Zg646. This is the Fort Frank Fresh Water Storage Dam in the Sinalang Cove Valley, this is a view down-river.
The morning of March 20 brought tragedy to Fort Frank. The garrison was lined up in Crofton Tunnel to be inoculated. While waiting in line 240mm shell penetrated the roof of the tunnel and exploded. Killed were 28 men while 26 were wounded, several of these latter mortally. The wounded and dead were removed that night to Fort Mills. This did not prevent Battery Koehler from firing back at the enemy this night or the next day. The day’s shelling by the Japanese however marked the last firing of the 240mm howitzers from Cavite as the Hayakawa Detachment was disbanded on March and its guns transferred to Bataan.
The garrison of Carabao, based upon intelligence from a captured organization chart and prisoner interrogation, was estimated at 500 men. These were thought to be principally elements of a Japanese Naval landing unit. The date for the American assault landing was set for April 16, 1945. Prior to the assault the island was taken under fire from the Cavite shore 105mm and 155mrn Howitzers supported by 81mm and 4.2 inch mortars. Added to this was bombing by medium bombers and fighters dropping and 1,000 pound bombs and C-4 transports dropping 55 gallon drums Napalm. This was supported by gunfire from cruisers, destroyers and rocket ships. Principal target for the ships was the sea wall protecting the proposed landing area. This had to he knocked down if .a broad front (200 yards) was be provided for the landing. So intense was the bombardment that vegetation was stripped from the island.