Truk's history of early Spanish domination was followed by German acquisition
after the Spanish-American war about 1890, and then a Japanese mandate from the
League of Nations upon Germany's defeat in 1918.
The
Japanese era saw a great buildup of arms and bases in advance of a wide military
blitz over the Western Pacific. The blitz was supplied heavily from facilities
at Truk, where often more than 1,000 merchant and war ships moored in readiness
for further deployment.
Five airfields supporting close to
500 aircraft provided complete protection over Truk's Gibraltar-like facilities.
A deep lagoon, high islands and circling barrier reef provided extensive natural
protection.
Patrol boats, torpedo boats, submarines, tugs,
landing craft, gunboats and mine sweepers contributed to the final defenses and
service needs to maintain this big base.
Truk was considered
the most formidable of all Japanese strongholds in the Pacific. This 
reputation
caused an overconfident Truk command to relax their vigil against invasion, in
spite of U.S. forces fast approaching from the East. Supplies from Japan had almost
ceased, due to immense successes of U.S. submarines finally equipped with torpedoes
that found their mark. Supply convoys receiving nearly 90% losses enroute to Truk,
deprived the garrison of food, fuel and new armaments desperately required to
maintain strength.
By
early 1944, U.S. forces had amassed a huge armada of top line carriers, battleships,
cruisers, destroyers and submarines for a major surprise sweep against Truk on
February 16th, 17th and 18th. This attack, coded "Operation Hailstone", caught
the Japanese totally unaware, and led to one of the most successful U.S. engagements
of WWII.
After a follow up attack in April, 1944, Truk was
reduced to rubble with over 70 shipwrecks, 400 aircraft destroyed or sunk, and
the menace of this big fortress removed forever.
U.S. forces
declined engagement with the 40,000 troops at Truk, and after these attacks, starvation
consumed many of the defenders before the eventual surrender of Japan late in
1945.
About 20 years later, adventure divers such as Jacques
Cousteau, Al Giddings and Klaus Lindemann discovered the wonders of this huge
sunken fleet, replete with incredible vistas of war machinery, soft coral draperies,
fish life and personal mementos.
Truk is without parallel-its
ghostly remains create the world's greatest wreck diving in a wonderfully comfortable
location.
Visit SeaWolf
Production's website - a historical resource on Operation Hailstorm.
