World War II Wrecks of the Truk Lagoon [Hardcover]

Dan E. Balley (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0911615067 | ISBN-13: 978-0911615067 | Publication Date: February 12, 2001 | Edition: 1st

Truk was an important World War II island stronghold functioning as a vital airbase and headquarters for the Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet. It became a potential "roadblock" for the American Pacific Fleet in its advance towards the Japanese Empire. These islands were targeted twice by US Navy carrier striking forces with a powerful group of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers for support. Target objectives included the destruction of the shipping, aircraft, and installations. In addition, land-based US Army Air Force B-24s and B-29s carried out an extensive bombing campaign against the islands. The Japanese defenders were overwhelmed by the concentrated bombing, torpedo, rocket, and strafing attacks by the planes of the US Navy carrier forces and by the heavy pounding given them by land-based Army Air Force bombers. Huge rusting guns in the Japanese-built caves, pillboxes, open emplacements, and a lagoon filled with ship and aircraft wrecks are an important legacy from World War II in this tropical central Pacific island group. The sheer number and diversity of the wrecks found in the relatively shallow lagoon waters brings thousands of divers to this remote location every year. Truk, now known as Chuuk State, has become one of the most desirable dive locations in the world.

This 533-page volume documents the Japanese occupation and build-up of Truk into a strategic naval base, the air campaign against the ships, aircraft, and installations, and the exploration/descriptions of the ship and aircraft wrecks that remain. Many new details of the Operation Hailstone raids of February 17-18, 1944 and the Japanese reaction have been included from information found in intelligence file references. Emphasis on the aerial combat between the Japanese and American planes, descriptions of Japanese installations and defenses, and information on the intensive US fast carrier raids of April 29-30, 1944 against Truk have been published for the first time. A total of 173 maps and drawings, 101 black and white photos, and 150 color plates are included in this book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Spectacular in every dimension - photography, history, and cartography." -- Combined Fleet Website

"Thank you to Dan E. Bailey for sharing what must be a lifetime's work. -Andrew Reay-Robinson -- Scuba Travel Website

Dan Bailey's book is almost impossibly comprehensive... This is a remarkable work that rewards a steep cover price. -Bernard Eaton -- Diver Magazine (UK)

From the Author

The objective in writing this book was to make it one of the most detailed books ever written on the subject of World War II and the US campaign against one of the important Japanese bases in the Pacific War. The description of Truk island's history, its defenses and installations, and the ship and aircraft wrecks that are a legacy of the battles that took place are presented in more detail than has ever been attempted. New information is added throughout the book that has been gathered from exhaustive research.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 533 pages
• Publisher: North Valley Diver Pubns; 1st edition (February 12, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0911615067
• ISBN-13: 978-0911615067
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #190,559 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars By far the best book on Truk, October 3, 2001

By 

Michael Zinsley (Alameda, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: World War II Wrecks of the Truk Lagoon (Hardcover)

I would recommend this book to all divers and war history buffs interested in the wrecks of Truk. Especially for divers who are planning a trip to Truk. This is the perfect dive planning text for learning about the wrecks before the dives so divers can maximize their bottom time experience. Each wreck has its own chapter with maps and a guide to the highlights of the wreck. There are also photos of the wrecks before they sank and a history of each ship. After a trip to Truk, it is the perfect souvenir -- better than any details in log books! Lots of GREAT underwater wreck photography in color, too.
Mike Zinsley, author of the Rapture of the Deep

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Work for Divers and Historians, March 24, 2001

By 

Jonathan Parshall (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: World War II Wrecks of the Truk Lagoon (Hardcover)

I can't say enough good things about this book. It is an exemplary work that meets the needs of several audiences. With 250+ color and black&white photos (the majority being color), and 173 maps and illustrations, it has all the "eye-candy" anyone would ever want, and is handsome enough for display. Yet it is also incredibly detailed in its historical treatment, and provides the serious WWII historian with a wealth of useful, well-organized information on the battles around Truk. Anyone who is even moderately interested in Truk should own a copy--it is worth every single penny you'll spend on it. "A+" rating..

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ultimate Truk Lagoon history book, March 27, 2003

By 

"bcdiver" (Boulder Creek, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: World War II Wrecks of the Truk Lagoon (Hardcover)

If you are a history buff or a scuba diver or if you know anyone who is, this is the book to get. Not only does this book go over the history of Truk (Chuuk as it is now known) Lagoon but also the history of all the wrecks contained there from WWII. It also details the attack that the US Navy completed in February of 1944. From the force of ships that participated in the attack to the ships that were sunk.
It has in complete detail of all ships that sunk, what they were carrying, size, etc.

I have been to Truk Lagoon once, bought this book when I came back, and now going back again now that I know more of the history of the ships and planes that I will be diving on again. This book also makes for a great coffee table book that many friends and family will enjoy looking through.!
It is well put together and worth the money for it.