Operation MO

As Japan looks to expand its defensive perimeter
into the South Pacific the Allies try to block
this move. To cut-off from Australia from the
United States is to denie the allies a major
base to launch attacks across the whole of the
Japanese Southern defensive perimeter.

The Battle of the Coral Sea. History's first purely
carrier versus carrier naval engagement in which the
principal warships involved did not come into visual
contact and the outcome decided by aircraft alone.

Supported by carriers, the Japanese initiate Operation 
"MO", the occupation of the Australian bases at Port
Moresby and Tulagi and the seizure of control over the
Coral Sea achieved through subsequent raids on shipping
and bases along the north eastern coast of Australia.

Allied intelligence has developed a relatively thorough
picture of Japanese intentions and dispositions.  As a
result, the USN has committed a sizeable carrier force of
it's own to foil the Japanese thrust.

