The Lisbon Maru Incident

The sinking of the Japanese transport Lisbon Maru in October 1942 remains one of the most dramatic and tragic episodes in the history of Allied prisoners of war in the Pacific War. More than 1,800 British soldiers captured during the fall of Hong Kong were crowded aboard the ship as it sailed from Hong Kong toward Japan. When the vessel was torpedoed by an American submarine off the coast of China, hundreds of prisoners died in the sinking and in the desperate struggle that followed. The incident has since become known as the Lisbon Maru tragedy and stands as one of the earliest examples of the deadly dangers faced by prisoners transported aboard Japanese “Hellships.”

Capture in Hong Kong

The story of Lisbon Maru begins with the Japanese capture of the British colony of Hong Kong in December 1941 during the Battle of Hong Kong. After weeks of fierce fighting, the Allied garrison surrendered on Christmas Day 1941. Thousands of British, Canadian, and Indian soldiers became prisoners of war.

Following their capture, many of the British prisoners were confined in camps in and around Hong Kong. In the autumn of 1942, Japanese authorities began transferring large numbers of prisoners to Japan where they would be used as forced labor in mines, shipyards, and factories supporting the Japanese war effort.

Boarding the Lisbon Maru

In late September 1942, approximately 1,800 British prisoners of war were marched to the docks in Hong Kong and forced aboard the Japanese cargo ship Lisbon Maru. The men were confined in cargo holds that had been hastily converted into prison compartments.

Conditions aboard the ship were harsh from the beginning. Hundreds of prisoners were crammed into confined spaces with little ventilation, limited food and water, and minimal sanitation. Guards sealed the holds with wooden covers, leaving the prisoners trapped below deck during most of the voyage.

The ship departed Hong Kong as part of a small convoy heading north toward Japan.

The Torpedo Attack

On 1 October 1942, while sailing in the East China Sea near the Chinese coast, Lisbon Maru was spotted by the American submarine USS Grouper (SS-214). Unaware that the ship was carrying Allied prisoners, the submarine fired torpedoes at what appeared to be a Japanese military transport.

One torpedo struck the vessel, damaging the hull and causing severe flooding. Although the ship did not sink immediately, it began taking on water and gradually lost stability.

Prisoners Trapped Below Deck

As the ship began to sink, the prisoners confined in the holds found themselves trapped. The hatch covers had been sealed, preventing them from escaping to the deck. Desperate men attempted to break through the wooden barriers and force their way out.

Eventually some prisoners succeeded in breaking open the hatch covers and emerging onto the deck. What followed was a chaotic struggle for survival. As the prisoners attempted to abandon the sinking ship, Japanese guards reportedly fired upon them in an effort to prevent escape.

Rescue by Chinese Fishermen

As Lisbon Maru finally went down on 2 October 1942, hundreds of prisoners entered the water. Many drowned or died of exhaustion in the rough seas.

However, an extraordinary rescue effort soon began. Local Chinese fishermen from nearby islands launched small boats and sailed toward the survivors struggling in the water. Despite the danger posed by Japanese patrols, the fishermen pulled dozens of exhausted prisoners from the sea and carried them to safety.

These acts of bravery saved the lives of many men who would otherwise have perished.

Loss and Survival

Of the approximately 1,800 prisoners aboard Lisbon Maru, around 828 died during the sinking and its aftermath. Hundreds of others were rescued by Japanese ships or by Chinese fishermen. The surviving prisoners were eventually returned to Japanese custody and later transported to labor camps in Japan.

The Lisbon Maru disaster remains one of the deadliest maritime losses of British prisoners during the Pacific War.

Remembering the Lisbon Maru

For decades the story of Lisbon Maru was known primarily through the accounts of survivors. In recent years renewed historical research and documentary work have helped bring greater attention to the tragedy.

The incident is remembered not only for the suffering endured by the prisoners but also for the courage of the Chinese fishermen who risked their lives to rescue survivors. Their actions stand as a remarkable example of humanity during one of the darkest moments of the war.

Today the story of Lisbon Maru is recognized as an important chapter in the history of the Hellships. It illustrates the dangers faced by prisoners transported by sea and the tragic consequences of using unmarked cargo ships to carry POWs through waters where naval warfare was actively underway.