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Chapter 2: The advance to the Solomon Islands and eastern New Guinea
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Chapter 2: The advance to the Solomon Islands and eastern New Guinea
Operational plan by Imperial Headquarters
Offensive operations in Lae and Salamaua
- Military preparedness before the operations
The disposition of the Allied forces near Lae and Salamaua
The army and navy local agreement and orders to the South Seas Force
Preparations for the offensive by the 4th Fleet
Battle orders to the Horie Battalion
Detailed agreement with the escort fleet
The offensive operation
Allied air raids after the landing
Occupation of strategic areas in the northern Solomon Islands and Admiralty Islands by the 4th Fleet
- Occupation of strategic areas in the northern Solomon Islands
Occupation of strategic areas in the Admiralty Islands
The air war of attrition
- Destructive air raids on Port Moresby in early February
Strategic background and manoeuvres of the US carrier task force
Rabaul air raid from the Lexington Task Force
Air raid on Salamaua
Air battles over the bases from late February to early March
Air battles over the bases from middle to late March
Advance of the 25th Air Flotilla to Rabaul
The air war of attrition intensifies
Sea-route invasion of Port Moresby
- Difficult strategic conditions
Preparations for the operation by the South Seas Force
Strengthening of the 4th Fleet
Strengthening of the 25th Air Flotilla
Air battles in April 1942
Navy plans for the offensive
South Seas Force plans for the offensive
The 25th Air Flotilla's operational plan
Departure of the fleet
Outline of the battle of the Coral Sea
- The situation before the battle
The battle on 7 May
The battle on 8 May
End of the naval battle
Notes
As described previously, it was evident from 24 January 1942, the first day after landing, that the Japanese offensive operations against Rabaul and surrounding key areas were not being met by strong Allied resistance. Two airfields and the good natural harbour that protected the strategic operational area of Rabaul had fallen into the hands of the Japanese army, in addition to the outer defensive base at Kavieng.
The Yokohama Air Corps, which had advanced to Rabaul immediately after the offensive, conducted reconnaissance over Port Moresby on 24 January. They reported no more than one special duty ship and four small vessels at harbour, and only two large and one small aircraft at the airfields to the east of the township.[1]
Rabaul was bombed by the Allies three times after 9 pm on 24 January, resulting in damage to one army transport ship.[2] Night bombing raids on Rabaul were conducted in small parties by the Allies every other night thereafter, heralding the beginning of the air war of attrition between Rabaul and Port Moresby that would escalate over time. It was also a prelude for the bitter fighting that would continue over the following three years.
Offensive operations by the Japanese army against key locations in the southern area developed more quickly than anticipated, even while the bitter fighting against American and Filipino troops on the Bataan Peninsula dragged on into mid-January. Japanese forces had advanced through the Malayan peninsula, and reached the Johore Strait by the end of January. By this time the operational army in the Netherlands East Indies had placed pressure on the main island of Java through positions on Borneo, the Celebes, and the Moluccas. The army’s invasion of the Tenasserim district airbase in Burma was completed with the occupation of the strategic location of Moulmein on 31 January.
In response to this situation, Imperial Headquarters undertook to advance operations for the southern area by one month, and decided to speed up the completion of the entire Burma area operations. Orders to this effect were issued on 22 January.
Orders from Imperial Headquarters and the central agreement between the army and navy
The Army and Navy Departments of Imperial Headquarters commenced investigation into operations to be conducted after the completion of the opening offensives (stage one operations, Southern Area key offensive operations) from early in 1942.[3] The results of these investigations were incrementally adopted and implemented independently by Imperial Headquarters, or through discussion in Imperial Headquarters–government liaison committees. This process will be examined in detail in the next chapter. This chapter will discuss operations adopted by Imperial Headquarters from the end of January to early February to invade key areas in the Solomon Islands and eastern New Guinea – newly devised operations that were not included in planning at the beginning of the war.
Editor’s note: War leadership after the completion of the Southern Area key offensive operations was established with the "Outline of essential future war leadership" dated 7 March 1942.
The Navy Department of Imperial Headquarters issued "Great navy instruction no. 47" on 29 January, while the Army Department issued "Great army instruction no. 596" on 2 February (unofficially telegraphed on 28 January). This order was promulgated as follows:
- Orders
1. Imperial Headquarters will plan the invasion of key locations in British New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
2. The commander of the South Seas Force will, in cooperation with the navy, invade these locations as soon as possible.
3. The chief of staff will issue instructions detailing the operation.
- Army and Navy Central Agreement Relating to Operations in British New Guinea and the Solomon Islands
1. Operational objective
- To invade key areas in eastern British New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in order to blockade the communication lines between the Australian mainland and the region, and in order to control the seas to the north of eastern Australia.
- The army and navy will cooperate to invade the areas around Lae and Salamaua as soon as possible. The navy will seek an opportunity to independently (or in cooperation with the army according to the conditions) invade Tulagi and secure the airbase on the island.
The army and navy will cooperate after the completion of the invasions of Lae and Salamaua to invade Port Moresby.
- Army: South Seas Force
Navy: Units based on the 4th Fleet
- To be determined through discussions between army and navy commands.
- The navy will have responsibility for defending the Lae, Salamaua, and Tulagi areas, and the army for defending Port Moresby.
The continuation of offensive operations into Tulagi in the southern Solomon Islands, and into Port Moresby on the south coast of eastern New Guinea was an expansion of the offensive scope of planning that had been established by Imperial Headquarters at the beginning of the war. Only a fraction of the entire force of the army and navy was committed to these operations, even though the objective was roughly 1,000 square kilometres from Rabaul. Moreover, the orders were adopted prior to conclusions emerging from overall war leadership, or even from operational leadership.
What was the purpose of these operations? Were they an attempt to incorporate the Port Moresby and Tulagi areas within the so-called "final line of offence" (opposed to the "line of defence") of the South Pacific region; or to promote a base for direct operations against the Australian mainland, or islands in the Fiji and Samoa areas? These questions will be addressed in a following chapter.
The operational policy section of the army and navy central agreement included the indefinite conditions that "the navy will seek an opportunity to independently (or in cooperation with the army according to the conditions) invade Tulagi …", and "the army and navy will cooperate after the completion of the invasions of Lae and Salamaua to invade Port Moresby". These consultative decisions were entrusted entirely to the field commands of the army and navy in the region.
This operation was set in motion by a great order (provisionally called a "Great army order") issued by the Army Department of Imperial Headquarters, and by instructions (provisionally called "Great navy instructions") issued by the chief of staff of the Navy Department of Imperial Headquarters to the command of the Combined Fleet.
The navy considered this operation to fall within the scope of the fundamental responsibilities granted to the commander of the Combined Fleet at the start of the war ("Great navy order no. 9"). Consequently it was mobilised by the navy chief of staff simply according to this army and navy central agreement.
Editor’s note: The main operational responsibilities granted to the command of the Combined Fleet based on "Great navy order no. 9" were as follows:
- 1. Destroy the enemy fleet and air power already in the eastern Pacific area, and attack and destroy any enemy fleet that may enter the area.
2. In cooperation with the command of the Southern Area Army, occupy and secure the key southern region by invading the main US, British, and then Dutch bases in the area.
Offensive operations in Lae and Salamaua
Military preparedness before the operations
A flying boat from the Yokohama Air Corps discovered an airfield at Surumi, approximately 300 kilometres south-west of Rabaul, on 27 January 1942. There were suspicions that the Allies would use this as a relay base for attacks on Rabaul. Detailed air reconnaissance confirmed the existence of a paved airstrip and five Western-style buildings. Further, approximately twenty buildings were discovered at Gasmata, 5 kilometres from Surumi. However, there were neither defensive installations nor an airstrip at this site.
Section 3 of orders to the South Seas Fleet, which came into effect on 1 February, outlined the responsibilities for units in the "R" area, as follows: "The Surumi area will be invaded as soon as possible and an airbase established." This was postponed, however, because of air raids from a US task force in the Marshall Islands on 1 February. The commander of the 4th Fleet telegraphed that it would be "possible for the Surumi operation to commence after 8 February" and ordered the command of the 8th Special Base Force to undertake a limited offensive.
An outline of the operational plan was as follows:[5]
1. Operational objective
- To invade the Surumi region as soon as possible and quickly establish an airbase in the area, and suppress the threat of enemy attack while at the same time strengthening our strategic preparedness. Further, to obtain a position of advantage in order to develop an aggressive strategy to blockade the communication route from the United States to the Australian mainland and the various islands of the South Pacific.
- a. Strengthen aerial reconnaissance from the base at Rabaul
b. Transport troops of the Maizuru 2nd Special Naval Landing Force and an establishment unit from Rabaul in two ships and land them at Surumi and Gasmata.
c. One cruiser and five destroyers under the command of the 6th Torpedo Squadron, and also two cruisers and three destroyers under the command of the 18th Squadron, shall provide direct protection of this transport.
d. One seaplane carrier will provide direct air support for the operation.
Munitions and supplies were immediately debarked, airfields were quickly established, and defensive preparations for the area commenced. The support vessels for the invasion force were slightly damaged during aerial attacks by small numbers of planes on 10 and 11 February.
Approximately one hundred and seventy soldiers from the naval landing force were installed as a garrison force at Surumi on 13 February, while the main strength returned to Rabaul. The formation of the Surumi Invasion Force was dissolved on 15 February.
The airfield at Surumi was long enough to service carrier-based fighters (800 metres by 100 metres) and was operational by 12 February.[6] The airfield had great value as a relay base for eastern New Guinea and the Lae and Salamaua areas.[7]
By the end of February 1942, the situation at other airfields was as follows:
| Lakunai | No hindrance to use by fighters[8] |
| Vunakanau | Useable by land-based bombers; being repaired and widened[9] |
| Kavieng | 1,200 metres by 90 metres unpaved strip; difficult for land-based attack planes after rain[10] |
- 1. 4th Air Corps: based on 27 Type-96 fighters, but strengthened with 12 Zero fighters at the beginning of March. The 4th Air Corps also had 9 Type-1 land-based attack planes, but training was insufficient.
2. Yokohama Air Corps: 8 Type-97 flying boats.
There were no changes to either the South Seas Force of the army after it returned to garrison duties from 5 February, or to the navy’s 8th Special Base Force after the offensive against Surumi.
The army and navy held a combined Empire Day banquet on 11 February hosted by the command of the 8th Special Base Force. The commander, Rear Admiral Kanazawa, recorded in his diary for that day: "Banquet. Army officers were surprised at our Western-style food. Collaboration between the army and navy is most satisfactory." One that same day, the troops of the 25th Army in Malaya entered the streets of Singapore.
The disposition of the Allied forces near Lae and Salamaua
Fighter planes were operational from the airstrips at both Lae and Salamaua. Each strip was 800 to 1,000 metres long and 100 metres wide.
There was also a small airfield at Wau, approximately 50 kilometres south-west of Salamaua. Expansion of airfields and various preparations were also continuing at Port Moresby.
Allied airbase units continued to attack Rabaul and the Gasmata region from bases in Townsville and Darwin, using Port Moresby as a relay base and Lae, Salamaua, and Wau as forward bases.
Lae and Salamaua each were staffed by approximately fifty to one hundred volunteer troops – civilians who gathered to receive military training three or four days in the week. Aerial photographs and forward reconnaissance by commanders of the invasion force revealed only what looked like a small, scattered base. There were, of course, no capital ships or aircraft stationed there.
Meanwhile, the movements of the American task force that raided the Marshall Islands on 1 February were unclear. Units were consequently on high alert owing to the high chance of further raids in the Bismarck Archipelago region.[12]
The army and navy local agreement and orders to the South Seas Force
The terms of the army and navy local agreement concerning the invasion of the Lae and Salamaua areas were agreed in principle on 13 February between the chief of staff of the South Seas Force, Lieutenant Colonel Tanaka Toyonari, who had been despatched to Truk, and the command of the 4th Fleet.
The agreement, based on this understanding, was finally established on 16 February. The main points were as follows:
- 1. Landing date and operational name
- Determined for 3 March, to be called "SR Operation".
Navy
Formations of the 4th Fleet, as follows:
- Invasion Force: 6th Torpedo Squadron, one special naval landing force battalion
Support Group: 6th Squadron, 18th Squadron, 23rd Destroyer Squadron
Air Unit: 24th Air Flotilla
- One infantry battalion and one mountain artillery company from the South Seas Force
- Lae: Naval landing force
Salamaua: Army
- Assemble at Rabaul, at day x–3
At noon on 17 February, the commander of the South Seas Force issued orders to Major Horie Masao, the commander of the unit directly responsible for the offensive, the 2nd Battalion of the 144th Infantry Regiment:[13]
- 1. Salamaua and Lae are important bases for the Allied air force. According to intelligence, these are being guarded by approximately 100 volunteer troops. The actual conditions are according to the attached aerial photographs.
2. The South Seas Force will invade Salamaua with the cooperation of the 4th Fleet. Special naval landing force troops will invade Lae.
The landing will be effected on day s.
Navy units will assemble at Nankai City [Editor’s note: Rabaul] on day s–7.
Departure from Nankai City will be on day s–3.
Yokohama Maru and China Maru will be used as transport vessels. (Though both are small, approximately 30 days’ provisions can be accommodated.)
3. The Horie Unit will invade Salamaua.
The navy’s Escort Fleet will be comprised as follows.
Commander: Rear Admiral Kajioka Sadamichi
- 6th Torpedo Squadron (Yûbari, 29th and 30th Destroyer Squadrons)
Kiyokawa Maru, Ten’yô Maru, Tsugaru, Kongô Maru [Editor’s note: Kôkai Maru should have been listed, but did not appear in the original text.]
- Commander: Major Horie Masao
144th Infantry Regiment 2nd Battalion (with part of the regimental cipher staff and the interpreter Sakurai)
2nd Mountain Artillery Company
1st Engineer Company (two platoons missing)
2nd Supply and Transport Company (one platoon)
South Seas Force Signals Squad (main strength: one-third of Type-3 cipher staff, and one-half of wired signal staff)
Regiment Signals Unit (part strength: two Type-5 radios, six Type-6 radios)
South Seas Force Munitions and Maintenance Squad (main strength)
Medical Unit (part strength: main strength of staff)
Anchorage Command (part strength: Lieutenant Sasaki and part staff and matérial)
Independent Engineer Company (one platoon: 2nd Lieutenant Hino, five large landing barges, five small landing barges) [Editor’s note: correctly refers to shipping engineers.]
Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Company (main strength)Shipping Signals Platoon (part strength)
Disease Prevention and Water Supply Unit (part strength)
Each unit will leave behind most horses and a detachment of personnel, and will submit disposition charts to the South Seas Force commander and Major Horie before noon on 22 February.
6. I will be in Nankai City.
South Seas Force commander, Horii Tomitarô
Distribution method
- Oral instruction to Major Horie on 17 February
The main points shall be distributed in printed form after distribution through the direct command of each unit.
