Page 11 - Micronesia

ZERO 1 Fefan Eten Airfield HOKI MARU SHOTAN MARU 286' (87m), 1,999-ton Cargo
HOKUYO MARU
Tarik BETTY (Bomber) SAN FRANCISCO MARU Ship was used for auxiliary duties and was less than

HANAKAWA PATROL BOAT NO. 34 Approx 300' (91m), FUJIKAWA MARU a year old when it was anchored at Truk Lagoon with
MARU 935-ton Patrol boat (ex-Destroyer, ex-Sutsuki) was FOURTH FLEET ANCHORAGE afrocmargthoeoUf SZSerEonatiercrprarifstecohmit hpeornoenntFse. bA. f1te8r, attackers
07020'N built in 1919, but retrofitted in 1939 for Patrol Boat 1944, her 07020'N
Polle use. Retrofitting of aft end later enabled her to carry a captain tried to run her into shallow water toward
pair of landing craft. In March, 1943 she collided with Fanamu Island to prevent sinking. But a huge hole
Japanese Destroyer Yakaze near New Guinea, and UNKAI aft of midships flooded the ship too quickly and she
had to be towed to Truk for repairs. However, she MARU went down in deep water before she could get there.
was not sunk during Operation Hailstone, but was NO. 6
done in under mysterious circumstances on July 3,
1944 instead. SIXTH FLEET ANCHORAGE Alanelimo
Pisinmelikomo
Torres I. GOSEI MARU
Faluaw
KIYOSUMI MARU 450' (87m), 8,614-ton Passenger-Cargo Ship was YUBAE Pisar
built in 1934 and provided service to New York from Kobe, Japan. In 1941 she MARU

was converted into an armed auxiliary cruiser, Bwaitlhaoeigahtttaacnktei-daiKrciyraofstugmuni sMaanrud ONE GUN BOAT Uman RIO DE
a pair of torpedo launchers. US Submarine TAIHO MARU JANEIRO
with a half dozen topedoes, three of which nailed her, but she didn't go down. A
sister ctairmnudeisUoeSfr OOSpyEeonrdatoetirtoponrwisHeeaddilhsidetorhnTeeor.iTnDr.uo4ku3Lgcalargesowodmniv,eewnbhdoeimeredbseinhrstehfweroaamsttaUbceSkinSsg.Yroerpkatoirwedn SUPPLY VESSELS MARU OJIMA 161' (49m), 812-ton Tategami Class Salvage
aCtVth1e0 Tsis SANKISAN MARU Tug built in 1937. On October 7th, 1943 the Ojima was
Tonuamu assisting the Kikukawa Maru, which had a fire onboard.
Attempts were being made to extinguish the fire when a
AMAGISAN MARU tremendous explosion erupted and both vessels were
UNKNOWN sent to the bottom with many lives lost.

HOYO MARU 475' (145m), 8,691-ton Naval Tanker built in
1936 as a commercial oiler and requisitioned by the Japanese Navy Fananan
in 1941. The ship was struck by a torpedo and a fire erupted on
Leneperer Reef November 6th, 1943. The ship made it back to Truk where it was

Pueilap Reef CubynVd1pe0lra.gnoTeihnsegfsrreohpmipacitrahspewshcizeaenrdriietawrnsdasUsabSnoSkmwEbienthdtetarhpgerailsionesosanonFfdseibxUrcuSraSerwyYm1o7er,kn1t.o9w4n4 Faneu

