Maloelap Atoll
Encyclopedia
The Maloelap Atoll (also spelled Maleolap) is a coral atoll of 71 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain
of the Marshall Islands
. Its land area is only,9.8 square kilometres (3.8 sq mi). but that encloses a lagoon of 972 square kilometres (375.3 sq mi). It is located 18 kilometres (11.2 mi) north of the atoll of Aur
. , the population of the islands of the atoll was 856.
The largest of the islands that make up the atoll are Taroa
(the administrative center of the atoll), in the northeast, and Kaben
in the northwest. Only three of the other islands in the atoll are inhabited: Airuk, Wolot and Jang. The island is served by Air Marshall Islands
via Maloelap Airport
.
of the Empire of Japan
. In 1939, the Japanese built a seaplane base, and landplane Taroa Airfield
with two runways (4800' + 4100'), and numerous support buildings and facilities, including a radar
station. During World War II the Japanese garrison of 2,940 navy men and 389 army men was commanded by Rear Admiral Shoichi Kamada. The perimeter of the island was heavily fortified with 12 heavy coastal artillery and 10 heavy anti-aircraft guns. The island was attacked by the United States Navy
beginning in February 1942 starting with carrier-based aircraft, and shelling by warships. The attacks grew in frequency and severity after Majuro
and Kwajalein
had fallen to the Americans. Of the 3097 man Japanese garrison (1772 Imperial Japanese Navy
, 368 Imperial Japanese Army
, and 957 civilians) only 1041 (34%) survived the war. Several Marshallese were also killed. A large number of war relics, including numerous plane wrecks, mainly Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters and Mitsubishi G4M
Betty bombers remain scattered about on the island.
Following the end of World War II, the island came under the control of the United States as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
until the independence of the Marshall Islands in 1986. Maloelap Atoll was the first to ratify the Marshall Islands
' constitution.
Ratak Chain
The Ratak Chain is a chain of islands within the island nation of the Marshall Islands. Ratak means "sunrise". It lies just to the east of the country's other main island chain, the Ralik Chain...
of the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
. Its land area is only,9.8 square kilometres (3.8 sq mi). but that encloses a lagoon of 972 square kilometres (375.3 sq mi). It is located 18 kilometres (11.2 mi) north of the atoll of Aur
Aur Atoll
Aur Atoll is a coral atoll of 42 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. Its total land area is only , but it encloses a lagoon with an area of...
. , the population of the islands of the atoll was 856.
The largest of the islands that make up the atoll are Taroa
Taroa
Taroa, also known as Tarawa, is an island in the east of Maloelap Atoll in the Marshall Islands. During World War II, it was the site of a major Japanese airfield...
(the administrative center of the atoll), in the northeast, and Kaben
Kaben
Kaben or Kaven is a small island in the Maloelap Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Together with a few other small islands, it forms part of the "outer islands" of the Marshalls and is situated at the northwestern most tip of the atoll...
in the northwest. Only three of the other islands in the atoll are inhabited: Airuk, Wolot and Jang. The island is served by Air Marshall Islands
Air Marshall Islands
Air Marshall Islands is an airline based in Majuro, in the Marshall Islands. It is the flag carrier of the Marshall Islands, operating inter-island services in the South Pacific. Its main base is Marshall Islands International Airport, Majuro.- History :...
via Maloelap Airport
Maloelap Airport
Maloelap Airport is a public use airport located on Taroa Island in Maloelap Atoll, Marshall Islands. This airport is assigned the location identifier 3N1 by the FAA and MAV by the IATA.- Facilities :...
.
History
Maloelap Atoll was claimed by the Empire of Germany along with the rest of the Marshall Islands in 1884, and the Germans established a trading outpost. After World War I, the island came under the South Pacific MandateSouth Pacific Mandate
The was the Japanese League of Nations mandate consisting of several groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean which came under the administration of Japan after the defeat of the German Empire in World War I.-Early history:Under the terms of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, after the start of World...
of the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
. In 1939, the Japanese built a seaplane base, and landplane Taroa Airfield
Taroa Airfield
Taroa Airfield was a major air base approximately three miles long and one mile wide on Maloelap Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The airfield was the most eastern Japanese air base of the Second World War...
with two runways (4800' + 4100'), and numerous support buildings and facilities, including a radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
station. During World War II the Japanese garrison of 2,940 navy men and 389 army men was commanded by Rear Admiral Shoichi Kamada. The perimeter of the island was heavily fortified with 12 heavy coastal artillery and 10 heavy anti-aircraft guns. The island was attacked by the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
beginning in February 1942 starting with carrier-based aircraft, and shelling by warships. The attacks grew in frequency and severity after Majuro
Majuro
Majuro , is a large coral atoll of 64 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. The atoll itself has a land area of and encloses a lagoon of...
and Kwajalein
Kwajalein
Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S...
had fallen to the Americans. Of the 3097 man Japanese garrison (1772 Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
, 368 Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
, and 957 civilians) only 1041 (34%) survived the war. Several Marshallese were also killed. A large number of war relics, including numerous plane wrecks, mainly Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters and Mitsubishi G4M
Mitsubishi G4M
The Mitsubishi G4M 一式陸上攻撃機, 一式陸攻 Isshiki rikujō kōgeki ki, Isshikirikkō was the main twin-engine, land-based bomber used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War II. The Allies gave the G4M the reporting name Betty...
Betty bombers remain scattered about on the island.
Following the end of World War II, the island came under the control of the United States as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was a United Nations trust territory in Micronesia administered by the United States from 1947 to 1986.-History:...
until the independence of the Marshall Islands in 1986. Maloelap Atoll was the first to ratify the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
' constitution.