On precisely that day, the navy discovered a US aircraft carrier task force moving north-west approximately 740 kilometres north-east of Rabaul. As will be described later, this force sortied against and attacked air and surface units of the 4th Fleet. This delayed the planned landing, with discussions held on 25 February deciding on a new landing date of 8 March.[14]
Preparations for the offensive by the 4th Fleet
The attack by the US carrier task force resulted in no discernible advantage. Contact was broken on 21 February, so a golden opportunity was lost. Consequently, it was decided to continue with preparations for the invasion of Lae and Salamaua. The following orders were telegraphed to individual units on 25 February:
South Seas Fleet Operational Telegraph Orders No. 109[15]
- 1. Day s will be 8 March.
2. All SR Operation units will remain on alert for the mobilisation of the enemy task force, and will operate in response to the requirements of the SR Operation.
3. Submarine units will undertake responsibilities as per "South Seas Fleet secret operational orders no. 10".
4. Airbase Force Command will mobilise all but one flight of its land-based air strength currently in Truk to Rabaul.
5. Azumayama Maru, Goyô Maru, Kure 3rd Special Naval Landing Force, and 10th Establishment Squad (aboard three vessels) will conduct training during this period in preparation for the offensive.
The strength of dispositions indicated at this time was as follows:
 | Command | Strength | Main responsibilities |
| 4th Fleet (Vice Admiral Inoue Shigemi) | | |
| Lae, Salamaua Area Invasion Force | 6th Torpedo Squadron (Rear Admiral Kajioka Sadamichi) | (see attachment below) | 1. To attack and destroy the enemy in the Lae and Salamaua area in cooperation with the army. 2. To secure this area, quickly establish an airbase, and cooperate with air operation units. |
| Support Group | 6th Squadron (Rear Admiral Gotô Sonshi) | 6th Squadron (Aoba, Kako, Kinugasa, Furutaka) 18th Squadron (Tenryû, Tatsuta) 23rd Destroyer Squadron (Kikuzuki, Uzuki) | Support for Lae–Salamaua operation |
| Air Unit | 24th Air Flotilla (Rear Admiral Gotô Eiji) | 4th Air Corps (main strength Yokohama Air Corps) 1st Air Corps, Kamoi (Editor’s note: submarine tender) | Assist Lae–Salamaua operation |
| Bismarck Area Defence Force | 8th Special Base Force (Rear Admiral Kanazawa Masao) | (abbreviated) | Assist Lae–Salamaua operation |
- Attachment: Lae–Salamaua Area Invasion Force
| Unit | Command | Strength | Main responsibilities |
| 6th Torpedo Squadron (Rear Admiral Kajioka Sadamichi) | | |
| Main Force | Direct command | Yûbari | Support for entire operation |
| 1st Force | 29th Destroyer Squadron commander | 29th Destroyer Squadron (Oite, Yûnagi, Asanagi.) | 1. Defence patrols of sea around Lae and Salamaua 2. Cooperation with army units |
| 2nd Force | Tsugaru | Tsugaru 30th Destroyer Squadron (Muzuki, Yayoi) | 1. Defence patrols of sea around Lae and Salamaua 2. Cooperation with naval landing force and establishment units |
| Air Unit | Kiyokawa Maru commander | Kiyokawa Maru, Mochizuki (from the 30th Destroyer Squadron) | Patrols against air and submarine attack, enemy reconnaissance, and cooperation with land operations |
| Patrol Force | 14th Minesweeper Flotilla commander | 14th Minesweeper Flotilla (Hagoromo Maru, No. 2 Noshiro Maru, Tama Maru, No. 2 Tama Maru) | Minesweeping the anchorage, patrolling, defence |
| Landing Party | Naval landing force commander | 8th Base Force based on one battalion special naval landing force (Editor’s note: approximately 620 men) | Destroy enemy in the area, and defend key offensive positions |
| Establishment Unit | Establishment Unit commander | 4th Establishment Squad 7th Establishment Squad (part strength) (Editor’s note: approximately 500 men) | Establishment of airfield as soon as possible |
| Attached units | | Ten’yô Maru, Kongô Maru, Kôkai Maru, Kinryû Maru (stand-by at Rabaul) | 1. Cooperate with naval landing force and establishment unit 2. Defence and guarding anchorage |
The operational outline for each unit of the 4th Fleet indicated in the above disposition chart was determined as follows:
- 1. Invasion Force
Sortie from Rabaul 5 March, effect landing on 9 March, seize enemy airfield, and quickly establish base. Also responsible for sweeping anchorage for mines.
Army units will hand over the garrison to the navy and return to Rabaul after completion of the invasion of Salamaua.
Navy units will carry out the offensive against Lae, and then also undertake garrison duties at Salamaua.
2. Support Group
Responsible for vigilance against attack by the US task force, and for support of the invasion force during the invasion.
Occupy the Queen Carola area on Buka Island and establish an anchorage during this period.
3. Air Unit
Undertake reconnaissance of enemy, patrolling, and secure air defence of the invasion force. Further, prepare for immediate deployment as Lae and Salamaua air units. As soon as airfield establishment is completed, fighter units will be despatched.
4. Bismarck Area Defence Force
Fully assist the operations of the invasion force and support group, and be responsible for protecting these units while they are at harbour in Rabaul.
The following battalion order, based on South Seas Force orders issued on 17 February, was transmitted by Major Horie at 1 pm on 28 February:
- 8th Operational Order No. 3
Horie Battalion orders
1300 hrs 28 February
South Seas Force Headquarters
1. (omitted by editor as the same as South Seas Force orders)
2. The Horie Battalion will be the Salamaua Invasion Force. Undertake a surprise landing during early dawn on 8 March and immediately occupy the airfield and Salamaua.
The campaign will be executed according to outline diagrams no. 1, no. 2 [Editor’s note: no original], no. 3, and no. 4.
3. Units will be mobilised according to attachment 2 and associated map.
4. I will be on Yokohama Maru from 3 February until the landing.
I will accompany the 5th Company during the first landing and thereafter move toward the airfield with the vanguard of the main force.
Major Horie, Battalion Commander
Distribution method
Various unit commanders will gather to be given oral and written instructions.
8th Operational Order No. 3 Attached Map 1
Outline map of general execution of the campaign (first proposal)
- Objective
The unit will undertake a surprise landing on the southern "S" coastline during the early dawn of 8 March, and then immediately occupy the airfield. Thereafter, a small force will guard the airfield while the main strength occupies "S" as soon as possible, and then the area around Kela. Mopping-up operations will then be conducted in the whole area.
8th Operational Order No. 3 Attached Map 3
Outline map of general execution of the battle (second proposal)
- Objective
Land on the southern coastline of Salamaua taking account of the conditions, particularly the wind and waves. Without waiting for the second landing, first secure the area around the radio room, and then as soon as possible occupy the airfield. Thereafter, position a guard at the airfield while the main strength invades Salamaua.
There are three distinctive features of these battalion orders:
1. Two operational outlines based on different conceptions were conveyed to the various units in the diagrams contained in section two of the orders.
2. Section three of the orders (unit responsibilities) distributed strategic responsibility according to only one of these conceptions.
3. The organisation of vessels and movement at sea for both plans was the same. (Consequently, the formation of army units was the same, but the responsibilities differed according to the proposal.)
The prevailing winds at that time were strong and from the north-east. It was unknown whether it would be possible to land at the coastline to the south of Salamaua on the short route between the airfield and township, or to land at the coastline to the west. Eventually, the battalion commander, after long and careful consideration of the options, judged that the former option had better odds for success.
The operational outline, based on historical records, was as follows:
- 8th Operational Order No. 3 Attachment 2
Unit duty and movement chart (first proposal)
| Formation | | Duty | Movement |
| Right front | 6th Company (less 1/3) 1/4 Machine Gun 1/2 Engineers (less 2/10) 1/4 Machine Gun to return to original unit after advancing to the road | 1. Immediately after landing proceed to line of road and prepare for future advance 2. Occupy area indicated on sketch with one platoon, and guard right flank with main strength 3. Act as reserve during attack on airfield; after 4th Company has occupied the position in its orders, proceed past them and occupy warehouses | 1. Follow the advance of the main unit Contact enemy units according to the sketch |
| Centre front | 5th Company (less 1/3) Radio Unit (1) Engineers (2 squads) | 1. Immediately after landing proceed to line of road and prepare for future advance 2. During the attack on the airfield, occupy and hold the radio communication room, then occupy the three junction road (airfield to Kela road) and be alert to attack from the north | 1. Advance at the rear of the main unit and battalion headquarters 2. Unit position at the point of contact with the enemy according to the sketch 3. The advance to contact the enemy will be led according to reconnaissance by officers |
| Left front | 4th Company (less 1/3) 1/4 Machine Gun Engineers (2 squads) (Machine Gun will return to the main force during the advance) | 1. Immediately after landing proceed to three junction road, protect the assembly and advance of the main strength 2. During the attack on the airfield, occupy the enemy headquarters and storerooms at the front line | 1. Lead the advance of the main strength, part occupy three junction road to north of airfield; main strength protects left flank during attack preparations, above-mentioned squad will return to main strength during advance to contact enemy 2. Unit position at the point of contact with the enemy according to the sketch |
| Rearguard and Transport Control Squad | 1/3 6th Company Type-3 radio (1) | 1. Occupy position according to sketch immediately after landing, protect main strength rear line during advance to Salamaua township, also conduct reconnaissance of enemy situation and terrain at Salamaua 2. Transport Control Squad will form and be responsible for leading landing and preparing transport around the landing site | 1. Remain at specified location and carry out duties up to transit through location by main strength during attack on Salamaua township 2. Unit will act as advance guard for main strength during advance on Salamaua |
| Machine-gun Company | 2nd Machine-gun Company | 1. Assemble at the area indicated after the landing of the main strength and prepare for advance 2. Mobilise with the reserve units during the attack on the airfield | 1. Unit position at the point of contact with the enemy according to the sketch |
| Engineer Company | | 1. Responsible first for destruction of landing barriers, then assemble with main force on road and prepare for advance 2. Mobilise with the reserve units during the attack on the airfield, then make preparations to cooperate with the 4th Company at an appropriate time | |
| Battalion Artillery Platoon | | 1. Assemble on the road after landing and prepare for advance 2. Mobilise at the rear of the reserve unit during the attack on the airfield | |
| Mountain Artillery Company | | Occupy the camp at three junction road after the second landing with the main strength, then prepare to assist fighting after dawn | Accompany the cadre unit during the first landing and mobilise with headquarters |
| A Officer reconnaissance | (Six men led by a warrant officer) | Scout enemy situation and terrain around the buildings at the centre and eastern flank of the airfield | Assemble at headquarters after landing, departure time according to separate orders |
| B NCO reconnaissance | (Five men led by a non-commissioned officer) | Scout enemy situation around the buildings at the centre and western flank of the airfield | |
| Signals Unit | | 1. Part strength to accompany first landing and conduct communications between landing point and airfield, and transport ships 2. Make preparations according to the development of the situation for a communications network between the airfield, Salamaua, Kela, Lae, and the navy | |
| Supply and Transport Platoon | | Stand by to disembark vehicles at the landing point as soon as possible after the second landing | |
| Medical Unit | | Elements with the first landing, the main strength with the second landing, responsible for collecting casualties | |
| Disease Prevention and Water Supply Unit | | Land at Salamaua after transport ships have returned to Salamaua bay, then responsible for disease prevention and water supply | |
| Disembarkation Duty Unit | | 1. Responsible for disembarking the force 2. After the second landing, prepare two small barges at the landing point for the assault on Salamaua township 3. As soon as possible after the occupation of Salamaua and Kela, transports and landing craft will return to Salamaua bay and undertake disembarkation | |
| Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Company | | Mainly responsible for aerial protection of the transport fleet | |
| Anchorage Finance Officer | | Disembark two days’ supplies at the landing point and near Salamaua as the situation permits; when transports return to Salamaua bay, disembark supplies at Salamaua township | |
| Second and later landing units | | Stand by at the landing point for deployment by the Transport Control Squad | Particularly clear roads, and ensure anti-air evacuation is thoroughly implemented |
1. Landing munitions and baggage
The following is required in addition to that prepared for the invasion of Rabaul.
- a. Generally, troops must carry one lunch-box meal, one day each A and B field rations, and two packs of sweets.
However, units in the first landing do not carry A field rations. These are carried by the second landing troops and stockpiled at the landing site.
b. Do not carry combat boots.
c. Do not carry excess hot water and tea apart from water bottles.
d. Each unit commander will devise how to decrease the landing equipment apart from that mentioned above.
- 1. Company and platoon commanders will make preparations as per the invasion on Rabaul.
2. Squad commanders will wear a white band (10 centimetres wide) on their left arm, and clearly indicate white cloth on the front and back of their tropical hats.
3. Infantrymen will wear a white band (4 centimetres wide) on their right arm.
- "Emperor’s army", "Victory"
The landing of the 16th Army on Java began on 1 March 1942. On that day, the South Seas Force reached an agreement at Rabaul with the 6th Torpedo Squadron, which provided a direct escort for the force. Chief of staff Tanaka, battalion commander Major Horie Masao, and the escort fleet chief of staff, Commander Enokio, met to thrash out the details. The commanders of both forces approved the draft agreement reached the following day, 2 March.[16]
The details of the agreement were virtually the same as for the Rabaul operation. However, there were two proposals for the route: to the south of New Britain (proposal A), or to the north (proposal B). Distinctive to these proposals were the different departure times – at 5 pm and 5 am on 5 March respectively – and the fact that the movement of the army units after landing was in part established and mostly agreed on, as follows:
- 1. The whole strength of the Horie Unit will occupy the airfield. Then, after the assault on Salamaua township, the unit will mop up an area ranging approximately 10 kilometres (to an appropriate point along the roads) centring on Salamaua and including the promontory around Kela and the area to the west of the airfield.
2. The main strength of the unit will guard Salamaua township, Kela, and the airfield.
Agreement on the problematic issues of the escort at sea and protection of the landing point was reached as follows:
- 1. Protection at sea shall be conducted by the whole strength of the escort fleet prior to the anchorage point being reached, and by Yûbari and the 29th Destroyer Squadron afterwards.
The escort fleet, as mentioned previously, was comprised according to section 3 of offensive orders of the South Seas Force. However, in contrast to the army component of two transports, the navy had provided two light cruisers, six destroyers, and one special seaplane tender (in addition to three navy transports).
