The Marshall Islands 1944

At the same time ""Catchpole"" was launched, TF 57, the Fast Carrier Force, attacked Truk (17-18 February). Much of the Combined Fleet had withdrawn to the Palaus, but the strikes sank 39 warships, auxillaries, and merchantmen, as well as destroying over 200 aircraft. Operation ""Hailstone"" neutralized the Japanese Navy's ""Gibraltar of the Pacific"", eliminating the need for a costly amphibious assault on the atoll.
Naval shelling of Engebi, Eniwetok, Parry, and Japtan Islands began in the early morning hours, to be joined by air strikes after dawn. The ships of the Expeditionary Group steamed single file through two passages in broad daylight, three battleships, three cruisers, 15 destroyers, one sub-chaser, four minesweepers, seven attack transports, two attack cargo transports, six cargo ships, two destroyer-transports, two tugs, an LSD, and nine LSTs. Four escort carriers, their screening destroyers, and auxiliaries remained outside the lagoon. A fleet carrier and two light carriers provided additional support. One US Navy officer remarked, ""one of the most thrilling episodes that I witnessed during the entire war."" Another officer in the area took a somewhat different view: Major-General Nishida sent a plaintive radio message, ""Enemy fleet entering lagoon in large numbers. Request reinforcements.""