Micronesia (Fed.States of Micronesia)

Truk's War History
Truk's history of early Spanish domination was followed by German acquisition after the Spanish-American war about 1890, and then a Japanese mandate from the League of Nations upon Germany's defeat in 1918.

The Japanese era saw a great buildup of arms and bases in advance of a wide military blitz over the Western Pacific. The blitz was supplied heavily from facilities at Truk, where often more than 1,000 merchant and war ships moored in readiness for further deployment.

Five airfields supporting close to 500 aircraft provided complete protection over Truk's Gibraltar-like facilities. A deep lagoon, high islands and circling barrier reef provided extensive natural protection.

Patrol boats, torpedo boats, submarines, tugs, landing craft, gunboats and mine sweepers contributed to the final defenses and service needs to maintain this big base.

Operation Hailstone
In the early 1940s, Japan constructed major fortifications on islets near the five entrances as well as airstrips and bases on the main islands, including Moen, Dublon, Eten, Fefan, Uman and Parum Islands. Situated as it is, Truk was the most important Japanese base in the Pacific Ocean, providing a vital staging point for air and sea support for the war fronts of the Solomons and New Guinea. Truk became known as the Gibraltar of the Pacific due to these fortifications.

Soon after the start of the war against Japan, Australia recognised the importance of Truk Lagoon to Japan. In January 1942 intelligence gathered by Australia showed Truk likely to be the pivot of any attack on New Guinea. On 9 January 1942 a Lockheed Hudson of the RAAF flew a photo reconnaissance flight over Truk. It reported that 12 warships, an aircraft carrier, 3 merchant ships and 1 hospital ship were present in the lagoon. Australia decided to bomb Truk and six Consolidated PYB Catalinas set out on 12 January 1942 but due to extremely poor conditions and thunderstorms, the planes returned without seeing the lagoon.

Australia requested that American Boeing B17 Flying Fortresses be diverted from their delivery run to Java to do one bomb run on Truk. The Americans decided that Truk was not important enough, a possibly flawed decision as it turns out. On 15 January 1942, six RAAF Catalinas again set off to Truk. One crashed and another landed to rescue the crew. Of the rest, three did not see the bases and one dropped 16 bombs. It is not known if they hit their marks.

After July 1942 the Japanese First, Second, Third Fleets as well as the Sixth Submarine Fleet operated out of Truk Lagoon. It was not until early 1944 that the Allies were in a position to attack Truk again. On 4 February 1944 two USAF Catalinas flew over and photographed the Truk Lagoon bases.

Truk was considered the most formidable of all Japanese strongholds in the Pacific. This reputation caused an overconfident Truk command to relax their vigil against invasion, in spite of U.S. forces fast approaching from the East. Supplies from Japan had almost ceased, due to immense successes of U.S. submarines finally equipped with torpedoes that found their mark. Supply convoys receiving nearly 90% losses enroute to Truk, deprived the garrison of food, fuel and new armaments desperately required to maintain strength. 

By early 1944, U.S. forces had amassed a huge armada of top line carriers, battleships, cruisers, destroyers and submarines for a major surprise sweep against Truk on February 16th, 17th and 18th. This attack, coded "Operation Hailstone", caught the Japanese totally unaware, and led to one of the most successful U.S. engagements of WWII.

A US Task Force led by the giant battleship USS New Jersey (with nine carriers) launched air raids against Truk. During the battle, the Japanese lost 275 aircraft and 45 ships (over 220,000 tons) including 6 destroyers/cruisers, 5 sub-chasers, 5 tankers, and 26 merchantmen. In addition, 27 ships were damaged. In contrast, the US only lost 25 aircraft with 29 crew killed. A torpedo hit on the carrier USS Intrepid also killed 11 crew.

From 14 March to 7 April 1944 B-24 Mitchell bombers repeatedly attacked Truk from Bougainville destroying 130 aircraft. On 29-30 April 1944 further attacks by aircraft from 12 carriers destroyed 123 aircraft and 3 ships. Further attacks by B-24s continued through October 1944 and from October till the end of the war, 32 experimental flights of Boeing B-29 Superfortresses occurred in practice for the bombing of Japan.

After the Attack
After a follow up attack in April, 1944, Truk was reduced to rubble with over 70 shipwrecks, 400 aircraft destroyed or sunk, and the menace of this big fortress removed forever.

U.S. forces declined engagement with the 40,000 troops at Truk, and after these attacks, starvation consumed many of the defenders before the eventual surrender of Japan late in 1945. 

About 20 years later, adventure divers such as Jacques Cousteau, Al Giddings and Klaus Lindemann discovered the wonders of this huge sunken fleet, replete with incredible vistas of war machinery, soft coral draperies, fish life and personal mementos.

Truk is without parallel-its ghostly remains create the world's greatest wreck diving in a wonderfully comfortable location.