The Incident

The Buyo Maru was a Japanese transport ship carrying Allied prisoners of war and Japanese soldiers when it was torpedoed by the USS Wahoo on January 26, 1943, in the Yellow Sea. The ship was not marked as carrying POWs. Among the prisoners were members of the British Indian Army’s 2nd Battalion, 16th Punjab Regiment.

The Controversy

After the sinking, survivors—both Japanese troops and POWs—were observed in lifeboats and in the water. The crew of the Wahoo, unaware of the presence of POWs, fired upon the lifeboats, believing they were full of Japanese military personnel. Later reports suggest that many of the estimated 195–400 POWs on board perished as a result of the attack and the subsequent gunfire.

“We thought they were Japanese soldiers returning fire. We didn’t know they were prisoners until much later.” — Reported reflection from a member of the Wahoo's crew

Aftermath

The Buyo Maru incident remains one of the more controversial events involving Allied submarines in World War II. The tragedy underscores the perils of transporting POWs on unmarked military ships and the terrible consequences of mistaken identity during wartime operations.

Legacy

Today, the Hellships Memorial includes the Buyo Maru among its honored vessels to ensure that the lives lost—POWs and crew alike—are not forgotten. It serves as a somber reminder of the confusion, fear, and tragedy that defined the Pacific War’s many sea battles.

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