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Coordinates: 7°20′21″N 151°53′05″E / 7.3393°N 151.8846°E / 7.3393; 151.8846
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{{More footnotes|date=May 2010}}
{{Infobox military conflict
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Operation ''Hailstone''
| conflict = Operation ''Hailstone''
| partof = [[World War II]], [[Pacific War]]
| image = [[File:HailstoneTorpedo.jpg|300px]]
| caption = Japanese freighter ''Amagisan Maru'' being hit by a [[torpedo]] during ''Hailstone'' on February 17, 1944.
| image = [[File:Japanese shipping under attack in Truk Lagoon during Operation Hailstone, 17 February 1944 (80-G-215151).jpg|300px]]
| caption = Japanese ships on fire off Dublon Island, Truk Lagoon, on the first day of air strikes conducted as part of Operation Hailstone
| partof = [[World War II]], [[Pacific War]]
| date = February 16, 1944 – February 17, 1944
| date = February 17, 1944 – February 18, 1944
| place = [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk]], [[Caroline Islands]]
| place = [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk]], [[Caroline Islands]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|7.3393|151.8846|display=inline,title|region:FM-TRK_type:event}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|7.3393|151.8846|display=inline,title|region:FM-TRK_type:event}}
| result = American victory, prevented the Japanese reinforcement of [[Eniwetok]] garrison, key Japanese warships avoided destruction
| result = American victory, prevented the Japanese reinforcement of [[Eniwetok]] garrison, key Japanese warships avoided destruction
| combatant1 = {{flag|United States|1912}}
| combatant1 = {{flag|United States|1912}}
| combatant2 = {{flagcountry|Empire of Japan}}
| combatant2 = {{flagcountry|Empire of Japan}}
| commander1 = [[Marc Mitscher|Marc A. Mitscher]]
| commander1 = [[Marc Mitscher|Marc A. Mitscher]]
| commander2 = [[Masami Kobayashi]]
| commander2 = [[Masami Kobayashi]]
| strength1 = 5 fleet carriers,<br />4 light carriers,<br />7 battleships<br />45 other warships,<br />10 submarines,<br />589 planes
| strength1 = 5 fleet carriers<br />4 light carriers<br />7 battleships<br />10 cruisers<br />28 destroyers<br />10 submarines<br />560 planes
| strength2 = 5 cruisers,<br />8 destroyers,<br />5 other warships,<br />50 merchant ships,<br />350 planes
| strength2 = 5 cruisers<br />8 destroyers<br />5 other warships<br />50 merchant ships<br />350 planes
| casualties1 = 1 [[aircraft carrier]] damaged,<br />1 [[battleship]] slightly damaged,<br />25 aircraft destroyed<br />40 killed<ref>{{harvnb|Morison|1961|p=330}} Deaths included 29 aircrew plus 11 crewmen on ''Intrepid''. Aircraft losses included 12 fighters, 7 torpedo-bombers, and 6 dive-bombers.</ref>
| casualties1 = 1 [[aircraft carrier]] damaged<br />1 [[battleship]] slightly damaged<br />25 aircraft destroyed<br />40 killed{{refn|group=nb|Deaths included 29 aircrew from assorted carriers plus 11 sailors aboard ''Intrepid''. Aircraft losses included 12 fighters, 7 torpedo-bombers, and 6 dive-bombers.<ref>{{harvnb|Morison|1961|p=330}}</ref>}}
| casualties2 = 3 cruisers,<br />4 destroyers,<br />3 auxiliary cruisers,<br />2 submarine tenders,<br />3 smaller warships,<br />32 merchant ships sunk,<br />270 aircraft destroyed<br /> 4,500+ killed
| casualties2 = 3 cruisers<br />4 destroyers<br />3 auxiliary cruisers<br />6 auxiliaries {{bulleted list |1 aircraft ferry|2 submarine tenders|3 smaller warships}}<br />32 merchant ships sunk<br />250+ aircraft destroyed<br /> 4,500+ killed
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Gilberts and Marshalls}}
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Gilberts and Marshalls}}
}}
}}
'''Operation ''Hailstone''''' (known in Japan as {{lang-ja|トラック島空襲}} ''Torakku-tō Kūshū'', lit. "the airstrike on Truk Island") was a massive naval air and surface attack launched on February 16–17, 1944, during [[World War II]] by the [[United States Navy]] against the [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] naval and air base at [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk]] in the [[Caroline Islands]], a pre-war Japanese territory. Operation ''Hailstone'' is often referred to as the Japanese equivalent of the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]].
'''Operation ''Hailstone''''' (known in Japan as {{lang-ja|トラック島空襲}} ''Torakku-tō Kūshū'', lit. "the airstrike on Truk Island"), 17–18 February, 1944, was a massive [[United States Navy]] air and surface attack on [[Truk Lagoon]] conducted as part of the Allies' offensive drive through the [[Pacific Ocean theater of World War II|Pacific Ocean theater]] during [[World War II]].

Prior to ''Hailstone'', Truk had been used as an anchorage for the [[Imperial Japanese Navy|Imperial Japanese Navy's]] (IJN) Combined Fleet. The coral atoll surrounding Truk's islands created a safe harbor whose few points of ingress the Japanese fortified with antiaircraft guns and other equipment. Allied estimates of Truk's defenses and its role as an IJN stronghold led newspapers and military men to call it the "Gibraltar of the Pacific," or to compare it to Pearl Harbor. Its position in the [[Caroline Islands]] also made Truk an ideal shipping hub for materiel moving from Japan's home islands down through the [[South Pacific Mandate]] and into the "Southern Resources Area."

By early 1944 Truk was increasingly unsustainable as a forward base of operations for the IJN. The [[United States Army]] under General [[Douglas MacArthur]] had been moving up through the South Pacific, isolating Japanese strong points as part of [[Operation Cartwheel]]; and the US Navy, under the command of Admiral [[Chester W. Nimitz]], had just seized areas in the nearby [[Marshall Islands]]. As a result, the IJN relocated Combined Fleet's forward base to [[Palau]] and began clearing warships out of Truk in advance of ''Hailstone''.

The attack on Truk nevertheless caught a large number of merchant and shipping vessels in habor, as well as some warships. Between submarine, surface and air attack over ''Hailstone''<nowiki/>'s two days, around 250 Japanese planes were destroyed; approximately 40 ships (3 light cruisers, 4 destroyers, 9 auxiliaries, over two dozen merchant and shipping vessels) were sunk; and considerable damage was inflicted on the lagoon's various island bases, including communications centers, supply dumps and a submarine base. Truk remained effectively isolated for the remainder of the war, cut off and surrounded by the Allies' island hopping campaign.


==Background==
==Background==
[[File:Yanks Smash Truk.ogv|thumb|left|1944 U.S. [[newsreel]] about the attack]]
[[File:Caroline Islands-map.gif|thumb|Map of the Caroline Islands |left|231x231px]]
Truk was a major Japanese logistical base as well as the operating "home" base for the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]]'s [[Combined Fleet]]. Some have described it as the Japanese equivalent of the U.S. Navy's [[Pearl Harbor]]. The [[atoll]] was the only major Japanese airbase within range of the [[Marshall Islands]] and was a significant source of support for Japanese garrisons located on islands and atolls throughout the central and south Pacific. The base was the key logistical and operational hub supporting Japan's perimeter defenses in the central and south Pacific.
The Japanese occupied [[Micronesia]], including the Caroline Islands, in 1914. Truk was established as a Japanese naval base as early as 1939. The lagoon was first built up to house the IJN's [[4th Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)|4th Fleet]], its "South Seas Force." After the outbreak of war with the United States, 4th fleet was put under the command of [[Combined Fleet]], which continued to use Truk as a forward operating base into 1944. In addition to anchorages for warships and port facilities for shipping running between the home islands and the Southern Resources Area, five airstrips and a seaplane base were constructed at Truk, making it the only major Japanese airbase within range of the [[Marshall Islands]].{{sfn|Jeffery|2003}}

Despite the impressions of U.S. Navy leaders and the American public concerning Truk's projected fortifications, the base was never significantly reinforced or protected against attack. In fact, the development of Truk only began in concert and in hurried fashion in late 1943, when airfields were extended, shore batteries were installed and other defensive measures taken against U.S. encroachment.{{sfn|Toll|2015|pp=404–405}}


To ensure air and naval superiority for the upcoming [[battle of Eniwetok|invasion of Eniwetok]], Admiral [[Raymond Spruance]] ordered an attack on Truk. Vice Admiral [[Marc A. Mitscher]]'s [[Task Force 58]] had five fleet [[Aircraft carrier|carriers]]
Because aircraft stationed at Truk could potentially interfere with the upcoming [[battle of Eniwetok|invasion of Eniwetok]], and because Truk had recently served as a ferry point for the resupply of aircraft to [[Rabaul]], Admiral [[Raymond A. Spruance|Raymond Spruance]] ordered Vice Admiral [[Marc A. Mitscher]]'s [[Task Force 58]] (TF 58) to carry out strikes against the atoll. Three of TF 58's four carrier task groups (TGs) were committed to the strikes. Their total strength consisted of five fleet [[Aircraft carrier|carriers]]
({{USS|Enterprise|CV-6|2}},
({{USS|Enterprise|CV-6|2}},
{{USS|Yorktown|CV-10|2}},
{{USS|Yorktown|CV-10|2}},
Line 35: Line 42:
{{USS|Cabot|CVL-28|2}},
{{USS|Cabot|CVL-28|2}},
{{USS|Monterey|CVL-26|2}}, and
{{USS|Monterey|CVL-26|2}}, and
{{USS|Cowpens|CVL-25|2}}),
{{USS|Cowpens|CVL-25|2}})
embarking more than 500 planes. Supporting the carriers was a large fleet of seven [[battleship]]s, and numerous [[cruiser]]s, [[destroyer]]s, [[submarine]]s, and other support ships.{{sfn|Morison|1961|p=}}{{page needed|date=June 2011}}
embarking more than 500 planes. Supporting the carriers was a large fleet of seven [[battleship]]s and numerous [[cruiser]]s, [[destroyer]]s, [[submarine]]s, and other support ships.{{sfn|Rems|2014}}

Fearing that the base was becoming too vulnerable, the Japanese had relocated the aircraft carriers, battleships, and [[heavy cruiser]]s of the [[Combined Fleet]] to [[Palau]] a week earlier. However, numerous smaller warships and merchant ships remained in and around the anchorage and several hundred aircraft were stationed at the atoll's airfields.

[[File:Caroline Islands-map.gif|thumb|Map of Caroline Islands]]


The Japanese meanwhile understood the weakness of their position at Truk. The IJN had begun withdrawing fleet units from its anchorages as early as October 1943. The effective abandonment of Truk as a forward operating base accelerated in the first week of February 1944, following sightings of U.S. Marines [[PB4Y-1 Liberator]] scout planes sent out to reconnoiter the area.{{sfn|Prados|1995|pp=533–535}}
==Attack==
==Attack==
[[File:Yanks Smash Truk.ogv|thumb|left|1944 U.S. [[newsreel]] about the attack]]The three carrier task groups committed to ''Hailstone'' moved into position and began launching their first fighter sweep 90 minutes before daybreak on 17 February 1944. No Japanese air patrol was active at that time as the IJN's 22nd and 26th Air Flotillas, after weeks on high alert following the Liberator sightings, were enjoying shore leave.{{sfn|Hornfischer|2016|pp=6–7}} Similarly problematic, radar on Truk was not capable of detecting low-flying planes – a weakness probably known and exploited by Allied intelligence organizations. Because of these factors U.S. carrier aircraft achieved total surprise.{{sfn|Prados|1995|p=537}}
[[File:Japanese ammunition ships in Truk Harbor explode.jpg|thumb|left|Japanese ammunition ship {{ship||Aikoku Maru|1940|2}} blowing up; the air crew which dropped the torpedo was missing and believed to have been caught in the explosion. February 17, 1944]]
The U.S. attack involved a combination of airstrikes,<ref>{{cite video | year =1944 | title =Video: Castle Films Yanks Smash Truk (1944) | url =https://archive.org/details/gov.fdr.267 | publisher =[[Castle Films]] | accessdate =February 27, 2013}}</ref> surface ship actions, and submarine attacks over two days and appeared to take the Japanese completely by surprise. Several daylight, along with nighttime, airstrikes employed fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo aircraft in attacks on Japanese airfields, aircraft, shore installations, and ships in and around the Truk anchorage. A force of U.S. surface ships and submarines guarded possible exit routes from the island's anchorage to attack any Japanese ships that tried to escape from the airstrikes.


