HMA Ships AUSTRALIA and HOBART continued to patrol the western part of the Coral Sea, to prevent Japanese transports moving towards Port Moresby. US air attacks in the eastern Coral Sea badly damaged the SHOKAKU, (aircraft carrier), but simultaneous air attacks by Japanese aircraft sank the USS LEXINGTON, (aircraft carrier). Despite the loss of the LEXINGTON, the Battle of the Coral Sea was a tactical victory for the Allies, as the Japanese lost substantial numbers of aircraft, and thus weakened the Japanese forces which were later committed to the Battle of Midway. While some have speculated that the battle saved Australia from invasion, this is not true, but it did postpone the planned Japanese invasion of Port Moresby, and bolstered Allied morale after four moths of continual defeat in South East Asia.