View source for U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay

{{Short description|Former Spanish and American military facility in Zambales, Philippines}}
{{for-multi|the body of water|Subic Bay, Philippines|the municipality|Subic, Zambales}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name          = U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay
| partof        = 
| location      = [[Subic Bay]], Philippines
| image         = [[File:NAS Cubi Point and NS Subic Bay.jpg|300px|border]]
| caption       = An aerial view of Naval Station Subic Bay (right) and [[Naval Air Station Cubi Point]] (left; present-day [[Subic Bay International Airport]]).
| map_type      = 
| map_size      = 
| map_caption   = 
| type          = Naval base
| coordinates   = {{coord|14|48|30|N|120|17|30|E|type:landmark_region:PH-ZMB|display=title,inline}}
| code          = 
| built         = {{Start date|1885}}
| builder       = {{flagcountry|Restoration (Spain)}}
| materials     = 
| height        = 
| used          = {{unbulleted list|{{flagcountry|Restoration (Spain)}} (1885–1898)|{{flag|United States|1912}} (1899–1942)|{{flagcountry|Empire of Japan}} (1942–1945)|{{flag|United States}} (1945–1992) (2023-present) |{{flagcountry|Philippines}} (2022–present)}}
| fate          = Reactivated
| condition     = 
| ownership     = 
| open_to_public = 
| controlledby  = 
| garrison      = 
| current_commander = 
| commanders    = 
| occupants     = 
| battles       = 
| events        = 
| image2        = 
| caption2      = 
}}
[[File:NASCubiPt.JPEG|thumb|right|An aerial view of Cubi Point, and in the background, Naval Station Subic Bay]]

'''Naval Base Subic Bay''' was a major ship-repair, supply, and rest and recreation facility of the [[Spanish Navy]] and subsequently the [[United States Navy]] located in [[Zambales]], Philippines. The base was {{convert|262|mi2|sp=us}}, about the size of Singapore.<ref>{{cite news |author=Floyd Whaley |title=Shadows of an Old Military Base |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/27/world/asia/27iht-subic27.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=26 April 2013 |access-date=24 December 2014 }}</ref> The Navy Exchange had the largest volume of sales of any exchange in the world, and the Naval Supply Depot handled the largest volume of fuel oil of any navy facility in the world.<ref>Anderson, pp. 142–143.</ref> The naval base was the largest overseas military installation of the [[United States Armed Forces]], after [[Clark Air Base]] in [[Angeles City]] was closed in 1991.<ref name=largest>Barber, Ben. "Two decades on, Philippines struggles with U.S. base cleanup". ''[[The American Legion Magazine]]'', September 2012: 64.</ref> Following its closure in 1992, it was transformed into the [[Subic Bay Freeport Zone]] by the Philippine government.

In late 2022, plans to reopen the base under the [[Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement]] emerged after the Philippine Navy reoccupied a portion of the base and a U.S. investment firm purchased the remainder of the port.<ref name=":0" />

==Spanish period==
[[Subic Bay]]'s strategic location, sheltered anchorages, and deep water had first been made known when the Spanish explorer [[Juan de Salcedo]] reported the bay's existence to the Spanish authorities upon his return to [[Manila]] after Salcedo arrived in Zambales to establish Spanish rule. It would be a number of years before Spain would consider establishing a base there.

[[Cavite]], which had been home to most of the Spanish fleet in the Philippines, suffered from unhealthy living conditions and was vulnerable in time of war and bad weather because of its shallow waters and lack of shelter. Therefore, a military expedition was sent to Subic Bay in 1868 with orders to survey the area if it would be a suitable site for a naval yard. The Spanish explored the entire bay and concluded that it had much promise and thus reported their findings to Cavite. This report was not well received in Manila, as the Spanish command was reluctant to move to the provincial isolation of Subic. Finally, in 1884, a Royal Decree declared Subic Bay a naval port.

On 8 March 1885, the [[Spanish Navy]] authorized construction of the ''Arsenal de Olongapo'' and by the following September, work started at [[Olongapo]]. Both the harbor and its inner basin were dredged and a drainage [[canal]] was built, as the Spanish military authorities were planning to make Olongapo and their navy yard an "island." This canal also served as a line of defense and over which the bridge at the base's Main Gate passes. When the Arsenal was finished, the [[gunboat]]s ''Caviteño'', ''Santa Ana'', and ''San Quintín'' were assigned for its defense. To complement these gunboats, [[coastal artillery|coastal artilleries]] were planned for the east and west ends of the station, as well as on [[Grande Island]].

[[Seawall]]s, [[causeway]]s and a short railway were built across the [[swamp]]y [[Mudflat|tidal flats]]. To finish these projects, thousands of tons of earth and rock from Kalalake in Olongapo had to be brought in as fill. The magnitude of this quarrying was so huge that a hill eventually disappeared and became a lagoon in the area now known as Bicentennial Park.

The main entrance to the Arsenal was the extant West Gate. This gate was equipped with gunports and served as a [[Prison|jail]]. This gate was connected to the South Gate, which was near the waterfront, by a high wall of locally quarried stone.

Inside the Arsenal, the Spanish constructed a [[foundry]], as well as other shops, which were necessary for the construction and repair of ships. The buildings were laid out in two rows on Rivera Point, a sandy patch of land jutting into the bay, and named after the incumbent Captain-General of the Philippines, [[Fernando Primo de Rivera, 1st Marquis of Estella|Fernando Primo de Rivera]]. The Arsenal's showpiece was the station [[commandant]]'s headquarters, which was a one-storey building of [[Vitex parviflora|molave]] and [[Pterocarpus|narra]] wood, and stood near today's Alava Pier and had colored glass windows.

The Spanish navy yard was constructed in the area that was last occupied by the U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility. During the [[Philippine Revolution]] against Spain, the Cuban-Filiipino admiral of the [[Philippine Navy]], [[Vicente Catalan]], seized Subic Naval base from the Spanish and delivered it to the [[First Philippine Republic]].

==Battle of Manila Bay==
{{Main|Battle of Manila Bay}}
On 25 April 1898, [[Commodore (United States)|Commodore]] [[George Dewey]], Commander of the [[United States Asiatic Fleet]], received word that [[Spanish–American War|war with Spain]] had been declared and was ordered to leave Hong Kong and attack the Spanish fleet in [[Manila Bay]].

In the Philippines, [[Rear Admiral]] [[Patricio Montojo]], realizing that Subic Bay would provide a more defensible position than Cavite, ordered his smaller ships and the batteries in Manila Bay to resist Dewey's fleet and deny them the entrance to Manila Bay.  His other units would then use Subic Bay as a [[sally port]], with which he could attack the American fleet's rear and cut off its supplies. On 26 April, Montojo arrived at Subic Bay aboard {{ship|Spanish cruiser|Reina Cristina||2}} with seven other ships.

On the morning of the 27 April, ''Castilla'' was towed northeast of Grande Island to help control the western entrance to Subic Bay.  The eastern entrance, which was between Grande and Chiquita Islands, had been blocked by the scuttling of ''San Quintín'' and two other vessels. On Grande Island, the four {{convert|5.9|in|mm|adj=on|0}} [[Ordóñez guns]] that had been shipped from [[Sangley Point]] were not yet installed.  Meanwhile, a [[Cable ship|cable-laying ship]], which was commandeered to lay [[Naval mine|mines]], ended up putting only four of the 15 available mines in place.