HANAKAWA MARU 368' (112m), 4,739-ton Passenger-Cargo HOKI MARU Feinif
OaSnhndipFUewSbarSsuaMbruyoinl1tt8ein,re11y994c44i2rcaalefnodduTrcsrauorkmriLeeadogftoraootontapacsnkadanicrdcarmaavfeitafutriopomnongUaTSsoSol lIBisnlueanndkderufrrmHomsil.l 450' (138m), 7,113-ton Cargo Ship was built in 1921
the south with the Hanakawa Maru in their sites. The first torpedo hit her for the Union Steam Ship Co. of New Zealand for trans-Pacific trade,
midships and ignited her aviation fuel into a massive explosion. In a Aualap Passage mostly to Australia. In July, 1942 she was ambushed by Japanese
moment there was nothing left except burning fuel. Two more torpedoes South Passage armed merchant cruisers Hokoku Maru and Aikoku Maru and
were expended on her, although they weren't needed, and a fourth Ozoluk Reef Eo TcEUaosSpksSyteuoxBr.eaudnnO,dknweUrFiSthHeSbilhYrlueCoarrVrkcy1tro7e1w.w7n,Sbs1heo9enm4t4bbtuesorrhnsteheaedwndaahsntohdrrereisnbpaleteonarktOpebedfuedlynfooaeardetPtabtOhcyekWpelnadeCnbxeatysmdUfparoSymi'Sns
torpedo missed and hit the island, burning a fuel dock and a church. Ollan Otta PassFaleuPagura ReefPassage attacks.
Fortunately, the priest was being held captive on Udot Island and escaped Paguerion
the inferno. 216 crewmen and soldiers were killed aboard the ship. YUBAE MARU 344' (105m), 3,217-ton Army Cargo Fourup Reef Uput
hIJneAtarePdpAeiddNthEoitSthaEeJaaCtopOlal.nNeTVsheeOcZYounkvaoiHyMe9allc0ruamta'sniledDsthivweeeTsaBttosoimfhTabreMurksarLufar,ogbmooothnthcaeasrrUtyhiSneSgy Ship built in 1919, arrived in Truk with as escorted convoy Pispis
men and equipment of the 52nd Army Division were sunk, with heavy TAIHO MARU 321' (98m), 2,827-ton Cargo Ship was just one week before Operation Hailstone. She was used
casualties. A third ship, the Ryko Maru was damaged, but escaped, used for auxiliary assignments and was in Truk Lagoon with by the Japanese Navy to transport troops and cargo,
struggling to arrive in Truk on Feb. 19, 1944. a load aotfaacvkiiantgioanirgcarasfot lfirnoemdtrhuemUs SoSn YFoerbkrtuoawrny C17V,1109h4i4t .heAr aolftphloaungehs sfrhoemhtahdeoCnalyrraiefreBwumnkeenr oHnillbCoaVr1d7wahtteanckaepdawiritohf
Imperial Japanese Navy Aircraft Sunk In Truk Lagoon pair of a 1000-lb bomb and a torpedo hit, which sank her in one
JUDY - Yokosuka D4Y Navy Carrier Bomber "Suisei" (qty. 1) with bombs at the bow and midships, igniting her fuel drums hour. One troop died, and two were wounded.
JILL - Nakajima B6N Carrier Attack Bomber "Tenzan" (qty. 2) into an immense explosion, ripping her apart, with the bow of
the ship being cast 200 meters away from what remained of
ZERO - Mitsubishi A6M Carrier Fighter "Reisen" (qty. 3) the aft half of the ship. Four crew members died.

Pizion Passage Fanan
Faleasioz Reef
KIKUKAWA MARU 384' (116m), 4,862-ton Passenger-
07010'N HINO MARU No. 2 (aka Dai Na Hino Cargo ship was built in 1938, but found duties of transporting 07010'N
Maru, or One Gun Boat) 200' (66m), 998- military supplies such as ammunition and personnel. She
ton Naval Miscellaneous Auxiliary Ship began life was apparently attacked at Kwajalein in 1943, and was towed
as a small Transport in 1936, then was converted to Truk lagoon, only to succumb to an accidental fire and a
to a Gunboat in 1942, and finally was made into an resultant explosion of munitions on October 7, 1943. Her
Auxiliary Ship in 1943. She showed up in Truk entire aft half was obliterated by the violent blast and she went
Lagoon after Operation Hailstone, but was sunk in to the bottom before the smoke could even rise.
shallow water after numerous strafing attacks that
set her afire, and bombings on April 29, 1944. Uijec

