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This is an order of battle for the Battle of the Coral Sea. The battle, fought during 4–8 May 1942, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval and air forces from the United States (U.S.) and Australia. In an attempt to strengthen their defensive positioning for their empire in the South Pacific, Imperial Japanese forces decided to invade and occupy Port Moresby in New Guinea and Tulagi in the southeastern Solomon Islands. The plan to accomplish this, called Operation ''MO'', involved several major units of Japan's Combined Fleet, including two fleet carriers and a light carrier to provide air cover for the invasion fleets, under the overall command of Shigeyoshi Inoue. The U.S. learned of the Japanese plan through signals intelligence and sent two United States Navy carrier task forces and a joint Australian-American cruiser force, under the overall command of Frank Jack Fletcher, to oppose the Japanese offensive. == Japanese Forces == Task Force ''MO'' *IJN 4th Fleet – Vice Admiral Shigeyoshi Inoue〔Lundstrom (2006), p. 138.〕 * *light cruiser ''Kashima'' (Inoue's flagship, anchored at Rabaul during the battle)〔Lundstrom (2006), p. 147; Bullard, pp. 51–52.〕 * Tulagi Invasion Group – Rear Admiral Kiyohide Shima〔Willmott, p. 84.〕 * * minelayers ''Okinoshima'' (Shima's flagship), ''Kōei Maru''〔''Okinoshima'' was commanded by Captain Nomi Minoru and was flagship of Mine Division 19. ''Okinoshima'' was sunk by US submarine ''S-42'' on 10 May 1942 during Operation ''RY''. Hackett, ''Okinoshima''.〕 * * transport ''Azumasan Maru''〔 * * destroyers (sunk), ''Yūzuki''〔From Destroyer Squadron 6 (Bullard, p. 56 says Destroyer Squadron 23). Willmott, p. 84; Dull, p. 136.〕 * * minesweepers ''Wa #1'' (sunk), ''Wa #2'' (sunk), ''Hagoromo Maru'', ''Noshiro Maru #2'', and ''Tama Maru'' (sunk)〔The latter three ships were from the 14th Minesweeper Flotilla. Bullard, p. 56; Willmott, p. 84.〕 * * subchasers ''Toshi Maru #3'' and ''Tama Maru #8''〔From the 56th Submarine Chaser Squadron. Bullard, p. 56; Willmott, p. 84.〕 * * 400 troops from the 3rd Kure Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) plus a construction detachment from the 7th Establishment Squad.〔Bullard, p. 56; Jersey, pp. 58–60.〕 * Support Group/Close Cover Force – Rear Admiral Kuninori Marumo〔Hackett, ''Tenryu''. Marumo also commanded Cruiser Division 18.〕 * * light cruisers ''Tenryū'' (Marumo's flagship), 〔Cruiser Division 18. Gill, p. 40; Bullard, p. 52; Hackett, ''Tenryu'' and ''Tatsuta''. ''Tatsuta's'' commander was Captain Yoshifumi Baba and ''Tenryu's'' was Captain Mitsutaru Goto (Hackett).〕 * * seaplane tender ''Kamikawa Maru''〔Dull, p. 136.〕 * * * ''Kamikawa Maru'' air group – 12 aircraft〔Hackett, ''Tenryu''; United States Army Center of Military History, p. 135.〕 * * * ''Kiyokawa Maru'' air group (attached)〔''Kiyokawa Maru'' was under repair at Yokohama, Japan but its airgroup was at Rabaul and assisted ''Kamikawa Maru's''s airgroup in the invasion of Tulagi. When ''Kamikawa Maru'' departed Santa Isabel on 4 May to support the Port Moresby invasion from Deboyne, the ''Kiyokawa Maru'' aircraft remained at Santa Isabel and Tulgai and/or were attached to ''Kamikawa's'' airgroup for the Deboyne deployment. Hackett, ''Tenryu'' and ''Kiyokawa Maru''.〕 * * gunboats ''Keijo Maru'', ''Seikai Maru'', ''Nikkai Maru''〔''Nikkai Maru'' and oiler ''Iro'' helped establish a Japanese port and seaplane base in the Shortland Islands on 28 April 1942 prior to participating in ''Mo''. Willmott, p. 84.〕 * Covering Group/Main Body Support Force – Rear Admiral Aritomo Gotō〔Gotō was in tactical command of the ''Mo'' invasion forces. Willmott, pp. 85–86.〕 * * light carrier ''Shōhō'' (sunk)〔Willmott, pp. 85–86.〕 * *''Shōhō'' Air Group – Lieutenant Kenjirō Nōtomi〔Lundstrom (2005), p. 188.