Japanese pilots scrambled into their cockpits just minutes before TF 58 planes arrived over Eten, Param, Moen and Dublon islands. Though there were more than 300 [[Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service]] (IJNAS) and [[Imperial Japanese Army Air Service]] (IJAAS) planes present at Truk on the first day of attacks, only about half of these were operational compared with over 500 operational aircraft between the carriers of TF 58. U.S. Navy fighter pilots in their [[Grumman F6F Hellcat|Grumman F6F Hellcats]], with the advantages of speed, altitude and surprise, achieved a one–sided victory against IJNAF pilots flying the inferior [[Mitsubishi A6M Zero]]. As many as 30 of the 80 Zeros sent up in response to the fighter sweep were shot down, compared with 4 Hellcats reported lost. Only token aerial resistance was encountered for the rest of the morning; virtually no Japanese aircraft were present by the afternoon.{{sfn|Toll|2015|pp=405–406}}{{sfn|Rems|2014}}
In total the attack sank three Japanese [[light cruiser]]s
({{ship|Japanese cruiser|Agano||2}},
{{ship|Japanese cruiser|Katori||2}}, and
{{ship|Japanese cruiser|Naka||2}}),
four destroyers
({{ship|Japanese destroyer|Oite|1924|2}},
{{ship|Japanese destroyer|Fumizuki|1925|2}},
{{ship|Japanese destroyer|Maikaze||2}},
and {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Tachikaze||2}}), three [[auxiliary cruiser]]s (''[[Akagi Maru]]'', {{ship||Aikoku Maru|1940|2}}, ''[[Kiyosumi Maru]]''), two submarine tenders ({{ship||Heian Maru|1930|2}}, ''[[Rio de Janeiro Maru]]''), three other smaller warships (including submarine chasers {{ship|Japanese submarine chaser|CH-24||2}} and ''[[Shonan Maru 15]]''), aircraft transport ''[[Fujikawa Maru]]'', and 32 merchant ships. Some of the ships were destroyed in the anchorage and some in the area surrounding Truk lagoon. Many of the merchant ships were loaded with reinforcements and supplies for Japanese garrisons in the central Pacific area. Very few of the troops aboard the sunken ships survived and little of their cargoes were recovered. (Lindeman, 2005){{dubious|date=April 2015}}


Due to the lack of air cover or warning, many merchant ships were caught at anchor with only the islands' anti-aircraft guns for defense against U.S. carrier planes. Some vessels outside of the lagoon already steaming towards Japan, like the crippled cruiser [[Japanese cruiser Agano|Agano]], were attacked by U.S. submarines and sunk before they could make their escape. Still others attempting to flee via the atoll's North Pass were bottled up by aerial attack and by Admiral Spruance's surface force, Task Group 50.9, which circumnavigated Truk bombarding shore positions and engaging enemy ships.{{sfn|Prados|1995|pp=537–538}}
''Maikaze'', along with several support ships, was sunk by U.S. surface ships while trying to escape from the Truk anchorage. On 17 February 1944, while evacuating convoys to [[Yokosuka, Kanagawa|Yokosuka]] from Truk following [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] attack on Truk, ''Maikaze'', the cruiser ''Katori'', and the auxiliary cruiser ''Akagi Maru'' were sunk by gunfire from the cruisers ''Minneapolis'', ''New Orleans'', and the battleship ''New Jersey'' {{convert|40|mi}} northwest of Truk (07°45′N 151°20′E). ''Maikaze'' herself was sunk with all hands on board. The survivors of the sunken Japanese ships reportedly refused rescue efforts by the U.S. ships.{{sfn|Morison|1961|p=}}{{page needed|date=June 2011}}


Torpedo and dive bomber squadrons from the carrier air groups (CAGs) were responsible for the bulk of damage inflicted upon Japanese ground facilities. Early on the first day of ''Hailstone'', [[Grumman TBF Avenger]] torpedo bomber squadrons from USS ''Enterprise''<nowiki/>'s Air Group 10 (CAG-10)<nowiki/> and USS ''Intrepid''<nowiki/>'s CAG-6 <nowiki/>dropped fragmentation and incendiary bombs on runways at [[Eten Island]] island as well as the seaplane base on [[Weno|Moen Island]]. Dozens of aircraft were damaged or destroyed, further blunting any possible response to the strikes by the Japanese. Subsequent joint attacks by dive bomber aircraft{{refn|group=nb|All dive bomber squadrons with the exception of Bunker Hill's VB-17 flew the [[Douglas SBD Dauntless]] at this time. VB-17 was the first squadron to use the newer [[Curtiss SB2C Helldiver]], which later replaced the Dauntless as the US Navy's standard dive bomber.<ref>{{harvnb|Tillman|1997|pp=16–17, 31}}</ref>}} and Avenger torpedo bombers cratered runways and destroyed hangar facilities.{{sfn|Gardner|1944}}{{sfn|Harrison|1944}}
The cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Agano||2}}, a veteran of the [[Bombing of Rabaul (November 1943)|Raid on Rabaul]] and which was already en route to Japan when the attack began, was sunk by a U.S. submarine, {{USS|Skate|SS-305|2}}. ''Oite'' rescued 523 survivors from ''Agano'' and returned to Truk lagoon to assist in its defense with her anti-aircraft guns. She was sunk soon after by air attack with the ''Agano'' survivors still on board, killing all of them and all but 20 of ''Oite''{{'}}s crew.


Morning strikes were likewise launched against shipping targets in the lagoon. Lieutenant Commander (later Rear Admiral) [[James D. Ramage]], commanding officer of Dive Bombing Squadron 10 (VB-10), is credited with sinking the previously damaged merchant tanker Hoyo Maru.{{sfn|Toll|2015|p=407}} Lieutenant James E. Bridges and his crew in one of ''Intrepid''<nowiki/>'s Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6) Avengers scored a direct hit on the ammunition ship [[Aikoku Maru (1940)|Aikoku Maru]]. The bomb blast set off a tremendous explosion which immediately sank the ship and apparently engulfed the plane as well, killing all three men inside.{{sfn|Astor|2007|pp=233–234}}[[File:Japanese ammunition ships in Truk Harbor explode.jpg|thumb|Japanese ammunition ship {{ship||Aikoku Maru|1940|2}} exploding after a torpedo hit, February 17, 1944. |267x267px|left]]By the second and third anti-shipping strikes of the day, carrier air group action reports listed the apparent enemy mission as "escape."{{sfn|Jeter|1944|p=15}} Those ships able to make for open sea steamed for the North Pass exit from the lagoon while weathering repeated aerial attacks. One particular group of warships – cruiser [[Japanese cruiser Katori|''Katori'']], auxillary cruiser [[Akagi Maru|''Akagi Maru'']], destroyers [[Japanese destroyer Maikaze|''Maikaze'']], [[Japanese destroyer Nowaki (1940)|''Nowaki'']] and minesweeper ''Shonan Maru'' – was given special attention by carrier bombers. Multiple air groups attacked these ships, inflicting serious damage. ''Yorktown''<nowiki/>'s dive and torpedo bombing squadrons together claimed 2 hits on ''Katori'' as well as hits on another cruiser and multiple destroyers; ''Essex'' bombers claimed as many as 5 hits on a [[Katori-class cruiser]] as well, indicating that the ship was stopped dead in the water after the attack.{{sfn|Stebbins|1944|p=3}}{{sfn|White|1944|pp=85–98}}
Over 250 Japanese aircraft were destroyed, mostly on the ground. Many of the aircraft were in various states of assembly, having just arrived from Japan in disassembled form aboard cargo ships. Very few of the assembled aircraft were able to take off in response to the U.S. attack. Several Japanese aircraft that did take off were claimed destroyed by U.S. fighters or gunners on the U.S. bombers and torpedo planes.


At this point reports reached Admiral Spruance concerning the group of warships fleeing through North Pass. The admiral put himself in tactical command of Task Group 50.9, made up of four destroyers, two heavy cruisers and the battleships [[USS Iowa (BB-61)|USS ''Iowa'']] and [[USS New Jersey (BB-62)|USS ''New Jersey'']], which he personally led in a surface engagement against the previously damaged Japanese ships. Spruance was so adamant on engaging in ship-to-ship combat that his carrier commander, Admiral Mitscher, ordered his air groups stop attacking ''Katori'' and her companions.{{sfn|Toll|2015|pp=410–411}}
The U.S. lost twenty-five aircraft, mainly due to the intense anti-aircraft fire from Truk's defenses. About 16 U.S. aircrew were rescued by submarine or amphibious aircraft (several Japanese, whose crew took them prisoner).<ref>{{harvnb|Morison|1961|p=330}} Number derived by summing the total crews of the 25 aircraft lost and subtracting the number (29) listed as killed.</ref> A nighttime [[torpedo]] attack by a Japanese aircraft from either Rabaul or [[Saipan]] damaged ''Intrepid'' and killed 11 of her crew, 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 {{USS|Iowa|BB-61|2}} with a bomb hit.{{sfn|Morison|1961|p=}}{{page needed|date=June 2011}}


The battered Japanese ships did not stand much of a chance against Task Group 50.9, though Spruance's decision to engage in surface action when aircraft likely could have achieved similar results was seen by members of his staff as needlessly reckless. Indeed, the [[Japanese destroyer Maikaze|Japanese destroyer ''Maikaze'']] managed to fire torpedoes at the battleship ''New Jersey'' during the engagement. Fortunately for Spruance, the torpedoes missed and the "battle" ended with predictably one–sided results. Virtually no damage was incurred by the US Navy surface combatants. The IJN lost ''Maikaze'', ''Shonan Maru'', ''Katori and'' ''Akagi Maru''. Destroyer ''Nowaki'' was the only Japanese ship from this group to escape.{{sfn|Hornfischer|2016|pp=11–15}}
An aerial view of the airstrike at Truk can be seen in the U.S. Navy film ''[[The Fighting Lady]]''.


Retaliation for the day's strikes arrived late at night in the form of small groups of Japanese bombers probing the task groups' defenses. From roughly 21:00 on 17 February to just minutes past midnight on 18 February, at least 5 groups of between 1–3 enemy planes attempted to sneak past screening ships to strike at the fleet carriers. One such plane, a [[Nakajima B5N|Nakajima B5N2]] "Kate" bomber, managed to evade night fighter planes protecting the US task force and drop its torpedo on Task Group 58.2. ''Intrepid'' was struck in the starboard quarter by the torpedo, which damaged steering control and killed 11 sailors. The ship was forced to retire to the US for repairs and did not return to combat until August 1944.{{sfn|Sprague|1944|pp=14–15}}{{sfn|Williams|2000}}
One well-known pilot, U.S. Marine Corps ace [[Pappy Boyington|Gregory "Pappy" Boyington]], survived this raid while being held prisoner on Truk, after being captured at Rabaul.


==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==
Truk, like so many other Japanese bases, was left to wither on the vine without hope of resupply or reinforcement. Army forces which had arrived at the atoll prior to U.S. attacks put increasing strain on available foodstuffs and medical supplies. Dwindling ammunition even limited the ability of shore batteries to fend off intermittent attacks by Allied forces, including experimental raids by [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]] and attacks by British carrier aircraft.{{sfn|Prados|1995|p=538}}
The attacks for the most part ended Truk as a major threat to Allied operations in the central Pacific; 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.

Losses at Truk were severe. Some 17,000 tons of stored fuel were destroyed by the strikes.{{sfn|Hornfischer|2016|p=18}} Shipping losses totaled almost 200,000 tons including precious resources in fleet oilers.{{sfn|Toll|2015|pp=413–414}} This represents almost one tenth of total Japanese shipping losses between 1 November 1943 and 30 June 1944.{{sfn|Wilmott|2005|p=292}} Moreover, the isolation of this whole area of operations by submarine and air attack meant the effective severance of Japanese shipping lanes between empire waters and critical fuel supplies in e.g. [[Borneo]]. The ultimate effect of such a disconnect was later seen during the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]], when IJN forces had to sortie separately from Japan and [[Lingga Roads]] due to fuel constraints.


