Operation Hailstone

Operation Hailstone
Part of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign

Japanese ships burning off Dublon Island.
Date17–18 February 1944 (1944-02-17 – 1944-02-18)
Location
Truk Lagoon, Caroline Islands
7°20′21″N 151°53′05″E / 7.3393°N 151.8846°E / 7.3393; 151.8846
Result American victory
Belligerents
 United States  Japan
Commanders and leaders
Marc Mitscher Masami Kobayashi
Strength
  • 5 fleet carriers
  • 4 light carriers
  • 6 battleships
  • 10 cruisers
  • 28 destroyers
  • 10 submarines
  • 560 aircraft
  • 5 cruisers
  • 8 destroyers
  • 5 other warships
  • 50 merchant ships
  • 350 planes
Casualties and losses
  • 40 killed[nb 1]
  • 1 fleet carrier damaged
  • 1 battleship slightly damaged
  • 25 aircraft destroyed
  • 4,500+ killed
  • 2 light cruisers sunk
  • 4 destroyers sunk
  • 3 auxiliary cruisers sunk
  • 6 auxiliary ships sunk
  • 32 merchant ships sunk
  • 9 vessels damaged
  • 250+ aircraft destroyed

Operation Hailstone was a massive United States Navy air and surface attack on Truk Lagoon on 17–18 February 1944, conducted as part of the American offensive drive against the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Pacific Ocean theatre.

  1. ^ Morison 1961, p. 330


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