORAL SEA LOSSES

15 JAP SHIPS Only Three American OFFICIAL U.S.A. ACCOUNT ;8.0.W. RUGBY, June a communique issued at Washington shows how overwhelming was the Allied victory in the Corai bca battle last montn, and how completely false were the reports ot the battle put out by the Japanese, Enemy casualties were:—■ Lost: More than liiteen ships, including tne new aircraft-carrier Ukaku, three heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, and two destroyers. Probably sunk: One cruiser and one destroyer. Severely, damaged: More than twenty snips, including the aircrakcarrier Shukaku, three cruisers, three destroyers, and two aircraft tenders. Destroyed; More than a hundieu United States Naval forces lost only three ships throughout the entire action, tne aircraft-carrier •‘Lexington”, tne destroyer “Simms,’ and the tanker “Neosho.”

AIRCRAFT MAIN DESTRUCTIVE AGENT. (Rec. 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, June 14. Mr. Claj-ke Lee, an American Associated Press correspondent at Honolulu says: The Coral Sea battle was the first naval battle in history ,’n which all of the damage was done by aircraft. Both sides had aircraftcarriers, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines in action, but the surface craft were never m range of each other, and they only used their guns against the aircraft. “The battle of Coral Sea was not a decisive one. In the following respects, however, it was an American victory:— First, the United States forces, although they were outnumbered, broke up the Japanese invasion fleet, and drove it back to its bases Secondly, this gave valuable time to strengthen the Australian and the Pacific Island bases. Thirdly the Japanese losses were far greater than those of the United States. Moreover, the United States can replace its losses more speeduy than can Japan. (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec. 8.30) SYDNEY, June 14 Stories of the sinkings of the United States destroyer Sims ano the U.S. naval tanker Neosho, m the Coral Sea battle were told by wounded survivors when they arrived at an Australian port ten days after the battle. The stories can now be published. Many of the wounded from both ships are still, in an Allied hospital here. The “Sims” was escorting the tanker when both ships were attacked by waves of bombers from two Japanese aircraft-carriers. A bomb exploded on the stern of the Sims, and she blew up. “She seemed split up the keel, and just disappeared, said one of the tanker survivors, now in Australia The “Neosho” withstood at least ben direct hits. A J'apanese bomber, brought down by anti-aircraft lire, crashed on the ship in flames, just aft of the funnel. Still, her tames, which were partly empty, kept her afloat, despite a list of twenty-five degrees. The tanker had to be destroyed the day following the battle by a warship, which came to take off the crew. When the Japanese bomber crashed on to the vessel’s deck,

some «5f the crew, believing she must sink, immediately jumped overboard. With men from the Sims they clung to rafts, or huddled in one lifeboat until rescued some days later by a warship, after being sighted by reconnaissance planes. Those who stayed on the tanker and fought the flames were rescued next day. The Neosho fought off three attacks. The first was made by eighteen planes, but a heavy anti-aircraft barrage caused bad bomb aiming, ana the ship was not hit. In their second and third attacks, the enemy pilots were more daring. “They simply flew through the barrage to get us,” said a survivor, “but I think we brought down nine.” The carrier Lexington, the Sims (1570 tons) and the tanker Neosho (8000 tons) were the only United States losses in the Coral Sea battle.

LONDON, June 12. The correspondent of the Associated Press of America in Honolulu says that American dive-bomber pilots have revealed that they sank nine, and possibly eleven, Japanese warships and transports at Tulagi on May 5 as a prelude to the Coral Stea nat'Je. The raiding aeroplanes were based on a carrier which was part of the Unite J Nations’ task force searching for the enemy., The pilots declared that they certainly sank twoheaw cruisers, three light cruisers and two destroyers, while a transport and numerous small craft were among the possible sinkings. Adlilional details are now available of the sinking of the U.S. air-craft-carrier “Lexington,” which was the i'ligs-bip of Rear-Admiral' Fitch. Despite skilful handling and all azailabh? fighter protection and antiaircraft defences, the “Lexington” was nit by two torpedoes' and by at least two bombs, and was furthei’ clamagi d by several near misses. These attacks were the last action in the Coral Saa battle. The crew of tne “Li xir.gton” succeeded in putting out the fires and recovering her aircraft..

