Shigeyoshi Inoue

Inoue was appointed commander of the Fourth Fleet, responsible for Japanese naval operations in the South Pacific. He oversaw the capture of Guam, Wake Island, and the Solomon Islands in the early months of the Pacific War.

Inoue commanded the Japanese Fourth Fleet during the Battle of the Coral Sea. The battle was the first naval engagement fought entirely by aircraft carriers. Although a tactical draw, it stopped the Japanese advance on Port Moresby and marked the first check on Japanese expansion.

After the Battle of the Coral Sea, Inoue ordered the Japanese invasion force for Port Moresby to turn back, despite the battle being a tactical draw. This decision was criticized by some naval officers but preserved the invasion force for future operations.