Japan's underwater graveyard: Incredible pictures of sunken planes, tanks and submarines show what once made up the Axis power's WW2 naval base until it was bombed into oblivion
- December 11th, 2015
Covered in coral and left
to rest on the Pacific ocean floor, these are the stunning remains of
Japan's arsenal of military vehicles which were targeted in one of
America's most important bombing operations during World War II.
From tanks to submarines,
this military equipment was once part of a key Japanese naval base in
Chuuk Lagoon, one of the federated states of Micronesia.
American Fleet Task Force
58 targeted the naval base on 17 February 1944 during a vital two day
mission known as Operation Hailstone. The success of the daring raid
played a vital part in allowing Allied forces to gain the advantage in
the Pacific campaign.
191,000 tons of war
shipping now lies one hundred and eighty feet down at the bottom of the
ocean, untouched since one of Japan's worst World War II defeats.
Much of the Japan's war
machines are now covered in a stunning layer of multi-coloured coral and
the home to an array of fish and wildlife. The remains are part of over
40 different World War II wreckage sites at the bottom of the lagoon.
American scuba instructor
Brandi Mueller, 32, was able to photograph the incredible detail of the
remaining underwater wrecks at one of the best diving locations in the
world, Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia.
She spent a week diving up
to five times a day to capture these incredible shots, revealing the
stunning natural beauty left at the site.
Two
tanks lie piled on top of each other have become home to an array of
wildlife and have been covered in a thick layer of coral 
A vast cache of ammunition litters the floor inside one of the sunken military vehicles at the wreckage site 
A World War II breathing respirator seats among a large pile of twisted metal and well preserved glass at the site of the wreck
Poking out from the sand, the propeller and parts of several Japanese
war planes lie untouched since they were destroyed during the stunning
operation, which took place after the Allies made inroads at the
Marshall Islands
Resting on top of one submarine, a well preserved first aid box lies next to an array of bottles and dishes at the wreckage site. Many of the sunken vessels were mechant ships, transporting key supplies to the Japanese naval base on the Caroline Islands
The former Japanese military truck, complete with a well preserved steering wheel lies among the tanks and planes on the ocean floor
Among the colourful coral and fish, a nautical speed dial remains all that's left of one Japanese naval vessel
Over
four hundred tonnes of American explosives were used during the
devastating operation, which piled out much of Japan's key arsenal of
military vehicles in the Pacific 
Chuuk
Lagoon is part of the larger Caroline Islands, historically known as
the New Philippines. Made up of 500 small island, the Caroline Islands
are politically shared between the Federated States of Micronesia and
Palau 
A fellow diver takes a breather whilst resting inside the rusty remains of a World War II Japanese armoured tank 
American scuba instructor Brandi Mueller, 32
American scuba instructor Brandi Mueller, 32, spent a week diving up to five times a day to capture these incredible shots 
Undisturbed since the 36 hour bombing campaign from 17 to 18 February 1944, this box of bottles was spotted among the wreckage 
Following
their success in the Marshall Islands, Operation Hailstone played a
vital part in battering Japan's miltiary forces in the Pacific 
The wreck in the Federated States of Micronesia is considered one of the best diving locations in the world 
Covered in dust and coral, much of the Japanese naval base's key military equipment in Micronesia lies undisturbed on the ocean floor
From tanks to submarines, this military equipment was once part of a key Japanese naval base in Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia
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