The offensive operation
The Horie Battalion boarded Yokohama Maru and China Maru on 3 March, and was fitted out according to the army and navy agreement the following day. It was decided on 4 March to adopt proposal A for the sea-route, namely the course to the south of New Britain. Comprehensive training was undertaken on both 3 and 4 March. All units of the army and navy invasion force and support group were assembled in Rabaul by the morning of 5 March. From that time, a lone Lockheed flew in the skies over Rabaul.[19]
The 24th Air Flotilla stepped up its aerial attacks and reconnaissance over Port Moresby, Lae, and Bulolo (approximately 20 kilometres north of Wau) and elsewhere each day from 3–7 March. What looked like large-style aircraft were discovered at Salamaua and Wau.[20]
The invasion force sortied from Rabaul at 1 pm on 5 March; the support group followed at 4 pm. Aircraft aboard Kiyokawa Maru maintained daily reconnaissance of the enemy and conducted aerial patrols. Fighter units from the 24th Air Flotilla carried out direct protection in the skies over the invasion force. The army and navy units divided at 9 pm on 7 March for Lae and Salamaua respectively. Successive tropical storms hit from 7 March, limiting visibility and making it a difficult task to enter the anchorage.[21]
The army transport fleet encountered a violent storm at 10.30 pm when it entered the anchorage area to the east of Salamaua. The wind at that time was 20 kilometres per hour from the south-west, with the seas 1.8 metres on the coast. The landing barges were lowered at 11 pm, with boarding completed by midnight. They headed for the south-east coast of Salamaua at 12.15 am.
Despite several signal flares being visible over the land around the time the fleet entered the anchorage position, the Horie Battalion reached the landing point unopposed at the planned time of 12.55 am. One aircraft left the ground just at that moment. The advance began immediately and the airfield was successfully occupied by 3 am.[22]
The Australian troops had in fact withdrawn to the south during the night of 7 March, leaving none of their units in the Salamaua and Kela areas. Consequently, battalion commander Horie altered his plans. He despatched elements of his force to occupy the Salamaua township and Kela, and kept his main strength assembled near the airfield.[23]
By 4.30 am, the Salamaua township and Kela were successfully occupied. Combined intelligence reports indicated that the Australians had withdrawn to Wau along the San Francisco River valley, and the local people had evacuated to Wau and Port Moresby in the face of the Japanese army’s invasion of Rabaul and advance to this area. Wau was the centre of the gold mining district and was reached by a narrow road from Salamaua.
After dawn, a lone Lockheed bombed the transport ships three times, resulting in slight damage to Yokohama Maru, with three killed and eight casualties. Lieutenant Colonel Tanaka, the chief of staff of the South Seas Force aboard the flagship Yûbari, telegraphed the commander of the necessity of controlling the air with navy air units owing to increasing concerns over Allied air attacks.[24]
The Kure Special Naval Landing Force troops landed at the coast to the south of Lae at 2.30 am on 8 March and occupied the airfield and township unopposed.
The establishment units began work on the airfields during the morning of 8 March, with preparations for its use as a fighter base completed by 1 pm the following day.[25] Mopping-up operations were completed in the area during the day of 9 March, with two high-angle anti-aircraft guns debarked and placed in position during that afternoon. A single Lockheed also attacked Lae, but the only damage was a single strike on the destroyer Asanagi. The original text mistakenly names this destroyer "Asakaze".
The support group entered Queen Carola Harbour on the west side of Buka Island during the morning of 9 March. In addition to minesweeping operations, a naval landing force landed on the island and carried out mopping-up on the coast around the anchorage the following day.[26]
Allied air raids after the landing
Although Lae and Salamaua had been occupied virtually without incident, it was not long before there were repercussions. Lae and Salamaua were attacked at 7.40 am on 10 March by numerous carrier-based fighters and large-scale bombers. Torpedo bombing and strafing attacks were carried out against units on land and at sea. The attacks continued in waves until 9.45 am, with approximately twenty torpedo bombers, forty carrier-based bombers, eight Lockheeds and eight B-17s. The entire Japanese strength was mobilised immediately, from the patrol planes aboard Kiyokawa Maru to the naval and land units, resulting in the reported shooting down of around ten Allied planes.[27] At that time, fighter units from the 4th Air Corps had planned to advance to the area following the completion of the airfield preparations at Lae. Poor communications, however, resulted in 11 fighters missing the battle, arriving in the area from 1 to 3 pm.[28]
The damage to Japanese forces from this attack was as follows:
- Sunk: Kongô Maru, Ten’yô Maru, No. 2 Tama Maru, Yokohama Maru
Medium damage: Yûnagi, Kôkai Maru, Kiyokawa Maru
Light damage: Yûbari, Tsugaru, Asanagi, Tama Maru
Killed: 6 army, 126 navy personnel
Wounded: 17 army, 240 navy personnel
This was the first time the Allies had inflicted large-scale damage during a counter-attack since the start of the war, and was a portent of the future direction of campaigns in the South Pacific Area. However, stage one of the Southern Area operations was successfully completed ahead of schedule following the unconditional surrender of the Netherlands East Indies on 9 March. The issues raised by the successful counter-attack were hidden in the shadow of these brilliant successes.
These Allied surprise air attacks will be discussed in detail in a later chapter.
Five B-17s and one Lockheed attacked Lae on 11 March. The Japanese fighter squadron intercepted and downed the Lockheed, but the poor condition of the runway resulted in damage to two fighters.
The Horie Battalion, engaged in the offensive at Salamaua, handed over the garrison to the naval landing force at noon on 12 March in accord with the previously mentioned agreement. The entire unit left Salamaua aboard China Maru at 2 am on 13 March, and arrived in Rabaul two days later. The seaborne invasion force, with the exception of the naval landing force and establishment unit, continued to provide escort and returned to Rabaul at the same time.[29]
The support group at Queen Carola Harbour departed for Rabaul at 4 pm on 10 March. However, it sortied again from Rabaul at 5 pm on 14 March and returned to Queen Carola Harbour at 7 am the following day to patrol in preparation for engagements with the US task force. The support group was transferred to Kavieng on 17 March, thus bringing to completion the offensive against Lae and Salamaua, the first planned advance by the Japanese army into New Guinea proper.
Occupation of strategic areas in the northern Solomon Islands and Admiralty Islands by the 4th Fleet
Occupation of strategic areas in the northern Solomon Islands
4th Fleet Headquarters wanted to invade and position the 8th Special Base Force in key areas in the northern Solomon Islands as soon as possible after the completion of the invasion of Lae and Salamaua.
The target locations were Shortland Island and Kieta on the north coast of Bougainville. Shortland Island was positioned at the south-eastern end of Bougainville. The so-called "Shortland anchorage" comprised the area between these two islands and Ballale Island. This area permitted a large force to shelter, with the inlet at the eastern side of Shortland Island suitable as a seaplane base.
The airfield at Kieta and the area between the coast and the nearby islands were promising locations for a navy base. Both could act as transit bases for the offensive against Tulagi, the ultimate objective in the Solomon Islands area. Precautions at that time were only taken against the movements of the US task force, as the existence of large numbers of ground troops was not anticipated.
Rear Admiral Kanazawa of the 8th Special Base Force, the commander of the invasion force, took direct command of the 30th Destroyer Squadron. He boarded the flagship destroyer Muzuki and sortied from Rabaul at 10 am on 28 March.
On board was a two platoon-strong naval landing force. Protection was provided by the 6th and 18th Squadrons. The naval landing force disembarked at Shortland Island after Shortland anchorage was entered at 2 am on 30 March. No enemy troops were located on the ground, and only one enemy aircraft flew overhead at 10 am. One platoon from the naval landing force was deployed to establish the seaplane base.
The invasion force left Shortland anchorage to the north at 4pm on 30 March, and occupied Kieta at first light the following day. There was absolutely no resistance at this location either. Command of the invasion force withdrew the naval landing force troops, which arrived in Rabaul at 11.30 am on 1 April. The operation was completed.
Occupation of strategic areas in the Admiralty Islands</a>]
The Admiralty Islands consist of Manus Island and other isolated islands in the area. It was a rear strategic location situated deep into the lateral area of the region. There was, as previously mentioned, a small airstrip at Lorengau on the north-east of Manus Island. The so-called "Lorengau anchorage" between Manus Island and the crescent-shaped Los Negros Island could accommodate large fleet vessels. The northern half of Los Negros was flat ground covered in coconut palms suitable for an excellent airfield.
The 4th Fleet had planned to send the 6th Torpedo Squadron to invade the Admiralty Islands immediately after the offensive at Rabaul. However, it was decided to invade Gasmata first, so the Admiralty operation was, for a time, set aside.
For the first stage of the operation, an invasion force sortied from Rabaul on 6 April, occupying the Lorengau airfield and anchorage on 8 April. On that same day, the north-western New Britain mopping-up force entered the bay at Talasea (eastern coast of the Willaumez Peninsula in central-north New Britain), landed unopposed and proceeded to clean up the area.
The 8th Special Base Force was reorganised on 10 April. Its name was changed to 8th Base Force, and the naval landing force was attached as the 81st and 82nd Garrisons.
The air war of attrition
The air war that centred over Rabaul from early February to April 1942 was more ferocious than any within the sphere of the Pacific War at that time. Further, it was a substantial problem from the standpoint of the overall direction of war strategy. Allied ground troops had offered no resistance during the invasion operations against key areas in eastern New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, so the advance proceeded as planned. However, the situation had developed such that it was increasingly difficult to ignore the Allied counter-offensive from airbase units and a carrier task force. The situation surrounding the air war of attrition at Rabaul at this time had direct consequences on later ground operations in the region. Consequently, several aspects of the actual situation will be discussed in detail here.
Destructive air raids on Port Moresby in early February
The circumstances surrounding the 24th Air Flotilla’s advance for the Rabaul offensive has previously been discussed. Allied air raids conducted by lone or small numbers of aircraft on Rabaul occurred every other night from 24 January until 3 February. The aircraft were Short Sunderland flying boats of the Royal Australian Air Force operating from a base at Port Moresby. The air raids generally came during the early evening, at 8 or 9 pm. A lone reconnaissance plane was also occasionally seen during the day. These raids prompted return fire from the 8-centimetre high-angle anti-aircraft guns of the 8th Special Base Force, or from guns on vessels at anchorage in the harbour. Carrier-based reconnaissance planes from Kiyokawa Maru were also deployed. However poor communication with the searchlight units meant that neither method was particularly successful as the planes could not be located. [31]
The first air raid on Port Moresby by the Yokohama Air Corps, which was delayed by poor weather conditions, was finally conducted on 3 February. Eight Type-97 flying boats split into two formations and set out during the night, bombing the township of Port Moresby from 1.30 am to 2.30 am on 3 February. All aircraft returned safely to Rabaul.[32]
A further air raid on Port Moresby was carried out the following night by five large flying boats. With this focus on Port Moresby, Allied air raids on Rabaul completely ceased for a time, although Gasmata received daily air raids after Japanese forces occupied the area on 9 February.
Editor’s note: According to the US Air Force history, the air strength at Port Moresby at this time was: two squadrons (small number of aircraft) of Catalina flying boats; one squadron of Hudsons; and one squadron of Wirraways.
Strategic background and manoeuvres of the US carrier task force</a>]
After suffering heavy losses at Hawaii at the opening of the war, a strategic review of the options open to the US task force left no room for a defensive position in its fundamental strategy against Japan. Prior to the outbreak of war, the US defensive strategy for the Pacific had centred on the Hawaiian islands. From Hawaii the US fleet could secure the triangular maritime region between Midway Island, Johnston Island, and Palmyra Island, and protect the United States–Australia supply line between the US mainland and the 180 degree meridian, while also including the islands of Fiji and Samoa.
This idea did not fundamentally change even after the appointment of Admirals King and Nimitz to the US navy high command at the end of December 1941. Admiral King, commander-in-chief of the US Fleet, immediately appointed Admiral Nimitz, commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet, to the task of securing this triangular region, as well as maintaining the supply line between the United States and Australia, including the islands of Fiji and Samoa.
At the same time, however, and also to appease public opinion, the US navy carried out strategic attacks against the previously mentioned Japanese bases and maritime transport fleet using submarines and high-speed aircraft carriers. Furthermore, there also was an optimistic opinion that this would check the advance of the main strength of the Japanese forces into key areas in the southern region. The attack on the Marshall Islands on 1 February, and the successive air raids by the US task force on Rabaul (20 February), Wake Island (24 February), Marcus Island (4 March), Lae and Salamaua (10 March), and Tokyo (18 April), were based on this strategic policy.
The Japanese advance to Rabaul on 23 January caused great anxiety to the government of Australia. On 27 January, the government warned Admiral Nimitz, the commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet, that there were reasonable fears that the Japanese would attack Noumea in New Caledonia prior to its occupation by US forces, at that time en route to the area. The Australian government held concerns that they were exposed to a Japanese advance to Port Moresby. On the other hand, the Americans felt that the Japanese would advance into the New Hebrides and New Caledonia areas after they had gained a secure foothold in Rabaul.
Given these conditions, Admiral King ordered Admiral Nimitz to despatch the carrier task force (based on USS Lexington), under the command of Vice Admiral Brown, to the Fiji and New Caledonia area and to place it under the command Vice Admiral Leary of the ANZAC Area.
Rabaul air raid from the Lexington Task Force</a>]
The US carrier group that had attacked the Marshall Islands on 1 February consisted of a task force under the command of Rear Admiral Fletcher built around the aircraft carrier Yorktown, and a second group based on the carrier Enterprise under the command of Vice Admiral Halsey. The total strength of the force was two aircraft carriers, three cruisers, and four destroyers.
In response to the incursion by the US task force, the 24th Air Flotilla at Rabaul instigated daily patrols of the waters to the north of the Solomon Islands and the Coral Sea from 5 February using two to four flying boats.[35]
According to postwar investigations, the force that attacked the Marshall Islands had returned to Hawaii at the time of the heightened patrols by the 24th Air Flotilla, with a different force drawing near to Rabaul after having set out from Hawaii on 31 January.
This was the above-mentioned task force led by Vice Admiral Brown (hereafter called the Lexington Task Force), with a strength of four heavy cruisers and ten destroyers in addition to Lexington. The sole objective for the offensive planned by Brown was none other than the Japanese-occupied Rabaul. This recommendation was readily approved by Brown’s superior, Vice Admiral Leary.[36]
The Lexington Task Force proceeded south-west and swept the waters to the north of Fiji and Samoa after passing through the seas to the east of the Phoenix Islands on 8 February. The Japanese forces received intelligence that "an enemy carrier force was proceeding to the Samoa area" on 7 February, but it thereafter disappeared.[37]
The task force veered to the north, while east of the New Hebrides, on 15 February and proceeded north-west through the waters to the east and north of the Solomon Islands. It was Vice Admiral Brown’s plan to despatch bombers from a position 230 kilometres from Rabaul at 2 am on 21 February.
However, the Japanese forces received intelligence that two enemy destroyers had suddenly appeared in the waters near Truk on 19 February. This report proved to be false, but flying boats were despatched from Rabaul during the evening of 20 February to carry out reconnaissance for the enemy destroyers in the rear waters near Truk. The lead plane radioed the following message at 8.30 am before losing communications: "Large enemy force 110 kilometres north-east of Rabaul, heading north-east."[38] The 4th Air Corps lifted from Vunakanau airfield at 12.20 am after receiving orders from 24th Air Flotilla command to engage the enemy force.
