Hellships were unmarked Japanese freighters used to transport American POWs during WWII.  Because these ships were unmarked,  Allied forces frequently targeted and torpedoed them.   We had no way of knowing that our troops were packed like sardines in the holds of these freighters with no chance of escape, if the ship were hit.   The result was that thousands of Allied troops lost their lives.   America's finest young men who had already endured many months of torture in disease ridden POW camps without decent food or water, were being transported to Japan, China, Manchuria, Korea, etc. where they would work as slave laborers for the Japanese war effort.

The Arisan Maru was torpedoed by an American submarine on October 24, 1944.   There were 1800 POWs aboard - 1795 died.   This Hell Ship sank in the South China Sea making it the worst naval disaster in the history of the United States.   Two days later, five of the survivors were rescued by a Chinese fishing junk.   The Chinese helped them reach American Air Corps forces.   Other survivors were recaptured by a Japanese destroyer and taken to Formosa.   Roster of those on the Arisan Maru. (on July 10, 2008)

The Shinyo Maru was torpedoed on September 7, 1944 by the USS Paddle off the coast of Mindanao.   There were 750 American POWs aboard - 668 died.

The Oryoku Maru left Manila on December 14, 1944, with 1619 POWs packed in the holds.   U.S. Navy planes from the "Hornet" attacked, causing the Hell Ship to sink the following day.    286 were killed or shot in the water as they tried to escape.   Two weeks later, the survivors were loaded on the Enoura Maru and the Brazil Maru and those ships sailed to Takao Harbor, Formosa.  Soon after arrival, all surviving POWs were consolidated on the Enoura Maru.

Enoura Maru was severely damaged in Takao Harbor on January 9, 1945, by U.S. Navy aircraft from the USS Hornet.   About 350 POWs were killed in this attack.  Survivors were put aboard the Brazil Maru and the ship arrived in Moji, Japan on January 29, 1945.   Only 490 of the original 1619 POWs were still alive.   

Sources include survivors stories:
"Sleep My Sons: The Story of the Arisan Maru"
"Shipwrecks of Subic Bay"  by F. C. Brown
"Forty Months in Hell"  by Pat Hitchcock
and many books written by those who experienced this tragedy.



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As pictures of HELLSHIPS become available,
they will be posted, together with known data.

Most Hellship photos are courtesy of Steve Bull


The Noto Maru

This Hellship transported several of our men:
Ed Alcorn, James Boyce, Kenneth Calvit, Charlie Dowdy,
Warren Jorgenson, James Murphy, Donovan Ricks,
Don Spaulding and Raymond Provencher.







The Arisan Maru
pictured at her launch day
June 5th, 1944
Mitsui Shipyard, Japan.


During World War II she departed Manila on October 10, 1944, with 1800 American POWs.   Was torpedoed by the USS Snook
on October 24, 1944; 1795 POWs died including the loved ones of many
Associate Members of ADBC.
Arisan Maru Roster









The Nissyo Maru
From Las Pinas to Moji - July 14 to August 6, 1944.
"Forty Months in Hell" by Pat Hitchcock has a detailed
report of the 22 day experience on this Hellship.
Some of our men in the hold were
Floyd Bull, Oscar Dean, Pat Hitchcock, Jim Kerns,
Ray Makepeace, John Northcott, Tillman Rutledge,
Wesley Wells and deceased member Edward McIntyre.





The Oryoku Maru
Sailed from Manila December 14, 1944, with 1619 POWs

Photo from book, "The December Ship" by Betty B. Jones.
When this ship was sunk on December 15, 1944, survivors
were loaded on the Enoura Maru and the Brazil Maru.
See more information about the Brazil Maru, below.
Those who parished on this Hellship
include Othello Bruun; John Neiger;
Irving Mandelson and Henry Clay Joyner
all family members of our Associates.




The Brazil Maru
Arrived in Moji, Japan on January 29, 1945.
Only 490 POWs of the original 1619 had survived.
. 
ADBC Members, Col. Jack H. Heinzel and Louis Kolger are survivors,
as was deceased member Albert W. Erickson.   Albert Durie, Jr.,
John Llewellyn Lewis and Dick Roper's brother were lost at sea.
Walter A. Kelso, Jr. died just after docking in Japan.
Their families are associate members of ADBC, Inc.




The Junyo Maru

This cargo boat was torpedoed off the western coast of
Sumatra by a British submarine, HMS Tradewind,
in September 1944.   Lives lost numbered more
than 5600 POWs from several Allied Nations.
Information courtesy of Peter van der Kuil