Dept of Climate Change, Energy, Environment & Water
Coral Sea Battle Site Joins National Heritage List
The Battle of the Coral Sea site has been added to Australia’s National Heritage List.
The Battle of the Coral Sea took place between 4 and 8 May 1942. It was one of the major naval battles off Australian shores.
For the first time in naval history, the entire battle was fought using only aircraft and aircraft carriers. Japanese forces were defeated by Allied forces after 4 days of battle. This marked a turning point in the second World War and the beginning of the Allied victory in the Pacific.
The victory cemented our security relationship with the United States, which continues to this day.
The site of the wrecks covers an area of around 43,000 km2, off mainland Australia. The site includes 3 preserved shipwrecks of:
These wrecks may help us to better understand this important part of our naval history. They signify the final resting place for those who tragically lost their lives during the Battle of the Coral Sea.
The inclusion on the National Heritage List recognises this important chapter of our history and will preserve it for generations to come.
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/about/news/battle-coral-sea-site-added-australias-national-heritage-list