Hofuku Maru
Encyclopedia
The Hofuku Maru was a Japanese cargo ship, which was sunk on September 21, 1944 by American planes, carrying 1,289 British and Dutch POW's. 1,047 of them lost their lives.
In 1944, the Hofuku Maru sailed from Singapore to Miri
, Borneo as part of convoy SHIMI-05. The convoy consisted of 10 ships, 5 of which carried in total 5,000 POW's. The men lived in the holds in appalling conditions.
At Borneo, the Hofuku Maru left the convoy with engine problems and sailed on to the Philippines arriving on July 19. She remained in Manila
until mid-September while the engines were repaired. The POW's remained on board and suffered terribly from disease, hunger and thirst.
On September 20 1944, the Hofuku Maru, with 10 other ships forming Convoy MATA-27, sailed from Manila to Japan. The following morning, the convoy was attacked 80 miles north of Corregidor
by more than 100 American carrier planes. All eleven ships in the convoy were sunk. On the Hofuku Maru 1,047 of the 1,289 British and Dutch POWs on board lost their lives.
In 1944, the Hofuku Maru sailed from Singapore to Miri
Miri
Miri is a city in northern Sarawak, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It is the second largest city in Sarawak, with a population of about 300,000, and the government administrative centre of Miri District in Miri Division....
, Borneo as part of convoy SHIMI-05. The convoy consisted of 10 ships, 5 of which carried in total 5,000 POW's. The men lived in the holds in appalling conditions.
At Borneo, the Hofuku Maru left the convoy with engine problems and sailed on to the Philippines arriving on July 19. She remained in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
until mid-September while the engines were repaired. The POW's remained on board and suffered terribly from disease, hunger and thirst.
On September 20 1944, the Hofuku Maru, with 10 other ships forming Convoy MATA-27, sailed from Manila to Japan. The following morning, the convoy was attacked 80 miles north of Corregidor
Corregidor
Corregidor Island, locally called Isla ng Corregidor, is a lofty island located at the entrance of Manila Bay in southwestern part of Luzon Island in the Philippines. Due to this location, Corregidor was fortified with several coastal artillery and ammunition magazines to defend the entrance of...
by more than 100 American carrier planes. All eleven ships in the convoy were sunk. On the Hofuku Maru 1,047 of the 1,289 British and Dutch POWs on board lost their lives.