As you might recall in my previous blog, Operation Hailstone conducted by the Allied Forces in February 1944 lead to the sinking of more than 40 Japanese ships and around 500 aircraft in Truk Lagoon. A second attack occurred two weeks later leading to further losses. These ships and their crew were the casualties of WWII and became known as "The Ghost Fleet of Truk Lagoon" - this became their final resting place.
In the late 60's scuba explorers such as Jacques Cousteau began to draw attention to the wrecks, leading Japan to make recovery efforts to return the bodies of its lost military from their wet graves to their homeland for burial. However, a few skeletons remain littered among the wrecks. It is important to be respectful when diving these wrecks and remember that they are considered war graves. Strict policies are enforced to prevent the removal of any artifacts or marine life. The Chuukese people regard their lagoon as an underwater monument and war museum. Some wrecks have shrines or plaques placed on them marking their remembrance.
Most of the wrecks in the lagoon can be seen clearly in relatively shallow depths and are accessible to the recreational diver. There are a number of wrecks that lie in greater depths and require technical dive training. Of course, there still are some ships that remain to be found. Below is a map from Truk Lagoon Dive Center showing the more popular wrecks to be dived.
For more information on individual wrecks, check out these links:
If you look at the list of ship names, you will notice that most have the word "Maru" in their name. What does "Maru" mean? I was told on one of my previous trips to Micronesia that in the Japanese Navy it was customary to name cargo or transport ships with the suffix maru, and that attack vessels did not have such a suffix in their name. In researching this, I have found a number of explanations for maru, but the most popular answers translate the word to literally mean "circle", or figuratively mean "powerful" or "precious". Naming Japanese cargo or passenger ships with the suffix maru apparently has become something of the past, but I guess it makes sense looking back that these ships' manifests could be considered something precious or powerful.
To get those adventurous juices flowing, I have found a very nice video for you to enjoy in preparation for your own chance to dive these amazing pieces of history.
No comments:
Post a Comment