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It may look like a tropical paradise, but this
stunning lagoon masks a dark secret... under the clear blue waters lies
the biggest graveyard of ships in the world.
In the Second World War Chuuk Lagoon was Japan's main base in the South
Pacific, but in 1944, American forces launched an attack and over a two
day bombardment more than 60 warships ended up on the floor of the
lagoon.
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Years later the Japanese still pay their respects at the watery graves
each year, but now the site, formally known as Truk Lagoon due to a
mispronunciation, offers scuba divers a chance to explore a piece of
living history. |
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Chuuk Lagoon is a sheltered body of water in the central Pacific
north-east of New Guinea - it is part of Chuuk State within the
Federated States of Micronesia.
It provided Japan with a perfect natural harbour to protect its large
ships and they moved their military across and fortified the islands.
They built an airstrip there and made it such a successful base it soon
caught the eye of America as the 'Gibraltar of the Pacific.' |
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The codename for the assault on Chuuk Lagoon was 'Operation Hailstone'
and the attack began on 17 February, lasting for two bitter and bloody
days.
The American armada included five fleets carriers and four light
carriers - they were also seven battleships, submarines, destroyers and
over 500 aircraft.
Over 250 Japanese aircraft were destroyed - most of them had not had a
chance to take off as they had only just arrived from Japan and were
partly dissembled.
The few Japanese aircraft that did take off were claimed destroyed - the
U.S. lost twenty-five aircraft during the attack, mainly due to the
intense anti-aircraft fire from Truk's defenses. |
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Very few of the troops aboard the sunken ships survived - the attacks
ended Chuuk Lagoon as a major threat to Allied operations in the central
Pacific.
Most of the wrecks were left untouched for nearly 25 years since people
feared setting off the thousands of sunken bombs. |
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Many of the shipwrecks in the scuba diving paradise have full cargo
holds full of fighter aircraft, tanks and bulldozers.
They also have spooky reminders of human life such as perfectly
preserved porcelain cups positioned next to skulls.
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VIEW PICTURE GALLERY
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