t 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.
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.
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.'
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.
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.
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.
