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| {{Campaignbox Gilberts and Marshalls}} | {{Campaignbox Gilberts and Marshalls}} | ||
| '''Operation Hailstone''' was a massive naval air attack launched on ] and ], ], during ] against the ] naval and air base on ] in the ], a pre-war Japanese territory. Truk was Japan's main base in the South Pacific as well as the operating "home" base for the ]'s Combined Fleet. The ] was the only major Japanese airbase within range of the ] and was the source of support for Japanese garrisons located on islands and atolls throughout the central and south Pacific |
'''Operation Hailstone''' was a massive naval air attack launched on ] and ], ], during ] against the ] naval and air base on ] in the ], a pre-war Japanese territory. Truk was Japan's main base in the South Pacific as well as the operating "home" base for the ]'s Combined Fleet. The ] was the only major Japanese airbase within range of the ] and was the source of support for Japanese garrisons located on islands and atolls throughout the central and south Pacific. | ||
| ==Background== | |||
| Vice Admiral ]'s ] had five fleet ] | |||
| To ensure air and naval superiority for the upcoming ] Admiral ] ordered an attack on Truk. Vice Admiral ]'s ] had five fleet ] | |||
| (], | (], | ||
| ], | ], | ||
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| Fearing that the base was becoming too vulnerable, the Japanese had relocated the aircraft carriers, battleships, and ]s of the ] to ] a week earlier. However, numerous smaller warships and merchant ships remained in and around the anchorage. | Fearing that the base was becoming too vulnerable, the Japanese had relocated the aircraft carriers, battleships, and ]s of the ] to ] a week earlier. However, numerous smaller warships and merchant ships remained in and around the anchorage. | ||
| ==Attack== | |||
| In two daylight and one nighttime air strikes over two days, American ] and ]s sank three Japanese ]s | In two daylight and one nighttime air strikes over two days, American ] and ]s sank three Japanese ]s | ||
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| The U.S. lost twenty-five aircraft. But, many of the aircrews were rescued by amphibious aircraft or submarines. A nighttime ] attack by a Japanese aircraft from either Rabaul or ] damaged the ''Intrepid'', forcing her to return to ] and later, ] for repairs. She returned to duty in June, 1944. Another Japanese air attack slightly damaged the battleship '']'' with a bomb hit. | The U.S. lost twenty-five aircraft. But, many of the aircrews were rescued by amphibious aircraft or submarines. A nighttime ] attack by a Japanese aircraft from either Rabaul or ] damaged the ''Intrepid'', forcing her to return to ] and later, ] for repairs. She returned to duty in June, 1944. Another Japanese air attack slightly damaged the battleship '']'' with a bomb hit. | ||
| ==Aftermath== | |||
| The attacks for the most part ended Truk as a major threat to Allied operations in the central Pacific. Thus, the Japanese garrison on Eniwetok was denied any realistic hope of reinforcement and support during the invasion that began on February 18, 1944, greatly assisting U.S. forces in their conquest of that island. The Japanese later relocated most of their remaining aircraft from ] to Truk. But, U.S. pressure prevented these aircraft from causing signficant problems to Allied forces in the area until the end of the war in August, 1945. | The attacks for the most part ended Truk as a major threat to Allied operations in the central Pacific. Thus, the Japanese garrison on Eniwetok was denied any realistic hope of reinforcement and support during the invasion that began on February 18, 1944, greatly assisting U.S. forces in their conquest of that island. The Japanese later relocated most of their remaining aircraft from ] to Truk. But, U.S. pressure prevented these aircraft from causing signficant problems to Allied forces in the area until the end of the war in August, 1945. | ||
Revision as of 14:11, 18 April 2006
| Attack on Truk | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of World War II, Pacific War | |||||||
.jpg) Vought OS2U-3 "Kingfisher" is recovered by USS Baltimore after she had rescued Lieutenant George M. Blair from Truk Lagoon, 1944-02-18. Blair's F6F "Hellcat", of Fighting Squadron Nine from USS Essex, had been shot down over Truk. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| United States | Empire of Japan | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Marc A. Mitscher | Chuichi Hara | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
9 carriers, 45 other warships, 10 submarines, 589 planes |
3 cruisers, 8 destroyers, 5 other warships, 50 merchant ships, 350 planes | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
1 carrier damaged, 25 planes destroyed |
3 cruisers sunk, 6 destroyers sunk, 3 other warships sunk, 32 merchant ships sunk, 250 planes destroyed | ||||||
| Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign | |
|---|---|
Operation Hailstone was a massive naval air attack launched on 17 February and 18 February, 1944, during World War II against the Japanese naval and air base on Truk in the Caroline Islands, a pre-war Japanese territory. Truk was Japan's main base in the South Pacific as well as the operating "home" base for the Imperial Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet. The atoll was the only major Japanese airbase within range of the Marshall Islands and was the source of support for Japanese garrisons located on islands and atolls throughout the central and south Pacific.
Background
To ensure air and naval superiority for the upcoming invasion of Eniwetok Admiral Raymond Spruance ordered an attack on Truk. Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher's Task Force 58 had five fleet carriers (Enterprise, Yorktown, Essex, Intrepid, and Bunker Hill) and four light carriers (Belleau Wood, Cabot, Monterey, and Cowpens), embarking more than 500 planes. Supporting the carriers was a large fleet of seven battleships, and numerous cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and other support ships.
Fearing that the base was becoming too vulnerable, the Japanese had relocated the aircraft carriers, battleships, and heavy cruisers of the combined fleet to Palau a week earlier. However, numerous smaller warships and merchant ships remained in and around the anchorage.
Attack
In two daylight and one nighttime air strikes over two days, American dive and torpedo bombers sank three Japanese cruisers (Agano, Katori, and Naka), six destroyers (Oite, Fumizuki, Maikaze, Hagio, Isogu, and Tachikaze), three other warships and 32 merchant ships. Over 250 aircraft were destroyed, mostly on the ground. Several Japanese ships, including the Maikaze, that attempted to escape were sunk by surface warships. The survivors of the sunken Japanese ships reportedly refused rescue efforts by the U.S. ships. Agano was sunk by a U.S. submarine, the Skate while also attempting to escape.
The U.S. lost twenty-five aircraft. But, many of the aircrews were rescued by amphibious aircraft or submarines. A nighttime torpedo attack by a Japanese aircraft from either Rabaul or Saipan damaged the Intrepid, forcing her to return to Pearl Harbor and later, San Francisco for repairs. She returned to duty in June, 1944. Another Japanese air attack slightly damaged the battleship Iowa with a bomb hit.
Aftermath
The attacks for the most part ended Truk as a major threat to Allied operations in the central Pacific. Thus, the Japanese garrison on Eniwetok was denied any realistic hope of reinforcement and support during the invasion that began on February 18, 1944, greatly assisting U.S. forces in their conquest of that island. The Japanese later relocated most of their remaining aircraft from Rabaul to Truk. But, U.S. pressure prevented these aircraft from causing signficant problems to Allied forces in the area until the end of the war in August, 1945.
Due to the large number of shipwrecks that remain in Truk lagoon to this day as a result of the attack, Truk has become a popular destination for scuba divers. The book Hailstorm Over Truk Lagoon describes the wrecks of the lagoon.
External links
- US Army Campaigns in World War II: Eastern Mandates
- WW2DB: Attack on Truk
- Moderately brief account of the attack