In Hong Kong, Dewey purposely delayed his sailing until he received news from the U.S. Consul at Manila, Oscar F. Williams, with information about the strength and positions of the Spanish fleet.  Williams told Dewey that Montojo and his fleet had sailed to Subic Bay.

On 30 April, Dewey sighted the islands of [[Luzon]] and thus ordered {{USS|Boston|1884|6}} and {{USS|Concord|PG-3|6}} to sail at full speed to Subic Bay to hunt for enemy ships. After seeing no enemy vessels at Subic, ''Boston'' and ''Concord'' signaled {{USS|Olympia|C-6|2}} of their findings and rejoined the squadron underway to Manila.

At dawn of 1 May 1898, the American fleet entered Manila Bay. Once the ships closed to within {{convert|5000|yd|m}} of the Spanish fleet, Dewey ordered the Captain, Charles Gridley, of ''Olympia'' "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley." Montojo's fleet was destroyed, losing 167 men killed and 214 wounded. The Americans only suffered a handful of wounded.

In June 1898, nearly a thousand Spanish nationals left Olongapo and took refuge at Grande Island. By July, Dewey ordered {{USS|Raleigh|C-8|2}} and ''Concord'' to sail for Subic Bay to demand the surrender of Grande Island.  When the American ships arrived, they saw the German cruiser {{SMS|Irene||2}} at the island, but as the Americans cleared for action and started to head for ''Irene'', she fled around the other end of Grande.  The Spanish garrison on the island did not resist and immediately surrendered to Captain [[Joseph Coghlan]] of ''Raleigh''.

==Philippine–American War==
During the [[Philippine–American War]], the Americans focused on using the Spanish naval station at Sangley Point, largely ignoring Subic Bay, and the arsenal was occupied by Filipino forces. The Filipinos constructed a gun battery on top of a ridge using one of the {{convert|6|in|cm|adj=on|0}} guns on Grande Island.

In the summer of 1899, gunboats started patrolling Subic Bay and after realizing that the patrols would not stop, the Filipinos started to prepare to confront the Americans. During a routine patrol, the [[Auxiliary ship|supply ship]] {{USS|Zafiro||2}} entered Subic Bay and came under fire from the newly constructed battery. ''Zafiro'' withdrew to Cavite and reported the incident to headquarters. The cruiser {{USS|Charleston|C-2|2}} was then sent to Subic to silence the battery, but as she was withdrawing, the battery gave out one last shot, provoking the Americans.

On 23 September 1899, ''Charleston'', ''Concord'', {{USS|Monterey|BM-6|2}}, and ''Zafiro'' sailed into Subic Bay to destroy the battery. Upon clearing Kalaklan Point, ''Monterey'', equipped with {{convert|10|and|12|in|mm|adj=on|0}} guns, opened fire. Under this barrage, the battery was only able to fire one shot.

''Charleston'' then sent a signal for 180 sailors and 70 [[United States Marine Corps|Marines]] to land on Subic. Meanwhile, the other ships continued firing. The Filipinos then deployed into the town of Olongapo, returning fire with small arms. When the entire landing force was ashore, the ships ceased firing and the landing party entered the battery. In all, three charges of [[Nitrocellulose|guncotton]] were placed on the battery, completely destroying it. The party then went back to their ships and sailed for Manila. While the battery was destroyed, the Filipino forces still held the navy yard as well as Olongapo.

In December 1899, the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] launched an operation to clear the countryside of Filipinos who were resisting American rule; 90 soldiers from the 32d U.S. Volunteers set out to capture Olongapo. As the soldiers were entering Santa Rita, just outside Olongapo, they met a pocket of resistance, but after returning fire, the armed Filipinos quickly scattered. The soldiers then proceeded to capture the navy yard.

When Rear Admiral John C. Watson learned of this action against the navy yard, he set out for Subic aboard {{USS|Baltimore|C-3|2}}, accompanied by {{USS|Oregon|BB-3|2}}. When the ships arrived, Watson was surprised that the U.S. Army was in complete possession of the navy yard. Watson then ordered Marine Captain [[John Twiggs Myers]] ashore with 100 Marines to secure the navy yard.

When the Marines found the highest flagpole on the navy yard, which was in front of the hospital, they immediately raised the [[American flag]] on 10 December 1899, one year after the [[Treaty of Paris (1898)|Treaty of Paris]] was signed. The Marines then took responsibility for the navy yard while the Army took over administrative and operational control of Olongapo.

[[Drinking water]] was not available on the navy yard and so water details had to be sent to the village of Binictican, near the mouth of the river of the same name. Early during the occupation of Olongapo, the town was offered as a place of refuge for Filipinos who were sympathetic to the Americans. After an ambush of seven Marines, the inhabitants of the villages of Binictican and Boton were ordered to move into Olongapo or be declared outlaws. Those people who owned property in the two villages were given houses in Olongapo. Six days after the villagers settled in Olongapo, {{USS|Nashville|PG-7|2}} shelled Binictican and Boton and later 100 Marines completed the destruction.

The Marines then exercised civil authority over Olongapo and ordered municipal elections, appointed local policemen, gave away food to supplement poor harvests, supplied medical care and supplies, and set up a school for the teaching of the English language.

In 1900, the [[General Board of the United States Navy]] made a thorough study of the naval base building program and decided that the American fleet in the Philippines could be easily bottled up in either the Manila or Subic bays. They instead recommended [[Guimaras Island]], south of [[Manila]], as the most suitable site for the main American naval base in the Philippines. [[Admiral of the Navy]] [[George Dewey]] and Admiral [[George C. Remey]], Commander of the Asiatic Fleet, disagreed. They thought Subic Bay held the greatest potential.

The Navy then called for another study with Remey as the senior member. This board then decided that Subic Bay was the most suitable and practicable place to build a naval base. A board of officers under Rear Admiral Henry C. Taylor was then appointed to develop a plan for the naval station. Extensive plans for fortifications, [[dockyard]]s, [[drydock]]s, workshops, a hospital, a railroad linking Olongapo with Manila and storage facilities for 20,000 tons{{vague|are these tons properly identified in the implicit identification implied in this conversion to 18,000 rather than 20,000 metric tons?|date=January 2010}} (18,000 metric tons) of coal were drawn up and submitted to the [[United States Congress|Congress]].

The board requested an appropriation of $1&nbsp;million (${{Inflation|US|1,000,000|1900|2011|r=2}} in {{#expr:{{CURRENTYEAR}}-1}} dollars) to begin building the naval station. President [[Theodore Roosevelt]], a strong supporter of the establishment of a naval station at Subic Bay, issued an [[Executive order (United States)|Executive Order]] establishing the Subic Bay Naval Reservation.

Because of the establishment of the Subic Bay Naval Reservation in November 1901 more troops were assigned to Subic. When the Samar force returned at the beginning of March 1902, its personnel were divided between Olongapo and Cavite. Cavite, however, still continued to have the largest number of Marines anywhere in the Philippines and continued to be the headquarters of the U.S. Navy because of its proximity to Manila.

