Fort Drum, commonly referred to as El Fraile, served as a heavily fortified island under US control in the Philippines. Erected between 1909-14, this formidable “concrete battleship” had a meticulously crafted reinforced concrete design. Renowned for its robust defenses and near impregnability, the fort played a vital role in the Second World War, playing host to intense combat throughout the conflict.
Battle of Manila Bay
On the evening of April 30, 1898, during the Spanish-American War, Commodore George Dewey led a US Navy squadron into Manila Bay. Spanish guns on El Fraile Island opened fire on the USS McCulloch, prompting her crew to return fire. By lighting the area with a flare, the crew also assisted the USS Boston (1884), Raleigh (C-8) and Concord (PG-3) in retaliating against the island. Despite drawing enemy fire, the American ships successfully navigated through.
The subsequent day witnessed the Battle of Manila Bay, a naval engagement between American and Spanish forces, resulting in the American occupation of the bay. This marked the beginning of the Philippine-American War from 1899-1902 and the Moro Rebellion from 1899-1913, during which the US occupied the entirety of the Philippines.
Design of Fort Drum
Under the guidance of then-Secretary of War William Howard Taft, the Board of Fortifications recommended building fortified defenses in the bays and harbors acquired during the Spanish-American War. Originally designated as a mine control and casemate station, El Fraile underwent a change in plans due to the region’s insufficient defenses, leading to its transformation into a fort resembling a concrete battleship.
The island was leveled, and a reinforced concrete structure was erected, featuring four guns housed in two turrets. Named “Fort Drum” after Brig. Gen. Richard C. Drum, the original plan called for mounting four 12-inch guns on twin armored turrets, later amended to four 14-inch guns. In addition to the primary armament, the fort was equipped with four 6-inch guns and two 3-inch mobile anti-aircraft guns.
Fort Drum boasted robust protection, rendering it virtually impregnable. The top deck exhibited a thickness of 20 feet, with walls ranging from 25-36 feet in width, depending on the location – all constructed from steel-reinforced concrete.
Construction of Fort Drum
In April 1909, the construction of Fort Drum began. As previously mentioned, the overall layout mirrored that of a battleship, spanning 350 feet in length and 140 feet in width. Specially crafted guns were installed in 1916, complemented by a 60-foot lattice-style fire control tower on the upper deck. The living quarters for the 240 fort personnel were situated in the fort’s depths.
Distinguished US servicemen lent their names to the fort’s batteries. Two honored Brig. Gen. William Louis Marshall and John Moulder Wilson, recipients of the Medal of Honor and veterans of the American Civil War. The third battery bore the name of Chief of Artillery Benjamin K. Roberts, while the fourth paid tribute to Artillery Officer Tully McCrea.
Philippines Campaign (1941-42)
Following the Japanese invasion of Luzon in late December 1941, Fort Drum came into range of the advancing enemy. Operating the fort was the 59th Coast Artillery Regiment (E Battery), stationed there since December 7. Prior to the start of the Second World War, wooden barracks had been constructed on the top deck, but these were dismantled, on account of the approaching Japanese.
On January 2, 1942, Fort Drum resisted Japanese air bombardments. Several days later, Fort Frank transferred a three-inch M1903 gun, in an effort to protect the stern of the concrete battleship. On January 13, Fort Drum became the first concrete emplacement to open fire on the enemy during the World War II, when a Japanese steamer attempted to survey the rear.
The installation came under heavy fire again in February 1942. This was so extensive that it destroyed the anti-aircraft battery, disabled one of the six-inch guns and saw large portions of the concrete structure chipped away. The fort’s main turrets remained operational, although they were ineffective against the Japanese.
Following the fall of Bataan, only Fort Drum and other such instalments remained under US control; almost all of the Philippines was occupied by the Japanese. The enemy, once again, attacked the fort on May 5 and suffered heavy casualties from its 14-inch guns. Despite the valiant effort, Corregidor fell the next day and Fort Drum was surrendered.
Before handing the fort over to the Japanese, the Americans disabled its guns, making them useless. During the fighting, only five injuries were suffered by those stationed on the concrete structure
Recapture of Fort Drum
The Japanese occupation of Fort Drum persisted until 1945.
As part of the American offensive to recapture Manila, the fort marked the final Japanese stronghold within Manila Bay. On April 13, following extensive aerial and naval bombardments, the American forces launched an assault on the fort. Once ashore, they swiftly regained control, effectively entrapping the Japanese troops inside.
Company F, 2nd Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment, 38th Infantry Division, attached to the 113th Combat Engineer Battalion, undertook the task of attacking Fort Drum after their successful capture of Fort Hughes on Caballo Island. To accomplish this, they employed White phosphorus mortar rounds to ignite a volatile mixture of 2,500 US gallons, consisting of two parts diesel and one part gasoline, which had been pumped into the structure through a vent.
This technique was adapted for Fort Drum. After the fuel mixture had been injected, a timed fuse and 600 pounds of TNT were used to demolish the structure. The resulting explosion was of such magnitude that it propelled a one-ton hatch 300 feet into the air, and it blew sections of the reinforced concrete apart.
The American forces had to wait for five days before entering Fort Drum, due to the intense fire and heat. This operation led to the demise of all Japanese soldiers inside The recapture of Fort Drum, along with other strongholds in Manila Bay, marked the conclusion of Japanese resistance in the region.
Fort Drum since the Second World War
At the conclusion of the Second World War, the US military abandoned Fort Drum. Having suffered significant damage during the conflict, the process of killing the Japanese soldiers who’d occupied the fort resulted in the gutting of the whole installation.
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Since the end of the war, looters have taken metal from Fort Drum, due to its high resale value. That being said, the concrete battleship in Manila Bay remains an enduring symbol of the American occupation of the Philippines.
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