finishing this review, I noticed another posted on, co. uk which I duly read, Ordinarily I would ignore anything said by other reviewers be they broadly in agreement with my own sentiments or not.
On this occasion, however, the author Rod Macdonald had I was really looking forward to this book before travelling back to Chuuk State and Truk Lagoon, but it arrived long after I returned.
That was only the first disappointment, Usefully smaller and shorter than Dan Bailey's tome on the shipwrecks, discursive I work in Truk lagoon as a dive guide and the information in this book is the most up
to date you will find.
It's concise and well written, and serves as the perfect pre dive information briefing, Highly recommend An amazingly concise book of the popular wrecks in Truk some lovely diagrams and sketches of the wrecks.
A must for anyone who is or has been to Truk Lagoon, Truk Lagoon is uite simply the greatest wreck diving location in the world Scores of virtually intact large WWII wrecks filled with cargoes of tanks trucks artillery beach mines shells and aircraft rest in the crystal clear waters of the Lagoon each a man made reef teeming with life Truk was the main forward anchorage for the Japanese Imperial Navy and merchant fleet during the early days of WWII Protected by amile coral barrier reef with only a few heavily defended entrances it seemed a well protected safe anchorage The lagoon had been fortified by the Japanese in great secrecy during thes the Allies knew little about it Bythe tide of war had turned against the Japanese the Allies were pushing westwards across the Pacific islands towards the Japanese homeland A daring US long range aerial survey showed the lagoon with the full might of the Imperial Japanese Navy battleships cruisers aircraft carriers submarines and destroyers along with scores of large supply ships and transports The Allies decided to attack immediatelySensing this the Imperial Japanese Navy scattered but the merchant ships remained to offload their cargoes of aircraft tanks artillery mines and munitions Other heavily laden supply ships continued to arrive unaware of the Allied assault plans Fresh from the Kwajalein Atoll assault Task Forcewas formed for an immediate attack Operation Hailstone In total secrecy nine US carriers holdingthancombat aircraft steamed towards Truk supported by a screen of battleships cruisers destroyers and submarines Before dawn onFebruary Strike Groups ofHellcat fighters swept in low towards Truk under Japanese radar and immediately began strafing Japanese airfields Soon hundreds of aircraft were involved in one of the largest aerial dogfights of WWII which was over within an hour With air superiority established US dive bombers and torpedo bombers spent the remainder of the day and the following day sinking all the large ships trapped in the lagoon With Truk neutralised as a naval and air base the Pacific war soon endedThe sunken ships of Truk Lagoon with their war cargoes were largely forgotten about untilwhen an expedition by Jacues Cousteau located and filmed many of the wrecks The resulting TV documentary Lagoon of Lost Ships went viralTruk's secret was out and the beautiful wrecks untouched since WWII have proved an irresistible lure for thousands of divers each year since thenTruk Lagoon is quite simply the greatest wreck diving location in the world.
Scores of virtually intact large WWII wrecks filled with cargoes of tanks, trucks, artillery, beach mines, shells and aircraft rest in the crystal clear waters of the Lagoon each a manmade reef teeming with life.
Truk was the main forward anchorage for the Japanese Imperial Navy and merchant fleet during the early days of WWII.
Protected by amile coral barrier reef, with only a few heavily defended entrances, it seemed a wellprotected safe anchorage.
The lagoon had been fortified by the Japanese in great secrecy during thes the Allies knew little about it.
By, the tide of war had turned against the Japanese the Allies were pushing westwards across the Pacific islands towards the Japanese homeland.
A daring U. S. long range aerial survey showed the lagoon with the full might of the Imperial Japanese Navy battleships, cruisers, aircraft carriers, submarines and destroyers, along with scores of large supply ships and transports.
The Allies decided to attack immediately, Sensing this, the Imperial Japanese Navy scattered but the merchant ships remained to offload their cargoes of aircraft, tanks, artillery, mines and munitions.
Other heavily laden supply ships continued to arrive, unaware of the Allied assault plans, Fresh from the Kwajalein Atoll assault, Task Forcewas formed for an immediate attack Operation Hailstone, In total secrecy, nine U, S. carriers holding more thancombat aircraft steamed towards Truk supported by a screen of battleships, cruisers, destroyers and submarines, Before dawn onFebruary, Strike Groups ofHellcat fighters swept in low towards Truk under Japanese radar and immediately began strafing Japanese airfields.
Soon, hundreds of aircraft were involved in one of the largest aerial dogfights of WWII which was over within an hour.
With air superiority established, U, S divebombers and torpedobombers spent the remainder of the day and the following day sinking all the large ships trapped in the lagoon.
With Truk neutralised as a naval and air base, the Pacific war soon ended, The sunken ships of Truk Lagoon with their war cargoes were largely forgotten about until, when an expedition by Jacques Cousteau located and filmed many of the wrecks.
The resulting TV documentary, Lagoon of Lost Ships, went viral, Truk's secret was out and the beautiful wrecks, untouched since WWII, have proved an irresistible lure for thousands of divers each year since then.
Truk Lagoon is quite simply the greatest wreck diving location in the world, Scores of virtually intact large WWII wrecks filled with cargoes of tanks, trucks, artillery, beach mines, shells and aircraft rest in the crystal clear waters of the Lagoon each a manmade reef teeming with life.
Truk was the main forward anchorage for the Japanese Imperial Navy and merchant fleet during the early days of WWII.
Protected by amile coral barrier reef, with only a few heavily defended entrances, it seemed a wellprotected safe anchorage.
The lagoon had been fortified by the Japanese in great secrecy during thes the Allies knew little about it.
By, the tide of war had turned against the Japanese the Allies were pushing westwards across the Pacific islands towards the Japanese homeland.
A daring U. S. long range aerial survey showed the lagoon with the full might of the Imperial Japanese Navy battleships, cruisers, aircraft carriers, submarines and destroyers, along with scores of large supply ships and transports.
The Allies decided to attack immediately, Sensing this, the Imperial Japanese Navy scattered but the merchant ships remained to offload their cargoes of aircraft, tanks, artillery, mines and munitions.
Other heavily laden supply ships continued to arrive, unaware of the Allied assault plans, Fresh from the Kwajalein Atoll assault, Task Forcewas formed for an immediate attack Operation Hailstone, In total secrecy, nine U, S. carriers holding more thancombat aircraft steamed towards Truk supported by a screen of battleships, cruisers, destroyers and submarines, Before dawn onFebruary, Strike Groups ofHellcat fighters swept in low towards Truk under Japanese radar and immediately began strafing Japanese airfields.
Soon, hundreds of aircraft were involved in one of the largest aerial dogfights of WWII which was over within an hour.
With air superiority established, U, S divebombers and torpedobombers spent the remainder of the day and the following day sinking all the large ships trapped in the lagoon.
With Truk neutralised as a naval and air base, the Pacific war soon ended, The sunken ships of Truk Lagoon with their war cargoes were largely forgotten about until, when an expedition by Jacques Cousteau located and filmed many of the wrecks.
The resulting TV documentary, Lagoon of Lost Ships, went viral, Truk's secret was out and the beautiful wrecks, untouched since WWII, have proved an irresistible lure for thousands of divers each year since then.
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