The Battle of the Coral Sea was a historic milestone in naval warfare. It was the first naval battle in history in which the opposing fleets never saw or fired directly upon one another; the entire engagement was carried out by carrier-based aircraft. While the battle was a tactical victory for Japan (they sank more tonnage, including the USS Lexington), it was a strategic victory for the Allies. It halted the Japanese advance toward Port Moresby, preventing an invasion of Australia, and damaged two Japanese carriers so severely they could not participate in the upcoming Battle of Midway.