A Japanese ship, known as a ‘hell ship’, was sunk by US warplanes in 1944 while transporting over 1,200 British and Dutch prisoners of war. The wreck of the Hōfuku Maru has now been discovered off the coast of the Philippines, near Zambales province, after more than 80 years.

Conditions on Board

The conditions on board the ship were brutal, with prisoners crammed into two holds with little food, water, or sanitation. The prisoners were forced to take turns lying down, and many were too weak to climb out to use the crude toilets on deck.

According to testimony from British servicemen, the conditions on board became even worse when the ship docked in Manila for over a month due to engine problems. Almost 100 British prisoners died during this time, and the survivors were not allowed on deck.

Discovery of the Wreck

The discovery of the wreck was made possible by a team of researchers who scoured documents in Japanese and US military archives. They conducted sonar surveys and technical dives, which ultimately located the wreck at a depth of around 164 feet.

The team used specialized computer software to create a 3D model of the wreck, which matched the size and position of the masts and cargo holds of the Hōfuku Maru. The wreck is split into two pieces, consistent with US and Japanese accounts of its fate.

The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands has reviewed the findings and stated that the wreck is ‘almost certainly’ the Hōfuku Maru. The agency considers the wreck a war grave and will not be excavated out of reverence for the victims and their families.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.