Oryoku Maru Recovery Ops.05. AI generated picture of the imagined situation of the sunken Oryoku Maru on the Olongapo Harbor Bottom.
Randy Anderson says this:
The image accompanying these posts are reconstruction that illustrates the present-day wreck site of the Oryoku Maru in Subic Bay, based on compiled scuba diver reports, site descriptions, and known environmental conditions. It represents an interpretive layout of the debris field rather than a precise archaeological survey, reflecting how the wreck appears today after decades of collapse, silt accumulation, and disturbance.
Mark Kelso says this: “Little more to it than the AI image”.
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Oryoku Maru Remains Recovery Ops. 2026
Google AI Overview
As of April 2026, the US Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) is conducting a major underwater recovery operation in Subic Bay, Philippines, to recover the remains of over 250 American POWs from the sunken Japanese “hell ship” Oryoku Maru. The multi-year project, which began in earnest in February 2026, involves specialized diving teams excavating the wreck—lying 17–25 meters deep—to provide closure for families after 80 years.
Key Details of the Recovery Operation:
- Mission Status:The mission started in February 2026 and is considered one of the DPAA’s largest and most complex, involving 15 specialists from the salvage vessel USNS Salvor.
- Location:The Oryoku Maru rests roughly 400–550 yards from Alava Pier in Subic Bay, near the former Olongapo Naval Station.
- Challenges:The wreck site has poor visibility and was heavily damaged and broken apart by explosions during the war, creating a tangled, challenging environment for divers.
- Partnerships:The DPAA is working closely with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National Museum of the Philippines to perform the excavation.
- Historical Context:The ship was sunk by US Navy aircraft on Dec. 15, 1944, unaware it was transporting 1,619 Allied prisoners of war, causing extensive loss of life. net +5
URLs where this information and pictures came from:
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Oryoku Maru under Attack 15th Dec. 1944, click here!
Oryoku Maru Recovery Ops.01
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The DPAA Announcement 24th Feb. 2026, click here!
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The next 4 pictures are from Randy Anderson and came from these Facebook Pages, click here!
Philippines MIA Search and Recovery Project:
Oryoku Maru Recovery Ops.02 USNS Salvor T-ARS-52 arrived in Subic Bay
Oryoku Maru Recovery Ops.03 USNS Salvor T-ARS-52 is anchoring into position
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AI generated pictures of the imagined situation of the sunken Oryoku Maru on the Olongapo Harbor Bottom.
Oryoku Maru Recovery Ops.04. AI generated picture of the imagined situation of the sunken Oryoku Maru on the Olongapo Harbor Bottom.
Oryoku Maru Recovery Ops.05. AI generated picture of the imagined situation of the sunken Oryoku Maru on the Olongapo Harbor Bottom.
Randy Anderson says this:
The image accompanying these posts are reconstruction that illustrates the present-day wreck site of the Oryoku Maru in Subic Bay, based on compiled scuba diver reports, site descriptions, and known environmental conditions. It represents an interpretive layout of the debris field rather than a precise archaeological survey, reflecting how the wreck appears today after decades of collapse, silt accumulation, and disturbance.
Mark Kelso says this: “Little more to it than the AI image”.
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Between the entrance to the Alava Extension Wharf and the former Subic Bay Naval Base Port Control Building is now a hotel and I took advantage of that and shot these pictures from its top there. Two shots are from the former Cubi Point Naval Air Station site across the former Olongapo Harbor
Oryoku Maru Recovery Ops.06. USNS Salvor T-ARS-52 is moored into position over the wreck of the Oryoku Maru and is conducting salvage operations. Notice the cruise liner tied up at Boton Piers.
Oryoku Maru Recovery Ops.07. USNS Salvor T-ARS-52 is moored into position over the wreck of the Oryoku Maru and is conducting salvage operations.
Oryoku Maru Recovery Ops.08. A view across the harbor of USNS Salvor T-ARS-52 which is moored into position over the wreck of the Oryoku Maru and is conducting salvage operations.
Oryoku Maru Recovery Ops.09. A view across the harbor of USNS Salvor T-ARS-52 which is moored into position over the wreck of the Oryoku Maru and is conducting salvage operations. Notice, that all the way at left there is road cut coming down from Kalaklan Ridge, that is supposed to be part of a Barretto Bypass Road, but that project is going very slowly.
Oryoku Maru Recovery Ops.10. Yours truly and USNS Salvor T-ARS-52 which is moored into position over the wreck of the Oryoku Maru and is conducting salvage operations. Notice, there is a cruise liner in port, tied up at the former service Craft area at Boton Wharf. I can proudly say that I served on three of that type of ship as a diver and two amphibious ships.