Rear Admiral Fletcher had deferred action against the Japanese carriers until daylight and continued south during the night of 7 May. His force contained Yorktown and Lexington, five cruisers, and seven destroyers, with a reported course of 125 degrees and speed of 14 knots. The cruisers were Astoria, Chester, Portland, Minneapolis, and New Orleans. Weather was fine with few clouds, a smooth sea, and winds of 16 to 20 knots, although haze restricted horizontal visibility. These details establish the force and operating conditions that naval officers needed to understand the carrier action.
Notable Point · 9:12-10:19
Task Force 17: ships, movement, and weather at Coral Sea
The Royal Navy's account begins the 8 May carrier action with Fletcher's force composition, course, speed, and visibility conditions.