Spanish shipyard: late 16th century – early 19th century Spanish naval station: early 19th century – 1898 U.S. Naval facility: 1898–1971 Philippine Naval facility: 1971–present
Naval Base Manila, Naval Air Base Manila was a major
United States Navy base south of the
City of Manila, on
Luzon Island in the
Philippines. Some of the bases dates back to 1898, the end of the
Spanish–American War. Starting in 1938 civilian contractors were used to build new facilities in Manila to prepare for
World War II. Work stopped on December 23, 1941, when Manila was declared not defendable against the
Empire of Japan southward advance, which took over the city on January 2, 1942, after the US declared it an
open city. US Navy construction and repair started in March 1945 with the taking of Manila in the
costlyBattle of Manila ending on March 2, 1945. Naval Base Manila supported the
Pacific War and remained a major
US Naval Advance Base until its closure in 1971.[1]
History
The first US Navy bases were Spain's bases taken after the
1898 Battle of Manila. At the end of the Spanish–American War, Spain ceded Manila to the United States.[2][3][4] Merchants ship from Spain and China started trading on the Sangley Peninsula in 1571. Sangley was the name given to Chinese traders, a merchant guest, in the Philippines. The two main Naval bases taken:
Naval Base Cavite at
Cavite City and
Naval Station Sangley Point both on the
Cavite Peninsula in
Manila Bay, eight miles southwest of the city of Manila. The Cavite Peninsula is south of the city center of Manila. On May 1, 1898, the US Navy took over the two Naval Bases after the
Battle of Manila Bay. Naval Station Sangley Point was used as a coal station for refueling ships. At the Naval Base Cavite, a repair
shipyard, that Spain had called Astillero de Rivera (Rivera Shipyard), the US Navy did updates, improvements and later added a
submarine base. The old Spanish hospital, run by
Sisters of Charity, was taken over by the US Navy. The old hospital was replaced by a new Naval hospital, Cañacao Naval Hospital Reservation in the 1920s, this Hospital served the Navy and local population. Cañacao Naval Hospital was destroyed during the war. Starting in 1938 US and Philippines civilian contractors were used to build up the US bases at Manila. The new 1941 projects were building at Sangley Point a
Seaplane base and an
ammunition depot at
Mariveles on the tip of
Bataan Peninsula.[1][5]
On December 23, 1941, it was declared that Manila was not defendable. Most civilian contractors depart Manila. US Troop were withdrawn to the Bataan Peninsula.[6] Some Troops withdrawn to
Corregidor Island in the bay, that surrendered May 6, 1942.[7]Japanese forces took over and started using the two Manila bases in January 1942. US civilians that did not depart were detained by Japan at
University of Santo Tomas-(Santo Tomas Internment Camp) and
Bilibid Prisons. The University of Santo Tomas
prisoner of war (POW) camp held 3,000. The two Bilibid Prisons were used as processing centers, over 13,000 POWs, mostly Americans, were held there before being put on
hell ships and transferred to other POW camps.[1][5] Some staff at the Naval Hospital did not evacuate, including some nurses, who became POWs with the Troops in the
Battle of Bataan.[8][9] The nurses became known as the
Angels of Bataan for their care of the Troop till liberated in February 1945.[10][11][12]
With the taking of Manila in 1945, in March 1945 the US Navy's
Seabee, Naval Construction Battalions, began repairing the battle damage at the two bases. Soon improvement began, with new Troop arriving at Pacific War, a base for new Troops arriving was built at the Cavite naval base. With the fighting ships at war for years, a Cavite repair base and depot was built for the repair and maintenance of ships.
United States Seventh Fleet headquarters moved into the 40-acre (16 ha)
Manila Polo Club. At Sangley Point Seabees built a new 5,000-foot runway for
Naval Air Transport Service airfield. The new airfield had 12,000-barrel tank farm, hangars, and a depot. Sangley Point seaplane base was repaired and improved, including adding a
pontoon dock. The Cavite base was repaired, and a new replacement Naval hospital was built. The Manila bases and the large Fleet anchorage in
Manila Bay began to build up for the expected costly invasion of Japan, planned for November 1, 1945, called
Operation Downfall. With the
Surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945, the invasion was not needed. The new Naval Hospital was completed and expanded. Naval Base Manila continued as US Base till 1971, when it was turned over to the
Philippines Navy.[1][13][5]
Sangley Point Ship Yard, two
marine railways for ship repair, next to the seaplane base.
Varadero de Manila Shipyard, (1957–1970) the US Navy shipyard at Sangley Point was turned over for private use after the Korean war in 1957. Located between the seaplane base and the former Cañacao Naval Hospital Reservation at 14°29′36″N120°54′32″E / 14.493265°N 120.908952°E / 14.493265; 120.908952. Now a boat dock.
Naval Base Cavite (50-acre (20 ha) Cavite Navy Yard and Sub Base) (1898–1941, 1945–1971), now Naval Station Pascual Ledesma
Mariveles Airfield, one dirt 3,800-foot runway at
Bataan14°27′N120°30′E / 14.45°N 120.50°E / 14.45; 120.50 complete on February 23, 1942. Used by US Army and Navy, with nearby Army Camp. Mariveles Airfield surrendered on April 10, 1942, and from there the
Bataan Death March began. Airfield was retaken in February 1945.[25]
Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays, four US Army forts on islands at the entrance to Manila Bay.
Naval mines blocked the entrance to the Port of Manila and Manila Bay for protection. On the north side of Corregidor Island, the two mines fields could be electrically be turned on and off by controls on Corregidor Island, so US ships could use the bay safely.
Bataan Airfield: Located on the east side of Bataan Peninsula, constructed in 1941 and used by US Army and Navy. Surrendered on April 10, 1942, with POWs becoming part of the Bataan Death March.
Nichols Field: Established in 1919 for US Army and Navy aircraft maintenance. Lost during the war, it was reutilized from 1945 to 1947 by the Army and Naval Air Transport Service (NATS). Now known as
Villamor Air Base and
Ninoy Aquino International Airport, under the jurisdiction of
Pasay.[35]
Nielson Field: Initially a private airport built in 1937, it was taken over for defense in 1941 but later captured by Japan. Used by the US (APO 75) in 1945 and returned to civilian use in 1946, closing permanently in 1947. Now part of the
Makati Central Business District in
Makati.[14]
Balara Airfield (Quezon New Airfield): Used as an auxiliary airfield in Caloocan, is now occupied by residential houses in what is now Quezon City.[14]
US Naval Station Sangley Point in 1947, with
Quonset hut, barracks, shops, supply depot, mess hall and more.
Seaplane Base at Sangley Point.
Cavite Navy Yard docks in 1899, year after it became a US Navy
Shipyard
A
O2U floatplane flies over the Cavite Navy Yard, in 1930, below seaplane tender
USS Jason and Sangley Point
Bataan Peninsula on 24 January 1945, with Mariveles Seaplane base, port and Airfield. Japan is bombing the runway. Mariveles surrendered on April 10, 1942, the start of
Bataan Death March. Mariveles was retaken in February 1945
Bataan Death March that started at US Navy port at Mariveles on
Bataan Peninsula on April 10, 1942, with US Army, Navy, Marines, Naval Hospital staff and Filipino Troops.