In May, "Myōkō" was part of the Carrier Strike Force during the Operation Mo that resulted in the Tulagi invasion force and subsequently the Battle of the Coral Sea. It served as a flagship of Vice Admiral Takeo Takagi, who was in the overall command of the Carrier Strike Force. This force consisted of the aircraft carriers and , which were under a tactical command of Rear Admiral Chūichi Hara, the heavy cruisers "Myōkō" and "Haguro", and five destroyers. "Shōkaku" was damaged by American aircraft and "Zuikaku" lost most of her aircraft in the Battle of the Coral Sea, forcing the flotilla to withdraw without invading Port Moresby.