As the 4th Air Corps was not at full strength at that time, it was unable to put fighters in the air to support the assault group (bomber group), and the bomber’s torpedoes had not even arrived. However, the aircrews had participated in the superb campaigns in the South-West Area at the beginning of the war and were flushed with these successes. They had great confidence in the outcome of the assault using only fixed bombs.
The Lexington Task Force, however, proceeded north observing extremely strict radio silence. At 8.50 am on 20 February, several unidentified aircraft were identified by radar on board Lexington (these were the first fitted in the US navy and could not show altitude). These aircraft were the above-mentioned patrol flying boats.
The assault group that had sortied from Rabaul reported the discovery of the enemy carrier force at 2.35 pm and again at 3 pm. The Rabaul base waited expectantly for a report indicating a successful attack.
However, two bombers in the first wave of nine were brought down by US fighters before they reached their targets. The other seven were able to drop their bombs, but the carriers took evasive action and were able to avoid any direct hits. Fighters launched from the carriers engaged with the bombers in the skies over the task force. Without an escort of fighters, all in the first wave of Japanese land-based bombers were destroyed. Similarly, three bombers in the second wave of eight were brought down prior to reaching the target, and two more wre brought down immediately after bombing the carrier force.
During the attack, two Japanese bombers damaged by US hits attempted unsuccessfully to ram the carriers. Of the remaining three bombers, only one returned to the Rabaul base, with one ditching into the ocean and the other crash-landing in Simpson Harbour.
The Americans lost one pilot and two fighters. Commander Brown, however, fearing the opportunity to bomb Rabaul was lost, abandoned the planned air raid and withdrew without further action.
The Japanese had lost 14 land-based bombers, two flying boats, and one reconnaissance seaplane, with the two ditched bombers suffering serious damage. Although the damages were great, the planned air raid on Rabaul had been averted.
Air raid on Salamaua</a>]
Vice Admiral Brown, in the light of the failed air raid on Rabaul, submitted the following proposals to Pacific Fleet Commander Nimitz:
- 1. At least two carriers should be used in future operations against airbases with the strength of Rabaul;
2. It is essential to increase by two the number of fuel tankers required in operations in warm regions in the tropics owing to increased fuel consumption from the requirement for aircraft to take off at full speed.
The Lexington Task Force, which had withdrawn to the north-east on 20 February, veered to the west in the waters to the east of Santa Cruz Islands and entered the Coral Sea. It joined the Yorktown group to the south-west of Espiritu Santo soon after it had entered the patrol region of Japanese reconnaissance planes. At that time, there were no suitable targets for air raids other than Rabaul.
It was precisely at this time that Japanese forces had landed in the Lae and Salamaua area, presenting a perfect target for air attack by the task force. The problem was whether to take the dangerous course through the Bismarck Sea to launch an assault, or to launch an attack over the 5,000 metre-high Owen Stanley Range from the waters to the south of eastern New Guinea. Suitable nautical charts of the Bismarck Sea for the first option had not been prepared and, furthermore, this would take the carrier force too close to Rabaul.
The task force launched an assault group from 80 kilometres off the south coast of eastern New Guinea on 10 March, some 900 kilometres from Rabaul on a line through Lae and Salamaua. By 6.40 am, 104 planes were airborne.
The air raid was a success, with Japanese losses as previously described. The Americans lost only one aircraft and one pilot. (Editor’s note: This differs from the Japanese record of losses.)
The following is taken from the detailed battle report on Tsugaru, which had participated as an escort in this battle:
- For an offensive operation, there is a necessity for prior discussion concerning the expectation of counter-attack by an enemy force of considerable strength.
The support units, even for this current Lae and Salamaua operation, need to be of sufficient strength concomitant with the powerful Allied task force. Up until that time when Lae and Salamaua have been secured, establishments have been completed, air raid units have been deployed, and the bases can sufficiently demonstrate their functioning strength, there is a necessity for preparations against movements of the enemy into the waters south-east of New Guinea.
Editor’s note: The main strength of the Japanese mobile carrier fleet, after it had conducted air raids on 5 March against Cilacap (south coast of Java), was at that time in the waters around the Cocos Islands (south of Sumatra) preparing for counter-offensives from the British navy’s Eastern Fleet.
Allied air attacks, which as previously mentioned had temporarily ceased, began again on 23 February. Early that morning, five American four-engine B-17s surprised Japanese troops in a daring attack. This was the first appearance of the B-17, a plane the Japanese were thoroughly unable to contend with in the South-East Area from that point on.
Thereafter, small scale air raids against Rabaul continued uninterrupted. The trend was for a lone reconnaissance plane during the day to be followed by an attack from small numbers of bombers at night. There were also, however, numerous occasions when B-17s would attack during the day, especially early in the morning. The raids were generally directed towards the airfields and ships at anchorage in the harbour. Damage to aircraft and personnel was insignificant but steadily mounted.
Japanese anti-aircraft measures were at that time inadequate to cope with this level of air attack.
As the majority of the land-based attack planes planned for Rabaul had been destroyed in the raid on the US carrier task force on 20 February, a squadron of land-based attack planes from the 24th Air Flotilla, which were training on Tinian, were quickly advanced to Rabaul. The total air strength in the South-East Area was further strengthened when the Combined Fleet diverted a detachment consisting of one fighter squadron and one land-based attack squadron from the 1st Air Fleet to Rabaul.
Preparations for the Lae and Salamaua operations, which were unavoidably postponed after the loss of contact with the US task force, were recommenced. The most pressing preparation was the destruction of the anticipated build up of Allied air strength in eastern New Guinea. The 24th Air Flotilla conducted daily patrols in the waters south-east of the Solomon Islands and reconnaissance flights over eastern New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in search of the US carrier task force. In addition, operations to destroy Allied air strength in the eastern New Guinea area began on 24 February with the first combined fighter and bomber raid on Port Moresby.
The main feature of these raids was the destruction of land and sea facilities at the central base at Port Moresby. Aircraft stationed at the base were damaged and burned, weakening Allied strength in the region. Under these conditions, the transportation and landing of the invasion force to Lae and Salamaua was effected safely and successfully. Still, damage inflicted from air raids by the US task force was considerable.
Air battles over the bases from middle to late March</a>]
Elements of fighter units from the 4th Air Corps had advanced to Lae by the afternoon of 10 March following the speedy establishment of the base. Soon after, approximately half the strength of fighter and land-based attack units from the 4th Air Corps had been mobilised to Lae. The 24th Air Flotilla intensified its patrols in the Coral Sea area and its attacks against Port Moresby and the north-eastern sector of the Australian mainland.
On 14 March, nine land-based attack planes were directed to Port Moresby, while eight land-based attack planes and 12 Zero fighters attacked Australia for the first time, targeting Horn Island on York Peninsula at the north-eastern tip of Australia. No aircraft were engaged at Port Moresby. Thirteen Hawker Hurricanes and P-40s were engaged over Horn Island, with reports of nine aircraft shot down and three Lockheeds on the ground destroyed by fire. The airfield on Horn Island was crucifix-shaped and 1,200 metres long and 100 metres wide. It had not appeared in any intelligence until reference to it was found in documents taken from a Lockheed brought down at Gasmata on 3 March.
Reconnaissance was also carried out on Allied airbases at Townsville and Cooktown on the Australian mainland by two land-based attack planes on 21 March.
The 24th Air Flotilla participated in the offensive operations against the Solomon Islands in late March. In addition to conducting reconnaissance flights over key areas, flying boats and land-based attack planes attacked Tulagi on 17 and 18 March, though there was no significant resistance by the Allies to this raid.
The air war in eastern New Guinea and the Solomon Islands had proceeded well by March 1942, with Japanese forces establishing a central base at Rabaul and advance bases at Gasmata, Lae, and Salamaua. Port Moresby, the only remaining Allied base in the South Pacific Area, had been more or less contained.
The Allies, however, had initially intended to use Port Moresby simply as a relay station for their main bases on mainland Australia. Without effective attacks on these bases, the Japanese could not effectively assess damage to Allied air power and continual surveillance attacks on Port Moresby would become a necessity.
The Allies were simultaneously gradually expanding the base at Port Moresby and endeavouring to establish a base at Horn Island. The only airfields at Port Moresby by early February were at Kila and Bomana. By early March, however, more airfields were discovered on both banks of the Laloki River and on the right bank of the Goldie River, with airfields also being prepared approximately 50 kilometres to the north-west of Port Moresby.
No fighter aircraft were involved in the raids on Rabaul, Gasmata, Lae, and Salamaua up to this point, only large planes such as Lockheed Hudsons and B-17s. Neither were fighters in evidence in counter-attacks at Port Moresby. By mid-March, just as the Japanese had eased raids on Port Moresby, it seemed that Port Moresby had been reinforced with smaller aircraft. A land-based attack plane sent to Moresby for reconnaissance on 21 March failed to return.
At 6 am the following day, 22 March, nine Hawker Hurricane fighters and several Lockheed Hudson bombers raided Lae. Virtually the entire contingent of planes (nine Zeros and one land-based attack plane) were strafed on the ground and caught fire, and two Zeros were lost in the air. This was the first Allied raid against a Japanese base in which both fighters and bombers participated.
An assault force of 19 land-based attack planes and three Zero fighters from the 24th Air Flotilla set out for Port Moresby on 23 March, reporting a considerable force of small aircraft, and the bombing and burning of six small and one large aircraft. Thereafter, counter-attack by small aircraft during raids on Port Moresby became the norm, with increasing losses to the Japanese. Following from the build up of the US air force, the Allied powers had taken gradual steps towards a counter-offensive, using Port Moresby and Port Darwin as stepping stones in the South-East and South-West Areas, respectively.[41]
Advance of the 25th Air Flotilla to Rabaul
The Navy Department of Imperial Headquarters at that time assigned responsibility for air operations in the Inner South Pacific to the 24th Air Flotilla attached to the 4th Fleet as part of stage one of the campaign. It had raised the 11th Air Fleet (21st to 23rd Air Flotillas), an air formation for bases outside this line, to assist offensive operations in the southern area.
The 4th Fleet had advanced the main strength of the 24th Air Flotilla to Rabaul in response to the development of campaigns in the South-East Area. Ultimately, however, the flotilla had a responsibility, of increasing importance, for air operations in the Inner South Pacific, specifically in the Marshall Islands area. This point was especially driven home by the movements of the US task force in the waters of the Inner South Pacific Area.
The Navy Department of Imperial Headquarters redeployed its entire airbase units after the completion of stage one of the campaign. This important stage of the air campaign attempted to alter the situation in the entire Pacific area.
As a result, the 24th Air Flotilla was dedicated to duties in the Inner South Pacific Area, and the 25th Air Flotilla assigned to operations in the South-East Area.
The headquarters of the 25th Air Flotilla (commanded by Rear Admiral Yamada Sadayoshi) advanced to Rabaul on 29 March, and the formation was activated on 1 April 1942. The constituent units of the 25th Air Flotilla were the Yokohama Air Corps, which had previously participated in campaigns in the Rabaul area, the 4th Air Corps, and the Tainan Air Corps, the latter of which was diverted from campaigns in the Netherlands East Indies.[42]
| Unit | Newly formed strength | Numbers of crews |
| 4th Air Corps | 36 land-based attack planes (Type-1, 2 in reserve) | 9 crews from 1st Air Corps, and 5 crews transferred from Kisarazu Air Corps on 1 April Total of 37 crews |
| Tainan Air Corps | 45 fighters 6 land-based reconnaissance planes | 31 crews transferred from 4th Air Corps on 1 April, reinforced with 3 crews from Japan |
| Yokohama Air Corps | 9 carrier-based fighters 12 flying boats | 5 crews reinforcements for the present from Japan Total of 13 crews including main unit and detachment |
The commander of the Combined Fleet issued orders incorporating the 25th Air Flotilla into the formation of the South Seas Fleet (4th Fleet) effective from zero hour on 1 April. South Seas Fleet headquarters assigned the 25th Air Flotilla to duties that day as the "Bismarck Area Airbase Force". It inherited the duties of the 24th Air Flotilla Western Area Attack Force and was deployed in the Bismarck Archipelago area.
The current campaigns in the South-East Area were offensives against Port Moresby and Tulagi. Headquarters of the South Seas Fleet telegraphed orders to its constituent units on 4 April specifying early May for the Port Moresby invasion operation, thus granting authority for preparations.[43]
The air war of attrition intensifies</a>]
The aerial assault of Port Moresby by the 25th Air Flotilla began on 5 April. Its headquarters issued orders the previous day for the execution of repeated assaults on Port Moresby using most of its strength.
During the first two days, 5 and 6 April, combined attacks were carried out by land-based attack units from Rabaul and fighters from the Lae base. For the first of these attacks, nine Type-1 land-based bombers joined nine Zeros in the skies over Lae, and then carried out the raid on the Port Moresby airfields at 10.20 am. Seven attack planes (two turned back owing to engine trouble) rained shells over one large and one medium aircraft (possibly decoy planes), while the Zeros brought down two aircraft in aerial combat for the loss of one. A force of around ten Allied fighters was encountered.
On 6 April at 10.15, seven land-based attack planes (two turned back owing to engine trouble) and five Zeros carried out the raid and returned safely, reporting eight enemy aircraft down. There were 15 Allied fighters over the base.
Shortages of Zero crews on 7 April led to concerns over their ability to escort the attack planes. Consequently, a decision was made for a "fighter only" raid that day. However, the raid was cancelled when what were identified as eight American fighters attacked the Lae base at 6 am.
Bad weather delayed the resumption of raids on 9 April, but seven land-based attack planes and six Zeros attacked at 9.40 am on 10 April, reporting three Allied aircraft down for the loss of one Japanese plane.
In this manner, the assault on Port Moresby, the first real test of the 25th Air Flotilla, was not decisive, as it was conducted on a small scale and hampered by insufficient personnel. Further, the counter-attacks by Allied fighter planes in the skies over the Port Moresby base, and even in counter-offensives against Rabaul and Lae, became more formidable and gradually gained momentum into April.
The Allied attack on Lae by fighters at 3 pm on 4 April resulted in the destruction by fire of two Zeros, and damage by hits on eight Zeros and nine land-based attack planes. A further nine attack planes were hit at the time of the raid on 7 April by eight Allied dive-bombers.
At 1.20 on the afternoon of 9 April, four new-style bombers (judged to be B-26s with larger ejection tanks) raided the airstrip at Rabaul from an altitude of approximately 300 metres.
Rear Admiral Kanazawa, commander of the 8th Base Force, recorded the following in his diary for that day: "Suffered a severe raid from four English [sic] aircraft in the morning. At Vunakanau, 30 casualties from the 7th and 10th Establishment Squads, with one dead at the airfield under a torrent of exploding torpedoes. Conspicuous signs of defeat in the air war."
