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| |partof=], ] | |partof=], ] | ||
| |date=] ] – ] ] | |date=] ] – ] ] | ||
| |place=], ] | |place=], ] | ||
| |result=American victory | |result=American victory | ||
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| {{Campaignbox Gilberts and Marshalls}} | {{Campaignbox Gilberts and Marshalls}} | ||
| In ], '''Operation Hailstone''' was a massive naval air attack launched on ] and ], ] against the ] naval and air base on ] in the ], a pre-war Japanese territory. Truk was Japan's main base in the South Pacific. |
In ], '''Operation Hailstone''' was a massive naval air attack launched on ] and ], ] 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. To ensure air and naval superiority for the upcoming ] Admiral ] ordered an attack on Truk. | ||
| Vice Admiral ]'s ] had five fleet ] | Vice Admiral ]'s ] had five fleet ] | ||
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| ]), | ]), | ||
| embarking more than 500 planes. | embarking more than 500 planes. | ||
| Prophetically fearing that the base was becoming too vulnerable, the Japanese had relocated the battleships and heavy cruisers of the combined fleet to ] a week earlier. However, numerous smaller warships and merchant ships remained in and around the anchorage. | |||
| In two air strikes, American ] and ]s sank three Japanese ]s | In two air strikes, American ] and ]s sank three Japanese ]s | ||
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| three other warships and 32 merchant ships. Over 250 aircraft were destroyed, mostly on the ground. | three other warships and 32 merchant ships. Over 250 aircraft were destroyed, mostly on the ground. | ||
| The |
The U.S. lost twenty-five aircraft. Aerial counter-attacks by the Japanese moderately damaged ''Intrepid'' with a torpedo and slightly damaged the battleship '']'' with a bomb hit. | ||
| The book '']'' describes the wrecks of the lagoon. | 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 '']'' describes the wrecks of the lagoon. | ||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 20:10, 17 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 | |
|---|---|
In World War II, Operation Hailstone was a massive naval air attack launched on 17 February and 18 February, 1944 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. 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.
Prophetically fearing that the base was becoming too vulnerable, the Japanese had relocated the 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.
In two air strikes, 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.
The U.S. lost twenty-five aircraft. Aerial counter-attacks by the Japanese moderately damaged Intrepid with a torpedo and slightly damaged the battleship Iowa with a bomb hit.
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.