phil sokol

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Truk Lagoon 0211

Truk (now Chuuk) in Micronesia was Japan's main forward naval base in the Pacific, coordinating all their major campaigns including the attack on Pearl Harbor. In February of 1944, the U.S. launched a major air assault on the base called "Operation Hailstone". The Japanese had spotted one of the reconnaissance planes several days before the attack and were able to move almost all their warships out, however over the course of two days, the U.S. sunk almost 60 ships in the shallow lagoon. These were mostly merchant ships and freighters, some in for repair but others still carrying equipment and materiel for Japan's war effort. There are tanks, planes, trucks, replacement parts, artillery shells, bullets, and even torpedoes still on board the ships, as well as numerous artifacts of a more personal nature such as china, shoes, medical kits, and lots of beer and sake bottles. There are still some human remains as well.

Special thanks to my dive buddy Ken for his awesome modeling - as well as Andrea who just always seemed to be in the right place.
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  • Sunrise over Weno Island (HDR).

    Sunrise over Weno Island (HDR).

  • One of the three light battle tanks on the deck of the San Francisco Maru.

    One of the three light battle tanks on the deck of the San Francisco Maru.

  • A truck in the #2 hold of the San Francisco Maru.

    A truck in the #2 hold of the San Francisco Maru.

  • Beach mines (approx 2 ft. in diameter) in the hold of the San Francisco Maru.  The San Francisco is the "Million Dollar Wreck", since she went down fully loaded.  In addition to these mines, the holds are packed with 500 lb aerial bombs, artillery shells, detonators, vehicles and all kinds of other materiel.

    Beach mines (approx 2 ft. in diameter) in the hold of the San Francisco Maru. The San Francisco is the "Million Dollar Wreck", since she went down fully loaded. In addition to these mines, the holds are packed with 500 lb aerial bombs, artillery shells, detonators, vehicles and all kinds of other materiel.

  • One of the giant propellers and the massive rudder of the Heian Maru loom through the gloom.  At 510 ft., this former passenger liner is the largest wreck in the lagoon.

    One of the giant propellers and the massive rudder of the Heian Maru loom through the gloom. At 510 ft., this former passenger liner is the largest wreck in the lagoon.

  • Ken inspects the 22 ft. long torpedoes in the hold of the Heian Maru.  The Heian was a passenger cruise liner converted to a submarine tender with a specially modified deck opening to accommodate the torpedoes.  In addition, there are still several periscopes laid out on the upper passageways.

    Ken inspects the 22 ft. long torpedoes in the hold of the Heian Maru. The Heian was a passenger cruise liner converted to a submarine tender with a specially modified deck opening to accommodate the torpedoes. In addition, there are still several periscopes laid out on the upper passageways.

  • Paul inspects a battle tank on the deck of the Nippo Maru.

    Paul inspects a battle tank on the deck of the Nippo Maru.

  • The bridge of the Nippo Maru with its helm and telegraph.  The wooden spokes of the wheel have rotted away, but the brass ring remains.

    The bridge of the Nippo Maru with its helm and telegraph. The wooden spokes of the wheel have rotted away, but the brass ring remains.

  • Artillery, davit, and diver.  Nippo Maru.

    Artillery, davit, and diver. Nippo Maru.

  • Artillery pieces on the rear deck of the Nippo Maru.

    Artillery pieces on the rear deck of the Nippo Maru.

  • Untitled photo
  • Andrea inspects the bow gun of the Kensho Maru.

    Andrea inspects the bow gun of the Kensho Maru.

  • The engine room of the Kensho Maru.

    The engine room of the Kensho Maru.

  • An airplane fuselage in hold #2 of the Fujikawa Maru.

    An airplane fuselage in hold #2 of the Fujikawa Maru.

  • Airplane fuselage, hold #2, Fujikawa Maru.

    Airplane fuselage, hold #2, Fujikawa Maru.

  • An airplane fuselage in hold #2 of the Fujikawa Maru.

    An airplane fuselage in hold #2 of the Fujikawa Maru.

  • Perhaps the most famous and photographed "artifact" in Truk, "R2D2" is the air compressor in the machine shop deep inside the Fujikawa Maru.

    Perhaps the most famous and photographed "artifact" in Truk, "R2D2" is the air compressor in the machine shop deep inside the Fujikawa Maru.

