TY - JOUR
T1 - Chuuk Lagoon
T2 - The 'Gibraltar of the Pacific'
AU - Browne, Kim
N1 - Includes bibliographical references.
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - This paper focuses on Japan's transformation of a group of remote and small Pacific Islands into a major Japanese World War II (WW II) naval base. Chuuk Lagoon (formerly Truk Lagoon), located in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), contains a wealth of WW II heritage. For instance, WW II relics can be found buried beneath the ground and hidden among Chuuk's lush tropical vegetation as well as stored within caves and underground tunnels. Japanese artillery guns, perched high on cliffs and strategically placed in caves, overlook the lagoon. The lagoon's foreshores contain Japanese coastal fortifications represented by pillboxes and anti-aircraft gun embankments, together with docking facilities and Japanese engineered sea-walls. Chuuk also possesses significant WW II aviation infrastructure, such as runways, communication towers and airbases. This paper focuses on the construction of Etten airfield which is located on the small island of Etten. Etten's airfield, like other pacific airfields that were constructed on remote Pacific islands and atolls, illustrates the central role that engineering and airfield construction played in the Pacific conflict.
AB - This paper focuses on Japan's transformation of a group of remote and small Pacific Islands into a major Japanese World War II (WW II) naval base. Chuuk Lagoon (formerly Truk Lagoon), located in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), contains a wealth of WW II heritage. For instance, WW II relics can be found buried beneath the ground and hidden among Chuuk's lush tropical vegetation as well as stored within caves and underground tunnels. Japanese artillery guns, perched high on cliffs and strategically placed in caves, overlook the lagoon. The lagoon's foreshores contain Japanese coastal fortifications represented by pillboxes and anti-aircraft gun embankments, together with docking facilities and Japanese engineered sea-walls. Chuuk also possesses significant WW II aviation infrastructure, such as runways, communication towers and airbases. This paper focuses on the construction of Etten airfield which is located on the small island of Etten. Etten's airfield, like other pacific airfields that were constructed on remote Pacific islands and atolls, illustrates the central role that engineering and airfield construction played in the Pacific conflict.
KW - Chuuk Lagoon
KW - World War II
KW - Underwater archaeological investigations
M3 - Article
SN - 1447-0276
VL - 38
SP - 131
EP - 143
JO - Bulletin of the Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology
JF - Bulletin of the Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology
ER -