Several hours after the battle, while she was steaming at twenty kn fl.s, a terrific internal explosion rocked the “Lexington”, causing serious fires to break out in many parts of th? ship. At first it was thought th.a explosion was the I’esult of n bomb, Jut investigation revealed that the j 10l able cause was the ignition of gasoline vapours. The crew fought, i’oj over five hours to save the shl;:, but they were unsuccessful and the crev’ were taken off by destroyers. Ninety-two per cent of the sh p's company was saved, and the •‘Lexmgior.” sank. 8.0.W. RUGBY, J’une 12.

The communique states that the previous holding of information gave the Navy a security which was a corner stone in the building of the Midway victory. In early March, the Japanese were, observed to be concentrating transport and combatant ships in the ports ,of Salamaua and Lae in New Guinea, apparently in preparation for assault on Port Moresby. At the same time, the bases of Salamaua and Lae had been subject to air attacks by the United States and Australian shore-based aircraft from Australia. On March 10, a number of aircraft from the Pacific task force, commanded by Vice-Admiral Wilson Brown, joined the shore-based ’planes in successful attacks on shipping and port installations in enemy bases. These attacks resulted in the sinking oi- damage of more than 20 Japanese vessels, and heavy damage of port installations. As a result of this destruction, Japanese plans were delayed for two months of any attempt to advance bj' sea to the south. During April, United States Army reconnaissance ’planes reported the enemy was once again concentrating transport and supporting elements,

including aircraft from carriers and shore bases, preparatory to . 'an attempt to advance into the, Solomon and Louisiade Islands. Early in May, these advances actually began. Bases for land ’planes on both these islands were seized by the Japanese, and the entire northern portion of the Coral Sea was subjected to daily reconnaissance by, enemy shore-based aircraft. On May 12, the First Force of the Pacific, commanded by Rear-Admiral Frank J. Fletcher, found part of the j'apanese invasion fleet at anchor, in and near the harbour, to Tulagai, the capital of Florida Island in the Solomon Group. In spite of excellent Japanese air reconnaissance facilities, Admiral Fletcher’s attack caught the Japanese forces completely by surprise, and ail but annihilated i them. A few ships managed to get to sea, but most w'ere severely crippled and some were beached, to prevent sinking. The result of this engagement was the sinking or damage of twelve Japanese vessels, and the destruction of six enemy aircraft. Our entire losses were only three aircraft.

On May 7, Admiral Fletcher’s, aircraft struck the main body of the Japanese force in Louisiade Archipelago. off Misima. The- new Japanese carrier, Ukaku, and a heavy cruiser were sunk.

Fifteen bomb hits and ten torpedo hits were reported on the Ukaku, which was turning into the wind to launch her aircraft. She sank in. a few minutes, with most of her ’planes aboard.

The enemy attack, which followed, was fought off successfully. The battle continued for 48 hours and the aircraft-carrier, Shukaku, was hit by bombs and torpedoes and left ablaze.

During the two days’ lighting, more than twenty-five aircraft wore shot down, with the loss of six of our ’planes. The United States suffered their one severe loss when the aircraftcarrier “Lexington” was set on fire and sank. Ninety-two per cent, of the ship’s company reached port suf ol y Shore-based Army aircraft from Australia, assisted .in the reconnaissance, both before and during the, attacks, and added their full-power to that of the Naval ’planes. On the afternoon of May 7, Japanese a’reraft located and bombed the United States tanker “Neosho,” which was accompanying the destroyer “Simms,” which sank during the attack, and the “Neosho” sank several, days later. A large part of her personnel was rescued.

It will be recalled that the Japanese claimed to have sunk one battlechip of th? Californian class, one aircraft carrier of the Saratoga class, one of the Yorktown class, two heavv cruisers of the Portland class, and one Br'tish destroyer. It is now clear how completely l false these claims are.