In December 1902, Rear Admiral [[Robley D. Evans (admiral)|Robley D. Evans]], Commander of the Asiatic Fleet, directed the first fleet exercise in Asian waters. An expeditionary force of 200 Marines occupied and erected guns on Grande Island. The channels on each side of the island were mined, while vessels of the fleet operated in the bay itself. The exercise was highly successful and confirmed the Admiral's opinion of the strategic advantage of Subic Bay.

The value of Subic Bay as a training area was recognized as the Marines practiced movements in wild and difficult environment. Their building of bridges and roads was also considered to be excellent training.

In June 1907, as tensions with Japan mounted, orders were secretly issued for Army and Navy forces in the Philippines to concentrate at Subic Bay. A large supply of coal and certain advanced base materials including coastal defense guns were to be moved from Cavite. This plan, however, would be opposed by other military leaders and by Governor-General [[Leonard Wood]]. An acrimonious debate would emerge and plans to build a major base in the Philippines would be discarded. Roosevelt would be disappointed by this, wrote that the aforementioned decision was a humiliating experience, and instead pushed for the development of [[Pearl Harbor]] in Hawaii.

==World War I and interwar years==
[[File:Aerial view Olangapo Naval Station 1928 NARA 19-LC-19C.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Olongapo Naval Station (later the U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay), 1928]]
[[File:O3U-1 Corsairs on a barge alongeside of USS Heron (AM-10) in Subic Bay, circa in 1933 (NH 51872).jpg|thumb|right|''1933'': [[Vought]] O3U-1 "Corsair" observation planes aboard the [[USS Augusta (CA-31)|''Augusta'']] during exercises in Subic Bay]]

In 1917, as the United States was drawn into [[World War I]], all the Navy's shipyards including Subic Bay began working at a feverish pace to prepare ships for sea.  American and Filipino workers would take pride in their workmanship such that destroyers that were overhauled in Subic Bay became the vanguard of Admiral [[William Sims]]'s convoy.

The [[Washington Naval Treaty]] of 1922 called for the limitation of naval armaments and included provisions that facilities for the repair and maintenance of American naval forces in the Philippines would be reduced.  Shops were dismantled at the navy yard at Subic Bay and [[Fort Wint]] was reduced to caretaker status and personnel levels were cut.

The [[Empire of Japan|Japanese government]] kept a close eye on activities in the Philippines for violations of the 1922 treaty.  During the [[typhoon]] season of 1928, VT Squadron Five which operated [[Glenn L. Martin Company|Martin]] torpedo aircraft out of Manila, arrived in Subic Bay on a routine training flight.  A typhoon suddenly veered toward Subic Bay and the plane crews had to lay down ramps to haul the seaplanes up on the beach.  The pontoons were filled with water and the planes lashed down.  When the typhoon had passed, the undamaged planes were refloated and returned to their tenders at Manila.

Within three weeks, the squadron commander was informed of a Japanese complaint that the Navy had violated the treaty by increasing the facilities for plane handling at Subic Bay.  The squadron commander was to provide all facts concerning the incident to the Office of the Governor-General of the Philippines so that a response could be made to the Tokyo government.

Even though the facilities at Subic Bay were greatly reduced under the [[Calvin Coolidge|Coolidge]] administration, some ship repair capability remained, including the [[USS Dewey (YFD-1)|Dewey Drydock]].  The [[1923 Great Kantō earthquake|Great Kantō earthquake]] occurred on 30 August 1923, devastating the [[Yokohama, Japan]] region. The transport ship ''Merritt'' set sail from Subic Bay in 72 hours loaded with Red Cross relief supplies and 200 Filipino nurses.

In the 1930s a tree-planting program had begun, transforming the naval station into a virtual tropical garden, with streets lined with [[coconut palm]]s, [[hibiscus]], and [[gardenia]]s.  Outside activities and sports were also promoted, with a [[golf course]] being laid out where Lowry Hall last stood.

==World War II==
By the mid-1930s, the Nazis had taken power in Germany and Japan was beginning to flex its military muscle. The [[United States Congress]] therefore authorized the release of funds with which to update the [[Coast Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays]]. President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] would complement this by ordering the integration of Filipino military forces into the newly created [[U.S. Army Forces in the Far East]]. General [[Douglas MacArthur]], who had been serving as a military advisor to the government of the [[Commonwealth of the Philippines]] and was also [[Field Marshal of the Philippines]], was ordered back to active duty with the rank of [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]] with the title of Commander of the United States Army Forces in the Far East.

To prepare for eventual war, Dewey Drydock, which had been at Subic Bay for 35 years was towed to [[Mariveles, Bataan#Geography|Mariveles Bay]], on the tip of the [[Bataan Peninsula]], and scuttled there on 8 April 1942 to prevent the Japanese from deriving benefit from it.

The [[US 4th Marine Regiment|4th Marine Regiment]], which had been withdrawn from Shanghai in China, was ordered to withdraw to the Philippines.  The first members of the regiment disembarked from ''President Madison'' at Subic Bay early on the morning of 1 November 1941.  The remainder arrived on 1 December.  The Marines were housed in temporary wooden [[barracks]] and in tents at the naval station and the [[rifle range]].

The freshly arrived Marines were assigned to provide land defense for Subic Bay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.subicbaypi.com/subic_timeline40.htm|title=SUBIC BAY TIME LINE HISTORY – 1940's -|at=1941}}</ref> Seaward defenses included the batteries at [[Fort Wint]] on [[Grande Island]] and a minefield, which had been laid off the entrance to Subic Harbor. As the Marines built beach defenses, [[PBY Catalina|Consolidated PBY-4 Catalinas]] from [[VPB-29|VP-101]] and [[VP-102]] of Patrol Wing 10,<ref name="Alsleben">{{cite web|last = Alsleben |first = Allan |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/patrol_wing10.html |title=US Patrol Wing 10 in the Dutch East Indies, 1942 |date=1999–2000|publisher=Dutch East Indies Campaign website}}</ref> which was stationed at Subic Bay, were conducting daily patrols off Luzon as a response to rumors that the Japanese were approaching the Philippines. On 11 December, seven Catalinas had just returned from patrol when [[A6M Zero|Japanese Zeroes]] appeared and strafed the aircraft. One [[Ensign (rank)|ensign]] was killed and all Catalinas sank to the bottom of Subic Bay's inner basin.

As the Japanese continued their advance through Luzon, telephone and [[telegraph]] lines between Manila and Olongapo were sabotaged; as a result, all Japanese in Olongapo were rounded up and turned over to the [[Provost Marshal]]. A priest had also been questioning Marines and Filipinos about sensitive matters such as troop positions and strength and after the Marines became suspicious, a search of the priest's belongings was ordered and a [[shortwave radio]] was found. Right there and then, the battalion commander convened a hearing and after intense interrogation, the priest confessed to being a member of the [[German-American Bund]] and had been a spy for the Japanese.  He was then taken behind the church and shot by a Marine firing squad.

By 24 December, the situation at Subic had become hopeless and an order to destroy the station and withdraw was given. All buildings on the station were torched while Filipinos burned the entire town of Olongapo.  All that remained on Subic was the former {{USS|New York|ACR-2|2}}, and she was towed into a deep part of the bay and scuttled.  All Marines withdrew to [[Bataan]] and eventually to [[Corregidor]] where they made their last stand.

Fort Wint, under the command of [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] Napoleon Boudreau of the U.S. Army, was evacuated on 25 December.  All equipment and supplies were destroyed.  On 10 January 1942, soldiers of the [[Japanese Imperial Army]]'s [[14th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|14th Infantry Division]] marched into Olongapo and on 12 January, the Japanese commandeered native fishing boats to seize Grande Island.  Subic Bay Naval Station was established with four companies of soldiers and a company of [[Kempeitai]].

Within one week of the Japanese's occupation of Subic Bay and Grande Island, American [[PT boat]]s at Cavite were ordered to attack a Japanese ship, which was anchored at Subic Bay, that was shelling American positions. ''PT-31'' and ''PT-34'' entered the bay separately. ''PT-31'' suffered engine trouble and ran aground on a [[reef]]. She was abandoned and destroyed. ''PT-34'' entered undetected and sunk a {{convert|5000|LT|adj=on}} transport that was off-loading supplies. She then came under heavy fire but managed to escape undamaged. ''PT-32'' was then ordered into Subic Bay and attacked and hit a light cruiser on 1 February. On 17 February, ''PT-34'' made a final but unsuccessful attack at Subic Bay after which all PT boats were ordered to leave the Philippines.

To protect Subic Bay, the Japanese garrisoned Fort Wint with [[anti-aircraft artillery]] and [[automatic weapon]]s but did not repair the American guns nor build permanent fortification. The Japanese then started shipbuilding at Subic Bay and began constructing wooden auxiliary vessels. Several hundred workers from occupied-China and [[Taiwan|Formosa]] were brought in as laborers, in addition to 1,000 Filipinos.  Nine ships were built and shipped to Cavite for engine installation, however, none of the ships would see active service as they were destroyed by U.S. Navy aircraft.

One of the few buildings that were left standing from the bombing and subsequent torching of the station was the Catholic Church. The Japanese removed all religious articles and converted it into a movie theater and was later used to imprison Americans and [[Filipino people|Filipinos]] that had been captured. Those who died were buried behind the church in a common cemetery. When all the prisoners were shipped to Manila, the Japanese used the church as a stable for horses.

On 20 October 1944, four U.S. Army divisions aboard 650 U.S. Navy vessels landed at [[Palo, Leyte]], fulfilling MacArthur's promise to return to the Philippines. On 13 December, the Japanese began evacuating civilians and non-essentials from Manila aboard ''[[Ōryoku Maru]]'' and four other merchant ships.  As the ship was heading for Japan, [[fighter aircraft]] from the [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|Hornet|CV-12|2}} attacked the ships and left hundred of Japanese dead or wounded. ''Ōryoku Maru'', heavily damaged with destroyed steering gear, pulled into Subic Bay. Throughout the night, the Japanese disembarked while the American and [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] prisoners, that were carried below decks, were left aboard. The next morning, Japanese guards ordered the prisoners to come up on deck. As Navy aircraft began to strafe the ships, the prisoners started frantically running about. As the pilots approached, they recognized the white shapes as Americans or Allies and sharply pulled up, rocking their wings in recognition.  Afterwards, the 1,360 surviving Allied prisoners were forced to strip and swim ashore where they were crowded into a fenced tennis court near the Spanish Gate. Early the next morning, three fighters scored two direct hits on ''Oryoku Maru'' and she burst into flames. After burning for two hours, she settled into the water about {{convert|100|yd}} off Alava Pier. When the planes had left the Japanese served the prisoners their first meal since leaving Manila two days before: two teaspoons of dry, raw rice. There was only one faucet from which the water trickled out so slowly that a prisoner was lucky if he managed one drink every 18 hours. Roll call was taken each morning. Those that had died during the night were buried in an improvised cemetery next to the seawall. After four days at Subic, only 450 survived the makeshift prison; they were subsequently sent to the labor camps in Japan.

By January 1945, the Japanese had all but abandoned Subic Bay. The U.S. [[Fifth Air Force]] had dropped 175 tons of bombs on Grande Island evoking only light fire from the skeleton Japanese force manning the anti-aircraft guns. The commander of Japanese forces in the Philippines, General [[Tomoyuki Yamashita]], had withdrawn his forces into defensive mountain positions and ordered Colonel Sanenbou Nagayoshi to block Highway 7 near Subic Bay.

On 29 January, 40,000 American troops of the [[38th Infantry Division (United States)|38th Division]] and [[34th Infantry Regiment (United States)|34th Regimental Combat Team]] came ashore without resistance at [[San Antonio, Zambales]], by the site of what became known as the [[San Miguel Naval Communications Station]]. The column advanced toward Subic Bay, meeting their first resistance at the bridge spanning the Kalaklan River near the Olongapo Cemetery. The Japanese, knowing that they would imminently lose the town, decided to destroy Olongapo. Eventually, the Japanese evacuated the town and the 34th Regiment took over. The following day, Grande Island was taken and Navy [[minesweeper (ship)|minesweepers]] began clearing the bay. Engineers of the 38th Division remained in Olongapo to begin reactivation of Subic Bay Naval Station.  Bridges, buildings and the water distilling plant were repaired and the beaches and streets were cleared. Soon enough, [[Tank landing ship|LST]]s were making dry-ramp landings near the town of [[Subic, Zambales|Subic]].

While Army engineers were busy around Subic Bay, the remaining troops moved east along Highway 7, planning to cross the base of Bataan to meet elements of the Army's [[XIV Corps (United States)|XIV Corps]], which were moving west on the same road. On the morning of 31 January 1945, the Americans began climbing the forested hills of Zig Zag Pass and into a hornet's nest of Japanese. In the first three days at Zig Zag Pass the U.S. 152nd had more casualties than during 78 days of combat in Leyte. General [[Henry L. C. Jones]] was relieved and command of the 38th was given to General [[Roy W. Easley]] who used [[P-47]]s for air support. The planes began an intensive strafing and bombing of the jungle and dropped [[napalm]] on the Japanese positions. After 15 days of fighting the enemy positions were finally overrun. The Japanese had succeeded in their mission to slow the American advance but lost more than 2,400 troops. American losses had been 1,400 killed.

==After the war==
[[File:Welcome sign for NS Subic Bay.jpg|thumb|right|Welcome sign]]
Subic Bay was designated Naval Advance Unit No. 6, and became a [[submarine]] and [[motor torpedo boat]] base shortly after the Philippines were liberated.  {{USS|Fulton|AS-11|6}} arrived on 11 February 1945 and found Subic Bay " ''...a primitive, humid, unhealthy, desolate Siberia far from the pleasant climate, facilities, and girls of Australia...'' ".<ref>{{cite book |last=Blair |first=Clay |title =Silent Victory |publisher =J.B. Lippincott Company |year =1975 |location =New York |pages =820&821 }}</ref> A Naval Supply Depot was established at Maquinaya, about 3 miles (5&nbsp;km) from the main base in July 1945.  A new town of Olongapo was built to replace building burned by the retreating Japanese and provide housing for Filipino civilians employed at the base.  Olongapo and its 9,000 Filipino residents remained under United States Navy administration when the remainder of the Philippines became independent on 4 July 1946.<ref name="mtp">Anderson pp.128–138</ref>

[[File:Olongapo and bridge leading to NS Subic Bay.jpg|thumb|Olongapo and the bridge leading to NS Subic Bay, 1981]]
Construction of [[Naval Air Station Cubi Point]] began during the [[Korean War]].  The town of Banicain was demolished to build the airfield, and its residents were relocated to Olongapo.  As Olongapo's population grew to 60,000, Filipinos requested control of the town.  On 7 December 1959, {{convert|56,000|acre}} of land with electrical, telephone and water utilities was relinquished to Philippine control.  Grande Island was converted to a recreation center for naval personnel; and most of the historic [[Coastal artillery|Coastal Artillery]] guns of [[Fort Wint]] were moved to United States coastal defense parks in 1963 and 1968.<ref name="mtp"/>

==Vietnam War==

[[File:Klondike 1963.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Klondike|AD-22|6}} beside {{USS|Taussig|DD-746|6}}, {{USS|John A. Bole|DD-755|6}}, {{USS|Lofberg|DD-759|6}} and {{USS|John W. Thomason|DD-760|6}} in Subic Bay]]
The [[Vietnam War]] was the period of peak activity as Subic Bay became the [[U.S. Seventh Fleet]] forward base for repair and replenishment after the [[Gulf of Tonkin incident]] in 1964.  The average number of ships visiting the base per month rose from 98 in 1964 to 215 by 1967.  The base, with 6 wharves, 2 piers, and 160 mooring points and anchorages, had about 30 ships in port on any given day.<ref>{{cite book|last=Anderson|first=Gerald|title=Subic bay : from Magellan to Pinatubo|date=January 2009|publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform|isbn=978-1441444523}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Karnow|first=Stanley|title=In Our Image: America's Empire in the Philippines|year=1990|publisher=Ballantine books|isbn=0345328167|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/inourimageameric00karn}}</ref> Alava pier was extended by {{convert|600|ft|m}} in 1967. The record of 47 ships in port was set in October 1968. About one-third of these were [[Military Sea Transportation Service]] ships bringing 45,000 tons of food, [[ammunition]], and supplies and 2 million barrels of [[fuel oil]], [[aviation gasoline]], and [[JP-4]] jet fuel each month including fuels transferred to Clark Air Base via a {{convert|41|mi|km|adj=on}} [[pipeline transport|pipeline]]. The Naval Supply Depot maintained an inventory of 200,000 parts. The 4,224,503 sailors visiting Subic Bay in 1967 purchased more than $25&nbsp;million in duty-free goods from the Navy Exchange.<ref name="a145">Anderson pp.130–145</ref>

More than $63&nbsp;million of construction projects contracted between 1964 and 1968 did not prepare the Ship Repair Facility (SRF) for the increasing workload and emergency peaks generated by the war.  American military and civilian population totaled about 4,300; and more than 15,000 Filipino SRF workers worked 12-hour shifts for an average of over 60 hours per week.  The physical plant consisted of [[quonset hut]]s put up after World War II; and workers used obsolete tools and equipment supplemented by machine tools made available by decommissioning the [[New York Navy Yard]].  Additional floating drydocks and a third [[destroyer tender|repair ship]] were assigned from the United States to increase the capabilities of the repair facility.<ref name="a145"/>

The [[1967 USS Forrestal fire|fire-ravaged]] {{USS|Forrestal|CV-59|6}} was repaired in August 1967 before her return to the United States for a complete overhaul. Destroyers {{USS|O'Brien|DD-725|6}}, {{USS|Ozbourn|DD-846|6}}, {{USS|Turner Joy|DD-951|6}} and {{USS|Edson|DD-946|6}}, damaged by [[North Vietnam]]ese shore batteries, were repaired, as were amphibious assault craft, river patrol boats and other small craft.<ref name="a145"/>

The [[Royal Australian Navy]] destroyer {{HMAS|Hobart|D 39|6}} was repaired at Subic following the attack by USAF aircraft on 17 June 1968.

[[File:Aerial view of Naval Base Subic Bay.jpg|thumb|left|An aerial view of Naval Base Subic Bay, 1981]]
On 3 June 1969 the Royal Australian Navy carrier {{HMAS|Melbourne|R21|6}} was [[Melbourne-Evans collision|involved in a collision]] with {{USS|Frank E. Evans|DD-754|6}} about {{convert|240|mi|km}} southwest of Manila. {{USS|Kearsarge|CV-33|6}} brought 196 of the 199 survivors to Subic Bay. A [[Melbourne-Evans collision#Joint Board of Inquiry|Joint Australian/U.S. Board of Inquiry]] convened on 9 June in the library of [[George Dewey High School]], the same day the stern section of ''Frank E. Evans'' arrived under tow by a [[Tugboat|tug]]. It was stripped and towed to sea as a gunnery target.<ref name="a147">Anderson pp.146–147</ref>

[[Harbor Clearance Unit One]] was activated at Subic Bay in 1966 with the mission of salvaging ships from the rivers and harbors of Vietnam. Two of the biggest jobs were the salvaging of ''[[SS Baton Rouge Victory]]'' from the [[Saigon River]] and the raising of the {{convert|170|ft|m|adj=on}} dredge ''Jamaica Bay'' from the [[Mỹ Tho]] River. Both jobs were accomplished despite continuous harassment by enemy sniper fire.<ref name="a147"/>

NAS Cubi Point served as the primary maintenance, repair and supply center for the 400 carrier based aircraft of the Seventh Fleet's carrier force. The [[jet engine]] shop turned out two jet engines a day to keep pace with the demands of the air war in Vietnam.<ref name="a147"/>

[[File:Ships docked at the U.S. Naval Station Subic Bay, Philippines, on 28 August 1981 (6352680).jpg|thumb|The Naval Station Subic Bay pier area, 1981]]
Following the [[Fall of Saigon]] in the summer of 1975 hundreds of thousands of refugees fled Vietnam. Thousands of these refugees were rescued at sea by U.S. Navy ships and taken to Subic Bay. A temporary processing center that handled thousands of refugees was set up on Grande Island in 1975. They were later taken to the [[Philippine Refugee Processing Center]] in [[Morong, Bataan]].
<!--|Description=An aerial view of ships moored at the station. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65) is in the foreground.<br>Location: NAVAL STATION, SUBIC BAY, LUZON PHILIPPINES (PHL)-->
The Military Bases Agreement of 1947 was amended in 1979, changing the role of the Americans at Subic Bay from landlord to guest. The amendment confirmed Philippine sovereignty over the base and reduced the area set aside for U.S. use from {{convert|244|km2}} to {{convert|63|km2}}. Philippine troops assumed responsibility for the perimeter security of the base to reduce incidents between U.S. military and Philippine civilians. The unhampered operation of U.S. forces was assured. The U.S. granted the Philippines $500&nbsp;million in military sales credits and supporting assistance.

==Pinatubo eruption==
[[File:Ash from Mount Pinatubo covers NS Subic Bay.jpg|thumb|Ash from Mount Pinatubo covers Naval Station Subic Bay]]
On 15 June 1991, the second largest [[volcanic eruption]] of the 20th century occurred when [[Mount Pinatubo]], just 20 miles (32&nbsp;km) from Subic Bay, exploded with a force eight times greater than the [[Mount St. Helens]] eruption. The sun was nearly completely hidden as volcanic ash blotted it out.  Volcanic earthquakes and heavy rain, lightning and thunder from [[Typhoon Yunya (1991)|Typhoon ''Yunya'']] passing over northern Luzon resulted in a 36-hour period of complete chaos.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sanger|first=David|title=Philippines Orders U.S. to Leave Strategic Navy Base at Subic Bay|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/28/world/philippines-orders-us-to-leave-strategic-navy-base-at-subic-bay.html|access-date=17 February 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=28 December 1991}}</ref>

By the morning of 16 June, when the eruption subsided, Subic Bay lay buried under {{convert|1|ft}} of rain-soaked, sandy ash.

Buildings everywhere collapsed under the weight of the coarse gray ash.  Two girls, one a nine-year-old American and the other a Filipino citizen, died when trapped under a falling roof at George Dewey High School.  In the city of Olongapo, more than 60 volcano-related deaths were reported, including eight who were crushed when part of Olongapo General Hospital collapsed.

[[File:Evacuees from Mount Pinatubo board the USS Abraham Lincoln.jpg|upright|thumb|Evacuees board {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72|6}}]]
That night, the threat of continued eruptions combined with the lack of water and electricity led to the decision to evacuate all dependents.  U.S. warships and cargo planes began the emergency evacuation of thousands of Navy and Air Force dependents. Seven Navy ships sailed Monday, 17 June, with 6,200 dependents.  A total of 17 ships, including the aircraft carriers {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72|6}} and {{USS|Midway|CV-41|6}}, evacuated all 20,000 dependents over the next few days.  The evacuees were taken by ship to [[Mactan Air Base]] and then were airlifted by [[U.S. Air Force]] [[C-141 Starlifter]]s to [[Andersen Air Force Base]] at [[Guam]]. After the dependents were evacuated, an intense clean-up was begun. All hands, American service members and Filipino base employees, worked around the clock to restore essential services. [[Clark Air Base]], much closer to Mount Pinatubo, was covered with tons of ash after the eruption. It was declared a total loss and plans for a complete closure were started.<ref name=largest/>

===Restoration of base===

Within two weeks NAS Cubi Point was back in limited operation.  Soon, most buildings had electricity and water restored.  By mid-July service had been restored to most family housing units. The dependents began returning 8 September 1991 and by the end of the month almost all were back at Subic Bay from the United States. In September 1991, more than twenty thousand Filipino civilians were employed by the base.<ref>{{cite news |author=Philip Shenon |title=For Americans and Filipinos, Basics of Life Are at Stake in Fate of Navy Base |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/29/world/for-americans-and-filipinos-basics-of-life-are-at-stake-in-fate-of-navy-base.html |newspaper=New York Times |date=29 September 1991 |access-date=24 December 2014 }}</ref>

== Closure due to disagreements in leasing costs ==
From 1988 to 1992, the US Government and Philippine government tried to renegotiate the terms of an extension of the military bases at Subic and Clark. This referred to the Military Bases Agreement of 1947, which was due to expire. Intense negotiations between the governments of the United States and the Philippines began. These negotiations resulted in the Treaty of Friendship, Peace and Cooperation between the United States and the [[Republic of the Philippines]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Lucero Gonzalez |first=Joaquin |date=1998 |title=Philippine Labour Migration: Critical Dimensions of Public Policy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5N0-XBqzRcMC&q=%22Treaty+of+Friendship%2C+Peace+and+Cooperation%22+Philippines&pg=PA36 |publisher=[[Institute of Southeast Asian Studies]] |page=36 |isbn=9789812300119 |access-date=2 September 2014 }}</ref> This would have extended the lease of the American bases in the Philippines. However, a bone of contention was the amount of money that the US Government would pay to the Philippine government for the lease and use of the bases.<ref name="stars">{{cite news|last1=Olson|first1=Wyatt|title=Recounting US military's last days in the Philippines|url=https://www.stripes.com/recounting-us-military-s-last-days-in-the-philippines-1.228182#.WT-h0Yewe75|access-date=13 June 2017|publisher=Stars and Stripes|date=29 June 2013}}</ref>

As per C.R. Anderegg, the Vice Commander of [[Clark Air Base]], Philippines wanted $825 million per year for a period of seven years, but the U.S. Government would not budge from the earlier agreed $360 million per year for 10 years. This was not the first such hike demanded by the Philippines - in 1984, a similar hike had been asked and given for Clark Air Base. However, this time, the US government did not agree.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Anderegg|first1=C.R.|title=Ash warriors|date=27 May 2012|publisher=Create Space|isbn=978-1477551455|edition=1}}</ref>
[[File:Subic Bay Deactivation Ceremony.png|thumb|upright|A Marine color guard stands at attention during the deactivation ceremony for Naval station, Subic Bay. Following the ceremony, control of the base will be assumed by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.]]
On 13 September 1991, the [[Senate of the Philippines|Philippine Senate]] rejected the ratification of this treaty.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sanger |first=David E. |date=28 December 1991 |title=Philippines Orders U.S. to Leave Strategic Navy Base at Subic Bay |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/28/world/philippines-orders-us-to-leave-strategic-navy-base-at-subic-bay.html |newspaper=New York Times |access-date=2 September 2014 }}<br />{{cite news |last=Wallace |first=Charles P. |date=16 September 1991 |title=Manila Senate Rejects U.S. Pact : Philippines: The 12–11 vote would bar American use of Subic Bay Naval Base. Washington supports Aquino's call for a popular referendum to overturn the action. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-16-mn-1690-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=2 September 2014 }}</ref>

[[File:US Flag lowered and Philippine flag raised during turnover of NS Subic Bay.jpg|thumb|The American flag is lowered and Philippine flag is raised during turnover of Naval Station Subic Bay]]

In December 1991, the two governments were again in talks to extend the withdrawal of American forces for three years but this broke down as the United States refused to detail their withdrawal plans or to answer if [[nuclear weapon]]s were kept on base. Additionally, the United States offered only one quarter of the $825&nbsp;million in rent sought by the Filipino Government.<ref name=largest/> Finally on 27 December, President [[Corazon Aquino]], who had previously fought to delay the U.S. pullout to cushion the country's battered economy, issued a formal notice for the U.S. to leave by the end of 1992.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fineman |first=Mark |date=27 December 1991 |title=Close Subic Base by End of '92, Manila Tells U.S. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-12-27-mn-909-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=2 September 2014 }}</ref> Naval Station Subic Bay was the U.S.'s largest overseas defense facility after [[Clark Air Base]] was closed.<ref name=largest/>

==Conversion into an SEZ and merchant port==
In 1992, tons of material including drydocks and equipment,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/afdm.htm |title=AFDM Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock, Medium |date=27 April 2005 |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |access-date=18 June 2011}}<br/>{{cite web |url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/28/7301.htm |title=Resourceful (AFDM-5) |date=27 March 2009 |publisher=NavSource Naval History |access-date=18 June 2011}}<br/>{{cite web |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA249409.pdf |title=Subic Bay Naval Complex – Are There Alternatives? |last1=Divis |first1=CDR Conrad B. |date=2 March 1992 |website=dtic.mil |publisher=US Army War College |access-date=17 January 2022}}</ref> were shipped to various Naval Stations.  Ship repair, maintenance yards and supply depots were relocated to other Asian countries including Japan and Singapore. On 24 November 1992, the [[American flag]] was lowered in Subic for the last time and the last 1,416 Sailors and Marines at Subic Bay Naval Base left by plane from [[Naval Air Station Cubi Point]] and by {{USS|Belleau Wood|LHA-3|6}}.  This withdrawal marked the first time since the 16th century that no foreign military forces were present in the Philippines.<ref>{{cite news|last=Whaley|first=Floyd|title=Shadows of an Old Military Base|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/27/world/asia/27iht-subic27.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=17 February 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=26 April 2013}}</ref> The departure of the United States Navy left a huge clean-up to be completed. Soil and water were contaminated with [[asbestos]], [[Polychlorinated biphenyl|PCB]]s and pesticides. As of 2012, clean-up estimates for Subic Bay Naval Base and Clark Air Base were $40&nbsp;million each.<ref name=largest/>

Beginning in June 2012, the Philippine government said that the United States military could use the old base with prior approval by the Philippine government. This follows expanded military ties between the two nations and an American pivot towards Asia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Philippine government gives OK for US to use old bases, newspaper reports |author=Travis J. Tritten |url=http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/philippines/philippine-government-gives-ok-for-us-to-use-old-bases-newspaper-reports-1.179790 |newspaper=[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]] |date=7 June 2012 |access-date=8 October 2012 |archive-date=12 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012045356/http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/philippines/philippine-government-gives-ok-for-us-to-use-old-bases-newspaper-reports-1.179790 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This follows a [[Visiting Forces Agreement]] made in 1999, that saw annual visits of United States forces to conduct large scale exercises (known as [[Balikatan]]) between the two allies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Philippines sees Subic port as vital to US interests |author=Jason Gutierrez |agency=Agence France-Presse |url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/world/10/08/12/philippines-sees-subic-port-vital-us-interests |newspaper=ABS-CBN News |date=8 October 2012 |access-date=8 October 2012}}</ref> ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' reported on 20 November 2012 that Subic Bay will host US ships, Marines and aircraft on a semi-permanent basis which according to analysts will give the US a strategically important force posture for its shift in emphasis to the Pacific.<ref>{{cite news|last=Murdoch|first=Lindsay|title=Philippines divided over US return to Subic Bay|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/philippines-divided-over-us-return-to-subic-bay-20121119-29m4m.html|access-date=26 December 2012|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=20 November 2012}}</ref>

The US Navy began using the base in Subic Bay in 2015 to deliver materiel and personnel for annual joint military exercises.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jennings |first=Ralph |date=5 November 2015 |title=Filipinos Excited as US Military Returns to Subic Bay |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/filipinos-excited-as-us-military-returns-to-subic-bay/3037818.html |work=Voice of America |access-date=2 June 2018 }}</ref> Some 6,000 US personnel came to Subic in April, and returned for exercises in 2016 in agreement with Philippine authorities.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jennigns |first=Ralph |date=15 November 2015 |title=Chinese presence softens Philippines' view of U.S. Navy |url=http://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-philippines-obama-20151115-story.html |work= Los Angeles Times |access-date=2 June 2018 }}</ref> US ships have used Subic Bay as a resupply port during routine calls.<ref>{{cite news |last=Macatuno |first=Allan |date=22 June 2017 |title=US warship, navy vessels dock at Subic |url=http://globalnation.inquirer.net/158253/us-warship-navy-vessels-dock-subic |newspaper= Philippine Daily Inquirer |access-date=2 June 2018 }}<br/>{{cite news |last=Englund |first=Will |date=18 May 2015 |title=Here's why some in the Philippines want the U.S. Navy back |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/05/18/how-south-china-sea-tensions-have-leaders-in-one-philippine-province-hoping-the-u-s-navy-returns-to-its-old-base-in-subic-bay/?noredirect=on |newspaper= [[Washington Post]] |access-date=2 June 2018 }}</ref>

== Reopening ==
In 2022, the United States and Philippine governments quietly began preparations for U.S. forces to return to the facility amid heightened tensions with China.<ref name=":0" /> The portion of [[Redondo Peninsula]] which was used by [[HHIC Phil]] was acquired by the national government in late 2022 and named a Naval Operation Base (NOB) through the [[Philippine Navy]]. After the remainder of the port came up for sale, and interest from at least two Chinese companies, U.S. private equity firm [[Cerberus Capital Management]] acquired the port.<ref name=":0" /> On November 9, [[U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines|U.S. Ambassador]] [[MaryKay Carlson]] visited Subic Bay.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last=|first=|date=November 24, 2022|title=U.S. military poised to return to Subic Bay, counter China's presence|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/11/34dad3ba3fae-us-military-poised-to-return-to-subic-bay-counter-chinas-presence.html|newspaper=Kyodo News}}</ref> On November 24, a day before the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Navy's departure, [[Rolen C. Paulino]], chairman of the SBMA, said that he would be "very surprised" if Subic Bay does not return to service as a U.S. military facility through the [[Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement]], as "during war, time is of the essence."<ref name=":0" />

===Restoration of Subic Bay Airfield===
The restoration of [[Subic Bay]] Airfield (U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay) with a new [[forward operating base]] will host the [[maritime patrol]] assets for [[territorial disputes in the South China Sea]] operations, including  [[joint warfare]] in line with the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC). Situated along the former [[Naval Air Station Cubi Point]] at [[Naval Base Subic Bay]] edge, the project will enhance its [[surveillance aircraft]] and [[power projection]] around the [[South China Sea]]. [[Philippine Air Force]] documents reveal that it will be established at [[Subic Bay International Airport]], especially since the [[Armed Forces of the Philippines]] chose SBIA for “Joint Air-Sea-Land Operations,” which can support both [[attack aircraft]] and [[reconnaissance aircraft]]. In 2022, the government established [[Agila Subic Shipyard|Naval Operating Base Subic]], the 100-[[hectare]] northern yard of which is occupied by the [[Philippine Navy]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lariosa  |first1= Aaron-Matthew |title=Philippines To Restore Subic Bay Airfield For South China Sea Ops|url= https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/06/philippines-to-restore-subic-bay-airfield-for-south-china-sea-ops/|accessdate=June 12, 2024 |publisher=navalnews.com |date=June 11, 2024}}</ref>

== Commanders ==
This is the official list of Base Commanders who served the Subic Naval Base from 1945 to 1992.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Vizcocho|first=Vic Jr.|title=U.S. Subic Naval Base reunion 2014|journal=U.S. Subic Naval Base Yearbook}}</ref> Base commanders prior to 1945 are not included.

=== Spanish Period ===
{|
!No. 
! Commander !! Branch !! Year 
|-
|1
|[[Rear admiral|RAdm.]] [[Patricio Montojo y Pasarón]]
|[[Spanish Navy]]
|1899
|}

=== United States Naval Base ===
{| class="wikitable"
! No. !! Commander !! Branch !! Term Start !! Term End
!Time in Office
|-
| -
|[[Capt.]] [[John Twiggs Myers]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marine Corps University > Research > Marine Corps History Division > People > Who's Who in Marine Corps History > Mackie - Ozbourn > Lieutenant General John Twiggs Myers |url=https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/People/Whos-Who-in-Marine-Corps-History/Mackie-Ozbourn/-Lieutenant-General-John-Twiggs-Myers/ |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=www.usmcu.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Anderson |first=Gerald R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OfPs0NH5EuAC&dq=capt+john+t+myers+subic&pg=PA41 |title=Subic Bay from Magellan to Pinatubo: The History of the U. S. Naval Station, Subic Bay |date=2009-01-12 |publisher=Gerald Anderson |isbn=978-1-4414-4452-3 |language=en}}</ref>
|[[United States Navy]]
|December 1899
|December 1899
|less 1 month
|-
|
|[[Capt.]] Herbert L. Draper <ref>{{Cite book |last=Anderson |first=Gerald R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OfPs0NH5EuAC&q=capt+herbert+l+drapper+subic&pg=PA41 |title=Subic Bay from Magellan to Pinatubo: The History of the U. S. Naval Station, Subic Bay |date=2009-01-12 |publisher=Gerald Anderson |isbn=978-1-4414-4452-3 |language=en}}</ref>
|[[United States Marine Corps]]
| -
| -
| -
|-
|1
|[[Capt.]] Harry Nelson Coffin <ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/library/research-guides/modernbios/c/Coffin-Harry-Nelson_Redacted.pdf |title=NAVY Biographies Section |date=February 9, 1955 |publisher=United States Navy |publication-date=February 9, 1955 |pages=OI-440}}</ref>
|[[United States Navy]]
|October 1945
|January 1956
|10 years, 3 months
|-
|2
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] [[Glynn R. Donaho]]
|[[United States Navy]]
|January 1956
|August 1957
|1 year, 7 months
|-
|3
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] Roobert Taylor Scott Keith
|[[United States Navy]]
|August 1957
|February 1959
|1 year, 6 months
|-
|4
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] Arthur F. Spring
|[[United States Navy]]
|February 1959
|November 1960
|1 year, 9 months
|-
|5
|[[Capt]]. E. H. Maher
|[[United States Navy]]
|November 1960
|January 1961
|3 months
|-
|6
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] [[Charles K. Duncan]]
|[[United States Navy]]
|January 1961
|March 1962
|1 year, 2 months
|-
|7
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] Reuben T. Whitaker
|[[United States Navy]]
|March 1962
|June 1964
|3 years, 4 months
|-
|8
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] Donald T. Baer
|[[United States Navy]]
|August 1964
|September 1966
|2 years, 1 month
|-
|9
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] Fillmore B. Gilkeson
|[[United States Navy]]
|September 1966
|June 1968
|2 years, 3 months
|-
|10
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] Valdemar Greene Lambert
|[[United States Navy]]
|June 1968
|June 1970
|2 years
|-
|11
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] William H. Shawcross
|[[United States Navy]]
|July 1970
|June 1971
|1 year, 11 months
|-
|12
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] George R. Muse
|[[United States Navy]]
|June 1971
|April 1972
|9 months
|-
|13
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] John Henry Dick
|[[United States Navy]]
|April 1972
|March 1973
|11 months
|-
|14
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] Doniphan B. Shelton
|[[United States Navy]]
|March 1973
|August 1975
|2 years, 5 months
|-
|15
|[[Vice admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] Thomas J. Kilcline Sr.
|[[United States Navy]]
|August 1975
|December 1977
|2 years, 4 months
|-
|16
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] [[Huntington Hardisty]]
|[[United States Navy]]
|December 1977
|December 1979
|3 years
|-
|17
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] Lee E. Levenson
|[[United States Navy]]
|December 1979
|August 1981
|1 year, 8 months
|-
|18
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] [[Richard M. Dunleavy]]
|[[United States Navy]]
|August 1981
|August 1982
|1 year
|-
|19
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] Dickinson Smith
|[[United States Navy]]
|August 1982
|July 1984
|1 year, 11 months
|-
|20
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] Edwin Rudy Kohn
|[[United States Navy]]
|1984
|1986
|2 years
|-
|21
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] Theodore Lewin
|[[United States Navy]]
|1986
|1988
|2 years
|-
|22
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] Roger Lee Rich
|[[United States Navy]]
|1988
|1990
|2 years
|-
|23
|[[Rear admiral (United States)|RAdm.]] Thomas Mercer
|[[United States Navy]]
|1990
|1992
|2 years
|}

=== Philippine Navy ===
Since 2022, the [[Philippine Navy]] acquisition of [[HHIC Phil]] facilities stated to reactivate the base on Redondo Peninsula within [[Subic Bay]]. currently, the Naval Operating Base (N.O.B.) is supervise by the Naval Installation Command.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lorenzana marvels at PH Navy's new base |url=https://mb.com.ph/2022/06/26/lorenzana-marvels-at-ph-navys-new-base |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=Manila Bulletin |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
''Other former United States Navy installations:''
* [[Naval Air Station Cubi Point]]
* [[U.S. Naval Hospital, Subic Bay]]
* [[U.S. Naval Radio Facility Bagobantay]]
* [[U.S. Naval Station Sangley Point]]
* [[San Miguel Naval Communications Station]]
* [[Mount Santa Rita Naval Link Station]]
* [[US Naval Base Philippines]]
* [[US Naval Advance Bases]]
* [[US Bases in the Philippines]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* Anderson, G. R. ''Subic Bay From Magellan to Pinatubo'' (2009) Gerald Anderson {{ISBN|978-1-4414-4452-3}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Wright |first1=C. C.|title=Question 40/02: Submarines Expended as Targets 1922|journal=Warship International |date=2004 |volume=XLI |issue=4 |pages=353–354 |issn=0043-0374}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Naval Base Subic Bay}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090910201953/http://www.seastory.us/hcu1/ Harbor Clearance Unit One – Salvors]
*[http://www.subicbaypi.com Revisiting Subic Bay Naval Base]
*[http://www.juventus.com.ph Education Primary]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120531235152/http://subicupdater.com/ News Source]
* [http://www.sbma.com Source of more information about Subic Bay]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Subic Bay Naval Base}}
[[Category:Installations of the United States Navy in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Military facilities in Zambales]]
[[Category:Military facilities in Bataan]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Olongapo]]
[[Category:Military installations established in 1885]]
[[Category:1885 establishments in the Philippines]]
[[Category:1992 disestablishments in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Military installations closed in 1992]]
[[Category:Closed installations of the United States Navy]]