Sea-route invasion of Port Moresby
Difficult strategic conditions</a>]
As previously described, Imperial Headquarters issued orders at the end of January 1942 for a force comprising the South Seas Force and the 4th Fleet to "invade Port Moresby if at all possible". In fact, this offensive operation was not recognised as a serious difficulty given the conditions immediately after the invasion of Rabaul.
Meanwhile, as introduced above, the appearance of Allied air strength on mainland Australia and at Port Moresby, and the intensity in activity of the US task force, gave rise to conditions whereby Japanese army and navy commanders in the region were forced to adopt a measured attitude towards the invasion of Moresby.
Headquarters of the 25th Air Flotilla judged the total strength of Allied air power at the beginning of April in the South-East Area, including mainland Australia, to be approximately one thousand aircraft, including six hundred training planes. The US task force on manoeuvres in the Pacific was thought to be divided into two formations to the north and south. The southern group was formed around Saratoga using bases on mainland Australia and New Zealand.
Investigations were being carried out for the South Seas Force to land on the north coast of eastern New Guinea and invade Port Moresby overland. At the same time, Imperial Headquarters and navy units in the region were considering the original sea-route invasion plan.
The main difficulty for the sea-route invasion was that the transport convoy needed to pass along the south coast of New Guinea with one eye on the Allied airbases in northern Australia, some 480 kilometres distant from New Guinea’s eastern flank. However, within an arc some 440 kilometres from this area were interspersed a chain of numerous islands surrounded by coral reefs, severely limiting passage by ships.
The route to the Coral Sea needed to be either through the China Strait or the Jomard Passage, or by the longer detour to the east of the Louisiade Archipelago.
The shortest route was through the China Strait, which was mostly deep water. However, this option was deficient as the current was swift and there were many reefs. Further, it was extremely narrow, only allowing vessels to pass in single file.
The third option, the detour to the east of the Louisiades, was to be avoided as it would double the time to reach the target.
Ultimately, this left only the Jomard Passage as a route for the sea-bound invasion force. The distance from the passage to Port Moresby was around 650 kilometres.
This plan involved the invasion convoy departing Rabaul and steaming south for 780 kilometres before passing through the Jomard Passage. During the next 650 kilometres, the convoy was forced to conduct this operation across the sea, all the while susceptible to attack from Allied airbases at Townsville and Cooktown. If the Jomard Passage was navigated during the evening and the convoy maintained a constant 20 kilometres per hour, then it would be exposed in the Coral Sea during the following day for around 12 hours. This was the first promising opportunity to secure air and sea superiority in the Coral Sea.
The next problem was how to penetrate the barrier reef near the site of the planned offensive landing at Port Moresby. A world-famous barrier reef runs the length of the south coast of New Guinea. It continues from the eastern tip of New Guinea to near Port Moresby, running roughly parallel 3 to 16 kilometres from the coast in the shape of a natural fortress. Passage by landing craft is certainly restricted during low tide, but also during high tide.
The large Sinavi and Nateara reefs needed to be penetrated in order to land craft at Port Moresby. Three possible routes seemed available: the Liljeblad Passage, the Basilisk Passage, and Padana Nafua. The Liljeblad Passage was within firing range for the Paga Coastal Defence Battery established to the south of Moresby township. Further, the current was swift, and with sunken reefs in the passage and en route to the harbour, it was unsuitable for an operation with a large force.
Basilisk Passage was a standard waterway, but held the disadvantage that it opened directly on to the line of fire of the battery. Padana Nafua avoided these problems and was considered the most appropriate passage for the invasion of Port Moresby. Even so, a landing in the face of the enemy through a fortress-like barrier reef had not been planned since the opening of the war. This problem of penetration so close to enemy positions faced the Japanese forces.
If these strategic and technical problems could be overcome and Port Moresby could be invaded, then the great concern of maintenance of supply to hold a garrison force had to be addressed, along with unfavourable trends in Allied superiority of the air and sea. The South Seas Force, the unit given responsibility for garrison duties after the invasion, held grave concerns over the ability to maintain supply. The most pressing concern was the lack of water at Port Moresby, with supply needing to be transported many kilometres from inland areas. Consequently, the number of troops that could rely on rainwater was limited to approximately three to four thousand. The South Seas Force expressed the opinion that these limitations would severely hamper the garrison after the invasion.
Editor’s note: According to the memoirs of Lieutenant Colonel Akita Hiroshi, chief of intelligence in the Army Department of Imperial Headquarters, there also was a proposal for elements of the garrison force to prevent the enemy from using the area, while withdrawing the main strength of the force.
Preparations for the operation by the South Seas Force
The entire strength of the Horie Battalion of the South Seas Force assembled at Rabaul and proceeded with preparations for the invasion of Port Moresby after it had returned from the operations at Salamaua.
The air raids on Lae and Salamaua by the US task force on 10 March caused great anxiety in the commanders of the South Seas Force concerning the execution of the invasion of Port Moresby. Imperial Headquarters at that time had only given orders to "invade Port Moresby if at all possible." The overview and initiation of the operation was left to an agreement between local navy and army commanders. There was absolutely no discussion concerning concrete mechanisms to simply execute the operation.
At this time, the commander of the South Seas Force telegraphed the following appraisal to Imperial Headquarters on 20 March:[46]
- 1. When considering the experience of the Salamaua–Lae operation, particularly the appearance of the enemy navy’s carrier task force, then I believe it will be very difficult to assign protection for the transport convoy by land-based air units, and to protect the airbase establishments and the landing point after disembarkation.
I would like to see discussion during a central agreement to doubly ensure the strengthening of land-based air units and the cooperation of a fully equipped aircraft carrier for the coming operation.
The carrier Shôhô currently assigned to the 4th Fleet is not sufficient by itself.
2. I would like to see an increase by one in the number of transports exclusively assigned to anti-aircraft duties (fitted out at Ujina for this operation).
3. I would like consideration for the use of an advance force of paratroopers to disrupt the enemy and occupy the airfield near the landing point. The capture of airbase installations prior to landing would be extremely beneficial.
Editor’s note: A high-speed anti-aircraft ship was equipped with six anti-aircraft guns and assigned to protect a transport convoy. Eight of these were prepared after the outbreak of war.
At this time, South Seas Force headquarters had been researching strategic proposals for attacking Port Moresby. The following three proposals were most seriously considered: land-route over the mountains; barge mobilisation; and standard landing operation by convoy.
The land-route over the mountains proposal was identical to the plan that was later actually carried out. At this stage the proposal was only considered feasible if there was a road over the mountains; however reconnaissance to confirm that had not yet been undertaken. The commander of the South Seas Force sought opinions from his three battalion commanders, two of whom supported the land-route plan on the basis that it would be possible to advance at least half of the total troop strength to Port Moresby overland, rather than risking them all should the convoy be sunk in the Coral Sea.[47]
The barge mobilisation proposal involved landing troops in the eastern part of New Guinea, who would then carry out the invasion on Port Moresby after successive mobilisations along the south coast using landing barges. Landings would be conducted during the night to avoid attack from Allied aircraft. It was estimated that 5 nights would be required, based on nightly movements of approximately 110 kilometres. It was recognised that conducting these movements shoreward of the above-mentioned reefs would be difficult, so it was felt the advance would need to be carried out further to seaward.
It is clear that this mobilisation proposal would have been extremely difficult to execute. Nevertheless, the commander of the South Seas Force considered there was a chance of success, and judged the dangers of being sunk were higher during a standard transport and landing operation. Preparations for the mobilisation plan began to increase from early April. Research into methods of transporting food and munitions, embarkation rosters, cooking arrangements en route, and other aspects of the preparations proceeded.
In either case, the pressing task at hand was reconnaissance of the local area around Port Moresby. The commander of the South Seas Force sought the assistance of the navy prior to 15 April in the following tasks preparatory to the execution of the operation. These were relayed by the 24th to the 25th Air Flotilla:
- 1. Photographs of the landing point in the Port Moresby area
2. Army commanders to accompany reconnaissance flights over the landing area
3. Navy reconnaissance of the waterways from Samarai (a small island in the China Strait at the eastern tip of New Guinea) to Port Moresby.
Land-based attack plane units traversed the Owen Stanley Range at an altitude of 6,000 metres, flying reconnaissance and bombing missions over Port Moresby. Consequently, reconnaissance was largely ineffective, providing results that were less than anticipated.
Strengthening of the 4th Fleet
The 4th Fleet recognised the need for reinforcements to its air strength for the Port Moresby invasion operation, specifically for the despatch of an additional aircraft carrier, and entered into negotiations with the Combined Fleet. As a result, Shôhô, which was attached to the 4th Air Flotilla, was transferred to the 4th Fleet in the middle of March. Shôhô was a converted aircraft carrier with a complement of barely 28 planes, and was hardly suitable for the purposes of the army and navy units in the region. The Combined Fleet had completed invasion operations in the Netherlands East Indies on 10 March, and was currently planning offensive operations using a mobile carrier force in the Indian Ocean. As a result, it was judged that there was very little excess strength to be diverted to the South-East Area.
A Japanese carrier force sortied from Kendari on 28 March and carried out raids on Colombo on 6 April and on Trincomalee (east coast of Ceylon) on 9 April. The Combined Fleet progressed to stage two of the war with the completion of these attacks. Reorganisation of the formation was ordered on 10 April as the first phase of stage two operations. This governed the operations of the Combined Fleet until late May.[48]
The thrust of the reorganisation involved the main strength of the Combined Fleet assembling in the western part of the Inland Sea to prepare and train for the next phase of the campaign, which had two goals. The first involved the execution of the Port Moresby invasion in early May, and the associated strengthening of units in the South Pacific Area. The second, as previously discussed, involved diverting priority for airbase units to the Pacific region.
These orders of the Combined Fleet specified the requirements of the 4th Fleet for the Port Moresby operation in early May. They also strengthened the formation of the 4th Fleet with the addition of the 5th Squadron (less Nachi), Kaga (a large aircraft carrier), Zuiho (a seaplane tender), and the 7th and 20th Destroyer Squadrons. These units were to be attached to the 4th Fleet on 10 May, but this was brought forward to 20 April through specially issued orders.
The basic strength of the South Seas Fleet (4th Fleet) indicated in this order of battle was as follows:
- Constituent units
- Kashima
18th Squadron (Tenryû, Tatsuta)
19th Squadron (Okinoshima, Tokiwa, Tsugaru)
6th Torpedo Squadron (Yûbari, 23rd, 29th, and 30th Destroyer Squadrons)
7th Submarine Squadron (Jingei, 21st, 26th, and 33rd Submarine Groups)
- 5th Squadron (Haguro; Myôkô and Nachi missing)
6th Squadron (Aoba, Kinugasa, Kako, Furutaka)
Kaga
Shôhô
Zuiho
7th Destroyer Squadron
27th Destroyer Squadron
Orders for this formation were issued on 5 April.[49]
However, even with these reinforcements, the 4th Fleet was still not satisfied. Further negotiations with the Combined Fleet resulted in "Operational telegraph order no. 109" being issued on 10 April for Kaga to be replaced by the 5th Air Flotilla (Shôkaku, Zuikaku).[50]
Strengthening of the 25th Air Flotilla
According to the new order of battle, the 11th Air Fleet (airbase units), based on the 21st (elements missing), 24th, 25th, and 26th Air Flotillas, was responsible for securing eastern New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Marshall Islands, Wake Island, the East Caroline Basin, and the area around the Japanese homeland, as well as cooperating with the 4th Fleet (South Seas Fleet) and Fifth Fleet (Northern Fleet) in air campaigns in various regions.
The 24th and 25th Air Flotillas, which were attached to the South Seas Fleet, were returned to their original command.
The headquarters of the 11th Air Fleet moved to Tinian on 17 April.
Prior to this, on 10 April, the Airbase Force Command formed the 1st Air Attack Force from the 21st Air Flotilla, and the 4th, 5th, and 6th Air Attack Forces from the 24th, 25th, and 26th Air Flotillas, respectively. The 5th Air Attack Force was assigned to: "Patrol the region and destroy any invading enemy units; and destroy enemy air strength in the north-east area of Australia and cooperate with the Port Moresby invasion operation."
Meanwhile, the 25th Air Flotilla was strengthened by the Motoyama Air Corps (less its fighter elements). This unit had been assigned to the 22nd Air Flotilla in the South-West Area, but was especially transferred by the Combined Fleet for the Port Moresby invasion operation. Completion of the transfer was planned for 1 May.
Command of the 25th Air Flotilla issued on 11 April the following overview of the operational policy for the 5th Air Attack Force based on these new responsibilities:
- 1. Main responsibilities
- a. To destroy enemy forces in north-east Australia, New Caledonia, and the Fiji areas, and to prevent the build up of Allied air strength.
b. To patrol the southern area of British New Guinea and the seas to the east (Editor’s note: thought to include not only eastern New Guinea, but also the Bismarck Archipelago area), to destroy enemy mobile (assault) forces, and to disrupt enemy supply lines.
c. Cooperate with invasion operations at key locations.
d. Seek out and destroy the enemy fleet.
- a. Destroy enemy air units in British New Guinea and Fiji as soon as possible, as well as enemy strength in the north-east Australia area. Provide escort for the Port Moresby and Tulagi invasion operations.
b. After destruction of enemy strength in the north-east Australia area, suppress enemy build-up of troops in the region by progressively annihilating concentrations of Allied forces. In addition, attack enemy base installations to render them useless.
If possible, strengthen the Port Moresby invasion operation to relay supplies towards Port Moresby.
c. Take extreme caution against enemy movements in the southern area of British New Guinea and the seas to the east. If enemy mobile carrier forces appear in the region, despatch the full strength to destroy them (2nd and 4th Air Attack Forces in concert, according to the conditions). The 5th Air Attack Force is also responsible for attacks against enemy shipping in the area.
The patrolling area of the 4th Air Attack Force is bounded by the equator and [blank] degrees south latitude, and 130 and 166 degrees east longitude.
d. Raid enemy airbases at New Caledonia, Fiji, and in the northern part of Australia at an appropriate time using large flying boats in concert with submarine units. Take measures to destroy reinforcements to, as well as units stationed at, enemy relay and main bases.