  • Ken meets R2D2.

    Ken meets R2D2.

  • A lathe in the machine shop deep inside the Fujikawa Maru.

    A lathe in the machine shop deep inside the Fujikawa Maru.

  • The large bow gun of the Fujikawa Maru is covered in coral growth.

    The large bow gun of the Fujikawa Maru is covered in coral growth.

  • Andrea and soft coral, Fujikawa Maru.

    Andrea and soft coral, Fujikawa Maru.

  • Bow telegraph, Fujikawa Maru.

    Bow telegraph, Fujikawa Maru.

  • Stern mast, Hoki Maru.

    Stern mast, Hoki Maru.

  • A fire engine in the hold of the Hoki Maru.

    A fire engine in the hold of the Hoki Maru.

  • Trucks deep in the hold of the Hoki Maru.

    Trucks deep in the hold of the Hoki Maru.

  • Truck, Sankisan Maru.

    Truck, Sankisan Maru.

  • Truck chassis on deck, Nippo Maru.

    Truck chassis on deck, Nippo Maru.

  • Bullets, Sankisan Maru

    Bullets, Sankisan Maru

  • All the wooden cases have rotted away, leaving a field of bullets in the Sankisan Maru.

    All the wooden cases have rotted away, leaving a field of bullets in the Sankisan Maru.

  • Entering the Rio De Janeiro's engine room through the skylights (the ship rests on its starboard).

    Entering the Rio De Janeiro's engine room through the skylights (the ship rests on its starboard).

  • The stern gun on the Rio De Janeiro Maru.

    The stern gun on the Rio De Janeiro Maru.

  • One of the huge propellers of the Rio De Janeiro Maru, a converted passenger liner.

    One of the huge propellers of the Rio De Janeiro Maru, a converted passenger liner.

  • Unknown pump deep inside the Rio De Janeiro Maru.

    Unknown pump deep inside the Rio De Janeiro Maru.

  • Beer bottles pack the last hold of the Rio De Janeiro Maru.

    Beer bottles pack the last hold of the Rio De Janeiro Maru.

  • The I-169 submarine, one of the few actual warships sunk during "Hailstone".

    The I-169 submarine, one of the few actual warships sunk during "Hailstone".

  • The antenna tower of the I-169 submarine.

    The antenna tower of the I-169 submarine.

  • Soft corals on the mooring line.

    Soft corals on the mooring line.

  • The Shinkoku Maru's mast almost reaches the surface.

    The Shinkoku Maru's mast almost reaches the surface.

  • A display of artifacts on top of the Shinkoku Maru, including a medical kit, china, and beer bottles.

    A display of artifacts on top of the Shinkoku Maru, including a medical kit, china, and beer bottles.

  • The superstructure of the Shinkoku Maru has become a riot of soft corals and other marine growth.

    The superstructure of the Shinkoku Maru has become a riot of soft corals and other marine growth.

  • Engine telegraph, Shinkoku Maru.

    Engine telegraph, Shinkoku Maru.

  • Ken checks out the soft corals on the Shinkoku Maru's superstructure.

    Ken checks out the soft corals on the Shinkoku Maru's superstructure.

  • Soft coral and King post, Shinkoku Maru.

    Soft coral and King post, Shinkoku Maru.

  • Night dive on the Shinkoku Maru.

    Night dive on the Shinkoku Maru.

  • The upper level of the Shinkoku Maru's engine room.

    The upper level of the Shinkoku Maru's engine room.

  • Deeper in the Shinkoku Maru's engine room.

    Deeper in the Shinkoku Maru's engine room.

  • Exposed bulkhead (?) of the Fumitzuki destroyer.

    Exposed bulkhead (?) of the Fumitzuki destroyer.

  • Fan, Fumitzuki destroyer.

    Fan, Fumitzuki destroyer.

  • Ken squeezes through a narrow doorway to reach the interior of the Yamagiri Maru.

    Ken squeezes through a narrow doorway to reach the interior of the Yamagiri Maru.

  • Ken swims through a small hole in the bulkhead between two cargo holds on the Yamagiri Maru.

    Ken swims through a small hole in the bulkhead between two cargo holds on the Yamagiri Maru.

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    Artillery, davit, and diver.  Nippo Maru.
    Artillery pieces on the rear deck of the Nippo Maru.
    Truk 0211  13335.jpg