Operation Hailstone

Operation Hailstone
Part of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign
Japanese ships burning off Dublon Island.
Date 17–18 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.

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