When Tulagi is invaded, quickly advance elements, or a larger force, to assist in the operations and to strengthen the campaign to disrupt Allied supply routes.
e. Destroy the invading enemy fleet using assault units in the order of battle.
| Formation | Command | Strength | Base | Main responsibilities |
| 1st Force | Tainan Air Corps commander | 45 Zeros, 6 land-based reconnaissance planes | Lae, Rabaul (Lakunai) | 1. Aerial patrols over Lae and Rabaul areas 2. Destroy enemy planes in British New Guinea and north-east Australia 3. Cooperate with Moresby invasion |
| 2nd Force | 4th Air Corps commander | 36 land-based attack planes | Lae, Rabaul (Vunakanau) | 1. Patrol the YZ patrol sector (see table below) 2. Destroy enemy planes in British New Guinea and north-east Australia 3. Stand by for attack by enemy fleet vessels 4. Cooperate with Moresby invasion |
| 3rd Force | Motoyama Air Corps commander | 27 land-based attack planes | Rabaul | As above |
| 4th Force | Yokohama Air Corps commander | 12 large flying boats 9 float planes | Rabaul | 1. Patrol the patrol sector 2. Cooperate with Moresby invasion 3. Elements to stand by for contact |
| Special Duty Force | Mogamikawa Maru commander | Mogamikawa Maru | | Transport according to special orders |
While the main strength of the Yokohama Air Corps had advanced to Rabaul by 5 April, it would take time to assemble at Rabaul the elements remaining in the Marshall Islands. Elements of the Tainan Air Corps, consisting mainly of fighters, which had been temporarily transferred to the 4th Air Corps, finally arrived in Rabaul on 16 April owing to shortages of transport ships.
Although preparations were quickly undertaken after reinforcements arrived – 12 Zeros on Goshû Maru and 24 Zeros on Kasuga Maru arrived on 7 and 12 April, respectively – numbers were insufficient and the 4th Air Corps never reached a full complement.
The working complement of aircraft from 1 April to 1 May 1942 was as follows. Crew numbers generally were greater than the number of aircraft:[51]
| Date | Fighters (Type-96 Zero) | Land-based attack planes (Type-1 and Type-96) | Flying boats |
| 1 April | 15 | 16 | 11 |
| 5 April | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| 10 April | 12 | 8 | 13 |
| 15 April | 8 | 9 | 12 |
| 20 April | 31 | 25 | 14 |
| 25 April | 29 | 20 | 14 |
| 1 May | 23 | 42 | 13 |
Editor’s note: The patrol sectors at that time were as follows.[52]
| Patrol sector | Base | Area | Range | Aircraft |
| P | Rabaul | 45–75 degrees | 1,100 kilometres | Two per sector as a general rule |
| Q | Rabaul | 75–105 degrees | " | |
| R | Rabaul | 135–165 degrees | " | |
| Y | Lae | 130–160 degrees | " | |
| Z | Lae | 160–190 degrees | " | |
Allied air attacks on Rabaul and Lae intensified after the beginning of April. The powerful raid by the impressive B-26s on 9 April in particular has already been mentioned. Formations of six or seven B-26s also conducted raids on 11, 12, 18, and 19 April. This was the start of raids on Rabaul by US Army Air Force medium bombers. The lead plane during the raid on 18 April was shot down. Intelligence gained from the two crew members indicated the raid had originated from a US base in eastern Australia. As this intelligence was on the whole deemed to be accurate, the following report was telegraphed immediately to Imperial Headquarters:[53]
- 1. Approximately 200 fighters (P-39). One crew member advised that approximately 150 in Townsville (slightly vague), while the other indicated 25 in Brisbane, 50 in Townsville, 100 in Sydney, and 75 in Melbourne (all P-39s).
Also approximately 30 P-40s in Sydney and Melbourne, 35 bombers (B-26) in Townsville from the 22nd Bombardment Group, also 15 B-17s in Townsville, which were evacuated from the Netherlands East Indies area.
2. The crew and aircraft of the 22nd Bombardment Group had left San Francisco Bay on 6 February and arrived in Honolulu on 15 February where they were joined by a B-26 group. They left on 20 February and arrived by air transport at Brisbane on 24 March by way of Canton Island, Palmyra Island, Suva (Fiji), and Noumea. They moved to Townsville in early April after preparations, and began campaigns against Rabaul.
3. Maintenance staff left San Francisco on a commercial ship on 21 January and arrived at Brisbane on 25 February. After approximately 3 weeks’ preparations, the 150 P-39s that were ready were joined to the 22nd Bombardment Group and transferred to Townsville. Approximately 2,000 maintenance crewmen boarded nine American commercial vessels, which were berthed at Brisbane, and, with two other cargo boats, set out for Townsville.
4. It seems that the P-39s were transported from San Francisco and New York by the southern route via Panama to Sydney and Brisbane.
Meanwhile, Lae suffered additional attacks from combined fighter and bomber groups. Eight bombers and eight fighters raided on 11 April, and six fighters and four bombers raided again on 13 April. Japanese fighter units scrambled and reported shooting down around one-third of the raiders on each occasion. Damage to Japanese aircraft was not slight, however, and the land-based attack planes in the area were ordered to evacuate to Rabaul on 11 April. Thereafter, patrols over the Y sector, which was the responsibility of land-based attack planes at Lae, were conducted from the base at Rabaul.
In this way, Japanese air attacks on Port Moresby after 10 April were postponed for around a week in order to repair aircraft. Commander Yamada of the 25th Air Flotilla lamented that "The number of serviceable aircraft for attacks on Port Moresby on 14 April did not exceed three fighters and three attack planes." At the same time, General MacArthur in Australia declared that "The Japanese have suffered a deadly blow to their aircraft numbers, and are currently unable to mount an attack."
During this time, the 25th Air Flotilla undertook the following reconnaissance in preparation for attacks on Port Moresby:
- 1. Gizo Island, Tetepare (in the central Solomon Islands), Kiriwina Island, Egum Atoll, Normanby Island, Deboyne Island, Rossel Island, Paria Reef, Long Reef, Samarai (Louisiade Archipelago), Eagle Point, Abau, and Keppel Point, research for suitability as advance seaplane base.
2. Surveys of various waterways in the waters to the east of Australia, and research into accuracy of naval charts.
3. Reconnaissance of land airbases to the north of the base of Cape York in northern Australia.
4. Photographs of landing sites at Port Moresby, and reconnaissance of barge mobilisation routes from Samarai to Keppel Point.
The 25th Air Flotilla had reached its lowest strength by 13–14 April. However, it unexpectedly reached a state of preparedness after the completion of the assembly at Rabaul of the Tainan Air Corps on 16 April, and through efforts to quickly prepare Zeros that had arrived as reinforcements. The 25th Air Flotilla began full-scale raids on Port Moresby on 17 April after a planned raid the previous day was cancelled owing to inclement weather. Raids were conducted by a force of 15 fighters and seven land-based attack planes (two returned with malfunctions en route), with reports of five Allied planes downed for the loss of one fighter.
Raids were carried out almost daily thereafter until the beginning of May. Of particular note were raids in two or three waves. Horn Island was attacked on 30 April using six fighters and eight attack planes. Tulagi was also attacked on 25 and 30 April with land-based attack planes and large flying boats.
Allied counter-attacks also were persistent. Daily raids were directed exclusively at Lae after the attacks on Rabaul on 22 and 23 April. However, these raids were only conducted with bombers, such as B-17s, B-26s, and Lockheeds, in formations of two or three planes. This led the commander of the 25th Air Flotilla to judge that Allied air strength at Port Moresby had been smashed by 29 April.[54]
Nevertheless, the very next day, on 30 April, Lae was raided by a formation of three B-26s bombers and twelve P-39 fighters. It was clear that the Allies had reinforced Moresby with a considerable number of P-39s. Further, the discovery of the impressive B-25s at Horn Island led to the inevitable conclusion that the build up of the US Army Air Force in the Australian region was continuing and intensifying.
The sea-route offensive against Port Moresby was to have been carried out under these conditions, but the course of events during the air war to smash the enemy in eastern New Guinea and the region in the north-east of Australia had introduced an element of doubt.
Navy plans for the offensive</a>]
Confidence in the execution of the operation firmed within headquarters of the 4th Fleet after the 5th Squadron (Nachi missing) and the 5th Air Flotilla were attached to the formation. Offensive plans were formulated and preparations for the operation continued.
As indicated by the above quoted army and navy central agreement, the 4th Fleet still had on its plate the invasion of the strategically important Tulagi in the southern Solomon Islands in addition to the Port Moresby operation.
The occupation of Shortland Island, a relay base for the Tulagi offensive, was completed by late March.
In addition, the 4th Fleet was responsible for offensives against Nauru and Ocean Island in the Gilbert Islands. These operations had been previously planned primarily to secure supplies of phosphorus.
These offensives in three different areas were planned together by the 4th Fleet, which named the entire operation the Moresby Operation (MO Operation). Samarai, a small island of some 4 kilometres circumference overlooking the China Strait, was the administrative centre for the area and a key transport link. As previously mentioned, the passages through the Louisiade Archipelago were extremely few. The occupation of Samarai to secure the China Strait was consequently of great importance. The 4th Fleet planned for elements of the special naval landing force from the Port Moresby invasion to occupy the island.
The objectives of the Moresby Operation, as formulated by the 4th Fleet, were as follows:
- Invade and occupy Tulagi and key areas in south-east New Guinea. Further, in cooperation with the army’s South Seas Force, invade and secure Port Moresby, establish airbases in these locations, and intensify the air war against Australia.
Following on from these operations, undertake surprise attacks against Nauru and Ocean Island to secure supplies of phosphorus.
| Formation | Command (4th Fleet) | Strength | Main responsibilities |
| Moresby (MO) Main Force | 6th Squadron commander | 6th Squadron (Aoba, Kako, Kinugasa, Furutaka), Shôhô, Sazanami (7th Destroyer Squadron) | |
| Tulagi Invasion Force (RXB) | 19th Squadron commander | 19th Squadron (Okinoshima (Tsugaru and Tokiwa missing))** Half of 23rd Destroyer Squadron (Kikuzuki, Yûzuki)** 14th Minesweeper Flotilla (Tama Maru, Hagoromo Maru, No. 2 Noshiro Maru)* No. 1 and No. 2 Special Minesweeper 56th Submarine Chaser Squadron (No. 8 Tama Maru, No. 3 Toshi Maru) Kure 3rd Special Naval Landing Party (part strength)*** Azumayama Maru*, Kôei Maru 7th Establishment Squad (part strength)*** | 1. Tulagi offensive at dawn 3 May 2. Establishment of airbase |
| Moresby Invasion Force (RZP) | 6th Torpedo Squadron commander | 6th Torpedo Squadron (Yûbari, 29th Destroyer Squadron (Oite, Asanagi), 30th Destroyer Squadron (Muzuki, Mochizuki, Yayoi), 23rd Destroyer Squadron (Uzuki (Yûnagi, Kikuzuki and Yûzuki missing)) Tsugaru No. 20 Minesweeper Kure 3rd Special Naval Landing Party (elements missing) Azumayama Maru, Goyô Maru, Akihasan Maru, Shôkai Maru, Chôwa Maru, Oshima, No. 2 Fumi Maru, No. 3 Seki Maru, Mogamikawa Maru 10th Establishment Squad | 1. Direct protection of South Seas Force 2. Moresby invasion at dawn 10 May 3. Establishment of airbase 4. Secure supply route 5. Protect transport route |
| Covering Force | 18th Squadron commander | 18th Squadron (Tenryû, Tatsuta) Kiyokawa Maru air corps Kamikawa Maru Two specially fitted gunboats from 5th Gunboat Squadron (Nikkai Maru, Keijô Maru) Shôei Maru 14th Minesweeper Flotilla part (Hagoromo Maru, No. 2 Noshiro Maru) Kure 3rd Special Naval Landing Party (part strength) | 1. Protection of the Tulagi Invasion Force 2. Protection of the Moresby Invasion Force and escort for the South Seas Force 3. Establishment of invasion bases at key areas 4. Samarai offensive on 12 May |
| Raiding Force | | 21st Submarine Group (Ro-33 and Ro-34) | 1. Seek and attack enemy fleet 2. Surveillance lead vessel in Moresby harbour |
| Supply Units | | Ishirô, Hôyô Maru | Supply |
| | | |
| Moresby (MO) Carrier Force | 5th Squadron commander | 5th Squadron (Myôkô, Haguro (Nachi missing)) 5th Air Flotilla (Zuikaku, Shôkaku) 27th Destroyer Squadron (Shigure, Yûgure, Ariake, Shiratsuyu) 7th Destroyer Squadron (Shioakebono (Sazanami missing)) | 1. Destroy enemy vessels 2. Destroy enemy air strength |
| Nauru and Ocean Island Invasion Force | 19th Squadron commander | 19th Squadron (Okinoshima (Tsugaru and Tokiwa missing))*** 23rd Destroyer Squadron (Kikuzuki, Yûzuki)*** Kinryû Maru, Takahata Maru 6th Base Naval Landing Party, Kashima Naval Landing Party (separate orders on formation) (after 11 May) Tatsuta, Tsugaru | Nauru and Ocean Island offensives on 15 May (Editor’s note: Okinoshima was sunk on 11 May so replaced with Tatsuta) |
| Bismarck Area (R) Defence Force | 8th Base Force commander | 8th Signals Unit 8th Submarine Base Force 81st Garrison Rabaul Unit 5th Gunboat Squadron (Seikai Maru) 56th Submarine Chaser Squadron (No. 5 Kotobuki Maru) | |
The central command unit as indicated in the order of battle, taking into account the general situation, was naturally the Moresby Carrier Force. The commander of the 4th Fleet issued instructions to the carrier force through the above-mentioned orders issued on 23 April, as follows:
- Secret South Seas Fleet Operational Order no. 13: Instructions for Unit Movements
1. Moresby Carrier Force
- Sortie from Truk towards the Solomon Islands on about day x–10 through waters to the north-east, and then continue to provide direct support for the Tulagi invasion operation. On day x–5 (the day after the start of reconnaissance flying boat patrols from Tulagi) enter the Coral Sea from the east of the Solomon Islands, begin to provide direct support to the Moresby Invasion Force as required, according to the following strategies.
a. When a powerful naval force is detected, first attack and destroy.
b. Continue to make preparations for the appearance of a powerful naval force while none can be detected, and mobilise to protect the Moresby Invasion Force as required. Provide limited air patrolling and support for the Port Moresby Invasion Force when this becomes especially necessary according to the situation.
c. Up until day x+5 after the successful landing at Port Moresby, continue preparations for the appearance of a powerful enemy naval force in the area of the Coral Sea within range of Japanese airbases. After mobilisation as required, provide direct support for the Gilbert Island Invasion Force, then return to Truk.
d. During these actions, keep particularly close contact with the invasion forces, the airbase units, and the submarine units. Command of naval units in the area shall be combined when engaging a powerful enemy force. (Editor’s note: The section of the original text which was revised the day following this entry has been corrected.)
- Tulagi Invasion Force: 29 April, sortie from Rabaul
Moresby Escort Fleet: 29 April, sortie from Truk
Moresby Main Force: 30 April, sortie from Truk
Moresby Carrier Force: 1 May, sortie from Truk
Moresby Invasion Force: 4 May, sortie from Rabaul
South Seas Force plans for the offensive</a>]
The South Seas Force had been leaning towards adopting a barge mobilisation plan for the invasion of Port Moresby. The strengthening of the 4th Fleet, however, had increased confidence in the success of a standard landing-style operation.
