Dive Truk Lagoon, 2nd edition: The Japanese WWII Pacific Shipwrecks

The Truk Atoll in the Pacific is the world's best wreck diving location, with dozens of Japanese WWII wrecks filled with cargoes of tanks, trucks, artillery, beach mines, shells, and aircraft. The Allies attacked on 17 February 1944, with nine U.S. aircraft carriers and 500 combat aircraft supported by battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines. The F6F Hellcat was superior to the Japanese Zero fighter, and the Japanese planes were shot out of the sky within an hour. U.S. dive-bombers and torpedo-bombers spent two days sinking all the large ships trapped in the lagoon, with the resulting TV documentary, Lagoon of Lost Ships, going viral.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 18 December 2023
Publisher: Whittles Publishing

The 50-mile-wide lagoon of Truk Atoll, located in the remote expanses of the Pacific, is widely regarded as the epitome of wreck diving destinations worldwide. Within its crystal-clear waters, an abundance of virtually intact Japanese WWII wrecks of transport ships, brimming with cargoes of tanks, trucks, artillery, beach mines, shells, and aircraft, lie at rest. Accompanying these wrecks are two Japanese destroyers and one submarine, which have been transformed into vibrant man-made reefs teeming with diverse marine life. The fortress islands of Truk Atoll, once a formidable air base and the primary forward anchorage for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), played a pivotal role in the Pacific theater during World War II. By 1944, the Allies were advancing westward across the Pacific islands, with their sights set on the Japanese homeland. On February 4, 1944, a daring 2,000-mile-long-range U.S. reconnaissance flight unveiled the Truk lagoon as a formidable stronghold of the Imperial Japanese Navy, accompanied by scores of large supply ships and transports. Recognizing the imminent threat, the Allies swiftly decided to launch an attack. Despite the Imperial Japanese Navy's attempt to scatter, the merchant ships remained, as crews hurriedly offloaded their war cargoes of aircraft, tanks, artillery, mines, and munitions. Unaware of the Allied assault plans, additional heavily laden supply ships continued to arrive from Japan. To execute the attack, Task Force 58, codenamed Operation HAILSTONE, was formed in total secrecy. Comprising nine U.S. aircraft carriers, each hosting over 500 combat aircraft, the force set sail towards Truk, backed by a formidable screen of battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines. As dawn broke on February 17, 1944, a group of 72 F6F Hellcat fighters roared in over Truk, completely surprising the Japanese forces. The Hellcats immediately commenced strafing Japanese airfields, and within hours, hundreds of aircraft were engaged in a massive aerial assault. The relentless bombing and strafing operations inflicted significant damage on the Japanese infrastructure and military assets, marking a significant turning point in the Pacific campaign. The successful assault on Truk Atoll showcased the immense strength and capabilities of the Allied forces and dealt a significant blow to the Japanese military. It served as a reminder of the devastating toll of war and the importance of cooperation and strategic planning in achieving victory. The ruins of Truk Atoll continue to captivate divers and enthusiasts alike, offering a haunting glimpse into the past and a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of those who served during World War II.

Dimension: 240 x 170 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781849955416
Edition number: 2 ed