The neutralization of Truk and the seizure of Eniwetok paved the way for the upcoming [[Battle of Saipan|invasion of Saipan]], which for the first time put U.S. land-based heavy bombers within range of the Japanese home islands.{{sfn|Ofstie|1946|pp=194–195}}
The Japanese later relocated about 100 of their remaining aircraft from [[Rabaul]] to Truk. These aircraft were attacked by U.S. carrier forces in another attack on April 29–30, 1944 which destroyed most of them. The U.S. aircraft dropped 92 bombs over a 29-minute period to destroy the Japanese planes. The April 1944 strikes found no shipping in Truk lagoon and were the last major attacks on Truk during the war.


Truk is renowned today as a tourist destination for divers interested in seeing the numerous shipwrecks left behind in the lagoon, many of which were caused by the Operation ''Hailstone'' strikes.{{sfn|Trumbull|1972}}
Truk was isolated by Allied (primarily U.S.) forces as they continued their advance towards Japan by invading other Pacific islands such as Guam, Saipan, Palau, and Iwo Jima. Cut off, the Japanese forces on Truk, like on other central Pacific islands, ran low on food and faced starvation before Japan surrendered in August 1945.


==Truk IJN Anchorage Evacuation Log Book==
==Truk IJN Anchorage Evacuation Log Book==
{| <!-- Template:Collapse --> class="collapsible {{#switch:{{lc:no}}|uncollapse|uncollapsed|expand|expanded|yes|y=uncollapsed|#default=collapsed}}" style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left; border: 1px solid silver; margin: 0.2em auto auto; width:100%; clear: both; padding: 1px;"
|-
! style="background-color: #F0F2F5; font-size:87%; padding:0.2em 0.3em; text-align: center; " | <span style="font-size: 115%;">Evacuation Log{{refn|group=nb|List wholly derived from Merriam Press (2017).{{sfn|Merriam|2017}}}}</span>
|-
| style="border: solid 1px silver; padding: 8px; background-color: white;" |
<div>
'''Oct 31, 1943 Truk → Yokosuka<br />'''
'''Oct 31, 1943 Truk → Yokosuka<br />'''
BB [[Japanese battleship Yamashiro|''Yamashiro'']]<br />
BB [[Japanese battleship Yamashiro|''Yamashiro'']]<br />
BBV [[Japanese battleship Ise|''Ise'']]<br />
BBV [[Japanese battleship Ise|''Ise'']]<br />
CVL [[Japanese aircraft carrier Jun'yo|''Jun{{'}}yo'']]<br />
CVL [[Japanese aircraft carrier Jun'yo|''Jun{{'}}yo'']]<br />
CVE [[Japanese aircraft carrier Unyō|''Unyō'']]<br />
CVE [[Japanese aircraft carrier Unyō|''Unyō'']]<br />
CA [[Japanese cruiser Tone (1937)|''Tone'']]<br />
CA [[Japanese cruiser Tone (1937)|''Tone'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Tanikaze|''Tanikaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Tanikaze|''Tanikaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Suzukaze|''Suzukaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Suzukaze|''Suzukaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Umikaze|''Umikaze'']]
DD [[Japanese destroyer Umikaze|''Umikaze'']]


'''Nov 28, 1943 Truk → Yokosuka<br />'''
'''Nov 28, 1943 Truk → Yokosuka<br />'''
CVL [[Japanese aircraft carrier Zuihō|''Zuihō'']]<br />
CVL [[Japanese aircraft carrier Zuihō|''Zuihō'']]<br />
CVE [[Japanese aircraft carrier Unyō|''Unyō'']]<br />
CVE [[Japanese aircraft carrier Unyō|''Unyō'']]<br />
CVE [[Japanese aircraft carrier Chūyō|''Chūyō'']]<br />
CVE [[Japanese aircraft carrier Chūyō|''Chūyō'']]<br />
CA [[Japanese cruiser Maya|''Maya'']]<br />
CA [[Japanese cruiser Maya|''Maya'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Akebono (1930)|''Akebono'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Akebono (1930)|''Akebono'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Sazanami (1931)|''Sazanami'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Sazanami (1931)|''Sazanami'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Ushio (1930)|''Ushio'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Ushio (1930)|''Ushio'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Urakaze|''Urakaze'']]
DD [[Japanese destroyer Urakaze|''Urakaze'']]


'''Dec 1, 1943 Truk → Sasebo<br />'''
'''Dec 1, 1943 Truk → Sasebo<br />'''
BB [[Japanese battleship Haruna|''Haruna'']]<br />
BB [[Japanese battleship Haruna|''Haruna'']]<br />
BB [[Japanese battleship Kongō|''Kongō'']]<br />
BB [[Japanese battleship Kongō|''Kongō'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Maikaze|''Maikaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Maikaze|''Maikaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Nowaki|''Nowaki'']]
DD [[Japanese destroyer Nowaki|''Nowaki'']]


'''Dec 7, 1943 Truk → Kure<br />'''
'''Dec 7, 1943 Truk → Kure<br />'''
CV [[Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku|''Zuikaku'']]
CV [[Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku|''Zuikaku'']]


'''Dec 7, 1943 Truk → Yokosuka<br />'''
'''Dec 7, 1943 Truk → Yokosuka<br />'''
CVL [[Japanese aircraft carrier Chitose|''Chitose'']]<br />
CVL [[Japanese aircraft carrier Chitose|''Chitose'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Yukikaze|''Yukikaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Yukikaze|''Yukikaze'']]<br />
Food supply ship [[Japanese food supply ship Irako|''Irako'']]
Food supply ship [[Japanese food supply ship Irako|''Irako'']]


'''Dec 12, 1943 Truk → Yokosuka<br />'''
'''Dec 12, 1943 Truk → Yokosuka<br />'''
CV [[Japanese aircraft carrier Shōkaku|''Shōkaku'']]
CV [[Japanese aircraft carrier Shōkaku|''Shōkaku'']]


'''Jan 1, 1944 Truk → Yokosuka<br />'''
'''Jan 1, 1944 Truk → Yokosuka<br />'''
DD [[Japanese destroyer Asakaze (1922)|''Asakaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Asakaze (1922)|''Asakaze'']]<br />
Escort [[Etorofu-class escort ship|''Manju'']]<br />
Escort [[Etorofu-class escort ship|''Manju'']]<br />
Cable layer [[Hashima-class cable layer|''Hashima'']]<br />
Cable layer [[Hashima-class cable layer|''Hashima'']]<br />
Minesweeper ''W-24''<br />
Minesweeper ''W-24''<br />
''[[Yamabiko Maru]]''<br />
''[[Yamabiko Maru]]''<br />
''[[Yamakuni Maru]]''<br />
''[[Yamakuni Maru]]''<br />
''[[Keiyo Maru]]''
''[[Keiyo Maru]]''


'''Jan 10, 1944 Truk → Sasebo<br />'''
'''Jan 10, 1944 Truk → Sasebo<br />'''
BB [[Japanese battleship Yamato|''Yamato'']]<br />
BB [[Japanese battleship Yamato|''Yamato'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Michishio|''Michishio'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Michishio|''Michishio'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Asagumo (1938)|''Asagumo'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Asagumo (1938)|''Asagumo'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Fujinami|''Fujinami'']]
DD [[Japanese destroyer Fujinami|''Fujinami'']]


'''Jan 18, 1944 Truk → Yokosuka<br />'''
'''Jan 18, 1944 Truk → Yokosuka<br />'''
CVL [[Japanese aircraft carrier Zuihō|''Zuihō'']]<br />
CVL [[Japanese aircraft carrier Zuihō|''Zuihō'']]<br />
CVE [[Japanese aircraft carrier Unyō|''Unyō'']]<br />
CVE [[Japanese aircraft carrier Unyō|''Unyō'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Hatsushimo|''Hatsushimo'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Hatsushimo|''Hatsushimo'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Wakaba|''Wakaba'']]
DD [[Japanese destroyer Wakaba|''Wakaba'']]


'''Jan 19, 1944 Truk → Saipan<br />'''
'''Jan 19, 1944 Truk → Saipan<br />'''
DD [[Japanese destroyer Umikaze|''Umikaze'']]
DD [[Japanese destroyer Umikaze|''Umikaze'']]


'''Jan 19, 1944 Truk → Rabaul<br />'''
'''Jan 19, 1944 Truk → Rabaul<br />'''
''Kokuyo Maru''<br />
''Kokuyo Maru''<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Maikaze|''Maikaze'']]
DD [[Japanese destroyer Maikaze|''Maikaze'']]


'''Jan 20, 1944 Truk → Ponape<br />'''
'''Jan 20, 1944 Truk → Ponape<br />'''
DD [[Japanese destroyer Hamanami|''Hamanami'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Hamanami|''Hamanami'']]<br />
Escort ''CH-39''<br />
Escort ''CH-39''<br />
Escort ''CH-24''<br />
Escort ''CH-24''<br />
Escort ''CH-30''<br />
Escort ''CH-30''<br />
Escort ''CH-33''<br />
Escort ''CH-33''<br />
''Ogura Maru No. 3''
''Ogura Maru No. 3''


'''Jan 24 Truk → Eniwetok<br />'''
'''Jan 24 Truk → Eniwetok<br />'''
DD [[Japanese destroyer Suzukaze|''Suzukaze'']]
DD [[Japanese destroyer Suzukaze|''Suzukaze'']]


'''Jan 25, 1944 Truk → Saipan<br />'''
'''Jan 25, 1944 Truk → Saipan<br />'''
CVE [[Japanese aircraft carrier Unyō|''Unyō'']]<br />
CVE [[Japanese aircraft carrier Unyō|''Unyō'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Akebono (1930)|''Akebono'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Akebono (1930)|''Akebono'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Ushio (1930)|''Ushio'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Ushio (1930)|''Ushio'']]<br />
Food supply ship [[Japanese food supply ship Irako|''Irako'']]
Food supply ship [[Japanese food supply ship Irako|''Irako'']]


'''Jan 27 Truk → Yokosuka (convoy No. 4127)<br />'''
'''Jan 27 Truk → Yokosuka (convoy No. 4127)<br />'''
Escort ''Fukue''<br />
Escort ''Fukue''<br />
Minesweeper ''W-23''<br />
Minesweeper ''W-23''<br />
Auxiliary subchaser ''Shonan Maru No. 8''<br />
Auxiliary subchaser ''Shonan Maru No. 8''<br />
''Matsue Maru''<br />
''Matsue Maru''<br />
''Shinyo Maru''<br />
''Shinyo Maru''<br />
''Yoshida Maru No. 3''
''Yoshida Maru No. 3''


'''Jan 28 Truk → Rabaul<br />'''
'''Jan 28 Truk → Rabaul<br />'''
Hospital ship ''[[Hikawa Maru]]''
Hospital ship ''[[Hikawa Maru]]''


'''Feb 1, 1944 Truk → Palau<br />'''
'''Feb 1, 1944 Truk → Palau<br />'''
BB [[Japanese battleship Nagato|''Nagato'']]<br />
BB [[Japanese battleship Nagato|''Nagato'']]<br />
BB [[Japanese battleship Fusō|''Fusō'']]<br />
BB [[Japanese battleship Fusō|''Fusō'']]<br />
CA [[Japanese cruiser Kumano|''Kumano'']]<br />
CA [[Japanese cruiser Kumano|''Kumano'']]<br />
CA [[Japanese cruiser Suzuya (1934)|''Suzuya'']]<br />
CA [[Japanese cruiser Suzuya (1934)|''Suzuya'']]<br />
CA [[Japanese cruiser Tone (1937)|''Tone'']]<br />
CA [[Japanese cruiser Tone (1937)|''Tone'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Akizuki|''Akizuki'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Akizuki|''Akizuki'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Isokaze|''Isokaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Isokaze|''Isokaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Tanikaze|''Tanikaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Tanikaze|''Tanikaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Hamakaze|''Hamakaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Hamakaze|''Hamakaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Urakaze|''Urakaze'']]
DD [[Japanese destroyer Urakaze|''Urakaze'']]


