Largest POW grave site: In 1944, the Japanese hellship Hōfuku Maru sank with over 1,000 Allied POWs aboard; in 2026, forgotten military documents led to a discovery no one expected 80 years later

A Japanese prison transport ship, the Hōfuku Maru, sunk in 1944, has been found off the Philippines coast. This discovery brings to light the forgotten story of 'hellships' used during World War II. These vessels carried Allied prisoners of war under brutal conditions. Many died from starvation, disease, or friendly fire.