The Ship

The Hofuku Maru was a Japanese transport vessel used during World War II to carry Allied prisoners of war under horrific conditions. On September 21, 1944, it was sunk by American aircraft while traveling in convoy off the coast of Luzon in the Philippines. The ship carried approximately 1,289 POWs, primarily British and Dutch soldiers.

The Tragedy

When the Hofuku Maru was attacked by U.S. Navy aircraft, it was unmarked, offering no indication that POWs were aboard. The bombs struck directly, causing the ship to break apart and sink rapidly. Of the men imprisoned aboard, over 1,000 were killed, many trapped below deck. Only 104 survived the ordeal.

“I could hear the bombs coming closer... and then a deafening blast. Darkness. Screams. Water.” — Unnamed British Survivor

Aftermath

The survivors of the Hofuku Maru endured further hardship, including forced labor and malnutrition in other POW camps. The site of the sinking remained uncertain for decades, until its discovery off the Zambales coast by the Philippines MIA Search and Recovery Team in 2025.

Legacy

The Hellships Memorial in Subic Bay honors the men who perished aboard the Hofuku Maru and other hellships. The wreck site is now considered a war grave. We remember the victims not only as prisoners, but as men who suffered and died far from home in the cause of freedom.

Learn more: About the Hellships | Support the Memorial