'''Feb 3, 1944 Rabaul → Truk → Beppu<br />'''
'''Feb 3, 1944 Rabaul → Truk → Beppu<br />'''
Hospital ship ''[[Hikawa Maru]]''
Hospital ship ''[[Hikawa Maru]]''


'''Feb 3, 1944 Yokosuka → Truk<br />'''
'''Feb 3, 1944 Yokosuka → Truk<br />'''
CVL [[Japanese aircraft carrier Zuihō|''Zuihō'']]
CVL [[Japanese aircraft carrier Zuihō|''Zuihō'']]


'''Feb 5, 1944 Truk → Davao<br />'''
'''Feb 5, 1944 Truk → Davao<br />'''
DD [[Japanese destroyer Ikazuchi (1931)|''Ikazuchi'']]
DD [[Japanese destroyer Ikazuchi|''Ikazuchi'']]


'''Feb 9, 1944 Truk → Saipan (convoy No. 7125)<br />'''
'''Feb 9, 1944 Truk → Saipan (convoy No. 7125)<br />'''
Escort ''Hirado''<br />
Escort ''Hirado''<br />
''Reiyo Maru''<br />
''Reiyo Maru''<br />
''Hanagawa Maru''
''Hanagawa Maru''


'''Feb 10, 1944 Truk → Palau<br />'''
'''Feb 10, 1944 Truk → Palau<br />'''
CA [[Japanese cruiser Atago|''Atago'']]<br />
CA [[Japanese cruiser Atago|''Atago'']]<br />
CA [[Japanese cruiser Chōkai|''Chōkai'']]<br />
CA [[Japanese cruiser Chōkai|''Chōkai'']]<br />
CA [[Japanese cruiser Haguro|''Haguro'']]<br />
CA [[Japanese cruiser Haguro|''Haguro'']]<br />
CA [[Japanese cruiser Myōkō|''Myōkō'']]<br />
CA [[Japanese cruiser Myōkō|''Myōkō'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Isokaze|''Isokaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Isokaze|''Isokaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Urakaze|''Urakaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Urakaze|''Urakaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Hamakaze|''Hamakaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Hamakaze|''Hamakaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Tanikaze|''Tanikaze'']]
DD [[Japanese destroyer Tanikaze|''Tanikaze'']]


'''Feb 10, 1944 Truk → Yokosuka<br />'''
'''Feb 10, 1944 Truk → Yokosuka<br />'''
BB [[Japanese battleship Musashi|''Musashi'']]<br />
BB [[Japanese battleship Musashi|''Musashi'']]<br />
CL [[Japanese cruiser Ōyodo|''Ōyodo'']]<br />
CL [[Japanese cruiser Ōyodo|''Ōyodo'']]<br />
CVL [[Japanese aircraft carrier Chiyoda|''Chiyoda'']]<br />
CVL [[Japanese aircraft carrier Chiyoda|''Chiyoda'']]<br />
CVL [[Japanese aircraft carrier Zuihō|''Zuihō'']]<br />
CVL [[Japanese aircraft carrier Zuihō|''Zuihō'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Wakaba|''Wakaba'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Wakaba|''Wakaba'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Hatsuharu|''Hatsuharu'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Hatsuharu|''Hatsuharu'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Shiratsuyu|''Shiratsuyu'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Shiratsuyu|''Shiratsuyu'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Michishio|''Michishio'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Michishio|''Michishio'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Tamanami|''Tamanami'']]
DD [[Japanese destroyer Tamanami|''Tamanami'']]


'''Feb 12, 1944 Truk → Palau (convoy No. 7125)<br />'''
'''Feb 12, 1944 Truk → Palau (convoy No. 7125)<br />'''
DD [[Japanese destroyer Hamanami|''Hamanami'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Hamanami|''Hamanami'']]<br />
Auxiliary subchasers ''Takunan Maru No. 2''<br />
Auxiliary subchasers ''Takunan Maru No. 2''<br />
Auxiliary subchasers ''Shonan Maru No. 5''<br />
Auxiliary subchasers ''Shonan Maru No. 5''<br />
Subchaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-30|''CH-30'']]<br />
Subchaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-30|''CH-30'']]<br />
Fleet oiler [[Notoro-class oiler|''Sata'']]<br />
Fleet oiler [[Notoro-class oiler|''Sata'']]<br />
Tanker ''Hishi Maru No. 2''<br />
Tanker ''Hishi Maru No. 2''<br />
Ammunition ship ''Nichiro Maru''<br />
Ammunition ship ''Nichiro Maru''<br />
Cargo ship ''Kamikaze Maru''<br />
Cargo ship ''Kamikaze Maru''<br />
Cargo ship ''Kitakami Maru''
Cargo ship ''Kitakami Maru''


'''Feb 13, 1944 Truk → Yokosuka (convoy No. 4212)<br />'''
'''Feb 13, 1944 Truk → Yokosuka (convoy No. 4212)<br />'''
Escort [[Japanese escort Manju|''Manju'']]<br />
Escort [[Japanese escort Manju|''Manju'']]<br />
Escort [[Japanese escort Oki|''Oki'']]<br />
Escort [[Japanese escort Oki|''Oki'']]<br />
Subchaser [[Japanese subchaser CH-31|''CH-31'']]<br/>
Subchaser [[Japanese subchaser CH-31|''CH-31'']]<br/>
Fleet supply ship [[Japanese food supply ship Irako|''Irako'']]<br />
Fleet supply ship [[Japanese food supply ship Irako|''Irako'']]<br />
Fleet supply ship ''Tatsuura Maru''<br />
Fleet supply ship ''Tatsuura Maru''<br />
Fleet supply ship ''Hibi Maru''<br />
Fleet supply ship ''Hibi Maru''<br />
Fleet oiler [[Notoro-class oiler|''Notoro'']]
Fleet oiler [[Notoro-class oiler|''Notoro'']]


'''Feb 13, 1944 Truk → Kure<br />'''
'''Feb 13, 1944 Truk → Kure<br />'''
CVE [[Japanese aircraft carrier Kaiyo|''Kaiyo'']]<br />
CVE [[Japanese aircraft carrier Kaiyo|''Kaiyo'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Hibiki|''Hibiki'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Hibiki|''Hibiki'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Inazuma (1932)|''Inazuma'']]
DD [[Japanese destroyer Inazuma|''Inazuma'']]


'''Feb 15, 1944 Truk → Japan<br />'''
'''Feb 15, 1944 Truk → Japan<br />'''
CL [[Japanese cruiser Agano|''Agano'']], sunk 160 miles norh of Truk on Feb 16th<br />
CL [[Japanese cruiser Agano|''Agano'']], sunk 160 miles norh of Truk on Feb 16th<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Oite (1924)|''Oite'']], sunk while entering back Truk via North Pass with survivors from CL ''Agano'' on Feb 18th<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Oite (1924)|''Oite'']], sunk while entering back Truk via North Pass with survivors from CL ''Agano'' on Feb 18th<br />
Subchaser ''Ch-28'', sunk on Feb 16th
Subchaser ''Ch-28'', sunk on Feb 16th


'''Feb 15, 1944<br />'''
'''Feb 15, 1944<br />'''
DD [[Japanese destroyer Yamagumo (1938)|''Yamagumo'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Yamagumo (1938)|''Yamagumo'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Nowaki|''Nowaki'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Nowaki|''Nowaki'']]<br />
''Asaka Maru''
''Asaka Maru''


'''Feb 17, 1944 → Truk<br />'''
'''Feb 17, 1944 → Truk<br />'''
DD [[Japanese destroyer Fujinami|''Fujinami'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Fujinami|''Fujinami'']]<br />
Minelayer [[Sokuten-class auxiliary minelayer (1913)|''Natsushima '']]<br />
Minelayer [[Sokuten-class auxiliary minelayer (1913)|''Natsushima '']]<br />
''Ryuku Maru''
''Ryuku Maru''


'''Feb 17, 1944 Truk → Palau<br />'''
'''Feb 17, 1944 Truk → Palau<br />'''
DD [[Japanese destroyer Shigure|''Shigure'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Shigure|''Shigure'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Harusame|''Harusame'']]
DD [[Japanese destroyer Harusame|''Harusame'']]


'''Feb 17, 1944 Truk → Yokosuka<br />'''
'''Feb 17, 1944 Truk → Yokosuka<br />'''
CL [[Japanese cruiser Katori|''Katori'']], sunk<br />
CL [[Japanese cruiser Katori|''Katori'']], sunk<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Maikaze|''Maikaze'']], sunk<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Maikaze|''Maikaze'']], sunk<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Nowaki|''Nowaki'']], the only ship escaped<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Nowaki|''Nowaki'']], the only ship escaped<br />
''Akagi Maru'', sunk<br />
''Akagi Maru'', sunk<br />
''Shonan Maru #15'', sunk
''Shonan Maru #15'', sunk


'''Feb 17, 1944 Truk → Yokosuka<br />'''
'''Feb 17, 1944 Truk → Yokosuka<br />'''
DD [[Japanese destroyer Nowaki|''Nowaki'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Nowaki|''Nowaki'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Yamagumo (1938)|''Yamagumo'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Yamagumo (1938)|''Yamagumo'']]<br />
''Asaka Maru''
''Asaka Maru''


'''Feb 17, 1944 Truk → assist damaged Agano<br />'''
'''Feb 17, 1944 Truk → assist damaged Agano<br />'''
CL [[Japanese cruiser Naka|''Naka'']], sunk
CL [[Japanese cruiser Naka|''Naka'']], sunk


'''Feb 18, 1944 Truk → Saipan<br />'''
'''Feb 18, 1944 Truk → Saipan<br />'''
''[[Tenno Maru]]''
''[[Tenno Maru]]''


'''Feb 18, 1944 Truk → Palau<br />'''
'''Feb 18, 1944 Truk → Palau<br />'''
Seaplane Tender [[Japanese seaplane tender Akitsushima|''Akitsushima'']]
Seaplane Tender [[Japanese seaplane tender Akitsushima|''Akitsushima'']]


'''Feb 20, 1944 Truk → Palau<br />'''
'''Feb 20, 1944 Truk → Palau<br />'''
DD [[Japanese destroyer Fujinami|''Fujinami'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Fujinami|''Fujinami'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Akikaze|''Akikaze'']]<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Akikaze|''Akikaze'']]<br />
Repair ship [[Japanese repair ship Akashi|''Akashi'']]
Repair ship [[Japanese repair ship Akashi|''Akashi'']]


'''Feb 26, 1944 Truk → Palau<br />'''
'''Feb 26, 1944 Truk → Palau<br />'''
Hospital ship ''[[Hikawa Maru]]''
Hospital ship ''[[Hikawa Maru]]''


'''Feb 27, 1944 in Truk<br />'''
'''Feb 27, 1944 in Truk<br />'''
Subchaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-38|''CH-38'']] complete battle-damage repairs<br />
Subchaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-38|''CH-38'']] complete battle-damage repairs<br />
Subchaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-37|''CH-37'']] complete battle-damage repairs
Subchaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-37|''CH-37'']] complete battle-damage repairs


'''Feb 29, 1944 → Truk<br />'''
'''Feb 29, 1944 → Truk<br />'''
''Aratama Maru''
''Aratama Maru''


'''Mar 6, 1944 Truk → Saipan (convoy 4304)<br />'''
'''Mar 6, 1944 Truk → Saipan (convoy 4304)<br />'''
Subchaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-33|''CH-33'']]<br />
Subchaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-33|''CH-33'']]<br />
Escort [[Japanese escort ship Amakusa|''Amakusa'']]<br />
Escort [[Japanese escort ship Amakusa|''Amakusa'']]<br />
Escort [[Japanese escort ship Mikura|''Mikura'']]<br />
Escort [[Japanese escort ship Mikura|''Mikura'']]<br />
Minesweeper ''W-21''<br />
Minesweeper ''W-21''<br />
''Urakami Maru''<br />
''Urakami Maru''<br />
''Shinane Maru''<br />
''Shinane Maru''<br />
''Juzan Maru''
''Juzan Maru''


