The US Navy sent two aircraft carriers to the Southwest Pacific to harry the Japanese Navy as it moved into the Solomon Islands. The Imperial Japanese Navy sent two of its own carriers to counter them.
The four carriers clashed at the Battle of the Coral Sea. This was the first battle in naval history in which the opposing fleets never came within sight of each other.
- Listen now:
Playlist:
Fanfare
Opening War Theme
Pacific Waters
Closing War Theme
Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.
Did this episode feel disjointed to anyone else? After the “Pacific Waters” music break it seemed like Mark had fast forwarded to the aftermath of the Battle of Midway, which hasn’t been covered yet. Is anyone else confused?
This was intentional, only because I wanted Midway to have an episode to itself, and I didn’t feel there was enough to say about the Battle of the Coral Sea to make a complete episode. I apologize if it was confusing. I considered releasing the episodes in the opposite order, i.e., Midway first, but that seemed more confusing.
Okay, I revised the recording of this episode to a) add a line explaining we were skipping over the Battle of Midway until next week and b) to correct my pronunciation of “Kododa.” I hope this helps.
Pronunciation
LAE = Lay not Lie
KOKODA = “cock” + “coda”
MILNE Bay = rhymes with “film” – another Australian & US victory, which we claim was the first allied land victory over the Japanese.
Excellent podcast as always. Having recently returned from a diving & military history holiday to the Solomon Islands, I am looking forward to your coverage of the campaign.
After beating the Japanese back over the Owen Stanley Mts to Buna, there are many more bloody fights in New Guinea. American & Australian aif power and land forces were crucial to eventual victory.
With regard to Lae, I know that is how English speakers usually say it, but I understand that LAH-ey is the native pronunciation, and I like native pronunciations. As for Kokoda, I looked up the pronunciation to prepare myself, then went ahead and said it wrong anyway. So it goes. I will make a correction in episode 364. I can only plead that I have listened to the song “Kokomo” too many times.
Nice work getting the story of the Kokoda Trail out in time for with our national soldier’s day “ANZAC Day” this month. It’s on the 25th for reference. Excellent podcast as always, keep up the cracker work mate!