The Battle of the Coral Sea, early May 1942. Richard V. Horrell WW 2 Connections.com I would have to disagree on a technicality and say Pearl Harbor. We fired on a Japanese mini sub trying to infiltrate Pearl Harbor but a sub, especially a mini sub, isn't really a surface ship is it?
The "Battle of Midway" .
I don't know about major, but the first naval battle in the historical record was Hittites defeat Cypriots near Cyprus
The Battle of Hampton Roads.
Battle of Midway
The Battle of the Coral Sea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Coral_Sea
The Battle of Chesapeake Bay was a crucial naval battle in the Revolutionary War. The Battle of Chesapeake Bay was a crucial naval battle in the Revolutionary War.
The first naval battle in history between aircraft carriers was the battle of the Coral Sea in 1942.
Battle of Midway.
I don't know about major, but the first naval battle in the historical record was Hittites defeat Cypriots near Cyprus
The first naval battle fought entirely by aircraft, and in which the opposing ships of each side never came within sight of each other, was the Battle of the Coral Sea in May, 1942, one month prior to the Battle of Midway.
The Battle of Hampton Roads.
The first naval battle of the Civil War happened on April 13, 1861. This naval battle took place at Fort Sumter.
It was the first naval battle between two ironclads.
Fort Sumter
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Jutland was naval histories first, last, and greatest clash of battlecruisers.
Magaellan
Magaellan