Posted on 11/10/2025 11:21:15 PM PST by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas
In February 1944, the U.S. Navy launched one of the most devastating strikes of the Pacific War — Operation Hailstone. Over the skies and seas of Truk Lagoon, the Japanese stronghold once called the “Gibraltar of the Pacific” was shattered in a two-day assault that rewrote naval warfare.
This video tells the forgotten story of how the USS Iowa, USS New Jersey, and America’s radar-guided firepower changed history. Discover how advanced analog computers, precision gunnery, and overwhelming air superiority combined to destroy Japan’s once-invincible fleet. From massive 16-inch naval guns thundering across the ocean to the smoldering wrecks beneath Truk’s lagoon, every moment marked the end of Japan’s naval dominance.
Through declassified reports, survivor accounts, and wartime footage, experience the battle that proved technology, courage, and strategy could outmatch even the most disciplined adversary. This is the story of the strike that broke Japan’s shield — and announced America’s unstoppable reach across the Pacific.
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Valid points that I already knew — but I am pleased to see them stated by a fellow military history enthusiast.
Fascinating video...thanks
Too many ads on links everywhere. I’ve never seen so many people so desperate to sell something not needed before.
AWESOME!
That was the main difference, American radar was integrated into fire control systems, Japanese were not.
Japanese still relied on visual targeting, therefore range of guns were a non factor.
A thousand B-17s can be replaced by one F-15 with smart weapons.
A battleship can be taken out by a much smaller ship with guided anti-ship missiles at a far greater range than any sized gun
Question, were any American battleships sunk by enemy fire of any kind after Pearl Harbor?
An awesome memory to have - thanks for sharing it. And thanks for your service.
No American battleships were sunk by Japanese gunfire during WWII. Several were damaged by Kamikaze attacks.
It was only by chance I was the OOD on watch at the time. I’ll never forget the delay between seeing those guns lighting up the sky and the sound of man made thunder. 9 tons of steel outgoing. I looked down at our single 5 inch gun a thought “pop gun”.
Washington sank Kirishima. I believe it’s the only battleship sunk by a battleship in the pacific war.
Google “images” of the USS Iowa, as seen from directly overhead.
Unknown if during practice or otherwise, as the ship doesn’t appear to be making forward progress.
Back on deployment in Operation DESERT STORM, I was over a hundred miles from the bombing going on to the north. I worked OP’s overnight at the base perimeter. It was really quiet, and you could just feel the air pressure changes in your ear from the constant bombardment. Every now and then the slight rumblings would be accented by larger pressure on the eardrums. That was the guns of the Missouri or Wisconsin being put to good use. Not bad for over that distance…
Yamato, not Yamamoto. One was a ship, the other an admiral.
Yamashiro was sunk by American BB fire in Surigao Strait. Five of the six were survivors of Pearl Harbor.
——overwhelming air superiority ——
The article clearly indicates that the Battleship crowd is not dead but rather still alive and well.
The carrier air forces were at work long before the Battleships arrived into the safety of total air supremacy. If Truk wasn’t already dead, the Battleships would never have been permitted to come shoot the dead horse
I love WW2 Pacific War history. There are a lot of quality videos on YouTube about it.
I also enjoyed “My helmet was my pillow” and “With the Old Guard” (titles possibly mangled because I’m not wide awake yet).
I don’t contribute to the discussions much because I’m not terribly knowledgeable, but I appreciate the efforts of those who do.
My dad was in the engine rooms of the USS West Virginia BB-48 that night.
I’ve seen where tbey tested these mighty guns at Dahlgren, firing down the Potomac river.
Unfortunately it was not properly used at first particularly in the naval battles at Guadalcanal. It cost the US Navy dearly until Adm Lee on USS Washington showed how effectively it could be used by sinking the Kirishima in one of the few battleship vs battleship battles of the pacific in WWII.
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