UNKAI MARU NO. 6 331' (101m), 3,220-ton Otta
Cargo Ship was originally a "Venus" class vessel built
in Great Britain in 1905. The Japanese bought six GOSEI MARU 272' (86m), 1,931-ton Costal
such ships in 1911. No. 6 did not get drafted into war Freighter was anchored off of Uman Island in the Mesegon
uYSasnohereakutttownawtcailknsjutahsbnteodamnfteehbxweetdUdwaSebyeySkwBsahiubercnenrkfaoUefrrtSeHSfOriolEpl,mesbrsuaebttxiooittpnhwlaHatnhaseeinlss'ttsUouanSnnetSki.l Sixth Fleet Anchorage when she was sCtraurcrikebr yUtSwSo
the fire-gutted ship. Three crew members perished. MAvoenntegreeryT.oGrpoeddeoi Bombers from the immediately.
Maru went down
Her holds were virtually empty, however, carrying
only torpedo bodies, and empty oil and gas drums.
HOKUYO MARU 368' (112m), 4,739-ton Passenger-Cargo
Girvy I. Ship served the Far East until the war, when she became a Naval
Miscellaneous Auxiliary Ship. She was carrying cement bags when
she was torpedoed to the sea floor during Operation Hailstone.
Little is known about this ship or her pre-Truk Lagoon actions.

BETTY - Mitsubishi G4M3 Navy Type 1 Attack Bomber SANKISAN MARU 370' (113m), 4,776-ton Army Cargo Ship. FUJIKAWA MARU 433'(132m), 6,983-ton Passenger-Cargo Ship was
This Japanese Navy tactical bomber first took to the air in The origins of this ship are a mystery, although it is said tha she was built in 1938 and served in routes to North America, South America and India,
1939, with mass production starting in 1940. Her shape originally called the Red Hook, and was an American vessel doing until being taken for war use by the Japanese Navy in 1940. In September,
gave her the name "Flying Cigar", but she would also light Northwest trade during the depression. Captured by the Japanese in t1h9e4U3 SshSePwearms int,ebaurltysshuenlkimhpeeaddibnagcfkrotmo TTrruukk to Kwajalein by a torpedo from
up when shot, because of her unprotected fuel tanks. This 1942, she arrived in Truk on February 12, 1944. The ship was bombed Lagoon in three days, and was
aircraft could also carry torpedoes. It appears that the on both February 17 and 18, and it appears that the cargo of munitions later repaired and returned to service in January, 1944. The renovated ship
BETTY was landing at the Eten Island airstrip, but went was either struck by a bomb direcly, of reached by a fire. Nevertheless RIO DE JANEIRO MARU 461' (140m), 9,626-ton ship was built in 1930
down just a few hundred meters short, breaking off her nose, it resulted in a tremendous explosion, fragmenting the entire midship and was originally a beautiful eight-deck passenger liner. Requisitioned by the
starboard wingtip, and engines, which were tossed forward superstructure and flinging the whole stern section into deeper water. Japanese Navy in 1940, she was converted into a submarine tender. In July,
nearly 100 meters off the port side. No one knows whether 1942 sailing off of Viet Nam she was struck by torpedoes and received medium
she was shot down or if her demise was a result of the was struck fbryoma tothrepeUdSoSduBriunngkOerpeHrialltiaonndHUaiSlsStoMneoSntterirkeey3. ES-1haet 1420 hours damage, but was repaired and returned to duties. On February 17,1944 she
American Operation Hailstone assault of 17-18 Feb., 1944. by aircraft finally went was struck by one or two 1,000-lb bombs during the first phase of Operation
down the next morning. Hailstone. She was seen languishing at her anchorage and sank by morning.
EMILY - Kawanishi H8K Navy Type 2 Flying-Boat Called
the "Flying Porcupine" because she was armed with five TACHIKAZE Kuop Atoll
20mm cannons and four machine guns, plus she could carry
two torpedoes and either eight 250 kilo bombs or sixteen 60 AMAGISAN MARU 450' (137m), 7,620-ton Passenger Freighter sailed TACHIKAZE 337' (103m), 1,215-ton Destroyer was built
kilo bombs. This formidable opponent could also cruise at 334 the Japan to New York route via the Panama Canal in the 1930's, but was post-World War I based on British design, and was becoming
kph (207 mph) for 4,500 nautical miles (8350 km). She had placed into Navy service in th1e94s1u.bmOanrinFeeUbSruSarSyw1o4rd, f1is9h4. 2OsnheAungaursrot w17ly, obsolete in World War II. Apparently she accidentally ran hard
self-sealing fuel tanks and a fire extinguisher system. This survived a torpedo attack by wagarsosutnudcka.gaUinSsSt ItnhtereKpuido,pUAStoSl iEnsesaerxlyaFnedbUruSaSryB, u1n9k4e4r, Hwihlleariercsrhaeft
plane was heading east from Palau to the Dublon Island Sea 1943 she survived being strafed and bombed by nine B-24's, which killed her attacked and their bombs shook her off the reef into deeper water
Plane Base with several high ranking Japanese officers on Commander. She was in Truk Lagoon with a convoy unloading cargo when, where she sank on February 17, 1944. Although she suffered
board. Mid-flight she was ambushed by American fighters, many casualties, the captain and 114 crewmen were rescued.
who shot her up, killing many of those on board, including the She also reportedly shot down three of the 34 attacking aircraft.
co-pilot, but she lost the Americans in the clouds and
managed to limp back to Truk Lagoon. After crash landing
she sank, but the rest of the crew was saved.

