A look back at Truk Lagoon.

Footage shoot on the Truk Lagoon Expedition back in December 2014/January 2015! Follow the link to watch the video: https://vimeo.com/139829467

Truk Lagoon or as its also know, Chuuk is one of the fours state which make up the Caroline Islands or Federated States of Micronesia.

Truk Lagoon offered the strategic potential of a huge natural harbour with fortifiable volcanic islands, this was particularly evident to Japanese naval planners. Entrances into the could be closely policed or sealed off with sea mines while island provided spaces for ship anchorages. The presence of flat calm water allowed sea planes to land and take off while air strips could be built on some of the islands.

A Japanese freighter in Truk Atoll is hit by a torpedo 

dropped by a TBF Avenger from USS Enterprise during

Operation Hailstone, Febuary 17th 1944.  

The allies two pronged Pacific counter-attack against the Japanese, saw movement through the South Pacific and the other through Central Pacific. Truk proved to be a major obstacle in the allies advance and capable of disrupting the allies advance. It became obvious that if the naval base at Truk stayed intact the allies northern advance would be in doubt. The lagoon was shrouded in mystery, little as known and as is often the case with mysteries its strengthen was over-emphasised, the word ‘impregnable’ while others often compared it to Pearl Harbour or “Japan’s mid-Pacific Gibraltar”. Two American surveillance aircraft PB4Y Liberators flew over the lagoon on February 4th 1944. Photographs taken during this flight showed the lagoon full of Japanese ships, it became apparent that the lagoon was invulnerable to surface to surface bombardment. Only a carrier-based air power could deal the lagoon a knock out blow. Operation Hailstorm saw some of the most aggressive action by the United States rained down on the strongest Pacific Japanese Outposts.

Task Force 50 contained 6 Task Force 58 aircraft carriers the USS Yorktown, Essex, Enterprise, Bunker Hill, Cowpens and Intrepid. The operation was conducted by Admiral Reymond Spruance. A two day bombardment on February 17th and 18th was closely coordinated saw regular strikes against. Pre-drawn raids were ordered to neutralise all Japanese air opposition before the dive and torpedo bombers swept in to begin their attack on the armada. Many of the Japanese battleships, destroyers and carriers had escaped prior to the attack. Still, American crosshairs found over 60 targets within the lagoon. Over 45 ships were sunk including two light cruisers, four destroyers, five special auxiliary vessels, five minor combat vessels and many more, this totalling over 200,000 tons. 270 of the 365 aircraft stationed in Truk’s airfields, destine for the Solomon Islands or Rabaul were destroyed and only a few were left operational.

Later raids on Truk lagoon occurred in April of that year, the B-24 and B-29 bombing raids caused havoc amongst the Japanese fortifications. Theses raids rendered it useless to the Japanese, naval installations and airfields were effectively eliminated. No amphibious landing was made the decision was made to forego the lagoon, it’s supply lines were completely cut off, it lay isolated and was no longer considered a threat. Instead, the U.S. advanced North West towards the Japanese homeland.

The Japanese legacy has majorly influenced Truk Lagoon today, the events of February 1944 attract some 6000 divers per year. A vast collection of shipwrecks and aircraft lay on the seabed waiting to be explored. It’s a World War II enthusiasts dream, each wreck is unique and is resting like a dormant giant on the sea floor.

US surveillance photographs taken over Truk Atoll
early 1944.

Inside the fuselage of the Betty Bomber,
just off the end of Ettin Island runway. 

The bow gun on the Fujikawa Maru, Truk Lagoon.

Featured wrecks in the video, Fujiwaka Maru, Sankisan Maru, Nippo Maru, Yamagiri Maru and Jill Nakajima Carrier Attack Bomber.



Follow the link to watch the video: https://vimeo.com/139829467

Stayed tuned to the dive log for the #BigPacifcSail commencing October 12th 2015! Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guniea, Palau's southern reefs and the Philippines!!