Strategic planning and discussions for the Moresby invasion were held at 4th Fleet headquarters in Truk on 16–17 April, with the participation of Lieutenant Colonel Tanaka, the chief of staff of the South Seas Force. Meanwhile, with a superior navy escort strength in the region, and with three carriers en route to the Coral Sea to engage in direct support, optimism was mounting that the campaign would be successful.
Until this time, the Army Department of Imperial Headquarters had not given any specific instructions or leadership concerning the Port Moresby campaign. Consequently, chief of staff Tanaka wrote to Imperial Headquarters from Truk outlining the commander’s appraisal of the campaign and seeking instructions from central headquarters.
The reply, addressed to the South Seas Force commander, was telegraphed on 18 April. The main thrust was as follows:
- The Port Moresby offensive is essential for later operations, and should be carried out according to the commander’s judgment. This campaign is an opportunity to test army and navy cooperation for later operations, and should be executed by 10 May at the latest.
At that time, the Army Department of Imperial Headquarters was not particularly enthusiastic about the Port Moresby invasion operation. As will be discussed below, they became confrontational over the operation to blockade the supply route between the United States and Australia, and over the operations to invade Midway and the Aleutian Islands.
An agreement was reached between the army and navy at the 8th Base Force headquarters in Rabaul on 25 and 26 April. Details were fleshed out by 3 May.
The transport convoy consisted of a total of 11 ships. The army had five in addition to Asakayama Maru, and the navy six, including Azumayama Maru. The route adopted for the convoy was as follows: depart Rabaul, then after passing through the St George’s Channel, proceed south-south-west in the seas to the west of Bougainville, turn south-west when to the east of Woodlark Island and head towards Deboyne Island, and then enter the Coral Sea through the Jomard Passage. The support group had occupied Deboyne Island on 4 May with plans to construct a seaplane base for the Moresby operation.
The commander of the South Seas Force issued the order of battle for the Port Moresby invasion on 29 April. This outlined a movement of barges outside of the reef, with the main force landing at Taurama after passing through Padana Nafua passage, and elements (based on 1st Battalion of 144th Infantry Regiment) passing through the Liljeblad Passage and landing on the coast at Oiso. These landings were to be completed by early dawn on 10 May, followed by offensives against Kila airfield and the Moresby peninsula. Finally, attacks against the airfields to the north were planned.
The airfields, particularly those to the north of Port Moresby, were the main objective of the offensive.
Intelligence from the start of the war confirmed the existence of a garrison of approximately battalion strength to the north of Port Moresby township. Accurate information concerning establishments and army strength was not available, but it was estimated that the Allied land strength was approximately five thousand men.[57]
The 25th Air Flotilla’s operational plan</a>]
The 25th Air Flotilla had intensified its air raids against Port Moresby and in the northern Australian area since early April in preparation for the Port Moresby invasion operation.
As the operation finally approached, the 25th Air Flotilla was given the following responsibilities:
- Airbase Force Operational Orders No. 3
1. The South Seas Fleet and the South Seas Force of the army will attack Port Moresby on day x (10 May), the South Seas Fleet will attack Tulagi on day y (3 May) and Nauru and Ocean Islands on day m (5 May).
2. The 5th Air Attack Force will cooperate in the following operations and at locations prescribed by their commander.
- a. Intensify raids with force against northern Australia and Port Moresby after 1 May.
b. Patrol the route during movements of the carrier force during the Port Moresby invasion (both en route and returning), and patrol Tulagi and the route of the Tulagi Invasion Force.
c. Carry out aerial protection of the convoy, and aerial protection over Port Moresby during the offensive with the entire strength used for item a.
d. Undertake reconnaissance of the landing sites.
e. Receive deployment instructions from the commander of the offensive concerning the movements of transports by Mogamikawa Maru (details below abbreviated by editor).
5th Air Attack Force Secret Operational Orders No. 2
(Abbreviated)
2. Operational policy
- a. Patrol the seas on high alert and make efforts to provide speedy information concerning enemy naval activities. In addition, complete preparations for military preparedness, then seek and destroy the enemy.
b. Undertake repeated attacks and crush Allied air strength in New Guinea with the full strength of the 1st and 2nd Forces prior to the start of the Moresby operation.
c. Patrol the skies over Rabaul on alert, and in cooperation with the army, seek and destroy enemy planes which have come to raid, thus smashing the Allies’ plans for attacks in the region.
d. Undertake reconnaissance, first over New Guinea, then over the northern Australian region using reconnaissance planes.
e. Cooperate with the Port Moresby invasion.
(Abbreviated by editor.) Carry out the following based on the agreement documents for the Port Moresby operation.
i. Carry out XYZ duties (editor’s note: various reconnaissance duties) and take aerial photographs of the landing site as preparation for the operation based on "5th Air Attack Force secret operational orders no. 1".
ii. Patrol the skies as indicated in attached map 1.
iii. Provide aerial protection for the Port Moresby invasion transport convoy.
iv. Provide aerial protection in the region of the target from the day of the start of the operation.
v. Attack and destroy enemy military installations at Port Moresby.
f. When Allied air strength at Port Moresby is destroyed, seek out and destroy powerful air units in north-east Australia.
| Formation | Command and strength | Base to utilise | Main responsibilities |
| 1st Force | Tainan Air Corps | Lakunai, Lae, Moresby, Kila | 1. Smash air strength in New Guinea and north-east Australia 2. Patrol bases and skies over convoy 3. Z duties |
| 2nd Force | 4th Air Corps | Vunakanau, Lae, Moresby | 1. (As above) 2. Patrolling 3. Attack enemy task force 4. Y duties 5. Assist land operations |
| 3rd Force | Motoyama Air Corps | Vunakanau | 1. Patrolling 2. Attack enemy task force 3. Smash air strength in New Guinea and north-east Australia |
| 4th Force | Yokohama Air Corps | Tulagi, Shortland Island, Deboyne Island | 1. Patrolling 2. Prepare for contact 3. Attack enemy task force |
| Special Duty Force | Mogamikawa Maru | | 1. Transport 2. Provisions |
- 4. Unit movements (abbreviated)
An overview of the patrol plan corresponding to the operation overview was as follows.
| Patrol | Base | Extent | Notes |
| A | Lae | 124–190 degrees | Search lines no. 1–5 |
| B | Rabaul | 135–172 degrees | Search lines no. 1–4 |
| C | Rabaul | 53–115 degrees | Search line no. 1–4 |
| D | Shortland Island | 100–194 degrees | Search line no. 1–4 |
| E | Shortland Island | 45–100 degrees | |
| F | Tulagi | 95–225 degrees | Search line no. 1–11 |
| G | Tulagi | 45–95 degrees | Search line no. 1–5 |
| I | Deboyne Island | 155–180 degrees | Search line no. 1, 2 |
Departure of the fleet
The Tulagi Invasion Force (based on the Kure 3rd Special Naval Landing Party) occupied Tulagi as planned without resistance at dawn on 3 May.
The South Seas Force embarked at Rabaul harbour during 2 and 3 May and set out south at 4 pm on 4 May (Asakayama Maru left on 5 May) under the protection of the main strength of the 4th Fleet in high spirits for adventure.[59]
This formation unexpectedly encountered the US task force two days after setting sail and engaged in the battle of the Coral Sea, the first ever carrier-based naval air battle. The formation returned to Rabaul with their offensive capability intact.
The sea-route operation against Port Moresby required information about enemy strengths and deployments. This information was contained in unit orders for the Port Moresby operation (issued on 23 April), as follows:
- Operational Orders No. 1 Attachment 1
1. Enemy situation
US air forces have been strengthened in the area to the north of Australia, with approximately 200 aircraft at the front line, and a considerable strength continuing to operate from Port Darwin and Townsville.
Although there is little probability of the existence of a powerful force in the area after the withdrawal of the US task force, the British navy could place a force in Australian waters based on one battleship, with 2–3 heavy cruisers, light cruisers, and destroyers. In this way, even with a slight US presence, there is a chance of a force remaining active in the region.
Even if enemy submarines are not particularly active, there is a strong chance that at least two or three will continue to mobilise around Rabaul.
(Abbreviated)
The essential point in terms of aerial protection is the difficulty in keeping our plans secret from the active enemy reconnaissance planes. It is necessary to be extra vigilant against air attack from large-scale heavily armoured bombers, and against attack planes conducting extremely skilled bomb raids at low levels.
Outline of the battle of the Coral Sea
The situation before the battle
Airbase units intensified their daily attacks during April and into early May.
The field strength of the 5th Air Attack Force (25th Air Flotilla) on 1 May was 28 Zero fighters (18 in service), 11 Type-96 fighters (6 in service), 28 Type-1 land-based attack planes (17 in service), 26 Type-96 land-based attack planes (25 in service), and 16 Type-97 large flying boats (12 in service).[60]
It had been judged that the use of small-scale aircraft based at Port Moresby had been suppressed by 4 May. However, there was no means to continue attacks on the logistics bases after this time, so the control of the air could not be maintained. Further, the range of daily patrols seeking enemy incursions had widened, finding no trace of the enemy in the seas in the region from the Coral Sea to the Solomon Islands.
Meanwhile, the Tulagi operation had proceeded favourably on 3 May as planned. Consequently, some of the flying boats were advanced to Tulagi that same afternoon. However, the force was attacked suddenly by a US task force of approximately eighty carrier-based aircraft the following day for about 6 hours from 6.30 am. The raid resulted in the sinking of one destroyer, two minesweepers, and one submarine chaser.
At that time, the Port Moresby operation carrier force had commenced refuelling approximately 670 kilometres north of Tulagi. It had been delayed in sailing south because the Zeros, which were aboard the fleet as replacements, were unable to be transported to Rabaul owing to poor weather.
Raids on Tulagi by carrier-based aircraft meant that the US task force had advanced into the region. The opinion from within Combined Fleet headquarters was as follows:
Having confidence in the strength of the 5th Air Flotilla, it will be possible to catch and destroy the enemy aircraft carriers that have eluded us since the beginning of the war. In addition to bringing us great joy, this will inform the enemy appropriately of our strength. The South Seas Fleet has yearned for suitable hard fighting, given that there was a good chance of receiving raids from enemy carriers up until the completion of the Port Moresby operation.[61]
However, rather than advancing air units, the 5th Air Flotilla feared the Allies and withdrew, concerned that they would be unable to defeat the US carrier fleet:[62]
- Issued by commander 4th Fleet, 4 May 0720 hrs
1. The Allied task force is within 370 kilometres of Tulagi.
Upon receipt of this telegraph, the carrier force (5th Air Flotilla) immediately ceased refuelling and steamed south. Submarine units immediately proceeded to the deployment line.
The South Seas Fleet (4th Fleet) remained confident in its air strength, so decided to proceed as planned with the invasion of Port Moresby. The Tulagi Invasion Force was withdrawn to the north during the raids, but the Port Moresby Invasion Force was ordered to depart from Rabaul according to the plan.
The 5th Air Attack Force and the 5th Air Flotilla hunted for the Allied task force on 5 May without any success. The Japanese carrier force headed north-east from its position to the south of Guadalcanal, while the invasion force proceeded as planned to the south. Meanwhile, the US task force, which was based on two aircraft carriers, assembled approximately 670 kilometres south of Guadalcanal. Owing to refuelling, only the carrier Yorktown participated in the Tulagi attack, after which it headed south to rendezvous with the main force. The movements of the Japanese Port Moresby Invasion Force were carried out according to the offensive plan.[64]
A report was received at 8.10 am on 6 May from a reconnaissance plane from the Yokohama Air Corps: "Sighting of what seems a large enemy force. Bearing 192 degrees from base, distance 780 kilometres."[65]
The Port Moresby Invasion Force was even at that time refuelling west of Guadalcanal, but turned south at 10 am immediately upon receiving this report.
However, the reconnaissance plane lost contact with the US task force at midday. The distance between the two forces was felt to be around 670 kilometres. Vice Admiral Takagi, the commander of the carrier force, determined that the opportunity of an attack during the day had been lost, so turned north at 6 pm to wait for a chance to attack during the following day. Takagi considered that: "The enemy may attack our invasion force on 7 May, but the chances are good that it will be steaming south on 7 May for an attack on 8 May. Consequently, it is essential that we seek out and attack the task force during 7 May." Patrols were sent to the estimated position of the US task force during the morning of 7 May. The commander had decided that, if it was not possible to locate the enemy, the group would proceed west into the Coral Sea.
Meanwhile, the Japanese invasion force had continued from the previous day to steam south in the central Coral Sea, but made contact with Allied planes just after 9 am. An attack from the US task force now seemed inevitable, so patrols were placed on high alert.
Airbase units deployed at midday after a large flying boat had made contact with the task force. However, preparations for the planned attack by flying boats were not ready and the attack was not possible. Units of the escort fleet had arrived at Deboyne Island as planned and begun preparations for the seaplane base.
The US task force had judged that the Japanese invasion force would pass through the Jomard Passage on 7 or 8 May, but had not yet determined the exact position of the Port Moresby Carrier Force.
The battle on 7 May
Finally, as 7 May arrived, the convoy planned to exit the Jomard Passage into the Coral Sea, while the Moresby Main Force and the Port Moresby Escort Force had left Deboyne Island and were deployed in the waters to the north of Rossel Island. The Port Moresby Carrier Force was some 560 kilometres to the south-west looking for the US task force that had appeared during the previous few days.
On the other side, Allied units were carrying out raids using airbase units, while the task force had left its course to the north-west to pursue the Japanese invasion force in the waters to the south of Rossel Island.
Contact and engagements by each side to the east and west occurred almost simultaneously.
First, search planes from the 5th Air Flotilla discovered at 5.22 am an enemy formation based on one aircraft carrier situated 740 kilometres south-west of Tulagi. Rear Admiral Hara, commander of the 5th Air Flotilla, immediately ordered a full strength attack. The attack force (approximately 78 planes) left the carriers between 6 and 6.15 am.
Next, a report was received from a reconnaissance seaplane at around 6.40 am that "one battleship, one cruiser, seven destroyers and what looks like one aircraft carrier discovered at bearing 170 degrees, range 152 kilometres from Rossel Island".[66]
Command of the 4th Fleet, on hearing these reports, judged that the US task force had broken into two formations. A decision was made first to attack the formation near Rossel island. The full strength of their force was mobilised at 8.45 am.[67]
In accordance with a judgment of the conditions, the invasion force, under the protection of the escort fleet, began to withdraw to the north-west.
The attack units of the 5th Air Flotilla arrived at the target area under the guidance of the contact plane to find that the aircraft carrier had gone, leaving an oil tanker and one destroyer. The attack unit split into two formations and searched the area for over 2 hours, but was unable to locate the aircraft carrier. The carrier-based attack planes bombarded the tanker and nearby destroyer and then returned.
