The Armory Life Forum
While the contributions U.S. codebreakers made to victory at Midway are well known, cryptanalysts played a similarly important—though less appreciated—role in determining Japanese intentions leading up to the Battle of the Coral Sea.
www.usni.org
‘Scratch One Flattop’: SBD Dauntless dive bombers leave behind the sinking light carrier Sho‒ho‒, in Robert Taylor’s Battle of the Coral Sea. Despite U.S. codebreakers’ prebattle successes, an erroneous sighting report resulted in carrier planes attacking the Sho‒ho‒ instead of the higher-value main Japanese force.
Give Credit Where It’s Due
U.S. codebreakers were key contributors to victory at Midway, but their vital role in the Battle of the Coral Sea is often overlooked.
‘Scratch One Flattop’: SBD Dauntless dive bombers leave behind the sinking light carrier Sho‒ho‒, in Robert Taylor’s Battle of the Coral Sea. Despite U.S. codebreakers’ prebattle successes, an erroneous sighting report resulted in carrier planes attacking the Sho‒ho‒ instead of the higher-value main Japanese force.