Subic Bay

Bay in the northeast of Bataan province, on Luzon Island in the Philippines. A US naval base until 1991, Subic Bay is now a major tourist attraction for divers exploring shipwrecks.

The Spanish built a strategic naval base here during the Spanish–American War, but it was destroyed by US forces. The base was rebuilt by the Americans as a support base for the US navy in 1900. The area was the scene of heavy fighting in World War II. After Philippine independence in 1946 the US signed a military bases agreement with the Philippine government which gave them the right to use Subic Bay for 99 years. The US navy was stationed here during the Vietnam War. The base reverted to Philippine control in 1991.