07000'N aonndFFeboruuraGryru1m7,m1a9n44A,vsehnegweratsoarptteadcokebdombybfeivres,CfruormtisUHSeSlldBivuenrkdeirveHbillo, mripbpeinrsg, Lauvergne I. 07000'N
her and igniting her fuel oil. The smoldering hulk went down in a hurry.

The Battle of Truk Lagoon Task Force 58 at Majoro bombing runways and air installations on the Bomb Blast Near Dublon Island Japanese Combined Fleet gone. Truk's airfield South I.
"Operation Hailstone" islands, and to destroy all Japanese shipping within personnel were attempting to start a defense, but they
Truk Lagoon. It was also hoped that the Japanese had too little too late. The American pilots were able assembled form aboard cargo ships. Very few of
February 17-18, 1944 Combined Fleet's battleships, carriers and heavy to control the airspace over Truk Lagoon. the assembled aircraft were able to take off in
cruisers would be confronted and destroyed. response to the U.S. attack. Several Japanese
Truk Lagoon was a major Japanese logistics However, fearing that the base was becoming too As the Hellcat Fighters began their engagement, aircraft that did take off were claimed destroyed by
center as well as the operating home base for the vulnerable, these warships had largely withdrawn US Fleet Carriers were launching bombers to begin U.S. fighters or gunners on the U.S. bombers and
Imperial Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet. The from Truk Lagoon and had been moved to Palau the destruction of shipping and shore facilities. torpedo planes.
atoll had been in the hands of the Japanese since just a week before the attack. A large number of Dauntless Dive Bombers and Avenger Torpedo
World War I and was closed to foreigners. War important auxiliary ships and other combat vessels Bombers had armor piercing bombs to attack The U.S. lost 25 aircraft due to intense anti-
planners had little information to go on, so on critical to the Japanese war effort were still in the Japanese warships expected to be encountered. The aircraft fire, but 16 U.S. aircrew were rescued by
February 4, 1944 a pair of PB4Y reconnaissance atoll, along with hundreds of aircraft at the airfields. Americans also carried incendiary and fragmentation submarine or amphibious aircraft. A nighttime
aircraft gathered aerial photographic intelligence of tianoirtrrpeaepttdiadocakantdtdaakcmikllaebgdye1ad1JtohafephaUenrSecSsreeIwna.tirreAcrpnaiodftt,hdaeanrmdJaakgpilealedndeths1e1e
the Japanese military installations in Truk Lagoon. The U.S. attack involved a combination of Torpedo Hit on a Japanese Freighter of her crew, although that attack did not come from
The recently conquered airstrips in the Marshall airstrikes, surface ship actions, and submarine on February 17, 1944. Japanese forces at Truk Lagoon.

