This US Aircraft Carrier, Scuttled at the Battle of The Coral Sea, Was Finally Found

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The USS Lexington (CV-2) was recently found in the waters of the Coral Sea just 500 miles off the eastern coast of Australia. The aircraft carrier was scuttled following the Battle of Coral Sea in World War II. Although the battle was a strategic victory for the Allies in the Pacific Theater, there was a high price to pay with the loss of this aircraft carrier. (These are the World War II battles that had the most casualties, every major battle ranked. )

The battle began on May 7, 1942, when aircraft from the USS Lexington and USS Yorktown engaged Japanese carrier forces. The Japanese carrier, Shoho was successfully sunk on the first day. However, on the second day, the USS Lexington was struck by torpedoes and bombs from Japanese aircraft which dealt a mortal blow.

The damage to the carrier became unmanageable with uncontrollable fires and explosions that compromised the ships integrity. The decision to abandon ship was made by Captain Frederick Sherman to ensure the safety of the crew.

After the ship had been safely evacuated, the USS Phelps scuttled the Lexington with torpedoes to prevent capture by the Japanese. And ever since, this ship has laid at the bottom of the Coral Sea.

Although there was a high price paid in lives, aircraft, and ships, Allied forces successfully sank a Japanese carrier and did significant damage to another. The Allied victory here would prevent the Japanese from further expanding their reach through the South Pacific. (These are the most important events of World War II, a timeline. )

24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the battle and the ships that played significant roles in it. To identify the warships that fought in the Battle of Coral Sea, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed various military and historical sources. We ordered these warships chronologically from when they were commissioned. We excluded smaller ships like destroyers and auxiliaries. We included supplemental information regarding type, armament, speed, displacement, and aircraft for each vessel.

Here is a look at the warships that fought the Battle of the Coral Sea: Why Are We Covering This?

The Battle of Coral Sea was one of the largest and most significant battles in the Pacific during World War II, especially in terms of its impact and strategic outcome. It would ultimately shape the outcome of the conflict.

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