 That evening, Crace detached "Hobart", which was critically low on fuel, and the destroyer , which was having engine trouble, to proceed to Townsville.Crace overheard radio reports saying the enemy invasion convoy had turned back, but, unaware Fletcher had withdrawn, he remained on patrol with the rest of TG17.3 in the Coral Sea in case the Japanese invasion force resumed its advance towards Port Moresby.On 9 May, TF 17 altered course to the east and proceeded out of the Coral Sea via a route south of New Caledonia.