PB4Y Reconnaissance Aircraft Islands were within range of the PB4Ys. The flyover Avenger TBFs Launching AvengeorvTeBr FTrTuokrpLeadgoooBnombers
finoculnuddinthgattheImsuppeerirabl aFtlteleesthiwpaMrsuhsiapsshwi, ethreeirpSreecsoenndt, Ready to Launch from the USS Monterey damaYgeet datnhoethBearttJleasphaipneUsSeSaIior waatt.ack slightly
Fleet's flagship. There were also carriers,
destroyers, submarines and hundreds of aircraft on attacks over two days, and appeared to take the Torpedo clusters to destroy, burn and blast aircraft on the F6F Hellcat dive bombers raid The Japanese later relocated about 100
Truk's airfields. It appeared that Truk would be very Japanese completely by surprise. Airstrikes Wake ground. A Hellcat Fighter formation protected the Truk Lagoon aircraft from Rabaul to Truk, but these aircraft
costly to destroy, but U.S. and Allied Forces air employed fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo bombers against an expected enemy defense, as were attacked by U.S. carrier forces in
superiority in the Pacific would depend on it. Admiral F6F Hellcat Fighter Cleared for Takeoff bombers in attacks on Japanese airfields, aircraft, they escorted them to their targets. another attack April 29-30, 1944, destroying
Raymond Spruance ordered the attack by Task shore installations, and ships in and around the Truk most of them. The April 1944 strikes found no
Force 58 (TF58), a U.S. Fleet Carrier Force/Battle anchorage. A force of U.S. surface ships and During the two-day operation Japan lost ships shipping existing in Truk lagoon and were the
Group consisting of five fleet carriers and four light submarines guarded exit routes from the lagoon. with a combined 220,000 tons, including a pair of last major attacks on Truk during the war. It
carriers able to fly 500 aircraft. Assisting the carriers light cruisers, four destroyers, an armed merchant was apparent that Operation Hailstone was a
was a large fleet of seven battleships, and numerous Before the break of day February 17, TF58 carriers cruiser, a torpedo boat, three sub-chasers, and 3 tremendous success. Thousands of
cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and other support launched a squadron of F6F Hellcats to ensure no auxiliary ships. As many as 17 ships were Japanese forces were marooned on the
ships. The battle group was tasked to destroy hostile aircraft would be in the skies. Since Truk damaged, but not sunk, including a submarine islands of Truk Lagoon and had to await the
Japanese opposition and establish air supremacy Lagoon had been in Japanese control since WWI, tender, a seaplane tender, a fleet repair ship, an end of the war and fend off starvation as they
over Truk Lagoon. To do this the operation was to American pilots were flying into unknown skies. escort, and others. Over 250 Japanese aircraft were cut off from their countrymen.
make the airfields in Truk Lagoon unusable by Reconnaissance photos showed warships and attack were destroyed, mostly on the
aircraft on the ground that the Hellcat pilots would ground. Many of the aircraft were in various states 152000'E
have to confront. At daybreak the fighters were of assembly, having just arrived from Japan is dis-
surprised to find the skies virtually unprotected and the

Copyright 2012 Franko Maps Ltd. 151030'E 151040'E 151050'E