| Revision as of 19:01, 17 November 2004 editGdr (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users29,062 edits battlebox, order of battle, casualties← Previous edit | Revision as of 19:24, 17 November 2004 edit undoGdr (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users29,062 edits picture, dates, external linkNext edit → | ||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
| |campaign=Gilberts and Marshalls | |campaign=Gilberts and Marshalls | ||
| |colour_scheme=background:#ffccaa;color:#2222cc | |colour_scheme=background:#ffccaa;color:#2222cc | ||
| |image=] | |||
| |image= | |||
| |caption=Vought OS2U-3 "Kingfisher" is recovered by ] after she had rescued Lieutenant George M. Blair from Truk Lagoon, ]-]. Blair's F6F "Hellcat", of Fighting Squadron Nine from ], had been shot down over Truk. | |||
| |caption= | |||
| |conflict=], ] | |conflict=], ] | ||
| |date=] ] – ] ] | |date=] ] – ] ] | ||
| |place=], ] | |place=], ] | ||
| |result=Decisive American victory | |result=Decisive American victory | ||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
| |strength1=9 carriers, 45 other warships, 10 submarines, 589 planes | |strength1=9 carriers, 45 other warships, 10 submarines, 589 planes | ||
| |strength2=3 cruisers, 8 destroyers, ? other warships, 50 merchant ships, 350 planes | |strength2=3 cruisers, 8 destroyers, ? other warships, 50 merchant ships, 350 planes | ||
| |casualties1=25 planes destroyed | |casualties1=1 carrier damaged, 25 planes destroyed | ||
| |casualties2=3 cruisers sunk, 6 destroyers sunk, 3 other warships sunk, 32 merchant ships sunk, 250 planes destroyed | |casualties2=3 cruisers sunk, 6 destroyers sunk, 3 other warships sunk, 32 merchant ships sunk, 250 planes destroyed | ||
| |}} | |}} | ||
| In ], '''Operation Hailstorm''' was a massive naval air attack launched on |
In ], '''Operation Hailstorm''' was a massive naval air attack launched on ] and ], ] against the Japanese naval and air base on ] in the ]. Truk was the main Japanese base in the Central Pacific and the only major airbase within range of the ]. To ensure air and naval superiority for the ] Admiral ] ordered an attack on Truk. | ||
| Vice Admiral ]'s Task Force 58 had five fleet carriers | Vice Admiral ]'s Task Force 58 had five fleet carriers | ||
| Line 46: | Line 46: | ||
| 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 attackers lost only twenty-five aircraft. The |
The attackers lost only twenty-five aircraft, and ''Intrepid'' was hit by an aerial torpedo and damaged. The attack on Truk has often been compared to the Japanese ]. | ||
| ==External links== | |||
| * | |||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 19:24, 17 November 2004
Template:Battlebox In World War II, Operation Hailstorm 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. Truk was the main Japanese base in the Central Pacific and the only major airbase within range of the Marshall Islands. To ensure air and naval superiority for the 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.
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 attackers lost only twenty-five aircraft, and Intrepid was hit by an aerial torpedo and damaged. The attack on Truk has often been compared to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.