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Wreck of WWII Japanese transport ship identified off Philippine coast
The Hellships Memorial Foundation identified the wreck of the Hōfuku Maru, a Japanese vessel that sank with more than 1,200 Allied prisoners of war in 1944. The site lies off Zambales province at a depth of 160 feet.
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The wreck of the Japanese transport ship Hōfuku Maru has been identified off the coast of Zambales province in the Philippines, more than 30 miles from its previously believed location. The Hellships Memorial Foundation announced the discovery, which was also featured in early June on the Discovery Channel program Expedition Unknown.
More than 125,000 Allied prisoners were carried on these ships, with an estimated 20,000 deaths recorded during transit. On September 21, 1944, Hōfuku Maru was struck by an Allied torpedo and sank in less than three minutes, killing more than 1,000 British and more than 200 Dutch prisoners.
Japanese military archives to locate a wreck matching the ship's last known position and specifications. A series of deepwater dives, the presence of human remains, and measurements consistent with Hōfuku Maru confirmed the identity. The foundation stated that the site is regarded as a maritime war grave and that no artifacts have been recovered.
It added that the discovery supports remembrance, education, and historical preservation efforts.
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