The hidden WW2 Pacific treasures of Babeldaob island: A buried Type 95 Ha-Gō (九五式軽戦車 ハ号) light tank

WW2, WW2 Pacific Treasures, WW2 Wrecks

By Pierre Kosmidis

Photos by Shinohara Naoto

1

Babeldaob is the largest island in the island nation of the Republic of Palau.

2

During World War II a Japanese garrison on Babeldaob was composed of 21,449 Imperial Japanese Army men under the command of Lieutenant-General Sadae Inoue and 8,286 Imperial Japanese Navy men under the command of Vice-Admiral Kenmi Itoh.

3

While Babeldaob was bypassed by the Allied forces during the war, many WW2 relics still remain well hidden, such as this Type 95 Ha-Gō (九五式軽戦車 ハ号) light tank, photographed by Japanese author and photographer Shinohara Naoto

5

According to Mr. Shinohara Naoto “the Japanese buried this Type 95, along with another 6 similar tanks. Although the turret was lost, the state of the inside was preserved as it was then.”

6