Buckle up Hivers this is going to end up being a bit of a series. Not sure how long or exactly where to start but I'll give it a go.
Chuuk Lagoon or Truk as it was known to the Americans in the WW2 and up to the 1990s is in the top ten of the largest atolls in the world. Over 800 sq. miles a sheltered lagoon with a fringing coral reef around 45 miles in diameter and 16 main island it is part of the Federated States of Micronesia in the central Pacific. A true island paradise it really is pretty much in the middle of nowhere.
First discovered by the Spanish in the mid 1500s and generally ignored. It was flogged to the Germans in 1899 and then annexed by the Japanese in 1914. This was ratified by the League of Nations after WW1 and the defeat of Germany, Truk became a possession of Japan. It was the Japanese that first saw the importance of of the lagoon as a marine base and started to fortify the lagoon and islands in the 30s. Digging tunnels, installing gun emplacements, building barracks, a hospital, ship repair facilities and in one case turning whole island into an airfield. All this was done in relative secrecy and none of the allied powers had any idea what Truk Lagoon had become.
During WW2 Truk Lagoon was Japans major naval base in the Pacific. Becoming home to the 4th Fleet HQ in 1939 and home to the Combined Fleet in 1942. As a base for the Imperil Japanese Navy, vessels of all kinds from mighty battleships, such as Yamato, aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, submarines to support tankers, cargo ships, Submarine tenders, tugs and tenders. Heavily fortified, with bomber and fighter airfields, it was known as the Gibraltar of the Pacific.
In early February 1944 Truk Lagoon was over flown by two American long range Liberator reconnaissance aircraft which was the writing on the wall for many of the Japanese combat vessels who left over the next few weeks for Palau or Rabaul, leaving mostly merchant vessels and ships undergoing repair in the lagoon.
In a few short weeks from the Liberator flights the Americans hatched a plan to destroy the base in Truk. Too far for any land based attack and too well defended for an amphibious landing. A carrier task force designated TF 58 commanded by Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, was put together. Consisting of 5 fleet carriers, 4 light carriers capable of flying over 500 Fighter, dive bomber and torpedo bomber aircraft. Supporting the carriers were 7 battleships, and a large number of heavy and light cruisers, destroyers and submarines.
Commencing lifting off from the carriers at 4am and around 90 miles from Truk Lagoon the first waves Hellcat fighters arrived at dawn in the early hours of 17th Feb . Like many more modern air attacks the Hellcat fighters job was to provide air superiorly destroying Japanese fighters, and anti aircraft positions . Following them Avenger torpedo bombers, Dauntless and Helldiver dive bombers. Attacked shipping, shore base facility's such as runways, oil storage, barracks, stores and buildings.
Over the next two days 30 waves of American planes from the carriers attacked the Japanese targets in the lagoon over 300 planes and over 30 ships were sunk creating what is today the wreck diving mecca that is Truk lagoon.
So as the sunsets on a rather wordy Hive post I hope you will join me again next time with more photos as we get to dive some of the wrecks in Truk Lagoon