Japanese Patrol Boat

The Japanese Patrol Boat is a World War II-era wreck sitting in Subic Bay, Philippines, in the same cove as the LCU wreck site. The vessel has never been fully identified by name or precise type; it measures approximately 105–120 feet long and around 18–25 feet wide, weighing roughly 150 tons, and was most likely used as a tugboat or submarine chaser. It sank in 1944 or 1945, most probably after a fire caused by an onboard explosion, though the exact cause remains unconfirmed.

The wreck sits upright on the bottom and is structurally intact, with depths ranging from 18 to 25–26 metres (60–85 feet). Its compartments offer sheltered spaces that attract schools of juvenile fish, and corals have established themselves across the wreckage, adding colour throughout. A mooring buoy is attached at the bow.

Marine life around the wreck includes jackfish, trout, lionfish, frogfish, ribbon eels, and a variety of corals. Visibility typically runs 7–13 metres (20–40 feet) but can drop significantly when current is running. Water temperature sits between 27–29°C, and the best conditions are found between February and May.