'''Mar 17, 1944 Truk → Saipan (convoy 4304)<br />'''
'''Mar 17, 1944 Truk → Saipan (convoy 4304)<br />'''
Escort ''[[Japanese escort ship Oki|Oki]]''<br />
Escort ''[[Japanese escort ship Oki|Oki]]''<br />
Sub tender ''Tsukushi Maru''<br />
Sub tender ''Tsukushi Maru''<br />
''Kazuura Maru''<br />
''Kazuura Maru''<br />
''Imizu Maru''<br />
''Imizu Maru''<br />
Minelayer ''Yurishima''
Minelayer ''Yurishima''


'''April 27, 1944 Truk → Palau<br />'''
'''April 27, 1944 Truk → Palau<br />'''
Hospital ship ''[[Hikawa Maru]]''
Hospital ship ''[[Hikawa Maru]]''


'''May 25, 1944 Truk → Saipan<br />'''
'''May 25, 1944 Truk → Saipan<br />'''
Hospital Ship [[Japanese hospital ship Ten'o Maru|''Ten'o Maru'']]
Hospital Ship [[Japanese hospital ship Ten'o Maru|''Ten'o Maru'']]


'''June 3, 1944 Truk → Saipan<br />'''
'''June 3, 1944 Truk → Saipan<br />'''
Subchaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-32|''CH-32'']]<br />
Subchaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-32|''CH-32'']]<br />
Subchaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-20|''CH-20'']]<br />
Subchaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-20|''CH-20'']]<br />
Subchaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-31|''CH-31'']]<br />
Subchaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-31|''CH-31'']]<br />
Subchaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-51|''CH-51'']]<br />
Subchaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-51|''CH-51'']]<br />
Escort ''CD-6''<br />
Escort ''CD-6''<br />
Auxiliary subchaser ''CHa-66''<br />
Auxiliary subchaser ''CHa-66''<br />
''Moji Maru''<br />
''Moji Maru''<br />
''Imizu Maru''<br />
''Imizu Maru''<br />
''Tatsutagawa Maru''<br />
''Tatsutagawa Maru''<br />
''Kojun Maru''<br />
''Kojun Maru''<br />
Oiler ''Nitcho Maru''<br />
Oiler ''Nitcho Maru''<br />
Oiler ''Kyoei Maru''<br />
Oiler ''Kyoei Maru''<br />
Oiler ''Nanko Maru No. 1''<br />
Oiler ''Nanko Maru No. 1''<br />
13 other unidentified ships.
13 other unidentified ships.</div>
|}


==List of warships in Truk at the time of attack==
==List of warships in Truk at the time of attack==

CL [[Japanese cruiser Agano|''Agano'']] (阿賀野) 6,652 tons, sunk on Feb 16th, 1944. 726 killed.<br />
===Sunk===

CL [[Japanese cruiser Agano|''Agano'']] (阿賀野) 6,652 tons, sunk by [[USS Skate (SS-305)|USS Skate]] on Feb 16th, 1944. 726 killed.<br />
CL [[Japanese cruiser Naka|''Naka'']] (那珂) 5,195 tons, departed to assist CL ''Agano'' and sunk 35 mile west of Truk on Feb 17th. 240 killed.<br />
CL [[Japanese cruiser Naka|''Naka'']] (那珂) 5,195 tons, departed to assist CL ''Agano'' and sunk 35 mile west of Truk on Feb 17th. 240 killed.<br />
CL [[Japanese cruiser Katori|''Katori'']] (香取) 5,890 tons, sunk 40 miles northwest of Truk on Feb 17th together with ''Shonan Maru #15'' and DD ''Maikaze'', only DD ''Nowaki'' escaped. 315 killed.<br />
CL [[Japanese cruiser Katori|''Katori'']] (香取) 5,890 tons, sunk 40 miles northwest of Truk on Feb 17th together with ''Shonan Maru #15'' and DD ''Maikaze'', only DD ''Nowaki'' escaped. 315 killed.<br />


DD [[Japanese destroyer Akikaze|''Akikaze'']] (秋風) 峯風型 1,215 tons, escaped undamaged<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Fumizuki|''Fumizuki'']] (文月) 睦月型 1,315 tons, anchored in repair anchorage and sunk west of lagoon on Feb 18th. 29 killed.<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Fumizuki|''Fumizuki'']] (文月) 睦月型 1,315 tons, anchored in repair anchorage and sunk off west of lagoon on Feb 18th despite assistance from DD ''Matsukaze'' and Target ship ''Hakachi''. 29 killed.<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Harusame|''Harusame'']] (春雨) 白露型 1,685 tons, minor damage and later escorted damaged DD ''Shigure'' from Truk to Palau<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Maikaze|''Maikaze'']] (舞風) 陽炎型 2,490 tons, sunk by gunfire northwest of Truk in convoy to Yokosuka on Feb 17th. 239 killed.<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Maikaze|''Maikaze'']] (舞風) 陽炎型 2,490 tons, sunk by gunfire northwest of Truk in convoy to Yokosuka on Feb 17th. 239 killed.<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Matsukaze (1923)|''Matsukaze'']] (松風) 神風型 1,400 tons, assisted and attempted to tow DD ''Fumizuki'', medium damage<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Nowaki|''Nowaki'']] (野分) 陽炎型 2,490 tons, undamaged<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Oite (1924)|''Oite'']] (追風) 神風型 1,270 tons, sunk while entering Truk via North Pass with survivors from CL ''Agano'' on Feb 18th. 172 killed.<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Oite (1924)|''Oite'']] (追風) 神風型 1,270 tons, sunk while entering Truk via North Pass with survivors from CL ''Agano'' on Feb 18th. 172 killed.<br />
DD/P34 [[Momi class destroyer|''Susuki'']] (薄) 樅型 935 tons, escaped but later sunk in an unrelated event off repair anchorage<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Tachikaze|''Tachikaze'']] (太刀風) 峯風型 1,215 tons, ran aground on [[Kuop Atoll]] on Feb 4th and later sunk in Operation ''Hailstone''. 67 killed.
DD [[Japanese destroyer Shigure|''Shigure'']] (時雨) 白露型 1,685 tons, damaged while departing Truk via North Channel to Palau on Feb 17th<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Tachikaze|''Tachikaze'']] (太刀風) 峯風型 1,215 tons, ran aground on [[Kuop Atoll]] on Feb 4th and later sunk in Operation Hailstone. 67 killed.


Auxiliary cruiser [[Japanese auxiliary cruiser Akagi Maru|''Akagi Maru'']] (赤城丸) 7,367 tons, sunk north of Truk. 1,300 killed.<br />
Auxiliary cruiser [[Japanese auxiliary cruiser Akagi Maru|''Akagi Maru'']] (赤城丸) 7,367 tons, sunk north of Truk. 1,300 killed.<br />
Line 355: Line 356:


Auxiliary submarine tender [[Heian Maru (1930)|''Heian Maru'']] (平安丸) 11,616 tons, sunk off repair anchorage. 18 killed.<br />
Auxiliary submarine tender [[Heian Maru (1930)|''Heian Maru'']] (平安丸) 11,616 tons, sunk off repair anchorage. 18 killed.<br />
Auxiliary submarine tender [[Japanese auxiliary submarine tender Rio de Janeiro Maru|''Rio de Janeiro Maru'']] (りおで志゛やねろ丸) 9,627 tons, sunk off 6th fleet anchorag. 2 killed.<br />
Auxiliary submarine tender [[Japanese auxiliary submarine tender Rio de Janeiro Maru|''Rio de Janeiro Maru'']] (りおで志゛やねろ丸) 9,627 tons, sunk off 6th fleet anchorage. 2 killed.<br />


Aircraft transport ''[[Fujikawa Maru]]''(富士川丸) 6,938 tons, sunk off 4th fleet anchorage<br />
Aircraft transport ''[[Fujikawa Maru]]''(富士川丸) 6,938 tons, sunk off 4th fleet anchorage<br />

Auxiliary submarine chaser ''Shonan Maru'' #15 (第15昭南丸), sunk<br />

Submarine chaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-24|''CH-24'']], 438 tons, sunk west of Truk<br />
Submarine chaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-29|''CH-29'']], 420 tons, sunk<br />

Motor torpedo boat #10, 80 tons, sunk<br/>

===Damaged===

DD [[Japanese destroyer Harusame|''Harusame'']] (春雨) 白露型 1,685 tons, minor damage and later escorted damaged DD ''Shigure'' from Truk to Palau<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Matsukaze (1923)|''Matsukaze'']] (松風) 神風型 1,400 tons, assisted and attempted to tow DD ''Fumizuki'', medium damage<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Shigure|''Shigure'']] (時雨) 白露型 1,685 tons, damaged while departing Truk via North Channel to Palau on Feb 17th<br />

Repair ship [[Japanese repair ship Akashi|''Akashi'']] (明石) 10,500 tons, damaged<br />
Repair ship [[Japanese repair ship Akashi|''Akashi'']] (明石) 10,500 tons, damaged<br />

Seaplane tender [[Japanese seaplane tender Akitsushima|''Akitsushima'']] (秋津洲) 4,650 tons, damaged.<br />
Seaplane tender [[Japanese seaplane tender Akitsushima|''Akitsushima'']] (秋津洲) 4,650 tons, damaged.<br />

Submarine chaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-24|''CH-24'']], 438 tons, sunk west of Truk<br />
Submarine chaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-28|''CH-28'']], 438 tons, departed Truk with DD ''Oite'' and CL ''Agano'' on 15th of Feb<br />
Submarine chaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-33|''CH-33'']], 438 tons, damaged<br />
Submarine chaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-33|''CH-33'']], 438 tons, damaged<br />
Submarine chaser ''CHa-20'', damaged<br />
Submarine chaser ''CHa-20'', damaged<br />

Submarine chaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-29|''CH-29'']], 420 tons, sunk<br />
Auxiliary submarine chaser ''Shonan Maru'' #15 (第15昭南丸), sunk<br />
Submarine [[Japanese submarine I-10|''I-10'']] (伊10), 2,919 tons, damaged<br />
Submarine [[Japanese submarine I-10|''I-10'']] (伊10), 2,919 tons, damaged<br />
Submarine [[Japanese submarine RO-36|''RO-36'']], 1,115 tons, damaged<br />
Submarine [[Japanese submarine RO-36|''RO-36'']], 1,115 tons, damaged<br />
Submarine [[Japanese submarine RO-42|''RO-42'']], 1,115 tons, undamaged<br />
Motor torpedo boat #10, 80 tons, sunk<br/>
Cargo ship [[Sōya (icebreaker)|''Sōya'']] (宗谷) 3,800 tons, damaged<br />
Cargo ship [[Sōya (icebreaker)|''Sōya'']] (宗谷) 3,800 tons, damaged<br />

Target ship [[Japanese target ship Hakachi|''Hakachi'']] (波勝) 1,641 tons, damaged
Target ship [[Japanese target ship Hakachi|''Hakachi'']] (波勝) 1,641 tons, damaged


===Escaped===
==List of merchant ships at the time of attack and other shipwrecks in Truk's Anchorage==

DD [[Japanese destroyer Akikaze|''Akikaze'']] (秋風) 峯風型 1,215 tons, escaped undamaged<br />
DD [[Japanese destroyer Nowaki|''Nowaki'']] (野分) 陽炎型 2,490 tons, undamaged<br />
DD/P34 [[Momi class destroyer|''Susuki'']] (薄) 樅型 935 tons, escaped but later sunk in an unrelated event off repair anchorage<br />

Submarine chaser [[Japanese submarine chaser CH-28|''CH-28'']], 438 tons, departed Truk with DD ''Oite'' and CL ''Agano'' on 15th of Feb<br />

