This was important. Had Japan picked up Port Moresby then Guadalcanal would have been a different challenge.
It seems kind of random to have the commemoration halfway around the world on a carrier that didn't exist then. Port Moresby or Brisbane or anywhere else in Australia would have made sense.
Last Edit: May 1, 2017 14:18:43 GMT by mnnorthstars
I see it a little different; The Intrepid is the best thing available today to represent what took place than; her keel was laid by Coral Sea and 1 year later she was commissioned.
New York's a big venue; The Intrepid of the 4 Essex Class Museums is redone well, lots to see and do; Been on the Hornet nothing to talk about. This was America's war the allies weren't going to win it without us, we turned them back, we fought it, its our celebration here in America.
Don't get me wrong not many places i'd rather be than at a Military Museum; Just think; New York, The Intrepid is not a bad place to Celebrate any USN win. The only better place to me is Pearl Harbor
From an Australian point of view. It was the first time an Australian Admiral (Crace) commanded a mixed fleet in combat. Australian Squadron was used as the blocking force and were attacked by US aircraft.
From an Australian point of view. It was the first time an Australian Admiral (Crace) commanded a mixed fleet in combat. Australian Squadron was used as the blocking force and were attacked by US aircraft.
There you go; Grace with help from Attack Group against IJN Moresby Invasion Group
Allies Task Group 17.2 (Attack Group) Cruisers Minneapolis, New Orleans, Astoria, Chester and Portland. Destroyers Phelps, Dewey, Farragut, Alywin and Monaghan.
Task Group 17.3 (Support Group) Grace Cruisers Australia (Australian Navy), Hobart (Australian Navy) and Chicago. Destroyers Perkins and Walke.
Japan Port Moresby Landing Force / Covering Force Light carrier Shoho. Heavy cruisers Aoba, Kako, Kinugasa and Furutaka. Light cruisers Yubari, Tenryu and Tatsuta. Destroyers Sazanami, Oite, Uzuki, Asanagi, Mutsuki, Yunagi and Yayoi. Minelayer Tsugaru. Gunboats Keijo Maru, Seikai Maru and Nikkai Maru. Twelve transports and auxiliary craft. One patrol boat.
Allies Task Group 17.2 (Attack Group) Cruisers Minneapolis (New Orleans/San Francisco), New Orleans, Astoria (New Orleans/San Francisco), Chester (Northampton) and Portland (Indianapolis). Destroyers (all Phelps except Monaghan) Phelps, Dewey, Farragut, Alywin and Monaghan.
Task Group 17.3 (Support Group) Grace Cruisers Australia (Australian Navy), Hobart (Leander/Sydney) (Australian Navy) and Chicago (Northampton). Destroyers Perkins (Smith) and Walke (Wainwright).
Japan Port Moresby Landing Force / Covering Force Light carrier Shoho. Heavy cruisers Aoba, Kako, Kinugasa and Furutaka. Light cruisers Yubari, Tenryu and Tatsuta. Destroyers Sazanami, Oite, Uzuki, Asamagi, Mutsuki, Yunagi and Yayoi. Minelayer Tsugaru. Gunboats Keijo Maru, Seikai Maru and Nikkai Maru. Twelve transports and auxiliary craft. One patrol boat.