Japan's underwater graveyard: Incredible pictures show the planes, trains and tanks from naval base blown to oblivion by US during World War Two
- Stunning photos from diver reveals the remains of Japan's 191,000 tons of war shipping left untouched since WW2
- Former strategic naval base in Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia, was obliterated by US bombing in February 1944
- Over four hundred tonnes of explosives used by US during the 36 hour mission known as Operation Hailstone
- Tanks, submarines and trucks found at the bottom of the Pacific ocean, mostly covered in beautiful coral
Covered
in coral and left to rest on the Pacific ocean floor, these are the
stunning remains of Japan's arsenal of military vehicles which were
targeted in one of America's most important bombing operations during
World War II.
From
tanks to submarines, this military equipment was once part of a key
Japanese naval base in Chuuk Lagoon, one of the federated states of
Micronesia.
American
Fleet Task Force 58 targeted the naval base on 17 February 1944 during a
vital two day mission known as Operation Hailstone. The success of the
daring raid played a vital part in allowing Allied forces to gain the
advantage in the Pacific campaign.
191,000
tons of war shipping now lies one hundred and eighty feet down at the
bottom of the ocean, untouched since one of Japan's worst World War II
defeats.
Much
of Japan's war machines are now covered in a stunning layer of
multi-coloured coral and the home to an array of fish and wildlife. The
remains are part of over 40 different World War II wreckage sites at the
bottom of the lagoon.
American
scuba instructor Brandi Mueller, 32, was able to photograph the
incredible detail of the remaining underwater wrecks at one of the best
diving locations in the world, Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia.
She
spent a week diving up to five times a day to capture these incredible
shots, revealing the stunning natural beauty left at the site.
It
is estimated that over 400 aircrafts and 50 Japanese naval ships were
destroyed in the deadly operation. Over 2,000 Japanese troops lost their
lives in the deadly 36 hour US aerial assault.
A couple of Type Three Chi-Nu Japanese
tanks lie piled on top of each other on the ocean floor, where they
have become home to an array of wildlife. Covered in a thick layer of
coral and wildlife, the tanks are among the 400 aircrafts and 50 naval
ships which were sunk in Operation Hailstone in February 1944
A vast cache of Japanese ammunition
litters the floor inside one of the sunken military vehicles at the
wreckage site. The devastating bombing campaign by the American Fleet
Task Force 58 decimated much of Japan's vital military resources in
remote Micronesia
A World War II breathing respirator,
possibly from one of the four Japanese planes at the bottom of the
ocean, sits among a large pile of twisted metal and well preserved glass
at the site of the wreck
Poking out from the sand, the
propeller and parts of several Japanese war planes lie untouched since
they were destroyed during the stunning operation, which took place
after the Allies made inroads at the Marshall Islands
Resting on top of one submarine, a
well preserved first aid box lies next to an array of bottles and dishes
at the wreckage site. Many of the sunken vessels were mechant ships,
transporting key supplies to the Japanese naval base on the Caroline
Islands
The former Japanese military truck,
complete with a well preserved steering wheel lies among the tanks and
planes on the ocean floor
Among the
colourful coral and fish, a nautical speed dial and a number of torpedos
rest on the ocean floor. Chuuk Lagoon was home to 11,500 Japanese
sailors, soldiers and airmen and was dubbed 'Japan's Pearl Harbour'
Over four hundred tonnes of American
explosives were used during the devastating operation, which took out
much of Japan's key arsenal of military vehicles in the Pacific.
Operation Hailstone has been seen as America's revenge for Japan's
horrific attack on Pearl Harbour, with the assault on Chuuk Lagoon
coming 26 and a half months after the attack in Hawaii
Chuuk Lagoon is part of the larger
Caroline Islands, historically known as the New Philippines. Made up of
500 small island, the Caroline Islands are politically shared between
the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau
A fellow diver takes a breather whilst resting inside the rusty remains of a World War II Japanese armoured tank
American scuba instructor Brandi Mueller, 32, spent a week diving up to five times a day to capture these incredible shots
Undisturbed since the 36 hour bombing campaign from 17 to 18 February 1944, this box of bottles was spotted among the wreckage
Following their success in the
Marshall Islands, Operation Hailstone played a vital part in battering
Japan's miltiary forces in the Pacific
The wreck in the Federated States of Micronesia is considered one of the best diving locations in the world
Covered in dust and coral, much of the
Japanese naval base's key military equipment in Micronesia lies
undisturbed on the ocean floor
From tanks to submarines, this military equipment was once part of a key Japanese naval base in Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia