This fully illustrated presentation examines both the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway and identifies how what happened in the first battle was of crucial significance in the second. Victory at Midway was the hinge on which the outcome of the war in the Pacific swung.
It was at Coral Sea that the damage was done to the Japanese Navy that made that strategic victory at Midway possible. It was also at the Battle of the Coral Sea that the RAN made a major contribution to the defence of Port Moresby. The occupation and use of this base for future operations was the Japanese objective for May of 1942. Had they succeeded in seizing it from the sea Australia’s ability to provide a base for US Forces would have been severely compromised.
Presenter: – Lieutenant Commander Desmond Woods, RAN
Desmond Woods has served for more than 45 years in the RNZN, the RN the British Army and the RAN as an education officer teaching naval and military history to junior officers. From 2003 – 2010 he was the Course Officer for the Strategic Studies Course at the RANC. While on the staff of the Australian Command and Staff College he ran the CDF’s 2010 International Counterinsurgency conference.
He was the Military Support Officer to the Defence Community Organisation in Canberra for two years before joining the staff of the RAN’s International Fleet Review in 2013. This was followed by a year as Staff officer Centenary of Anzac (Navy) before joining CN’s personal staff as his Research Officer. After time as a Heritage Research Officer at the RAN’s Seapower Centre in Canberra he became the Navy’s Bereavement Liaison Office in which role he is still serving.
He is a councillor of the Australian Naval Institute and the Australian Institute for International Affairs (ACT) a member of the USI (ACT) and is a regular contributor of naval articles and book reviews to Australian and international naval historical journals.
Details:
Date and Time: 1100am, Tuesday 3rd . May 2022 (Sydney time) Click the link below to join the ZOOM meeting. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88252473065?pwd=WTJWRjdkSzBLSTZJbDEwdkF4Q0NQdz09
Meeting ID: 882 5247 3065 Passcode: 126856
