Coral Sea and control of the Pacific War's tempo

The Battle of the Coral Sea was tactically mixed but strategically useful because it interrupted Japan's advance. Like Jutland, it gave one side the greater tally of losses inflicted while the other gained the more important strategic effect. Even so, Japan still controlled the rhythm of operations and forced the Allies to react. A power that sets the pace can match its own advantages against an opponent's weaknesses, even when the opponent has greater resources. Operational initiative explains why both sides treated Midway as an opportunity to seize control of the war's tempo.