Customer Reviews

Hailstorm over Truk Lagoon

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This collector's item is generally referred to as the Truk wreck divers' Bible. 323 detailed pages of attack history, ships and airplanes, well documented in text and photos. Lindemann located many of the ships himself with the help of legendary Kimiou Aisek. Any wreck diver or military history fan would love this book. A rare find and a must for any library. Now joined by Hailstorm: The Guide - one page per dive site with clear graphics and dive attractions.

Anything written about the Pacific War during WW2 will mostly become a book about the ships and the men which took part. Anything written about Truk Lagoon will include mention of the shipwrecks which are found there - and that will involve countless hours of research, research and even more research. There are no short-cuts and, unfortunately, there is no single place one can visit to find all the answers one seeks.

The US operation to sink the Japanese fleet at Truk Lagoon was called Operation HAILSTONE and not "HAILSTORM" as used by Mr Lindemann. His deliberate selection of this title has led to that operation becoming widely, and very wrongly, known as Operation Hailstorm. Personally, I think both the original name and the way in which the fighting was conducted were dramatic enough without Mr Lindemann attempting to make it more so.

At first sight, this incorrect title appears to be a very basic error in this author's research when that is simply not so! Mr Lindemann has produced two authoritative works on the subject of Truk Lagoon and was also responsible for the actual discovery of some of the wrecks found there.

As a professional author, diver and shipwreck historian, I have used Mr Lindemann's work on Truk Lagoon as reliable reference material for some years now. I have never found that work wanting in any way whatsoever.

Pity about the title, but do not allow that to put you off a product which is otherwise quite excellent.

NM

This book is the classic on the many Japanese shipwrecks sunk by U S Naval aviation in two days in February (17 and 18) 1944 in Truk (Chuuk) Lagoon. It was written in collaboration with Kimiuo Aisek (proper spelling of his name), who was present in those parlous days, and survived to start the first dive shop in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia (Blue Lagoon Dive Shop, now owned and operated by his son, Gradvin Aisek). It is full of descriptive information.

Why "only" four stars? Unfortunately, Klaus Lindemann got one major item wrong - the actual name of the naval action was Operation HAILSTONE, not Hailstorm- and Mr. Lindemann chose to never set the record straight. A few of the depths seem inexact for divers, and I would not use this book as a "bible" reference for planning dives. It IS fascinating reading, and the mistakes in no way negate Mr. Lindemann's copious knowledge of the subject, nor the pioneering work he did in researching, diving and protecting the wrecks.

This book is currently out of print, and Klaus Lindemann passed away in October, 2001 (ironically, as did Kimiuo Aisek a few months earlier). I recommend his "Hailstorm (sic): the Dive Guide" to divers, and most definitely recommend Dan E. Bailey's comprehensive book, "WWII Wrecks of the Truk Lagoon", available through Amazon. With 48 (according to Gradvin Aisek) wrecks of ships and historical aircraft, Truk Lagoon is a haven for wreck divers and WWII history buffs - one even lands at what was "Moen #1 Airfield", and if one stays at the Blue Lagoon Resort, at the Japanese seaplane base also known as "Moen #2 Airfield ".

(N.B. Sets of dive slates for the most popularly dived wrecks in Truk / Chuuk are also available - I purchased some through the MV Odyssey liveaboard when diving Chuuk most recently (Feb 2004,) and saw some other slates available at Blue Lagoon Dive Shop as well. I highly recommend these for divers heading to dive the wrecks, as well as good wreck diving training to increase your enjoyment, safely allow some of the deeper dives available and in penetrating the ships to explore holds, engine rooms, etc. safely. And, local knowledge is indispensable, as these wrecks age and deteriorate.)