Location
Lat 7°20'31.2" Long 151°46'55.19" Polle Island is the southwestern portion of Tol Island in the Faichuk Islands (Shichiyo) inside Truk Lagoon in Chuuk State (Truk) in the Federated States of Micronesia. Borders Lemotol Bay and Pata Island (Paata) to the north, Illick Harbor to the southwest. The western portion of the island is fringed by mangrove swamps. A small pier was at the southwestern corner of the island into Illick Harbor. On the north coast was another pier into Illick Harbor with a native village nearby.
Wartime History
During the Pacific War, defended by Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) personnel from the 43rd Naval Guard, 4th Naval Guard Force, Truk Transport Unit, 4th Fleet Headquarters, 4th Naval Stores Department, 227th Construction Battalion, 4th Civil Engineering Department, 4th Naval Construction Unit, 4th Naval Hospital, Eastern Carolines Naval Air Group, 4th Meteorological Unit and 10th Fleet Post Office Unit.
Two Japanese radar Type 2, Mark 1, Model 2 and Type 3, Mark 1, Model 3 emplaced to detect incoming aircraft. Emplaced on the crest of a ridge aimed westward to defend Piaanu Pass was a battery of four 15cm / 40 cal coastal defense guns manufactured by Stabilimento Armstrong Puzzuoli emplaced in caves with concrete and rock embrasures. Supporting the guns was a barracks 35' x 130' with a 30' x 70' annex, mess hall 25' x 60' and a generator. Nearby was the Fleet Command Post that was a underground cave complex. Emplaced nearby were light anti-aircraft and heavy anti-aircraft guns.
Nearby were three emplacements for 75mm Mountain Gun Type 41 emplaced in caves, one aimed to the northwest another aimed to the west and the third to the south covering Ulifauro Pass. On another ridge with an elevation of 676' was a three gun battery of 75mm Mountain Guns Type 41 with an observation tower with supporting buildings. Later in the Pacific War, a torpedo base was established near the pier into Illick Harbor.
References
WWII Wrecks of the Truk Lagoon pages 54, 82 (map), 86 (map Target T-3), 511 (index)
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Last Updated
October 23, 2019
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