Submarine [[Japanese submarine RO-42|''RO-42'']], 1,115 tons, undamaged<br />

==List of merchant ships at the time of attack==

===Sunk===

Navy transport ''Yamagiri Maru'' (山霧丸) 6,439 tons, carrying BB ''Yamato''{{'}}s 46&nbsp;cm projectiles, sunk off combined fleet anchorage<br />
Navy transport ''Yamagiri Maru'' (山霧丸) 6,439 tons, carrying BB ''Yamato''{{'}}s 46&nbsp;cm projectiles, sunk off combined fleet anchorage<br />
Navy transport/passenger/cargo ship ''Kensho Maru'' (乾祥丸) 4,861 tons, sunk off repair anchorage. 6 killed.<br />
Navy transport/passenger/cargo ship ''Kensho Maru'' (乾祥丸) 4,861 tons, sunk off repair anchorage. 6 killed.<br />
Line 388: Line 414:
Navy transport/freighter ''San Francisco Maru'' (桑港丸) 5,864 tons, sunk off 4th fleet anchorage<br />
Navy transport/freighter ''San Francisco Maru'' (桑港丸) 5,864 tons, sunk off 4th fleet anchorage<br />
Navy transport/freighter ''Unkai Maru #6''(第六雲海丸) 3,188 tons, sunk off 6th fleet anchorage<br />
Navy transport/freighter ''Unkai Maru #6''(第六雲海丸) 3,188 tons, sunk off 6th fleet anchorage<br />
Navy transport ''Kikukawa Maru'' (菊川丸) 6,853 tons, accidentally sunk on Oct 7th, 1943<br />
Navy transport ''Saiko Maru'' (西江丸)? 5,385 tons, sunk on Feb 17th, 1944<br />
Navy transport ''Saiko Maru'' (西江丸)? 5,385 tons, sunk on Feb 17th, 1944<br />

Navy hospital ship ''Ten'o Maru'' (天應丸) 6,067 tons, anchored next to ''Heian Maru'', escaped<br/>
Navy transport ''Zukai Maru'' (瑞海丸) 2,812 tons, escaped<br />
Navy transport ''Tatsuhane Maru'' (辰羽丸), also known as ''Tatuha Maru'', 5,784 tons, escaped<br />
Freighter ''Katsuragisan Maru'' (葛城山丸) 2,428 tons, sunk on Jan 4th 1944 north east off Moen<br />
Freighter ''Matsutani Maru'' (松谷丸)? 1,999 tons<br />
Freighter ''Taikichi Maru'' (泰吉丸)?<br />
Freighter ''Hino Maru #2'' (第二日野丸) 999 tons, sunk off the 6th fleet anchorage near Uman Island<br />
Freighter ''Hino Maru #2'' (第二日野丸) 999 tons, sunk off the 6th fleet anchorage near Uman Island<br />
Freighter {{SS|Seiko Maru|1940|2}} (星光丸)? 5,386 tons, sunk
Freighter {{SS|Seiko Maru|1940|2}} (星光丸)? 5,386 tons, sunk
Line 408: Line 428:
Auxiliary oil tanker/passenger/cargo ship ''Amagisan Maru'' (天城山丸) 7,620 tons, sunk off 6th fleet anchorage. 3 killed.<br />
Auxiliary oil tanker/passenger/cargo ship ''Amagisan Maru'' (天城山丸) 7,620 tons, sunk off 6th fleet anchorage. 3 killed.<br />
Auxiliary oil tanker/whaler ''Tonan Maru #3'' (第三図南丸) 19,209 tons, sunk off repair anchorage. 315 killed.<br />
Auxiliary oil tanker/whaler ''Tonan Maru #3'' (第三図南丸) 19,209 tons, sunk off repair anchorage. 315 killed.<br />

Auxiliary provision storeship ''Sapporo Maru'' (札幌丸), sunk on May 29, 1944 on west of lagoon<br />
Freighter ''Matsutani Maru'' (松谷丸), 1,999 tons, sunk<br />
Freighter ''Taikichi Maru'' (泰吉丸), sunk<br />

===Damaged===

Repair ship/cargo ship ''Urakami Maru'', anchored next to ''Tenno Maru'' and ''Heian Maru'', damaged
Repair ship/cargo ship ''Urakami Maru'', anchored next to ''Tenno Maru'' and ''Heian Maru'', damaged


===Escaped===
Picket boat ''Kotohira Maru'' 30 tons, sunk on April 15, 1944<br />

Salvage tug [[Tategami-class salvage tugboat|''Woshima'']] (雄島) 812 tons, accidentally sunk in an explosion with ''Kikukawa Maru'' on Oct 7th,1943<br />
Navy hospital ship ''Ten'o Maru'' (天應丸) 6,067 tons, anchored next to ''Heian Maru'', escaped<br/>
Salvage tug [[Kasashima-class salvage tugboat|''Futakami'']] (二神) 600 tons, scuttled off repair anchorage postwar

Navy transport ''Zukai Maru'' (瑞海丸) 2,812 tons, escaped<br />
Navy transport ''Tatsuhane Maru'' (辰羽丸), also known as ''Tatuha Maru'', 5,784 tons, escaped<br />

Auxiliary provision storeship ''Sapporo Maru'' (札幌丸), sunk on May 29, 1944 on west of lagoon<br />

==Footnotes==
{{reflist|group=nb}}


==References==
==References==

{{Reflist}}
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}


* {{cite book
|ref = harv
|last = Astor
|first = Gerald
|title=Wings of Gold: The U.S. Naval Air Campaign in World War II
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nJJkMb0hoscC
|year = 2007
|publisher=Random House Publishing Group

|isbn=978-0-307-41777-0
}}

* {{cite AV Media
| last = Castle
| first = Eugene
| year =1944
| title =Yanks Smash Truk
| url =https://archive.org/details/gov.fdr.267
| publisher =[[Castle Films]]
| accessdate =February 27, 2013
| ref = harv
}}

* {{cite book
|ref=harv
|last=Hornfischer
|first=James
|title=The Fleet at Flood Tide: America at Total War in the Pacific, 1944-1945
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x4kmDQAAQBAJ
|year=2016
|publisher=Random House Publishing Group
|isbn=978-0-345-54870-2
}}

* {{cite web
|ref=harv
|url= https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/npswapa/extContent/wapa/paradise/paradise4.htm
|title= War in Paradise: World War II in Chuuk
|last=Jeffery
|first=Bill
|date=2003
|website= National Park Service
|publisher= Chuuk Historical Preservation Office
|access-date= October 5, 2017
}}

* {{cite book
|ref=harv
|last=Merriam
|first=Ray
|title=World War 2 In Review
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GMk2DwAAQBAJ
|date=2017
|publisher=Lulu.com
|isbn=978-1-387-20051-1
}}

*{{cite book
| last = Morison
| first = Samuel Eliot
| authorlink = Samuel Eliot Morison
| year = 1961
| chapter =
| title = Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, June 1942-April 1944, [[History of United States Naval Operations in World War II]]
| publisher = [[Little, Brown and Company]]
| location = Boston
| id = ASIN B0007FBB8I
| ref = harv
}}

* {{cite web
|ref=harv
|url= http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/USSBS/PTO-Campaigns/USSBS-PTO-9.html
|title= The Campaigns of the Pacific War, Chapter 9: Central Pacific Operations
|last=Ofstie
|first=Ralph
|authorlink=Ralph A. Ofstie
|year=1946
|website= HyperWar
|publisher= Naval Analysis Division, Government Printing Office
|access-date= October 5, 2017
}}

* {{cite book
|ref=harv
|last=Prados
|first=John
|title=Combined Fleet Decoded: The Secret History of American Intelligence and the Japanese Navy in World War II
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l9NNPgAACAAJ
|year=1995
|publisher=Naval Institute Press
|isbn=978-1-55750-431-9
}}

* {{cite magazine
|ref=harv
|last= Rems
|first= Alan
|date= February 2014
|title= Two Birds with One Hailstone
|url= https://www.usni.org/magazines/navalhistory/2014-01/two-birds-one-hailstone
|magazine= Naval History Magazine
|volume= 28
|publisher= U.S. Naval Institute
|access-date= October 5, 2017
}}

* {{cite book
|ref = harv
|last = Tillman
|first = Barrett
|title= Helldiver Units of World War 2
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=xLU2vgAACAAJ
|year = 1997
|publisher = Bloomsbury USA
|isbn=978-1-85532-689-7
}}

* {{cite book
|ref=harv
|last=Toll
|first=Ian
|title=The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942-1944: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942–1944
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4OlwBgAAQBAJ
|year=2015
|publisher=W. W. Norton
|isbn=978-0-393-24820-3
}}

* {{cite news
|ref = harv
| last = Trumbull
| first = Robert
| date = 30 April 1972
| title = The Graveyard Lure of Truk Lagoon
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/1972/04/30/archives/the-graveyard-lure-of-truk-lagoon.html
| work = [[New York Times]]
| access-date = October 5, 2017
}}

* {{cite web
|ref=harv
|url= https://www.intrepidmuseum.org/CuratorsCorner/June-2010-(1)/Torpedo-Damage-Report
|title= Torpedo Damage Report
|last=Williams
|first=Jessica
|date= 21 June 2000
|website= Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
|access-date= October 29, 2017
}}

* {{cite book
|ref=harv
|last=Wilmott
|first=H.P.
|title=The Battle of Leyte Gulf: The Last Fleet Action
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_jWSxLA5oCkC
|year=2005
|publisher=Indiana University Press
|isbn=0-253-00351-2
}}

{{Refend}}

===Primary sources===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite web
| ref = harv
| last = Gardner
| first = M.B.
| year = 1944
| title = Action Report, Air Group 10, 16–17 February 1944
| work = Fold3
| url = https://www.fold3.com/image/300382188
| accessdate = October 26, 2017
| publisher = [[Ancestry.com]]
| subscription = yes
}}
* {{cite web
| ref = harv
| last = Harrison
| first = Harry
| year = 1944
| title = Action Report, Air Group 6, 16–17 February 1944
| work = Fold3
| url = https://www.fold3.com/image/272841152
| accessdate = October 26, 2017
| publisher = [[Ancestry.com]]
| subscription = yes
}}
* {{cite web
| ref = harv
| last = Jeter
| first = T.P.
| year = 1944
| title = Action Report, Air Group 17, 16–17 February 1944
| work = Fold3
| url = https://www.fold3.com/image/270590190
| accessdate = October 27, 2017
| publisher = [[Ancestry.com]]
| subscription = yes
}}

* {{cite web
| ref = harv
| last = Stebbins
| first = Edgar
| year = 1944
| title = Action Report, Air Group 5, 16–17 February 1944
| work = Fold3
| url = https://www.fold3.com/image/270591795
| accessdate = October 28, 2017
| publisher = [[Ancestry.com]]
| subscription = yes
}}

* {{cite web
| ref = harv
| last = Sprague
| first = Thomas
| authorlink = Thomas L. Sprague
| year = 1944
| title = Action Report, Intrepid Air Operations Against Truk Atoll, 16–17 February 1944
| work = Fold3
| url = https://www.fold3.com/image/270591712
| accessdate = October 29, 2017
| publisher = [[Ancestry.com]]
| subscription = yes
}}

