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| Location Taroa Island is the second largest island in Maloelap Atoll, north of Majuro Atoll. The island measures about 1.48km in width and 1.68km in length. To the south is Eoon-Epje Island (Eoon Epje), connected by a causeway to Taroa during the war. Pronounced "Tar-a-wa", not to be confused with Tarawa. Taroa Airfield Spans the length of Taroa Island, developed by the Japanese prior to the war, neutralized from the air by American aerial attacks. American missions against Taroa November 16, 1943–May 18, 1944 Administrative center On leaving the runway for the village you will notice a concrete gutter system which lines all run- and taxiways. It was the main rainwater cache To the left are several destroyed zeroes placed in their earthen revetments. Down the track you will pass the air operations center to your right and then will reach the village with the UNDP hut in the center. Turning right at the UNDP hut there are three large water tanks and the command and radio building which is worth investigating. On the island side of this building you will see concrete foundations and the twisted pile of metal girders which once made up the hangars. Pier & Fortifications There is a heavy pillbox and the main pier. Proceeding north you will pass large concrete-covered fuel tanks and will reach the tip, where a coastal gun stands in the water - evidence of coastal erosion on Taroa. Main Generator Building If you proceed to the south from the UNDP hut, you will get to the main generator building. The cooling water tanks are to the south, while the large fuel tanks, sheltered in their own concrete building, are in the back. The two large generators produced 250kW each. Past two large iron air fuel tanks you will get to the beach. Barracks and eastern shore Across the runway you will get to the barracks area. Here are a number of personnel bunkers, concrete foundations of barracks, a laundry, an officer's mess and the like. When you get to the shore, you may turn left or right, and after some walk you will encounter coastal gun positions, just lurking out from the shrubs. Howitzers and AA guns The perimeter of the island, especially the ocean side, bristled with guns, which were a mixture of British and Japanese manufacture: 8 6" and 2 12cm coastal defense guns, 4 6" howitzers, 5 127mm dual purpose guns, 69 antiaircraft guns and an assortment of small guns. Today Postwar salvage rights were granted to a "Mr. Stevens". Anyone with more information or photographs, contact us. Today, Taroa is the administrative center of Maloelap Atoll. References Glimpses of Micronesia “Maloelap: Japanese Naval Bastion on World War II” by William Bartsch Vol. 25, No. 3, 1985 pages 48-52 After The Battle Magazine No. 54 "Unknown Maloelap" by William Bartsch pages 28-41 Contribute
Information Last Updated
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 Map Jan 22 1944 Map Fallingrain |
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