US Star Pacific Wrecks Your donation today supports the next 15 years

All Donations are100% tax deductible

$
Main Menu
Search
Forum
Reviews
People
Help
    Republic of Palau (Belau)  

Location
Peleiu is an island ringed with mangrove swamps inside a coral reef and dominated by long steep jungle covered ridges. Today, Taiwanese real estate and tourism interests are moving into Palau in force, from Taiwanese developers.

History
A German colony prior to WWI, Koror became the capital island and with its fine harbors enclosed in a magnificent barrier reef, it was an idyllic location from which to administer the Caroline and Marshall Islands. After WWI, the islands were mandated to Japan by the League of Nations. Palau had been the headquarters of the Japanese South Seas Colonial Administration since March 1922 when a civilian administration took over administration from the Navy. Selected for occupation by USMC, to secure the flank of MacArthur's drive to liberate the Philippines, contrary to what planners believed, Peleliu and Angaur were heavily fortified and made the Americans pay a heavy price for their capture.

  Heavy fighting between Japanese and US Marines
  Small island off Peleliu off Orange Beach 3
  Heavily defended by the Japanese
  Lightly defended. National museum
  Lightly defended island with mostly civilian population.
  Site of most of the contemporary tourist resorts
  Heavy fighting between Japanese and US Marines
  Island to the north of Peleliu
  Island six miles NNE of Peleliu

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
November 5, 2009

 

Pacific Wreck Database
Pacific Wrecks Incorporated is a non-profit charity 501(c)(3)  Donate Now
© 1995-2009
All rights reserved
Bookmark and Share