Page 671 - Visitor Guides
P. 671
HISTORY OF TRUK
Truk command to relax their vigil
against invasion, in spite of U.S. Truk Lagoon
forces fast approaching from the East.
Supplies from Japan had almost ✓ One of the Largest
ceased, due to immense successes of Lagoons in the world
U.S. submarines equipped with ✓ 64km in diameter
torpedoes that found their mark. ✓ 12 Major Volcanic
Islands
Supply convoys receiving nearly 90% ✓ Over 20 Islets and
losses en route to Truk, deprived the Countless coral Cays and
garrison of food, fuel and new reefs
armaments desperately required to
History of Islands
maintain strength.
Truk's history of early Spanish
twelve major volcanic islands, over
domination was followed by twenty islets and countless coral
German acquisition after the
cays and reefs. This combination of
Spanish-American war about 1890,
an atoll-like barrier reef and
and then a Japanese mandate from scattered volcanic islands has led
the League of Nations upon
to Truk being known as an "almost
Germany's defeat in 1918.
atoll".
The Japanese era saw a great The lagoon hosts diverse marine
buildup of arms and bases in life. Over 500 species of corals and
advance of a wide military blitz over close to 1000 Þsh species are
the Western PaciÞc during WWII. known in these waters.
The blitz was supplied heavily from
facilities at Truk, where often more
than 1,000 merchant and war ships
moored in readiness for further
deployment. Five airÞelds
supporting close to 500 aircraft
provided complete protection over
Truk's Gibraltar-like facilities. A
deep lagoon, high islands and
circling barrier reef provided extensive Truk Lagoon (Chuuk)
natural protection. Patrol boats,
torpedo boats, submarines, tugs, The correct name for Truk is Chuuk
landing craft, gunboats and mine State, but it is best known as Truk
sweepers contributed to the Þnal Lagoon, and is part of the Caroline
defenses and service needs to Islands in the heart of Micronesia.
maintain this big base. Situated 965 km South-East of Guam
and 5400 km South-West of Hawaii,
Truk was considered the most it's unique barrier reef encloses one of
formidable of all Japanese the largest lagoons in the world, 64
strongholds in the PaciÞc. This km in diameter at the widest point.
reputation caused an overconÞdent This protected expanse is dotted with
[2]