Meanwhile, attacks had begun on the transport convoy to the west from aircraft of the US task force. Attack units from Lexington departed at 7.26 am, and from Yorktown at 8 am (total of 93 planes).
US torpedo bombers concentrated on the Japanese carrier Shôhô, which was providing direct support to the convoy. It sunk at 9.35 am at a position 59 degrees and 96 kilometres from Deboyne Island. The receipt of the report, "Shôhô has sunk", was a great shock to the commanders of the South Seas Fleet.[68]
As previously mentioned, the Port Moresby Carrier Force had been delayed from loading the first attack group, but was now steaming south at full speed. Unfortunately, the 5th Air Flotilla had been formed just prior to the start of the war. Its crew were insufficiently trained and had great difficulties with night operations. Consequently, only experienced crews left the carrier after 2 pm for twilight battles. These units were unable to locate the task force so dumped their bombs and torpedos and headed back to the carriers. An enemy carrier was located, however, near to the Japanese carrier, but by that time the attack units could provide no assistance.
The commander of the Combined Fleet stated the following in his official diary for this day:
- The dream of a great victory is gone. The battle belongs to the enemy. It was impossible, as feared. When the expected enemy raid came, we could not even mobilise the slightest united strength. In the end, we cannot even blame inadequate reconnaissance seaplanes. I am all the more concerned.
The battle on 8 May
Search planes, which lifted from Shôkaku at 4 am on 8 May, located the US task force at a bearing of 205 degrees and a range of 435 kilometres. Its heading was 170 degrees at a speed of 30 kilometres per hour.
An attack unit from the 5th Air Flotilla sortied at 7.15 am. Its strength totalled 69 aircraft, including 18 fighters, 33 bombers, and 18 attack planes. The Japanese carrier fleet was speeding south at 55 kilometres per hour ahead of a squall.
Meanwhile, contact was made by US search planes at about 6.30 am, and thinking this was an early morning raid by an enemy formation, the Japanese went to high alert. Concentrated attacks by US aircraft began at 8.50 am. By 9.40 am, Shôkaku had received four waves of attacks, which left it on fire and unserviceable by aircraft.
Meanwhile, the Japanese attack group had reached the target and successfully undertaken an air strike at 9.20 am. At 9.25 am, a report was sent that read: "Saratoga attacked and sunk." The attack units were taken on board the remaining carrier Zuikaku. It was confirmed that as a result of this battle, Saratoga and Yorktown had been sunk, and heavy damage inflicted to one battleship and one heavy cruiser. The entire complement of the attack force had received damage from shellfire.
The commander of the Port Moresby Carrier Force was determined to conserve fuel and offensive strength and was apprehensive about high-speed travel in night battles. Consequently, he telegraphed the following message to the commanders of the South Seas Fleet at 12.30 pm: "The assault units returned at around 1100 hrs. Owing to the need for repairs, a second attack today is unlikely."
After taking on board the assault units, the Port Moresby Carrier Force turned and headed north at about 1 pm. At that time, only two vessels from the 5th Squadron could undertake night operations. The commander of the carrier force, Vice Admiral Takagi, received a telegraphic order from the South Seas Fleet at 2 pm to "Cease offensive and head north." The group reluctantly disengaged from the enemy to refuel and undertake repairs to aircraft.[70]
The commander of the 4th Fleet (South Seas Fleet) telegraphed the commander of the South Seas Force, as follows: "The day for the offensive against Port Moresby has been revised to day x+2."
Tsugaru, the relay ship for this message, received the telegraph at 7.30 pm on 7 May, but did not relay it to the commander of the South Seas Force on board Matsue Maru until 5.30 am the following day.[71] This delay is thought to be because of a wish to avoid signal flares at night.
The South Seas Force commander relayed the following back to Tsugaru: "First, I have been informed of the delay of the invasion day. Secondly, I would like information on yesterday’s battles."
- It was not possible to capture the enemy yesterday evening. We are currently searching for them this morning. Enemy losses so far amount to one warship and one oil tanker sunk, and damage to one heavy cruiser. Remaining enemy strength totals one aircraft carrier, two heavy cruisers, and seven destroyers.
The South Seas Fleet for a time disengaged from the enemy and headed north. At 9 am on 8 May, orders were received from the Combined Fleet: "At this time, destroy the powerful remaining enemy force."[72] The fleet immediately turned south and commenced searching, but at this time it was not possible to locate the Allied task force.
The commander of the South Seas Force received the following message just after 3 pm on 8 May from the commander of the 4th Fleet via the captain of Tsugaru: "The Port Moresby operation is postponed and the convoy will return to Rabaul. Be advised that your unit will land and return to their barracks." The commander replied. "First, I offer my deepest congratulations for such an unprecedented victory. Secondly, I confirm that I understand we will return to Rabaul."[73]
The convoy safely steamed through the channel and entered Rabaul at 3 pm.
The Combined Fleet command, which was considering the date of the next invasion attempt, issued orders at 1.30 pm on 10 May advising that, "The Port Moresby operation will be postponed until phase three (July)." Further, the chief of staff advised that, "If there are no signs of the enemy today, the Port Moresby Carrier Force (5th Squadron and 5th Air Flotilla) will be removed from the South Seas Fleet." This was effectively the end of the Port Moresby sea-route invasion.
An overview of the losses on each side during this naval battle was as follows:
| Type | Japanese | United States |
| Ships | 1 carrier (Shôhô) 1 destroyer 4 specialty vessels Total 6 sunk | 1 carrier (Lexington) 1 oil tanker 1 destroyer Total 3 sunk |
| Aircraft | 80 | 66 |
| Personnel | Approximately 900 | 543 |
Imperial Headquarters instructed the commander of the South Seas Force that: "The execution of the Port Moresby invasion operation has been temporarily postponed. The force will be transferred to the command of the newly established 17th Army. The operation will be executed around July."[74]
Notes
1 Sanagi Kowashi, Sanagi Kowashi Chûsa nisshi (Diary of Lieutenant Colonel Sanagi Kowashi).
2 Kanezawa Masao, Kanezawa nisshi (Diary of Rear Admiral Kanezawa Masao).
3 Imoto Kumao, Imoto Kumao Chûsa nisshi (Diary of Lieutenant Colonel Imoto Kumao).
4 Dairikumei, Daikairei, Dairikushi, oyobi Daikaishi no kakutsuzuri (Great Army Orders, Great Navy Orders, Great Army Instructions, and Great Navy Instructions).
5 Sakusen kenkyû shiryô (Operations research documents).
6 Sakusen kenkyû shiryô (Operations research documents).
7 Okamoto Harutoshi, Okamoto Harutoshi Shôsa no kaisô (Recollections of Lieutenant Commander Okamoto Harutoshi).
8 Okamoto Harutoshi, Okamoto Harutoshi Shôsa no kaisô (Recollections of Lieutenant Commander Okamoto Harutoshi).
9 Kôdô chôsho (Surveys of movements).
10 Kôdô chôsho (Surveys of movements).
11 Okamoto Harutoshi, Okamoto Harutoshi Shôsa no kaisô (Recollections of Lieutenant Commander Okamoto Harutoshi).
12 Gunkan Tsugaru sento shôhô (Detailed battle reports of the warship Tsugaru).
13 Daitôasen shi Minami Taiheiyô sakusen (Greater East Asian War South Pacific operations).
14 Gunkan Tsugaru sento shôhô (Detailed battle reports of the warship Tsugaru); and Daitôasen shi Minami Taiheiyô sakusen (Greater East Asian War South Pacific operations).
15 Gunkan Tsugaru sento shôhô (Detailed battle reports of the warship Tsugaru).
16 Daitôasen shi Minami Taiheiyô sakusen (Greater East Asian War South Pacific operations).
17 Gunkan Tsugaru sento shôhô (Detailed battle reports of the warship Tsugaru).
18 Gunkan Tsugaru sento shôhô (Detailed battle reports of the warship Tsugaru).
19 Daitôasen shi Minami Taiheiyô sakusen (Greater East Asian War South Pacific operations).
20 Kôdô chôsho (Surveys of movements).
21 Nankai Shitaisen shi shiryô (Historical documents of the South Seas Force).
22 Daitôasen shi Minami Taiheiyô sakusen (Greater East Asian War South Pacific operations).
23 Daitôasen shi Minami Taiheiyô sakusen (Greater East Asian War South Pacific operations).
24 Toyofuku Tetsuo, Toyofuku Shôsa kôwa (Interview with Major Toyofuku Tetsuo).
25 Nantô Hômen jûyô denpô tsuzuri (Important telegrams of the Southern Area Army).
26 Kôdô chôsho (Surveys of movements).
27 Gunkan Tsugaru sento shôhô (Detailed battle reports of the warship Tsugaru).
28 Okamoto Harutoshi, Okamoto Harutoshi Shôsa no kaisô (Recollections of Lieutenant Commander Okamoto Harutoshi).
29 Daitôasen shi Minami Taiheiyô sakusen (Greater East Asian War South Pacific operations).
30 Gunkan Tsugaru sento shôhô (Detailed battle reports of the warship Tsugaru).
31 Kanezawa Masao, Kanezawa nisshi (Diary of Rear Admiral Kanezawa Masao).
32 Kôdô chôsho (Surveys of movements).
33 Louis Morton, Strategy and command: the first two years (Washington: Department of the Army, 1962), p. 205; and Lionel Wigmore, The Japanese thrust (Canberra: Australian War Memorial, 1957).
34 Frederic C. Sherman, Combat command: the American aircraft carriers in the Pacific War (New York: Dutton, 1950).
35 Kanezawa Masao, Kanezawa nisshi (Diary of Rear Admiral Kanezawa Masao).
36 Louis Morton, Strategy and command: the first two years (Washington: Department of the Army, 1962), p. 202.
37 Kanezawa Masao, Kanezawa nisshi (Diary of Rear Admiral Kanezawa Masao).
38 Kôdô chôsho (Surveys of movements).
39 Gunkan Tsugaru sento shôhô (Detailed battle reports of the warship Tsugaru); and Frederic C. Sherman, Combat command: the American aircraft carriers in the Pacific War (New York: Dutton, 1950).
40 Kôdô chôsho (Surveys of movements); and Kanezawa Masao, Kanezawa nisshi (Diary of Rear Admiral Kanezawa Masao).
41 Dudley McCarthy, South-West Pacific – first year: Kokoda to Wau (Canberra: Australian War Memorial, 1959), p. 67.
42 Dai 25 Kôkû Sentai senji nisshi (War diary of the 25th Air Flotilla); and Yamada Sadayoshi, Yamada nisshi (Diary of Rear Admiral Yamada Sadayoshi).
43 Dai 25 Kôkû Sentai senji nisshi (War diary of the 25th Air Flotilla).
44 Yamada Sadayoshi, Yamada nisshi (Diary of Rear Admiral Yamada Sadayoshi); and Dai 25 Kôkû Sentai senji nisshi (War diary of the 25th Air Flotilla).
45 Nankai Shitai senshi shiryô (Historical documents of the South Seas Force); and Toyofuku Tetsuo, Toyofuku Shôsa kôwa (Interview with Major Toyofuku Tetsuo).
46 Nantô Taiheiyô Hômen kankei denpô tsuzuri (Telegrams related to the South-East Pacific Area).
47 Nankai Shitai senshi shiryô (Historical documents of the South Seas Force).
48 Dairikumei, Daikairei, Dairikushi, oyobi Daikaishi no kakutsuzuri (Great Army Orders, Great Navy Orders, Great Army Instructions, and Great Navy Instructions).
49 Dai 25 Kôkû Sentai senji nisshi (War diary of the 25th Air Flotilla).
50 Dai 25 Kôkû Sentai senji nisshi (War diary of the 25th Air Flotilla).
51 Yamada Sadayoshi, Yamada nisshi (Diary of Rear Admiral Yamada Sadayoshi).
52 Dai 24 Kôkû Sentai sentô shôhô (Detailed battle reports of the 24th Air Flotilla).
53 Yamada Sadayoshi, Yamada nisshi (Diary of Rear Admiral Yamada Sadayoshi).
54 Yamada Sadayoshi, Yamada nisshi (Diary of Rear Admiral Yamada Sadayoshi).
55 Sakusen kenkyû shiryô (Operations research documents).
56 Daitôasen shi Minami Taiheiyô sakusen (Greater East Asian War South Pacific operations).
57 Nankai Shitai senshi shiryô (Historical documents of the South Seas Force).
58 Nankai Shitai sakusen shiryô (South Seas Force operations documents); and Dai 25 Kôkû Sentai senji nisshi (War diary of the 25th Air Flotilla).
59 Daitôasen shi Minami Taiheiyô sakusen (Greater East Asian War South Pacific operations).
60 Yamada Sadayoshi, Yamada nisshi (Diary of Rear Admiral Yamada Sadayoshi).
61 Ugaki Matome, Sensô roku (A record of war).
62 Hara Chûichi, Hara Chûichi Shôshô no kaisô (Recollections of Rear Admiral Hara Chûichi).
63 Tomioka Sadatoshi, Tomioka Sadatoshi Taisa no kaisô (Recollections of Colonel Tomioka Sadatoshi).
64 Dudley McCarthy, South-West Pacific – first year: Kokoda to Wau (Canberra: Australian War Memorial, 1959), p. 80.
65 Gunkan Zuikaku sento shôhô (Detailed battle reports of the warship Zuikaku).
66 Gunkan Zuikaku sento shôhô (Detailed battle reports of the warship Zuikaku).
67 Gunkan Tsugaru sento shôhô (Detailed battle reports of the warship Tsugaru).
68 Yamaguchi Moriyoshi, Yamaguchi Moriyoshi Chûsa no kaisô (Recollections of Commander Yamaguchi Moriyoshi).
69 Gunkan Tsugaru sento shôhô (Detailed battle reports of the warship Tsugaru).
70 Dai 5 Sentai sentô shôhô (Detailed battle reports of the 5th Squadron).
71 Gunkan Tsugaru sento shôhô (Detailed battle reports of the warship Tsugaru).
72 Dai 5 Kôkû Sentai senji nisshi (War diary of the 5th Air Flotilla).
73 Gunkan Tsugaru sento shôhô (Detailed battle reports of the warship Tsugaru).
74 Nantô Hômen sakusen kiroku (Record of operations in the South-East Area).
Translated by: Dr Steven Bullard
Original text: Bôeichô Bôei Kenshûjo Senshishitsu (ed), Senshi sôsho: Minami Taiheiyô Rikugun sakusen <1> Pôto Moresubi–Gashima shoko sakusen (War history series: South Pacific area army operations (1), Port Moresby–Guadalcanal first campaigns) (Tokyo: Asagumo Shinbunsha, 1968): 53–118.
Reference for this web page: http://ajrp.awm.gov.au/ajrp/ajrp2.nsf/translation/Chapter2?opendocument
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