Japanese light cruiser Naka maneuvering to avoid bombs dropped by U.S. aircraft from the light carrier USS Cowpens (CVL-25) during attacks on Truk Atoll. 17 February 1944.
Japanese light cruiser Naka maneuvering to avoid bombs dropped by U.S. aircraft from the light carrier USS Cowpens (CVL-25) during attacks on Truk Atoll. 17 February 1944.
The first two strikes failed to score a hit, but Naka was hit by a torpedo and a bomb in the third strike and broke in two, taking 240 crewman down with her.
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[Light Cruiser Naka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cruiser_Naka)
The first two strikes failed to score a hit, but Naka was hit by a torpedo and a bomb in the third strike and broke in two, taking 240 crewman down with her.
[Operation Hailstone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Hailstone)
After US Marines cleared the Solomon Islands (Guadalcanal west to Bougainville) Truk was in range of attack (it’s now called “[Chuuk](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chuuk,+Micronesia/@7.3373246,151.5877688,11.17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x66678f2c7353c6a3:0xadd913be58dd8b3a!8m2!3d7.1344625!4d151.5074133!16zL20vMDFoazRn?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDEyNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D)”, part of Micronesia). The Japanese had to have known it was in range, since it had been used as a supply depot for the Solomons. But for some reason they were slow to evacuate (perhaps reluctant to give up ground?) but the US Navy saw the opportunity and went all bomb-y/shell-y/torpedo-y on them. The attack destroyed roughly 12-14 warships and over 30 merchant vessels.