Japanese WWII Fortifications

Jaluit was one of the most heavily fortified Japanese bases in the central Pacific. The lagoon, protected and deep enough to anchor large naval vessels, was developed as a major seaplane base from the 1930s onwards. Concrete bunkers, gun emplacements, and the concrete foundations of the seaplane hangar facilities are still visible across several islets on the atoll's southern rim, particularly around Imiej island.

The lagoon itself holds a number of wrecks from the intense American bombing campaign of 1943–44. These are largely undived and in varying states of preservation, as few sport divers make it to Jaluit. For anyone with an interest in Pacific War history and the equipment to explore, they represent a significant and largely undocumented site.

things to do sight
A story
The United States never invaded Jaluit. Instead, after heavy aerial bombing through 1943 and 1944, the atoll was bypassed when US forces struck directly at Kwajalein. The Japanese garrison — over 2,000 men at its peak — was left stranded, cut off from supply, and slowly starved until Japan's surrender in August 1945. The men who surrendered were severely malnourished.