* {{cite web
| ref = harv
| last = White
| first = Ogden
| year = 1944
| title = Action Report, Air Group 9, 16–17 February 1944
| work = Fold3
| url = https://www.fold3.com/image/274199209
| accessdate = October 28, 2017
| publisher = [[Ancestry.com]]
| subscription = yes
}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
Line 503: Line 785:
| location = Oregon, USA
| location = Oregon, USA
| isbn = 1-59752-347-X
| isbn = 1-59752-347-X
}}
*{{cite book
| last = Morison
| first = Samuel Eliot
| authorlink = Samuel Eliot Morison
| year = 1961
| chapter =
| title = Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, June 1942-April 1944, [[History of United States Naval Operations in World War II]]
| publisher = [[Little, Brown and Company]]
| location = Boston
| id = ASIN B0007FBB8I
| ref = harv
}}
}}
*{{cite book
*{{cite book
Line 595: Line 865:
| accessdate = 2007-01-23
| accessdate = 2007-01-23
}}
}}
*{{cite web
* [http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=14 WW2DB: Attack on Truk]
| last = Muir
* [http://www.cv6.org/1944/truk/default.htm Account of the operation from ''Enterprise'' website]
| first = Dan
* [http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/Danimal_57/hailstorm.htm&date=2009-10-25+07:23:13 Moderately brief account of the attack]
| date =
| url = http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Truk.php
| title = Order of Battle, Raid On Truk 17–18 February 1944
| publisher = NavWeaps
| accessdate = 2017-09-29
}}
*{{cite web
| last = Ramage
| first = James
| authorlink = James D. Ramage
| date =
| url = http://www.cv6.org/1944/truk/default.htm
| title = James Ramage, Executive Officer of USS Enterprise's Bombing Squadron 10 (VB-10), Recalls Strikes On Truk
| accessdate = 2017-09-29
}}
*{{cite web
*{{cite web
|url = http://www.nps.gov/pwro/piso/Trukplan/TrukFrm.htm
|url = http://www.nps.gov/pwro/piso/Trukplan/TrukFrm.htm
Line 603: Line 888:
|publisher = National Park Service
|publisher = National Park Service
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20121106050107/http://www.nps.gov/pwro/piso/Trukplan/TrukFrm.htm
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20121106050107/http://www.nps.gov/pwro/piso/Trukplan/TrukFrm.htm

|archivedate = 2012-11-06
|archivedate = 2012-11-06
}}
}}
* [http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=14 WW2DB: Attack on Truk]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VS-k9pcfoI Yanks Smash Truk! Operation Hailstone Newsreel]
[[Category:Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II|Hailstone]]
[[Category:Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II|Hailstone]]
[[Category:History of the Federated States of Micronesia]]
[[Category:History of the Federated States of Micronesia]]

Revision as of 17:47, 29 October 2017

Operation Hailstone
Part of World War II, Pacific War

Japanese ships on fire off Dublon Island, Truk Lagoon, on the first day of air strikes conducted as part of Operation Hailstone
DateFebruary 17, 1944 – February 18, 1944
Location
Truk, Caroline Islands
7°20′21″N 151°53′05″E / 7.3393°N 151.8846°E / 7.3393; 151.8846
Result American victory, prevented the Japanese reinforcement of Eniwetok garrison, key Japanese warships avoided destruction
Belligerents
 United States  Japan
Commanders and leaders
Marc A. Mitscher Masami Kobayashi
Strength
5 fleet carriers
4 light carriers
7 battleships
10 cruisers
28 destroyers
10 submarines
560 planes		 5 cruisers
8 destroyers
5 other warships
50 merchant ships
350 planes
Casualties and losses
1 aircraft carrier damaged
1 battleship slightly damaged
25 aircraft destroyed
40 killed[nb 1]		 3 cruisers
4 destroyers
3 auxiliary cruisers
6 auxiliaries
  • 1 aircraft ferry
  • 2 submarine tenders
  • 3 smaller warships

32 merchant ships sunk
250+ aircraft destroyed
4,500+ killed

Operation Hailstone (known in Japan as Template:Lang-ja Torakku-tō Kūshū, lit. "the airstrike on Truk Island"), 17–18 February, 1944, was a massive United States Navy air and surface attack on Truk Lagoon conducted as part of the Allies' offensive drive through the Pacific Ocean theater during World War II.

Prior to Hailstone, Truk had been used as an anchorage for the Imperial Japanese Navy's (IJN) Combined Fleet. The coral atoll surrounding Truk's islands created a safe harbor whose few points of ingress the Japanese fortified with antiaircraft guns and other equipment. Allied estimates of Truk's defenses and its role as an IJN stronghold led newspapers and military men to call it the "Gibraltar of the Pacific," or to compare it to Pearl Harbor. Its position in the Caroline Islands also made Truk an ideal shipping hub for materiel moving from Japan's home islands down through the South Pacific Mandate and into the "Southern Resources Area."

By early 1944 Truk was increasingly unsustainable as a forward base of operations for the IJN. The United States Army under General Douglas MacArthur had been moving up through the South Pacific, isolating Japanese strong points as part of Operation Cartwheel; and the US Navy, under the command of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, had just seized areas in the nearby Marshall Islands. As a result, the IJN relocated Combined Fleet's forward base to Palau and began clearing warships out of Truk in advance of Hailstone.

The attack on Truk nevertheless caught a large number of merchant and shipping vessels in habor, as well as some warships. Between submarine, surface and air attack over Hailstone's two days, around 250 Japanese planes were destroyed; approximately 40 ships (3 light cruisers, 4 destroyers, 9 auxiliaries, over two dozen merchant and shipping vessels) were sunk; and considerable damage was inflicted on the lagoon's various island bases, including communications centers, supply dumps and a submarine base. Truk remained effectively isolated for the remainder of the war, cut off and surrounded by the Allies' island hopping campaign.

Background

Map of the Caroline Islands

The Japanese occupied Micronesia, including the Caroline Islands, in 1914. Truk was established as a Japanese naval base as early as 1939. The lagoon was first built up to house the IJN's 4th Fleet, its "South Seas Force." After the outbreak of war with the United States, 4th fleet was put under the command of Combined Fleet, which continued to use Truk as a forward operating base into 1944. In addition to anchorages for warships and port facilities for shipping running between the home islands and the Southern Resources Area, five airstrips and a seaplane base were constructed at Truk, making it the only major Japanese airbase within range of the Marshall Islands.[2]

Despite the impressions of U.S. Navy leaders and the American public concerning Truk's projected fortifications, the base was never significantly reinforced or protected against attack. In fact, the development of Truk only began in concert and in hurried fashion in late 1943, when airfields were extended, shore batteries were installed and other defensive measures taken against U.S. encroachment.[3]

Because aircraft stationed at Truk could potentially interfere with the upcoming invasion of Eniwetok, and because Truk had recently served as a ferry point for the resupply of aircraft to Rabaul, Admiral Raymond Spruance ordered Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher's Task Force 58 (TF 58) to carry out strikes against the atoll. Three of TF 58's four carrier task groups (TGs) were committed to the strikes. Their total strength consisted of 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.[4]

The Japanese meanwhile understood the weakness of their position at Truk. The IJN had begun withdrawing fleet units from its anchorages as early as October 1943. The effective abandonment of Truk as a forward operating base accelerated in the first week of February 1944, following sightings of U.S. Marines PB4Y-1 Liberator scout planes sent out to reconnoiter the area.[5]

Attack

1944 U.S. newsreel about the attack

The three carrier task groups committed to Hailstone moved into position and began launching their first fighter sweep 90 minutes before daybreak on 17 February 1944. No Japanese air patrol was active at that time as the IJN's 22nd and 26th Air Flotillas, after weeks on high alert following the Liberator sightings, were enjoying shore leave.[6] Similarly problematic, radar on Truk was not capable of detecting low-flying planes – a weakness probably known and exploited by Allied intelligence organizations. Because of these factors U.S. carrier aircraft achieved total surprise.[7]

Japanese pilots scrambled into their cockpits just minutes before TF 58 planes arrived over Eten, Param, Moen and Dublon islands. Though there were more than 300 Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) and Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS) planes present at Truk on the first day of attacks, only about half of these were operational compared with over 500 operational aircraft between the carriers of TF 58. U.S. Navy fighter pilots in their Grumman F6F Hellcats, with the advantages of speed, altitude and surprise, achieved a one–sided victory against IJNAF pilots flying the inferior Mitsubishi A6M Zero. As many as 30 of the 80 Zeros sent up in response to the fighter sweep were shot down, compared with 4 Hellcats reported lost. Only token aerial resistance was encountered for the rest of the morning; virtually no Japanese aircraft were present by the afternoon.[8][4]

Due to the lack of air cover or warning, many merchant ships were caught at anchor with only the islands' anti-aircraft guns for defense against U.S. carrier planes. Some vessels outside of the lagoon already steaming towards Japan, like the crippled cruiser Agano, were attacked by U.S. submarines and sunk before they could make their escape. Still others attempting to flee via the atoll's North Pass were bottled up by aerial attack and by Admiral Spruance's surface force, Task Group 50.9, which circumnavigated Truk bombarding shore positions and engaging enemy ships.[9]

Torpedo and dive bomber squadrons from the carrier air groups (CAGs) were responsible for the bulk of damage inflicted upon Japanese ground facilities. Early on the first day of Hailstone, Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber squadrons from USS Enterprise's Air Group 10 (CAG-10) and USS Intrepid's CAG-6 dropped fragmentation and incendiary bombs on runways at Eten Island island as well as the seaplane base on Moen Island. Dozens of aircraft were damaged or destroyed, further blunting any possible response to the strikes by the Japanese. Subsequent joint attacks by dive bomber aircraft[nb 2] and Avenger torpedo bombers cratered runways and destroyed hangar facilities.[11][12]

Morning strikes were likewise launched against shipping targets in the lagoon. Lieutenant Commander (later Rear Admiral) James D. Ramage, commanding officer of Dive Bombing Squadron 10 (VB-10), is credited with sinking the previously damaged merchant tanker Hoyo Maru.[13] Lieutenant James E. Bridges and his crew in one of Intrepid's Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6) Avengers scored a direct hit on the ammunition ship Aikoku Maru. The bomb blast set off a tremendous explosion which immediately sank the ship and apparently engulfed the plane as well, killing all three men inside.[14]

Japanese ammunition ship Aikoku Maru exploding after a torpedo hit, February 17, 1944.

By the second and third anti-shipping strikes of the day, carrier air group action reports listed the apparent enemy mission as "escape."[15] Those ships able to make for open sea steamed for the North Pass exit from the lagoon while weathering repeated aerial attacks. One particular group of warships – cruiser Katori, auxillary cruiser Akagi Maru, destroyers Maikaze, Nowaki and minesweeper Shonan Maru – was given special attention by carrier bombers. Multiple air groups attacked these ships, inflicting serious damage. Yorktown's dive and torpedo bombing squadrons together claimed 2 hits on Katori as well as hits on another cruiser and multiple destroyers; Essex bombers claimed as many as 5 hits on a Katori-class cruiser as well, indicating that the ship was stopped dead in the water after the attack.[16][17]

At this point reports reached Admiral Spruance concerning the group of warships fleeing through North Pass. The admiral put himself in tactical command of Task Group 50.9, made up of four destroyers, two heavy cruisers and the battleships USS Iowa and USS New Jersey, which he personally led in a surface engagement against the previously damaged Japanese ships. Spruance was so adamant on engaging in ship-to-ship combat that his carrier commander, Admiral Mitscher, ordered his air groups stop attacking Katori and her companions.[18]

The battered Japanese ships did not stand much of a chance against Task Group 50.9, though Spruance's decision to engage in surface action when aircraft likely could have achieved similar results was seen by members of his staff as needlessly reckless. Indeed, the Japanese destroyer Maikaze managed to fire torpedoes at the battleship New Jersey during the engagement. Fortunately for Spruance, the torpedoes missed and the "battle" ended with predictably one–sided results. Virtually no damage was incurred by the US Navy surface combatants. The IJN lost Maikaze, Shonan Maru, Katori and Akagi Maru. Destroyer Nowaki was the only Japanese ship from this group to escape.[19]

Retaliation for the day's strikes arrived late at night in the form of small groups of Japanese bombers probing the task groups' defenses. From roughly 21:00 on 17 February to just minutes past midnight on 18 February, at least 5 groups of between 1–3 enemy planes attempted to sneak past screening ships to strike at the fleet carriers. One such plane, a Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" bomber, managed to evade night fighter planes protecting the US task force and drop its torpedo on Task Group 58.2. Intrepid was struck in the starboard quarter by the torpedo, which damaged steering control and killed 11 sailors. The ship was forced to retire to the US for repairs and did not return to combat until August 1944.[20][21]

Aftermath

Truk, like so many other Japanese bases, was left to wither on the vine without hope of resupply or reinforcement. Army forces which had arrived at the atoll prior to U.S. attacks put increasing strain on available foodstuffs and medical supplies. Dwindling ammunition even limited the ability of shore batteries to fend off intermittent attacks by Allied forces, including experimental raids by Boeing B-29 Superfortress and attacks by British carrier aircraft.[22]

Losses at Truk were severe. Some 17,000 tons of stored fuel were destroyed by the strikes.[23] Shipping losses totaled almost 200,000 tons including precious resources in fleet oilers.[24] This represents almost one tenth of total Japanese shipping losses between 1 November 1943 and 30 June 1944.[25] Moreover, the isolation of this whole area of operations by submarine and air attack meant the effective severance of Japanese shipping lanes between empire waters and critical fuel supplies in e.g. Borneo. The ultimate effect of such a disconnect was later seen during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, when IJN forces had to sortie separately from Japan and Lingga Roads due to fuel constraints.

