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| IJN Passenger Cargo 7,363 Tons |
Ship Wartime
History Built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Laid down December 5, 1936 with Yard No. 681 as a 7,363 ton passenger-cargo ship for Osaka Shosen Line (OSK). Launched February 14, 1937 as Oryoku Maru. Completed September 30, 1937 with accommodations for 45 first-class passengers, 139 second-class passengers and 679 third-class passengers plus cargo. On October 2, 1937 departs on her maiden voyage from Kobe to Moji, Dairen then returns. During early 1943 begins operating from Kobe to Kirun (Keelung). Wartime History In early 1943, requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) as a Haitosen cargo/transport (A/C-APK) and converted into a troop transport with IJA number 5500. PARTIAL HISORY On December 11, 1944 at 8:00pm arrives at Manila and docks at Million Dollar Pier. On December 13, 1944 embarks 1,589 American Prisoners Of War (POWs) including roughly 1,100 officers and 30 Allied POWs from Canabanatuan POW Camp and Bilibid POW Camp that were detained in the cargo holds. With prisoners detained the cargo holds Oryoku Maru was dubbed a "Hell Ship" for the prisoners. Also embarked are 1,500 Japanese Army solider, 547 Japanese women and children and 1,127 passengers and crew from other Japanese vessels plus the ashes of 728 Japanese war dead plus cargo including a Packard car owned by General MacArthur. On December 14, 1944 at 4:40am departs Manila bound for Moji escorted by Momo and subchaser CH-60. By 6:50am roughly 7 miles off Napo Point spotted by U.S. Navy (USN) carrier planes from USS Hornet (CV-12) and the three ships are attacked eleven times. During the attacks, Oryoku Maru is hit by a bomb and near misses that cause leaks and develops a 15° list to port. Aboard, hundreds of prisoners were killed. Damaged, the captain orders her beached in shallow water off Suesute Point. Emergency repairs are made to the engine room and refloated at high tide and at 9:50pm arrives in Subic Bay arriving at 9:50pm. Those killed in the air attacks are removed and the prisoners left aboard with armed guards. The ship continues to take on water and again begins to list and the escorts are released and depart to the north. Sinking History On December 15, 1944 bombed by twelve waves of U.S. Navy carrier planes from USS Hornet. At 8:00am an attack by sixteen planes results in a direct hit that causes fires and disables water pumps for fire fighting equipment and efforts to fight the fire by hand are futile. During the aerial attacks, 48 aboard were killed including 10 crew with 11 wounded. At 10:30am the order to abandon ship is given. By 4:30pm the bow becomes stuck in rocks off Caiman Reef then heels over and sinks roughly 300 yards off the seawall at Olongapo Naval Station at Olongapo. Some of the prisoners managed to swim ashore and were confined in a fenced tennis court in Olongapo Naval Station. Later they were marched, placed on trucks and trains and taken to Ashore, the prisoners were confined in a fenced tennis court in the ruins of Olongapo Naval Station. Later they were moved by foot, truck, and train to San Fernando then shipped to Moji. Shipwreck The shipwreck of the Oryoku Maru remains in situ in Subic Bay off Olongapo at roughly at 14-45N, 120-13E. During the 1952, the U.S. Navy (USN) Seaplane Wrecking Derrick YSD-42 salvaged a 75mm Anti-Aircraft Gun Type 88 from the shipwreck. Later, donated to American Legion Subic Bay Post No. 4 in Olongapo and installed as a memorial dedicated November 11, 1952 with a plaque that reads: "Oryoku Maru Fwd 3" gun - dedicated by the American legion on November 11, 1952 to the memory of the American prisoners who lost their lives aboard the Japanese 'Hell Ship' Oryoku Maru sunk in Subic Bay by American planes Dec. 15, 1944 - Edward T. Berling Post Commander Subic Bay Post No. 4" References Combined Fleet - Oryoku Maru: Tabular Record of Movement Contribute
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