In May 1942, the F4F-3s of VF-2 and VF-42, aboard and "Lexington", participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea. "Lexington" and "Yorktown" fought against the fleet carriers and and the light carrier in this battle, in an attempt to halt a Japanese invasion of Port Moresby on Papua. During these battles, it became clear that attacks without fighter escort amounted to suicide, but that the fighter component on the carriers was completely insufficient to provide both fighter cover for the carrier and an escort for an attack force. Most U.S. carriers carried fewer than 20 fighters.