Fort Drum: The Concrete Battleship of Manila Bay

Photo from Pacific Wrecks

November 28, 2025 – Pasay City, NCR, Philippines

Article by K. Caperal and K. Bariacto

Every year, many Filipinos reflect on the nation’s rich wartime history. They remember the places that played a key role in defending the country. One of the most impressive yet often overlooked sites is Fort Drum, also known as El Fraile Island. This fortress highlights the ingenuity, resilience, and strategic significance of Manila Bay during the early 1900s. Built by the United States between 1909 and 1914, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created this massive structure. They transformed the original rocky islet of El Fraile into a fully fortified sea battery. Under the guidance of American military engineers like Brig. Gen. John J. Pershing (who was then serving in the Philippine Department) and coastal defense planners of the Taft-era Board of Fortifications, the island was leveled and shaped into what would famously be known as the “concrete battleship.”

Photo from Wikipedia

Fort Drum’s story reflects the country’s struggle during World War II. With walls up to 36 feet thick and large 14-inch guns mounted in armored turrets, the fort was built to withstand the heaviest naval attacks. When war broke out, it became one of the most powerful defenses in Manila Bay, symbolizing strength and the commitment to protect the homeland, even against overwhelming odds. Today, its ruins remind us of the sacrifices made by Filipino and American soldiers who fought for the country’s freedom.

References

19FortyFive. (2021, August 13). The army’s ‘concrete battleship’ saw some of World War II’s fiercest fighting. Retrieved November 28, 2025, from https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/08/the-armys-concrete-battleship-saw-some-of-world-war-iis-fiercest-fighting/

Concrete Battleship Project. (n.d.). Fort Drum history. Retrieved November 28, 2025, from https://www.concretebattleship.org/fort_drum_History.htm

Corregidor.org. (n.d.). Fort Drum: The concrete battleship. Retrieved November 28, 2025, from https://corregidor.org/chs_battery1/drum.htm

GMA News Online. (2012, January 31). The ‘unsinkable battleship’ slowly falls apart. Retrieved November 28, 2025, from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/publicaffairs/iwitness/269183/the-unsinkable-battleship-slowly-falls-apart/story/