Erasing History: An Overview of the Illegal Salvage of WWII Wrecks in the Pacific

Illegal industrial-scale salvage of World War II shipwrecks across the Asia–Pacific has escalated over the past decade, resulting in the destruction of historically significant naval vessels, war graves, and maritime heritage sites. Once protected by remoteness, depth, or sovereign immunity, wrecks such as HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Repulse, HNLMS De Ruyter, HNLMS Java, HMAS Perth (I), and USS Houston have been systematically stripped or entirely removed. Salvors now employ industrial equipment to extract large quantities of steel, copper, and other valuable materials, typically operating without permits or in poorly monitored waters. These activities erase archaeological context, disturb human remains, and create significant environmental harm, including fuel-oil releases, sediment resuspension, and loss of mature reef structures. Case studies from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Timor-Leste demonstrate both the vulnerability of known wrecks and the growing risk that unlocated sites may be looted before documentation or protection is possible.