Destruction of Truk | Nihon Kaigun
Destruction of Truk
(February 17-18, 1944)

Truk had been the main base for Combined Fleet since the beginning of the war, and for the first two years of the conflict was considered an unassailable bastion. However, by early 1944 the American carrier forces in the Pacific had grown so monumentally in strength that attacks that would have been unthinkable a mere six months earlier became possible. In early February, Task Force 58 under Admiral Mitscher came against Truk with an enormous force of eight carriers and six battleships. Warned by radio intelligence, the Japanese had withdrawn the majority of their heavy surface units immediately prior. However, the Americans had a field day against the few light surface combatants they found, as well as against the numerous transports anchored in the lagoon. In two days of raids, American aircraft destroyed most of the ground facilities and fighter cover, and wiped out practically everything afloat. Those vessels which managed to flee the atoll were eliminated by the American surface and submarine forces ringing the area. Truk was reduced to near-uselessness, and would sit out the remainder of the war as a virtual backwater, cut of from the ongoing American offenses in the central Pacific.

Destruction of TrukJapanAllied
Starting Forces Various light surface
Various transport vessels
x350 		x5
x3
x6
Numerous CA, CL, and DD
x600 (approx.)
Losses x2 sunk (Agano, Katori, Naka)
x2 sunk (Fumizuki, Tachikaze, Maikaze, Oite)
1 aircraft ferry, 2 sub tenders, 1 auxiliary merchant cruiser, 6 tankers, and 17 merchantmen sunk.
x230-280 (approx.) destroyed 		x1 moderately damaged (Intrepid)
x25 destroyed, including eight non-combat lost

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WW2DB article on Attack on Truk


Japanese naval base, warships, and fishing boats at Dublon Island under American aerial attack, Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands, 16 Feb 1944, photo 1 of 2Japanese naval base, warships, and fishing boats at Dublon Island under American aerial attack, Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands, 16 Feb 1944, photo 2 of 2Japanese ships and fishing boats under attack at Dublon Island, Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands, 16 Feb 1944Two US Navy fighter pilots aboard carrier Enterprise during the raid on Truk Atoll in the Caroline Islands, 16 Feb 1944Aerial photo showing damage done to Japanese naval base at Dublon Island, Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands, 17-18 Feb 1944
Japanese naval base, warships, and fishing boats at Dublon Island under American aerial attack, Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands, 16 Feb 1944, photo 1 of 2Japanese naval base, warships, and fishing boats at Dublon Island under American aerial attack, Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands, 16 Feb 1944, photo 2 of 2Japanese ships and fishing boats under attack at Dublon Island, Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands, 16 Feb 1944Two US Navy fighter pilots aboard carrier Enterprise during the raid on Truk Atoll in the Caroline Islands, 16 Feb 1944Aerial photo showing damage done to Japanese naval base at Dublon Island, Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands, 17-18 Feb 1944
Japanese ammunition ships in Truk Harbor exploding after attacked by American dive bombers, Truk, Caroline Islands, 17 Feb 1944; the dive bomber that caused this destruction was also lost in the blastJapanese freighter at Truk hit by a torpedo dropped from a VT-10 Avenger, 17 Feb 1944Japanese ships being bombed during attack on Truk, Caroline Islands, 17 Feb 1944; photo taken by an aircraft from USS IntrepidSubmarine tender Heian Maru burning during Truk attack, 17 Feb 1944US Navy F6F Hellcat fighters of VF-10
Japanese ammunition ships in Truk Harbor exploding after attacked by American dive bombers, Truk, Caroline Islands, 17 Feb 1944; the dive bomber that caused this destruction was also lost in the blastJapanese freighter at Truk hit by a torpedo dropped from a VT-10 Avenger, 17 Feb 1944Japanese ships being bombed during attack on Truk, Caroline Islands, 17 Feb 1944; photo taken by an aircraft from USS IntrepidSubmarine tender Heian Maru burning during Truk attack, 17 Feb 1944US Navy F6F Hellcat fighters of VF-10 'Grim Reapers' of Carrier Air Group 10 landed on carrier Enterprise after attack on Truk, 17-18 Feb 1944; note folded wings

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