〕 * * *''Shōhō'' Carrier Fighter Unit – 8 A6M Zero and 4 Mitsubishi A5M fighters〔Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Commanded by Nōtomi.〕 * * *''Shōhō'' Carrier Attack Unit – 6 Nakajima B5N Type 97 torpedo bombers〔Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Commanded by Lieutenant Michitarō Nakamoto.〕 * * cruisers ''Aoba'' (Gotō's flagship), ''Kako'', ''Kinugasa'', ''Furutaka''〔Cruiser Division 6. On 8 May ''Furutaka'' and ''Kinugasa'' were attached to Carrier Division 5 and helped escort ''Zuikaku'' back to Truk. ''Aoba'' and ''Kako'' helped cover the Port Moresby invasion convoy's return to Rabaul. Bullard, p. 52; Willmott, pp. 85–86; Hackett, ''Furutaka''; Gill, p. 40.〕 * * destroyer ''Sazanami''〔Dull, p. 136; Willmott, pp. 85–86.〕 * Port Moresby Invasion Group – Rear Admiral Sadamichi Kajioka〔Also commander of Destroyer Squadron 6. Hackett, ''Yubari''.〕 * * light cruiser (Kajioka's flagship)〔Willmott, p. 86; Dull, p. 135; Hackett, ''Yubari''. Flagship of Destroyer Squadron 6. Commanded by Captain Masami Ban (Hackett).〕 * * destroyers ''Oite'', ''Asanagi'', , ''Mutsuki'', ''Mochizuki'', 〔''Oite'' and ''Asanagi'' were from Destroyer Squadron 29, ''Mutsuki'', ''Mochizuki'', and ''Yayoi'' from Destroyer Squadron 30, and ''Uzuki'' from Destroyer Squadron 23. Bullard, p. 56; Willmott, p. 86.〕 * * 1 or 2 unidentified patrol boats〔Hackett, ''Ojima''.〕 * * Transport Unit – Rear Admiral Kōsō Abe * * * minelayer ''Tsugaru''〔Member of Mine Division 19 with ''Okinoshima''. Commanded by Captain Inagaki Yoshiaki. Hackett, ''Tsugaru''.〕 * * * 11 transports: * * * *Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN)- ''Mogamigawa Maru'', ''Chōwa Maru'', ''Goyō Maru'',〔''Goyo Maru'' was later converted into an oiler. Willmott, p. 86; Bullard, pp. 56–57. Apparently, the ''Azumasan Maru'' was supposed to join from the Tulagi Invasion Group but did not, perhaps as a result of battle damage (Bullard, pp. 56–57). Willmott spells ''Akihasan Maru'' as ''Akibasan Maru''.〕 ''Akiba Maru'', ''Shōka Maru''.〔Iwashige (2009), p. 78–79〕 * * * *Imperial Japanese Army (IJA)- ''Asakasan Maru'', ''China Maru'', ''Mito Maru'', ''Matsue Maru'',〔Bullard, p. 58, 64; Willmott, p. 86; Dull, p. 135; Hackett, ''Tsugaru''. ''Asakayama Maru'' was equipped with extra anti-aircraft guns (Bullard). The IJA commander was on ''Matsue Maru'' (Bullard).〕 ''Taifuku Maru'', ''Hibi Maru''〔 * * * salvage tugboat ''Woshima''〔Bullard, pp. 56–57; Willmott, p. 86; Hackett, ''Tsugaru''. Some sources spell this ship's name as ''Oshima''. Her ship's side name is をしま, not おしま おじま.〕 * * * oilers ''Hoyo Maru'', and ''Irō''〔''Iro'' and gunboat ''Nikkai Maru'' helped establish a Japanese port and seaplane base in the Shortland Islands on 28 April 1942 prior to participating in ''Mo''. ''Iro'' and destroyer ''Uzuki'' remained at the Shortlands to refuel Gotō's Covering Group after it completed its support mission of the Tulagi invasion. Hackett, ''Ojima''; Willmott, pp. 84, 86; Hackett, ''Tsugaru''.〕 * * * minesweepers ''W-20'' (''Wa #20''), ''Hagoromo Maru'', ''Noshiro Maru #2'', ''Fumi Maru #2'', and ''Seki Maru #3''.〔All the minesweepers from Shima's Tulagi Invasion Group were to have joined the Port Moresby Invasion Group. Only ''Hagoromo Maru'' and ''Noshiro Maru #2'' survived the ''Yorktown's'' airstrikes to do so. Bullard, pp. 56–57; Willmott, pp. 85–86; Hackett, ''Tsugaru''. Hackett does not list ''Seki Maru #3'' as part of Abe's force.〕 * * * Approximately 500 troops from the 3rd Kure SNLF plus construction specialists from the 10th Establishment Squad on the IJN transports〔Bullard, pp. 56–57.