A look at the accuracy of Operation Hailstone

Heya, after reading the thread about Koga retreating by turn 11, I had some inspiration to do some research into how accurate Operation Hailstone was, mostly regarding the enemy japanese forces that you would be facing.

The results of hours of research? It's actually kinda accurate, right down to the IJN ships deployed.

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Introduction:

Operation Hailstone was an operation conducted by the Americans against the Japanese naval base at Truk Lagoon on the 17-18th of February 1944. 

Truk was a deepwater naval port, and equipped with many repair facilities. Most of the combined fleet were stationed there to counter the American naval efforts. It was important for the Americans to neutralise or isolate Truk to prevent further Japanese deployments.

The planning for the operation had begun at the start of February, when a recon plane was flown past Truk on the 4th of February. 

Admiral Koga thus expected an American air raid at Truk, and started moving the biggest flagships out of Truk, to the next Naval base at Palau. 



However, Palau wasn't as suitable of a Naval base due to its shallowness, and Japanese command in tokyo had realised that they would need to retreat slowly towards the Philippines. 

Operation Hailstone was just that trigger that forced the retreat of the Japanese Naval forces out of the islands

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To start off, we must address the biggest inaccuracy in the room. There's no saving this one. 

Operation Hailstone was conducted on the 17th-18th of February. Koga had moved all his main troops and was the last to leave aboard the Musashi on the 10th of February with destroyers Hatsuharu, Michishio, Shiratsuyu and Tamanami, accompanied by light cruiser Ooyodo to sail for Yokosuka.

For "plot", let's say that the game made Koga's fleet have problems and depart late, on the 17th as Operation hailstone began.

Now to introduce the ships present! 




Ships Present on Map

Koga's Fleet - Movement to Yokosuka on the 10th

• Hatsuharu (DD)
• Tamanami (DD)
• Michishio (DD)
• Shiratsuyu (DD)
• Ooyodo (CL)

Northern Waters - Movement to Yokosuka on the 17th, intercepted

• Katori (CL) - Sunk
• Maikaze (DD) - Sunk
• Nowaki (DD) -Escaped

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Warships not Present

• Tachikaze (DD) - Ran aground before Operation Hailstorm, sunk
• Susuki (DD) - Patrol Boat No.34, Momi class destoyer, sunk
  
• Amakusa (DD) - Arrived at Truk on the 18th 
  

• Fujinami (DD) - Arrived at Truk on the 18th
• Numerous smaller gunboats and minelayers

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The game actually got most of their stuff correct, which was surprising. I was most surprised to find out that the Submarine raid at turn 4 actually happened.

Around turn 7, when the game announces that there are fleets trying to make an escape, the inaccuracy kicks in here. The fleet that was trying to "escape" was actually the Northern Fleet, en route towards Yokosuka. Surface fleets did engage here, and sunk the Katori and Maikaze, along with a few smaller ships, but Nowaki escaped. Hence, I placed Nowaki somewhere further up, ready to run. 

However for plot.... Koga was the one doing the escaping with his destroyer escorts. I grouped them together like that since they were already in formation, although Ooyodo and Shiratsuyu don't really move in game. The game only depicts Koga and 3 destroyers moving. 

Some history sources say that IJN Wakaba (DD) was also there, but from what I draw, Wakaba met with the fleet for a short moment to escort light carriers Zuiho and Chiyoda out on the same day Koga left. Hatsuharu joined up with them shortly after, which is why Hatsuharu is at the head of the destroyer escorts.

I really couldn't find sources stating about any more cruisers or Battleships left in Truk around that time period. The battleships Nagato and Fuuso had already left for Palau on the 1st, even before the scout plane was detected on the 4th. The rest of the cruisers left on the 10th for Palau, just before Koga for Yokosuka.

I wasn't quite sure whether the 2nd submarine in the fleet was I-43 or RO-40, but I-43 was sunk on the 16th north of Truk by a submarine attached to Operation hailstone while Ro-40 was sunk around Kwajalein afterwards. I-43 seemed more likely.


In conclusion: For most part, Operation Hailstone is rather accurate, at least for the number of IJN forces present at Truk.

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Sources: