ex Fort Frank, Carabao Island

[Karl Welteke]

BATTERY KOEHLER REARWALL, REAR PASSAGE WAY

I started a new album for Battery Koehler
48 new images!

This album is meant to be a comprehensive picture album of the ex Battery Koehler, ex Fort Frank, of the Manila Harbor Defenses on Carabao Island. I have visited the island and the battery several times and I am starting to put the better pictures into this one album. Work is in progress. This album has now 190 images and these new images are at the end, you have to click for the appropriate pages.

app.photobucket.com/u/PI-Sailor/a/3eff8eff-6f53-4d16-bdb8-2e3c7265c81f?field=TITLE&desc=asc
Copy and paste it into a browser, sorry, the new technique!


If you are interested in a short history of this Fort in WWII, click on this URL:

www.corregidor.org/chs_bogart/bogart2.htm
Copy and paste it into a browser, sorry, the new technique!


Here are 15 sample images.
Remember, the pictures in the album above are much bigger and can be downloaded big.



Z406-- 2014, the south end of the Battery Koehler passage way, left are the truck recesses # 5 & 6. At the very end is an opening to the right for air and emergency exit. The door at right leads into space #30.



Z407-- you ought to download this drawing of the Battery Koehler passage way or the rear of the battery gun pits for your orientation. Keep in mind this drawing IS NOT based on measurements, only by trying to remember the visits and by looking at the pictures!



Z408-- 2014, the first recess in the Battery Koehler rear wall, it is #6. This presentation of the rear wall of the battery is from the rear to the entrance. It runs on a north-south axis.



Z409-- 2014, next to the truck recesses # 5 & 6 towards the entrance is this space with two doors. I could not make out the writing over the left door.



Z410-- These are the steps to Booth B, the gun pit B control of Battery Koehler, ex Ft. Frank on Carabao Island in Manila Bay. One can make out the letter B.



Z411-- 2014, scrappers at work; the Booth B, the gun pit B control of Battery Koehler, ex Ft. Frank on Carabao Island in Manila Bay.



Z412-- 2014, after truck recesses #3 and #4, we are in the area of the emergency generators and we see two gasoline tank recesses which also have a well the tanks must have sat in. Between the 2 gasoline tanks recesses is a large air shaft; the area is also across the passageway where the emergency generator room is.



Z413-- 2008, we are looking from Magazine #2, at #2 gasoline recess in Battery Koehler at right, and left is truck recess #2.



Z414-- 2008, we are looking back at the south end, left is #2 gasoline recess and the greenish door at right leads into the emergency generator room between the 2 gun pits.



Z415-- 2004, these are the steps to Booth A, the gun pit A control of Battery Koehler, ex Ft. Frank on Carabao Island in Manila Bay. That is EXO in 2004, he, he.



Z416-- 2014, these are the steps to Booth A, the gun pit A control of Battery Koehler, ex Ft. Frank on Carabao Island in Manila Bay.



Z417—2014, Gun pit A was damaged a lot; the gun pit control was also damaged. Both fireball and I took advantage of this damage and we exited Battery Koehler here to find the Fort Frank Fire Control.



Z418-- 2008, we are standing near the entrance ramp and we are looking towards the south end. Left are 2 spaces and right is an open space, the purpose of all three spaces is unknown to me.



Z419-- 2008, the 2 spaces mentioned in the last picture, looking at the entrance direction they would be at right. Battery Koehler, ex Ft. Frank on Carabao Island in Manila Bay.



Z420-- 2014, this is the entrance ramp to Battery Koehler ex Ft. Frank on Carabao Island in Manila Bay. This is the last image of the Battery Koehler passage way segment, 48 images.

Notes:
To fortman, you said:
“A fascinating walk-about through the battery. I assume that the battery lay-out is very similar to Craighill on Caballo”.

I would say it is completely different; I do have an album about that battery:

app.photobucket.com/u/PI-Sailor/a/9f72748f-09f0-48a4-babf-15f07873bf22?field=TITLE&desc=asc
Copy and paste it into a browser, sorry, the new technique!

[fortman]

Thanks for the feedback K-W. Your photos havew made things a lot clearer.

Fortman

[Karl Welteke]

Battery Crofton, entrance segment.

This is the beginning of an attempt to show the better images of the whole battery from several visits to this battery.
15 images have been uploaded to this album in my Photobucket account and more will follow in the future in different segments:

app.photobucket.com/u/PI-Sailor/a/ddd8371b-43c0-4b33-926c-be901e925dc7?field=TITLE&desc=asc
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Here are the same images and with mostly the same descriptions but the images are much smaller:



Y485. 2008-01-16. We are looking out of the entrance to Battery Koehler across the bridge to Battery Crofton and see the entrance to Battery Crofton.



Y486. 2008-01-16. We are looking across the bridge to Battery Crofton. The infamous wall is to the right and the steps that lead up to here from the wall run under that bridge from right to left.



Y487. 2008-01-16. When you walk across the bridge to the Battery Crofton Tunnel entrance and look to the right, you see the infamous wall. If you entered under that wall your boat would be anchored near the wall



Y488. This is the view from the Battery Crofton Tunnel after you crossed the bridge and now we are looking back towards the bridge and the entrance to Battery Koehler.



Y489. This is to refresh your memory where Battery Crofton fits in the big picture of Battery Crofton. This is the map of Battery Crofton, Fort Frank on Carabao Island



Y490. The drawing to support this section of pictures covering the entrance to Battery Crofton.




Y491. The entrance way to Battery Crofton, just like in Battery Koehler it is like a ramp, going up to a higher level.



Y492. The entrance way to Battery Crofton, just like in Battery Koehler it is like a ramp, going up to a higher level.



Y493. We are looking down the entrance way to Battery Crofton, where we just came up from. Just like in Battery Koehler it is like a ramp, coming up or going up to a higher level.



Y494. We are standing in the passage way into Battery Crofton, straight ahead is the ramp like entrance where we entered. The opening at left leads into the open, one possibly could see the wall down below from there.



Y495. I am standing in a passage that leads out to the open. I just entered this area coming up the ramp like entrance from the left. To the right the passage way to Battery Crofton continues and left and right of that passage are utility spaces.



Y496. We are looking into and up the passage that leads into the open. It is still near the entrance to Battery Crofton and it would be feasible to look down and see the wall from that location.



Y497. This is the passage way that leads into the open near the entrance to Battery Crofton. It appears the area suffered considerable damage during the Siege.



Y498. This is the passage way that leads into the open near the entrance to Battery Crofton. In back we see some of the utility spaces in the passage way into Battery Crofton. The entrance is coming from the left!



Y499. 2008-01-16. This is another view of the passage way that leads in the open near the entrance to Battery Crofton. It appears the area suffered considerable damage during the Siege. Was this the place where the many casualties occurred? That is the forum member fots2 approaching in the passage way.

[Karl Welteke]

BATTERY CROFTON, ENTRANCE PASSAGEWAY, SOUTH-SIDE, 10 SPACES/ROOMS

This is the 2nd segment of a comprehensive description of Battery Crofton, in the ex Fort Frank on the island of Carabao in Manila Bay. This section only deals with south side of the entrance passageway to the battery and it describes 10 spaces. On the opposite side of this passageway, the north side are more spaces but will be handled in the next segment. I used 37 pictures to describe this section of the battery in this Photobucket album:

app.photobucket.com/u/PI-Sailor/a/ddd8371b-43c0-4b33-926c-be901e925dc7?field=TITLE&desc=asc
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That is too many images to upload into this forum so I will only use 10 sample pictures and they are much smaller. So if you are really interested in the Battery Crofton you got to dig into the album above.



Y513. When you enter Battery Crofton, after you crossed the bridge, walked up the ramp you see this, the entrance passageway, left and right are utility spaces. The Scrapper have been busy at the ceiling and even swept a passage.



Y514. This is the big picture as the 10 spaces on the south side in the entrance passageway to Battery Crofton, the ex Fort Frank on Carabao Island.



Y515. This is a drawing of the south side in the entrance passageway to Battery Crofton, Fort Frank. There are 10 spaces/rooms and I numbered them for the purpose of describing the pictures in this album/presentation. It is not to scale!!!



Y516. I am about 20 paces into the entrance passageway and I am looking back, the numbered spaces #1 and #2 are at right. Forum member fots2 just entered the passageway after walking up the entrance ramp way. This was in 2008.



Y517. The opening leading to the underground communications cable run. This hole is located right in front of the door leading to space #1 in the entrance passageway to Battery Crofton. One can walk in there in a bend down position.



Y518. This is space/room #2, the 2nd one from the left side in the entrance passageway to Battery Crofton, the ex Fort Frank on Carabao Island in Manila Bay.



Y519. Shot from inside space #5 shooting from east to west, on the western end we see a separate space at left and another one in back. Refer to my drawing in this segment.



Y520. A view to the west end of the entrance passageway to Battery Crofton, left is the door to space #8 and then the two doors to spaces #9 and #10. The entrance passageway narrows because in that area at right are more utility spaces.



Y521. Looking into space #10 thru its window, note that the wall at left is broken away, that the space is painted mostly black. This number is assigned by Karl on the drawing in this segment about the south side in the entrance passageway to Battery-Crofton.



Y522. The very end of the entrance passageway to Battery Crofton and the beginning of the main passageway at the rear of the magazines running to the left.

[Karl Welteke]

FIREBALL ENTRY RE JAPANESE AND OR CHINES WRITING ON THE 6TH MAR.2012

One of three pictures on page 1 in this thread is unavailable now!

I am taking the opportunity to repost here and now that whole section including the missing picture. Here it starts:


The other aspect I have been concentrating on are the Battery Command and Fire Control posts and other structures around the island:


The Japanese, and Chinese writing, came from the plotting room in the Turrets Drum / Greer Fire Control installation - One wall from left to right:



Y788



Y789, the missing image



Y790

My brother had this to say:

The left side of the left photo looks like Japanese, although I
can't really make it out, but the parts shown in the right-hand and
middle photos are poems written in Chinese (I suppose that an
educated Japanese officer could have written Chinese poetry, but I
don't really know). It is hard to make out all the characters, but
the first two lines of the poem on the middle photo is something like


"This year to repay my feelings for my country, if I sacrifice my life
in righteousness it will be of no consequence".


I have been surprised that this has not attracted interest as I found it quite intriguing. While many troops from Taiwan served in the Japanese army (and who I guess could write Chinese) the poem seems to be from someone who was ready to die for their own country. If I was Taiwanese sacrificing my life for Japan would not be high on my list of priorities. As for a Manchurian ....

To fireball from Karl, could you please describe the location more descriptive?

[Karl Welteke]

BATTERY CROFTON ENTRANCE PASSAGEWAY NORTH SIDE

This segment illustrates the Battery Crofton Entrance Passageway North Side with 22 images in the below album and the pictures are located from pictures 51 to 73. This is the album and it has now 73 images. Another hint to find the pictures is, the titles start with 07:

app.photobucket.com/u/PI-Sailor/a/ddd8371b-43c0-4b33-926c-be901e925dc7?field=TITLE&desc=asc
Copy and paste it into a browser, sorry, the new technique!


But here are 11 small sample images:



Y795. 2008-01-16. This is the 1st image and shows the north-side of the entrance passageway to Battery Crofton. After we walked up the entrance ramp, entered the entrance passage way we see this looking west. Maybe the 1st half of the entrance passage way into Battery Crofton is recessed like this at the right side or the north-side. Notice the scrappers have swept or shoveled a passage way thru the rubble.



Y796. This drawing from Karl illustrates the north side of the entrance passage way into Battery Crofton. In no way is it to any scale, it is just drawn from the pictures and my failing memory.



Y797. The end of the entrance passageway where it turns left and becomes the main passage way in front of all the magazines and other spaces at Battery Crofton on Carabao Island.



Y798. 2014-02-28. I am standing now at the north end of the Battery Crofton main passageway in front of all the magazines and other spaces. I am looking at the entrance passageway which comes from the right or the east.



Y799. 2014-02-28. We are looking inside the 1st of 2 spaces in the Battery Crofton, ex Ft. Frank on Carabao Island entrance passageway, north side. This space has 2 doors and one window.



Y800. 2014-02-28. We are looking inside the 1st of 2 spaces in the Battery Crofton, ex Ft. Frank on Carabao Island entrance passageway, north side. This space has 2 doors and one window. There were concrete dividers and we are looking in the east direction.



Y801. 2014-02-28. We are looking east and at the full length of the Battery Crofton entrance passageway. At left is the 1st of 2 spaces, and then comes the 2nd space with 2 windows and 1 door. That one is labeled Latrine and Shower.



Y802. 2014-02-28. The door to the 2nd of two spaces in the Battery Crofton entrance passageway, it has 2 windows and 1 door and is labeled Enlisted Mens Latrine and Shower. This is at the ex Ft. Frank on Carabao Island.



Y803. 2014-02-28. Looking inside the 2nd of two spaces in the Battery Crofton entrance passageway, north side, it has 2 windows and 1 door and is labeled Enlisted Latrine and Shower. This is at the ex Ft. Frank on Carabao Island. We are looking in the west direction.



Y804. 2014-02-28. We are looking towards the entrance of Battery Crofton and at this point the entrance passageway is recessed and no spaces exist on the north side. This is at the ex Ft. Frank on Carabao Island.



Y805. 2014-02-28. Now we are looking at the actual entrance of Battery Crofton at the ex Ft. Frank on Carabao Island. That opening is on top of the ramp way coming up into the battery

[Karl Welteke]

The 38th Div. takes Carabao Island, ex Fort Frank in WWII, 1945.


A very good friend of mine, we met on Corregidor several times sent me several 1945 pictures and he said this:
“Hi Karl, I found this 38th Division (Indiana National Guard) Yearbook at the local Library. I copied about 40 pictures, go ahead, and post them as you wish”.


My friend Roger Davis is a very active member of the Coastal Defense Study Group (cdsg.org) and has contributed much in keeping alive the history of the US Army Coastal Defense.

All of the pictures were uploaded into this album in high resolution, be our guest if you are interested:

www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums/72157709117454053
Copy and paste it into a browser, sorry, the new technique!

Three or four pictures are about the 38th Inf. Div. action of assaulting the ex Fort Frank with the help of air, artillery and engineer forces. They are posted here now, and only three have descriptions. The 4th one with description I am not sure whether it is from the Fort Frank assault but I received it in that sequence.
Roger maybe you can help out?



Zg661. This is the ex Fort Frank on Carabao Island being liberated in 1945 to make the entrance to Manila Bay save. This picture was copied from a 38th Inf. Div Yearbook at a local U.S Library by Roger Davis who is a member of the Coastal Defense Study Group (cdsg.org). It shows the 38th Inf. Div. retaking Fort Frank on Carabao Island.




Zg662. This is the ex Fort Frank on Carabao Island being liberated in 1945 to make the entrance to Manila Bay save. This picture was copied from a 38th Inf. Div Yearbook at a local U.S Library by Roger Davis who is a member of the Coastal Defense Study Group (cdsg.org). It shows the 38th Inf. Div. retaking Fort Frank on Carabao Island.



Zg663. This is the ex Fort Frank on Carabao Island being liberated in 1945 to make the entrance to Manila Bay save. This picture was copied from a 38th Inf. Div Yearbook at a local U.S Library by Roger Davis who is a member of the Coastal Defense Study Group (cdsg.org). It shows the 38th Inf. Div. retaking Fort Frank on Carabao Island.



Zg664. This is the ex Fort Frank on Carabao Island being liberated in 1945 to make the entrance to Manila Bay save. This picture was copied from a 38th Inf. Div Yearbook at a local U.S Library by Roger Davis who is a member of the Coastal Defense Study Group (cdsg.org). It shows the 38th Inf. Div. retaking Fort Frank on Carabao Island.
I am not sure whether it is from the Fort Frank assault but I received it in sequence.
Roger maybe you can help out?

In our files we had the 38th Inf. Div. 1945 Operation Report and we used it in the Battle of the Zig-Zag Pass forum page.
But it also reports about the other operation and I photo copied the pages that deal with the assault on Fort Frank on Carabao Island. I generated 9 images and they follow here.



Zg665. This is one of 9 images about the Fort Frank on Carabao Island Assault by the 38th Inf. Div. from the division report dated the 8th Aug. 1945.



Zg666. This is one of 9 images about the Fort Frank on Carabao Island Assault by the 38th Inf. Div. from the division report dated the 8th Aug. 1945.



Z667. This is one of 9 images about the Fort Frank on Carabao Island Assault by the 38th Inf. Div. from the division report dated the 8th Aug. 1945.



Zg668. This is one of 9 images about the Fort Frank on Carabao Island Assault by the 38th Inf. Div. from the division report dated the 8th Aug. 1945.



Zg669. This is one of 9 images about the Fort Frank on Carabao Island Assault by the 38th Inf. Div. from the division report dated the 8th Aug. 1945.



Zg670. This is one of 9 images about the Fort Frank on Carabao Island Assault by the 38th Inf. Div. from the division report dated the 8th Aug. 1945.



Zg671. This is one of 9 images about the Fort Frank on Carabao Island Assault by the 38th Inf. Div. from the division report dated the 8th Aug. 1945.



Zg672. This is one of 9 images about the Fort Frank on Carabao Island Assault by the 38th Inf. Div. from the division report dated the 8th Aug. 1945.




URLs for Fort Frank, Carabao Island

-Fort Frank on Carabao Island under construction Karl’s Flickr Album
This album shows construction of Fort Frank on Carabao Island in Manila Bay. Fort Frank was part of the Manila and Subic Bay Harbor Defense Command. These images were given to me by Karl Schmidt from the Coastal Defense Study Group (CDSG.org) who got the images from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Thank you Karl and all members of the CDSG. The pictures were uploaded at a high resolution.

www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums/72157673964028162
Copy and paste it into a browser, sorry, the new technique!


-ex Fort Frank, Carabao Island, Karl’s thread in Corregidor Proboard.com, 3 pages now.
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/121/ex-fort-frank-carabao-island


-Carabao Island-Fort Frank-No Trespassing, EXO thread in Corregidor Proboard.com
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/1618/carabao-island-fort-frank-trespassing


-Roster of Enlisted Men on Ft. Frank 1942, from Bob Hudson.
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/1813/roster-enlisted-fort-frank-1942


-Trip to Points, the Tailend and ex Fort Frank from Karl in the Corregidor Proboard.com.
My Canadian Friend AJM and I met on Corregidor 14th Nov 2009 and we took 3 trips. We went to the points, the Tailend and ex Fort Frank. (KARL GOING UNDER THE WALL, VERY WET)
Here is the 1st of 3 installments with 50 images about going to Wheeler Point, Search Light Point and noticing a new land slide that affected Search Light # 2:

corregidor.proboards.com/thread/581/trips-points-ft-frank-tailend


Questions-getting to Forts Drum and Frank, forum thread:
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/294/question-forts-drum-frank


- This is a group of 10 albums of Ft. Frank from Karl via Photobucket.
Fort Frank is another unique fort in the defense of Manila Bay. It is hard to get there. All the guns and other metal have been removed by scrappers. And the scrappers are working hard to get at the rebar in the concrete. It is a most interesting place to visit. These Albums are from this ex fort, Carabao Island, I visited there 2004, 2006 and 2009 at least.

app.photobucket.com/u/PI-Sailor/a/698227f9-0b3d-4c48-88c5-5210316b1856?field=TITLE&desc=asc
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-Aerial Views from NARA via CDSG. On Karl’s Flick account:
Manila - Subic Bay Forts! These pictures were given to me by Karl Schmidt, a leader in the Coastal Defense Study Group (cdsg.org) who got these images from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). This album contains aerial images of the Manila and Subic Bay Harbor Defense Forts.

www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums/72157658661455655
Copy and paste it into a browser, sorry, the new technique!


-Fort Frank on Carabao Island under construction, forum thread from Karl
Construction of Fort Frank on Carabao Island in Manila Bay. Fort Frank was part of the Manila and Subic Bay Harbor Defense Command. These images were given to me by Karl Schmidt from the Coastal Defense Study Group (CDSG.org) who got the images from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Thank you Karl and all members of the CDSG

corregidor.proboards.com/thread/1975/fort-frank-carabao-island-construction

[Karl Welteke]

Visiting Carabao Island, ex Ft. Frank is more difficult now.

The Mouth of Manila Bay is a defense area and was defended by the Filipino People and the United States in WWII against the Japanese Imperial aggressor. In hard fighting it was liberated again 1944/45 by the Filipino People and the United States.

This area of great interest to people who study and care about history!

We visited the former Fort Frank, Carabao Island, from Corregidor but boats are no longer available there, so we used a boat, as late as Nov 2012, from Patungan Village, its new and present name is Sta. Mercedes. Old maps use the old name and it seems all the news organizations seem to like using the old name.

I made an exploration trip to the Limbones Cove area on the 10th of Dec 2023 and found a big and tragic human and legal conflict has developed in the Limbones Cove area. It may make a future visit to this historical island and area very difficult now. It seems news services prefer to use the term Patungan Cove but I don’t see that on my maps.

In Jan. 2022 the police, demolition crews showed up and the Sta. Mercedes people defended their homes. It made the news, check these news articles:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 People got hurt, CNN
www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/1/13/Several-wounded-in-Cavite-fishing-village-demolition.html

Article from Global Voices:
globalvoices.org/2016/09/08/filipino-fishers-living-in-a-scenic-cove-fight-to-save-their-homes-from-demolition-and-land-grabbing/

---------------------------------------------
Article from Altermidya:
www.altermidya.net/coveting-paradise-fisherfolk-stand-ground-vs-viratas-henry-sy/
--------------------------------------------

Save Patungan Now Movement
www.facebook.com/savepatungannowmovement

--------------------------------------------------
Check the www with these words:
13 wounded, 4 hit with gunshots in Maragondon demolition
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Two Signs are posted that this area IS NOT A TOURISM AREA
One sign from the MTV Cooperation says this:

Private Property. Babala
MAHIGPIT NA IPINAGBABAWAL ANG ANUMANG GAWAING PANG TURISMO O ANUMANG IBA AKTIBIDAD SA LOOP NG PROPERTY NA ITO. MTV Corporation, property Owner
Private Property. Babala
Google Translation:
ANY TOURISM ACTIVITIES OR ANY OTHER ACTIVITIES ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED WITHIN THIS PROPERTY. MTV Corporation, property Owner
-----------------------------------------------------------------

#00 to #05 pictures are maps and graphs as to where Patungan Cove,-Village (now called Sta. Mercedes Village) and Carabao Island (ex Fort Frank) are.

00 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. Maragondon Map. This is a 1:50000 map that covers the mouth of Manila Bay.

01 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. Google Earth graph of the Patungan Village, Carabao Island

02 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. Google Earth graph of the Patungan Village (Sta. Mercedes), the development area.

03 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. Map of Carabao Island and Sinalang Cove zoomed in.

04 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. This is a prewar graph, drawing of Fort Frank on Carabao Island. Unfortunately all the guns have been removed unlike on the other three forts in Manila Bay where they are still there. Two 12 inch gun barrels have been recently removed from Corregidor, though! Notice the number 1 for the numbers 10 to 14 are missing and the numbers 41 & 22 have the front number missing.

05 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. Map of Sta. Mercedes (ex Patungan Village) and Limbones Cove zoomed in. On this old section of a 1:50000 map is the new Patungan tourist development area indicated. The new Kaybiang Tunnel and the new Ternate-Nasugbu Highway are not on the map yet.
-------------------------------------------
#06 to #10 images are of a visit to Carabao Island (ex Fort Frank) in 2012, the quarry for building Fort Frank, a view of Mt. Pico De Loro, the west end of the Kaybiang Tunnel under construction and one of the possible access points to Carabao Island. At that time we did not encounter any restrictions or difficulty visiting this area. The people of Sta. Mercedes (ex Patungan Village) were super friendly and helpful.

06 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. This is a view of Mt. Pico De Loro from the Westside.

07 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. This is the west end of the Kaybiang Tunnel under construction in 2012.

08 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. This is the quarry area which we believe was used in building Fort Frank and it is located half way between Carabao Island and Sta. Mercedes Village.

09 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. This is Carabao Island (the ex Fort Frank) from the Westside.

10 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. This is a possible entrance to Carabao Island but I believe swimming is involved.
-----------------------------------------
#11 to #16 images show the present situation that a big and tragic human and legal conflict has developed in the Limbones Cove area. The area of Barangay Sta. Mercedes is claimed by the MTV Corporation, which set up two Guard Road Blocks and restricts access to the barangay. They did not allow me to drive to the village and only let me walk in, (about 1 km) because I showed them gifts of pictures I wanted to give to my old friends from 2012. See all the news links above!

11 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. This is the entrance to the Sta. Mercedes Village and the MTV Corporation guards let me thru to park. A no-tourism sign is located here.

12 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. This is the no-tourism sign at the first MTV Corporation Guard post; it faces the Ternate-Nasugbu Highway.

13 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. This is the 2nd MTV Corporation Guard post and they would not let me pass. I showed them the pictures I wanted to deliver to my friends from 2012. After local residents indentified the people on the pictures as long time residents of Sta. Mercedes they allowed me to walk to the village, about 1 km, along the beach. This guard post is about 150 feet apart from the first one. The space in between is used for parking for vehicles the guards don’t allow to enter. The Coast Guard Station is also located in that space between the guard posts.

14 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. This is a sign and notice from the MTV Corporation that forbids this area for tourism use. It is located at the 2nd guard post!
This sign from the MTV Cooperation says this:
Private Property! Babala
MAHIGPIT NA IPINAGBABAWAL ANG ANUMANG GAWAING PANG TURISMO O ANUMANG IBA AKTIBIDAD SA LOOP NG PROPERTY NA ITO. MTV Corporation, property Owner
---------------
Google Translation:
Private Property! Babala
ANY TOURISM ACTIVITIES OR ANY OTHER ACTIVITIES ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED WITHIN THIS PROPERTY. MTV Corporation, property Owner
Reminder, read the news links above!
-------------------

15 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. This the 2nd guard post again and I shot it from the inside after local people indentified the pictures as people from this village. I shot it after I passed thru the gate.

16 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. This is the Coast Guard Station, located between the two guard posts, near the water and they had a small Boston Whaler type outboard boat.
------------------------------------------------------
#17 to #22 images are of my one night stay in the Sta. Mercedes Village (it seems in the news articles of the above links they seem to prefer the use of the old name of the village, Patungan). I talked to my friends about a possible visit to Carabao Island in the future. The Barangay Captain was off on official business but I talked to his representative. All the people talk about the terrible demolition attempt in Jan. last year (2022) and they were all afraid of their future. Read the above news links.

17 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. This is a glimpse of the Mt. Pico De Loro from Barangay Mercedes.

18 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. This is the long and nice beach of Barangay Sta. Mercedes. In spite of the MTV Corporation guards at the entrance road and the No-tourism signs a lot of people still come to visit this beach and this community. The MTV guards let people walk here or the people hire a transportation boat from the rocky shore of the new development area to come here.

19 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. As I said: In spite of the MTV Corporation guards at the entrance road and the no-tourism signs a lot of people still come to visit this beach and this community. And a few local residents developed tourist business. You can stay here just for the day or the whole night, or several days, food can be brought or bought. The price of the small cottages was high in my opinion.

20 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. This is one of the boats that ferries people from the new development area rocky shoreline to the beach here and takes them back when ready. They also can be hired to visit other coves and islands.

21 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. These people from Sta. Mercedes are my friends from mu 2012 visit to this village. I stayed in the cottage of one of these friends. By the way this village only receives electricity from 6 pm to 10 pm.

22 Patungan Cove, Carabao Isl. As I said I stayed in the village one night and the sun set was not spectacular but it is an interesting view anyway. The big light mass in back is the power plant in Mariveles of Bataan.
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Here are three great Links about Carabao Islands with a lot of pictures:
-Fort Frank on Carabao Island under construction Karl’s Flickr Album
This album shows construction of Fort Frank on Carabao Island in Manila Bay. Fort Frank was part of the Manila and Subic Bay Harbor Defense Command. These images were given to me by Karl Schmidt from the Coastal Defense Study Group (CDSG.org) who got the images from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Thank you Karl and all members of the CDSG. The pictures were uploaded at a high resolution.
www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums/72157673964028162/

-A short History of Fort Frank from Corregidor.org:
corregidor.org/chs_bogart/bogart2.htm

-ex Fort Frank, Carabao Island, Karl’s thread in Corregidor Proboard.com, 6 pages now.
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/121/ex-fort-frank-carabao-island

[Karl Welteke]

Sta. Mercedes/Patungan Cliff Resorts

I made an exploration trip to the Limbones Cove area on the 10th of Dec 2023 and found a big and tragic human and legal conflict has developed in the Limbones Cove area. It may make a future visit to the historical island of Carabao difficult now.

The area of Barangay Sta. Mercedes (news articles call it Patungan) is claimed by the MTV Corporation, which set up two Guard Road Blocks and restricts access to the barangay. They did not allow me to drive to the village and only let me walk in, (about 1 km) because I showed them gifts of pictures I wanted to give to my old friends from 2012.

Because of the MTV Corporation roadblocks to restrict tourist visits to Sta. Mercedes; village people developed parking services, built cottages for rent along the cliff area and made access to the rocky beach possible. Also one needs to rent boats here to reach Sta. Mercedes proper, it seems they let you walk there and carry all your gear, about 1 km.

On weekends and holydays people come and swarm this area now, since the new Ternate-Nasugbu Road is open which has an interesting tunnel.
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Uploaded 39 images to a Photobucket album, Carabao Island visit 2023 group, Manila Bay Forts-Other group:
app.photobucket.com/u/PI-Sailor/a/bf9d7cff-8139-4e58-9a5a-a2866fab48ae?field=TITLE&desc=asc
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See all the news links below!
In Jan. 2022 the police, demolition crews showed up and the Sta. Mercedes people defended their homes. It made the news, check these news articles:
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13 People got hurt, CNN
www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/1/13/Several-wounded-in-Cavite-fishing-village-demolition.html
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Article from Global Voices:
globalvoices.org/2016/09/08/filipino-fishers-living-in-a-scenic-cove-fight-to-save-their-homes-from-demolition-and-land-grabbing/
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Article from Altermidya:
www.altermidya.net/coveting-paradise-fisherfolk-stand-ground-vs-viratas-henry-sy/
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Save Patungan Now Movement
www.facebook.com/savepatungannowmovement
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Check the www with these words:
13 wounded, 4 hit with gunshots in Maragondon demolition

For this FB presentation I chose these 8 images:


00 Patungan Cliff Resorts. Just arrived, my first view of Carabao Island, the ex Ft. Frank. This is the beginning of the Cliff Resort area. This area is above the quarry area which had been used to built Ft. Frank


01 Patungan Cliff Resorts. Just arrived, the red car in back is my car, 50 peso parking. This is the beginning of the Cliff Resort area. This area is above the quarry area which had been used to build Ft. Frank.


02 Patungan Cliff Resorts. A Google Earth image of the Limbones Cove area with my descriptions as to what I’m trying to present in this album!


09 Patungan Cliff Resorts. This is a view from the cove as I returned from an inspection boat trip around Carabao Island, The Ft. Frank Quarry is left off the picture, we just passed it. In 2012, my last visit, there was absolutely nothing here, now there are lots of activities. The difference is a new road!


13 Patungan Cliff Resorts. This is the shore line opposite of the Guard shack that restricts access to Sta. Mercedes. In the distance is Limbones Island which was also used by the Coast Artillery, defending Manila Bay by spotting and taking bearings of possible targets.


23 Patungan Cliff Resorts. I checked out one cottage situation. They are small rooms and cost about 2,500 peso and they stuff a 10 people Filipino Family into there. The rooms had a double stacked bed with the bottom one being wide.


32 Patungan Cliff Resorts. Now a day’s one get to this place with a bus from the PITX to Nasugbu; this bus is heading back to the PITX.


38 Patungan Cliff Resorts. This area is getting electricity only between 6 to 10 pm. I stayed in a cottage in Sta. Mercedes and with the present NE winds the night temperature was no problem.

[Karl Welteke]

Carabao Isl. Boat Reconnaissance 10 Dec. 2023

We have plans to visit Carabao Island in 2024 and I made an exploration trip around the island to check on possible entrance points and took these pictures. Also our boat entered the Sinalang Cove (Fort Frank got its water from here) and steamed by the Quarry area which was used to build Fort Frank.

I created 2 albums with 43 images; the Flick album is in high resolution:

Uploaded 43 images to Flickr as an album in high resolution and put in the Manila Bay Defenses and Construction Collection:
www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums/72177720313653875
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Uploaded 43 images to Photobucket album in low resolution, Carabao Island 2023 Trip group, Manila Bay Forts Group:
app.photobucket.com/u/PI-Sailor/a/60e8377e-1ba4-4e37-bf93-54fedb59f198?field=TITLE&desc=asc

This Forum presentation has only 15 sample pictures:
Numbers #00, 02, 03, 04, 05, 08, 09, 16, 17, 18, 21, 24, 30, 41, 42
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#00 & #01 images are of meeting our 2012 friends in Sta. Mercedes Village, arrange for a boat and approach Carabao Island from the SW direction. We will circle Carabao Island in the clockwise direction.

#00
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#02 to #05 images are maps and graphs to show the Carabao Island, marked with the main viewing target points and the greater geographic picture of the area. One correction, the proper name of the ex Ft. Drum is El Fraile Island.


#02

#03

#04

#05
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#06 to #11 images show the possible entrance but swimming is required; outrigger boats just can’t get close enough. I saw videos that it was done. No 09 image shows the exposed concrete box of the Fort Frank Command Post, high up, in this vicinity.


#08

#09
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#12 to #16 images show the continuous boat ride around ex Battery Crofton to the wall, protecting the ravine, where the distilling Plant and the concrete steps up to the fort are. Scrappers have scrapped away the bottom of wall and ironical this is most often used path to enter Carabao Island now, the ex Fort Frank, by ducking under the wall. I have entered Carabao Island this way about 5 times!


#16
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#17 & #18 images show an opening in the cliff, coming from Battery Greer and the North Point of Carabao Island. At the North Point are the Datum Point, I assume it had something to do in the calculation in loading and pointing the artillery pieces to hit a target. Two concrete structures are here which housed two searchlights. On an outcrop of the island between these two images were four 155mm GPF guns placed who gave the Japanese artillery on Cavite against the Manila Harbor Defense Forts a lot of trouble.


#17

#18
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#19 to #27 images are of the boat ride around the North end of the island, down the East side and passed the former Fort Frank Wharf. I have entered Carabao Island 2 times. The problem of entering this way the ocean swells with prevailing NE winds and the Outrigger boats are not ideal to approach a rocky shore.


#21

#24
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#28 to #31 images show the beach shore line of Sinalang Cove, where the former Fort Frank got their water from. At one time a Japanese detail got surprised and destroyed when they tried to cut the water supply. The Japanese eventual succeeded to cut the water supply but Fort Frank also had a distilling plant. We are thinking about having a look there.


#30
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#32 to #42 images are of the reconnaissance boat ride on the 10 Dec. 2023 from Sinalang Cove back to Sta. Mercedes Village. The pictures are of the coastline from about the quarry to almost the road blocks of an investor which restrict visiting Sta. Mercedes Village, also referred to as Patungan Village, the old name.


#41

#42