〕 * * * South Seas Detachment of approximately 5,000 troops on the IJA transports〔The South Seas Detachment was primarily from the 55th Division commanded by Major General Tomitarō Horii and included troops from the 55th Infantry Group, centered on the 144th Infantry Regiment, as well as the 47th Field Anti-Aircraft Battalion and attached medical and water supply support units. Rottman, p. 84.〕 * Carrier Striking Force – Vice Admiral Takeo Takagi〔Willmott, p. 87.〕 * *Carrier Division 5 – Rear Admiral Chūichi Hara, Officer in Tactical Command〔 * * *Carrier ''Shōkaku''〔Captained by Takaji Jōjima. Lundstrom, p. 140; Willmott, p. 87.〕 * * *''Shōkaku'' Air Group – Lieutenant Commander Kakuichi Takahashi〔Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Flew in an Aichi D3A dive bomber.〕 * * * *''Shōkaku'' Carrier Fighter Unit – 21 A6M Zero fighters〔Gillison, p. 525; Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Commanded by Lieutenant Takumi Hoashi. Three aircraft were reserved for delivery to the Tainan Air Group.〕 * * * *''Shōkaku'' Carrier Bomber Unit – 20 Aichi D3A Type 99 dive bombers〔Gillison, p. 525; Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Commanded by Lieutenant Masao Yamaguchi.〕 * * * *''Shōkaku'' Carrier Attack Unit – 19 Nakajima B5N Type 97 torpedo bombers〔Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Commanded by Lieutenant Tatsuo Ichihara.〕 * * *Carrier ''Zuikaku'' (Hara's flagship)〔Captained by Ichihei Yokogawa. Lundstrom (2006), p. 140; Willmott, p. 87.〕 * * *''Zuikaku'' Air Group – Lieutenant Commander Shigekazu Shimazaki〔Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Shimazaki flew in a Nakajima B5N torpedo bomber.〕 * * * *''Zuikaku'' Carrier Fighter Unit – 25 Zero fighters〔Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Commanded by Lieutenant Kiyokuma Okajima. Five of the fighters were reserved for delivery to the Tainan Air Group.〕 * * * *''Zuikaku'' Carrier Bomber Unit – 22 Type 99 dive bombers〔Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Commanded by Lieutenant Tamotsu Ema.〕 * * * *''Zuikaku'' Carrier Attack Unit – 20 Type 97 torpedo bombers〔Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. Commanded by Lieutenant Yoshiaki Tsubota.〕 * * cruisers ''Myōkō'' (Takagi's flagship), ''Haguro''〔From Cruiser Division 5. Gill, p. 40; Willmott, p. 87; Bullard, p. 52.〕 * * destroyers , 〔From Destroyer Squadron 7. Willmott, p. 87; Bullard, p. 52.〕 * * destroyers , , ''Shiratsuyu'', 〔From Destroyer Squadron 27. Willmott, p. 87; Bullard, p. 52; Dull, p. 135.〕 * * oiler 〔 * Submarine Force – Captain Noburu Ishizaki * * Patrol/Scouting Group – ''I-21'', ''I-22'', ''I-24'', ''I-28'', and ''I-29''〔From Submarine Squadron 8. ''I-28'' was sunk by the US submarine ''Tautog'' on 17 May as ''I-28'' returned to base at Truk. Willmott, pp. 84–85.〕 * * Raiding Group – ''Ro-33'' and ''Ro-34''〔From the 21st Submarine Group. Bullard, p. 57.〕 * 25th Air Flotilla (also called the 5th Air Attack Force) – Rear Admiral Sadayoshi Yamada〔Bullard, pp. 47, 61. Aircraft numbers are of 1 May 1942.〕 * * 4th Air Group (based at Rabaul) – 17 Mitsubishi G4M Type 1 land attack bombers〔Bullard, pp. 47, 53, 61.〕 * * Tainan Air Group (based at Lae and Rabaul) – 18 A6M Zero and six Mitsubishi A5M fighters〔commanded by Captain Masahisa Saitō. Bullard, pp. 47, 53–54, 61.〕 * * Yokohama Air Group (based at Rabaul, Shortland Islands, and Tulagi) – 12 Kawanishi H6K reconnaissance and nine Nakajima A6M2-N seaplane fighter aircraft〔Six Kawanishi deployed from Rabaul to the Shortlands on 28 April. Lundstrom (2006), p. 138; Bullard, pp. 48, 52, 61.〕 * * Genzan Air Group (based at Rabaul) – 25 Mitsubishi G3M Type 96 land attack bombers〔Bullard, p. 61; Crave, p. 447. Crave states the Genzan had 27 aircraft.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Battle of the Coral Sea order of battle」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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