The neutralization of Truk and the seizure of Eniwetok paved the way for the upcoming invasion of Saipan, which for the first time put U.S. land-based heavy bombers within range of the Japanese home islands.[26]

Truk is renowned today as a tourist destination for divers interested in seeing the numerous shipwrecks left behind in the lagoon, many of which were caused by the Operation Hailstone strikes.[27]

Truk IJN Anchorage Evacuation Log Book

List of warships in Truk at the time of attack

Sunk

CL Agano (阿賀野) 6,652 tons, sunk by USS Skate on Feb 16th, 1944. 726 killed.
CL Naka (那珂) 5,195 tons, departed to assist CL Agano and sunk 35 mile west of Truk on Feb 17th. 240 killed.
CL Katori (香取) 5,890 tons, sunk 40 miles northwest of Truk on Feb 17th together with Shonan Maru #15 and DD Maikaze, only DD Nowaki escaped. 315 killed.

DD Fumizuki (文月) 睦月型 1,315 tons, anchored in repair anchorage and sunk west of lagoon on Feb 18th. 29 killed.
DD Maikaze (舞風) 陽炎型 2,490 tons, sunk by gunfire northwest of Truk in convoy to Yokosuka on Feb 17th. 239 killed.
DD Oite (追風) 神風型 1,270 tons, sunk while entering Truk via North Pass with survivors from CL Agano on Feb 18th. 172 killed.
DD Tachikaze (太刀風) 峯風型 1,215 tons, ran aground on Kuop Atoll on Feb 4th and later sunk in Operation Hailstone. 67 killed.

Auxiliary cruiser Akagi Maru (赤城丸) 7,367 tons, sunk north of Truk. 1,300 killed.
Auxiliary cruiser Aikoku Maru (爱国丸) 10,348 tons, sunk off 4th fleet anchorage. 925 killed.
Auxiliary cruiser Kiyosumi Maru (清澄丸) 6,983 tons, sunk off repair anchorage. 43 killed.

Auxiliary submarine tender Heian Maru (平安丸) 11,616 tons, sunk off repair anchorage. 18 killed.
Auxiliary submarine tender Rio de Janeiro Maru (りおで志゛やねろ丸) 9,627 tons, sunk off 6th fleet anchorage. 2 killed.

Aircraft transport Fujikawa Maru(富士川丸) 6,938 tons, sunk off 4th fleet anchorage

Auxiliary submarine chaser Shonan Maru #15 (第15昭南丸), sunk

Submarine chaser CH-24, 438 tons, sunk west of Truk
Submarine chaser CH-29, 420 tons, sunk

Motor torpedo boat #10, 80 tons, sunk

Damaged

DD Harusame (春雨) 白露型 1,685 tons, minor damage and later escorted damaged DD Shigure from Truk to Palau
DD Matsukaze (松風) 神風型 1,400 tons, assisted and attempted to tow DD Fumizuki, medium damage
DD Shigure (時雨) 白露型 1,685 tons, damaged while departing Truk via North Channel to Palau on Feb 17th

Repair ship Akashi (明石) 10,500 tons, damaged

Seaplane tender Akitsushima (秋津洲) 4,650 tons, damaged.

Submarine chaser CH-33, 438 tons, damaged
Submarine chaser CHa-20, damaged

Submarine I-10 (伊10), 2,919 tons, damaged
Submarine RO-36, 1,115 tons, damaged
Cargo ship Sōya (宗谷) 3,800 tons, damaged

Target ship Hakachi (波勝) 1,641 tons, damaged

Escaped

DD Akikaze (秋風) 峯風型 1,215 tons, escaped undamaged
DD Nowaki (野分) 陽炎型 2,490 tons, undamaged
DD/P34 Susuki (薄) 樅型 935 tons, escaped but later sunk in an unrelated event off repair anchorage

Submarine chaser CH-28, 438 tons, departed Truk with DD Oite and CL Agano on 15th of Feb

Submarine RO-42, 1,115 tons, undamaged

List of merchant ships at the time of attack

Sunk

Navy transport Yamagiri Maru (山霧丸) 6,439 tons, carrying BB Yamato's 46 cm projectiles, sunk off combined fleet anchorage
Navy transport/passenger/cargo ship Kensho Maru (乾祥丸) 4,861 tons, sunk off repair anchorage. 6 killed.
Navy transport/passenger/cargo ship Sankisan Maru (山鬼山丸) 4,776 tons, sunk off 6th fleet anchorage
Navy transport Houki Maru (伯耆丸) 7,112 ton, sunk off 4th fleet anchorage
Navy transport Reiyo Maru (麗洋丸) 5,446 tons,sunk off 4th fleet anchorage
Navy transport/freighter Syoutan Maru (松丹丸) 1,999 tons, sunk off 4th fleet anchorage
Navy water carrier/passenger/cargo ship Nippo Maru (日豊丸) 3,673 tons, sunk off 4th fleet anchorage
Navy transport Taiho Maru (大邦丸) 2,829 tons, sunk off 6th fleet anchorage
Navy transport/freighter Gosei Maru (五星丸) 1,931 tons, sunk off 6th fleet anchorage
Navy transport/freighter Hanakawa Maru (花川丸) 4,793 tons, sunk off Tol
Navy transport/freighter Hokuyo Maru (北洋丸) 4,217 tons, sunk off 4th fleet anchorage
Navy transport/freighter Momokawa Maru (桃川丸) 3,829 tons, sunk off 4th fleet anchorage
Navy transport/freighter San Francisco Maru (桑港丸) 5,864 tons, sunk off 4th fleet anchorage
Navy transport/freighter Unkai Maru #6(第六雲海丸) 3,188 tons, sunk off 6th fleet anchorage
Navy transport Saiko Maru (西江丸)? 5,385 tons, sunk on Feb 17th, 1944

Freighter Hino Maru #2 (第二日野丸) 999 tons, sunk off the 6th fleet anchorage near Uman Island
Freighter Seiko Maru (星光丸)? 5,386 tons, sunk

Army transport Gyoten Maru (暁天丸) 6,865 tons, sunk by USS Tang off Truk on February 17, 1944
Army transport Yubae Maru (夕映丸) 3,200 tons,sunk off 6th fleet anchorage
Army transport/freighter Nagano Maru (長野丸) 3,810 tons, sunk off 4th fleet anchorage

Fleet oiler Shinkoku Maru (神国丸) 10,020 tons, sunk off combined fleet anchorage. 86 killed.
Oil tanker Fujisan Maru (富士山丸) 9,524 tons, sunk south west off Moen. 4 killed.
Auxiliary oil tanker Houyou Maru or Hoyo Maru (宝洋丸) 8,691 tons, sunk off repair anchorage. 6 killed.
Auxiliary oil tanker/passenger/cargo ship Amagisan Maru (天城山丸) 7,620 tons, sunk off 6th fleet anchorage. 3 killed.
Auxiliary oil tanker/whaler Tonan Maru #3 (第三図南丸) 19,209 tons, sunk off repair anchorage. 315 killed.

Freighter Matsutani Maru (松谷丸), 1,999 tons, sunk
Freighter Taikichi Maru (泰吉丸), sunk

Damaged

Repair ship/cargo ship Urakami Maru, anchored next to Tenno Maru and Heian Maru, damaged

Escaped

Navy hospital ship Ten'o Maru (天應丸) 6,067 tons, anchored next to Heian Maru, escaped

Navy transport Zukai Maru (瑞海丸) 2,812 tons, escaped
Navy transport Tatsuhane Maru (辰羽丸), also known as Tatuha Maru, 5,784 tons, escaped

Auxiliary provision storeship Sapporo Maru (札幌丸), sunk on May 29, 1944 on west of lagoon

Footnotes

  1. ^ Deaths included 29 aircrew from assorted carriers plus 11 sailors aboard Intrepid. Aircraft losses included 12 fighters, 7 torpedo-bombers, and 6 dive-bombers.[1]
  2. ^ All dive bomber squadrons with the exception of Bunker Hill's VB-17 flew the Douglas SBD Dauntless at this time. VB-17 was the first squadron to use the newer Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, which later replaced the Dauntless as the US Navy's standard dive bomber.[10]
  3. ^ List wholly derived from Merriam Press (2017).[28]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Morison 1961, p. 330
  2. ^ Jeffery 2003. sfn error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFJeffery2003 (help)
  3. ^ Toll 2015, pp. 404–405.
  4. ^ a b Rems 2014.
  5. ^ Prados 1995, pp. 533–535.
  6. ^ Hornfischer 2016, pp. 6–7.
  7. ^ Prados 1995, p. 537.
  8. ^ Toll 2015, pp. 405–406.
  9. ^ Prados 1995, pp. 537–538.
  10. ^ Tillman 1997, pp. 16–17, 31
  11. ^ Gardner 1944.
  12. ^ Harrison 1944.
  13. ^ Toll 2015, p. 407.
  14. ^ Astor 2007, pp. 233–234.
  15. ^ Jeter 1944, p. 15.
  16. ^ Stebbins 1944, p. 3.
  17. ^ White 1944, pp. 85–98.
  18. ^ Toll 2015, pp. 410–411.
  19. ^ Hornfischer 2016, pp. 11–15.
  20. ^ Sprague 1944, pp. 14–15.
  21. ^ Williams 2000.
  22. ^ Prados 1995, p. 538.
  23. ^ Hornfischer 2016, p. 18.
  24. ^ Toll 2015, pp. 413–414.
  25. ^ Wilmott 2005, p. 292.
  26. ^ Ofstie 1946, pp. 194–195.
  27. ^ Trumbull 1972.
  28. ^ Merriam 2017.

Bibliography


  • Astor, Gerald (2007). Wings of Gold: The U.S. Naval Air Campaign in World War II. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-307-41777-0. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

Primary sources

Further reading

  • Bailey, Dan E. (1992). World War II: Wrecks of the Kwajalein and Truk Lagoons. North Valley Diver Publications. ISBN 0-911615-05-9.
  • Brown, David (1990). Warship Losses of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-914-X.
  • Brown, Herbert C. (2000). Hell at Tassafaronga. Ancient Mariners Pr. ISBN 0-9700721-4-7.-Firsthand account of Operation Hailstone by a crewmember of USS New Orleans.
  • Cressman, Robert J. (2000). The official chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-149-1.
  • D'Albas, Andrieu (1965). Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II. Devin-Adair Pub. ISBN 0-8159-5302-X.
  • Ito, Masanori (1986). The End of the Imperial Japanese Navy (reissue ed.). Jove. ISBN 0-515-08682-7.
  • Lacroix, Eric; Linton Wells (1997). Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-311-3.
  • Lindemann, Klaus (2005). Hailstorm Over Truk Lagoon: Operations Against Truk by Carrier Task Force 58, 17 and 18 February 1944, and the Shipwrecks of World War II. Oregon, USA: Resource Publications. ISBN 1-59752-347-X.
  • Peattie, Mark (1992). Nan'Yo: The Rise and Fall of the Japanese in Micronesia, 1885-1945 (Pacific Islands Monograph Series). University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0-8248-1480-0.
  • Stafford, Edward P. (2002). The Big E: The Story of the USS Enterprise (reissue ed.). Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-998-0.
  • Stewart, William Herman (1986). Ghost Fleet of the Truk Lagoon: An Account of "Operation Hailstone", February, 1944. Pictorial Histories. ISBN 0-933126-66-2.
  • Wright III, Burton. Eastern Mandates. The U.S. Army Campaigns in World War II. United States Army Center of Military History.
  • Tashirō Iwashige, The visual guide of Japanese wartime merchant marine, "Dainippon Kaiga". (Japan), May 2009. ISBN 978-4-499-22989-0
Video
  • Quest for Sunken Warships: "Operation Hailstone", 2007, documentary, Military Channel, last aired September 30, 2010, 4-5pm MDT.
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