Maloelap Atoll
Marshall Islands · Ratak Chain · 3 m
Description
Taroa island on Maloelap held the easternmost Japanese air base of the Pacific war, two runways and a garrison of over three thousand, and it was bombed harder than any other position in the Marshalls. Only a third of the men on it survived. Twelve heavy coastal guns and ten anti aircraft guns ringed the shore and much of that is still standing in the scrub, alongside aircraft wrecks and the shells of buildings. The supply ship Toreshima Maru lies in shallow water off the runway, close enough to swim out to. Taroa was not resettled until the nineteen seventies, which is why so much survived, and the old runway serves the atoll's airport today.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 2 to 6 days (optimal 3 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: December – April
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Taroa Airfield, the easternmost Japanese air base
- Twelve heavy coastal guns still in the scrub
- The Toreshima Maru in shallow water off the runway
- Aircraft wrecks along the old runways
- Swimming out to the wreck from the beach
- Shells of the base buildings in the undergrowth
- The runway still in use as Maloelap Airport
- Lagoon reefs barely dived
- Snorkelling over the shallow wreckage
- Empty beaches away from Taroa
- Reef sharks in the passes
Getting there
- Airports:
- MAV
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry