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==Spanish period==
[[Subic Bay]]'s strategic location, sheltered anchorages, and deep water had first been made known when the Spanish explorer [[Juan de Salcedo]] reported the bay's existence to the Spanish authorities upon his return to [[Manila]] after Salcedo arrived in Zambales to establish
[[Cavite]], which had been home to most of the Spanish fleet in the Philippines, suffered from unhealthy living conditions and was vulnerable in time of war and bad weather because of its shallow
On 8 March 1885, the [[Spanish Navy]] authorized construction of the ''Arsenal de Olongapo'' and by the following September, work started at [[Olongapo]].
[[Seawall]]s, [[causeway]]s and a short railway were built across the [[swamp]]y [[Mudflat|tidal flats]].
The main entrance to the Arsenal was the extant West Gate
Inside the Arsenal, the Spanish constructed a [[foundry]], as well as other shops, which were necessary for the construction and repair of ships. The buildings were laid out in two rows on Rivera Point, a sandy patch of land jutting into the bay, and named after the incumbent Captain-General of the Philippines, [[Fernando Primo de Rivera, 1st Marquis of Estella|Fernando Primo de Rivera]]. The Arsenal's showpiece was the station [[commandant]]'s headquarters, which was a one-storey building of [[Vitex parviflora|molave]] and [[Pterocarpus|narra]]
The Spanish navy yard was constructed in the area that was last occupied by the U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility. During the [[Philippine Revolution]] against Spain, the Cuban-Filiipino admiral of the [[Philippine Navy]], [[Vicente Catalan]], seized Subic Naval base from the Spanish and delivered it to the [[First Philippine Republic]].
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== Reopening ==
In 2022, the United States and Philippine governments quietly began preparations for U.S. forces to return to the facility amid heightened tensions with China.<ref name=":0" /> The portion of [[Redondo Peninsula]] which was used by [[HHIC Phil]] was acquired by the national government in late 2022 and named a Naval Operation Base (NOB) through the [[Philippine Navy]]. After the remainder of the port came up for sale, and interest from at least two Chinese companies, U.S. private equity firm [[Cerberus Capital Management]] acquired the port.<ref name=":0" /> On November 9, [[U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines|U.S. Ambassador]] [[MaryKay Carlson]] visited Subic Bay.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last=|first=|date=November 24, 2022|title=U.S. military poised to return to Subic Bay, counter China's presence|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/11/34dad3ba3fae-us-military-poised-to-return-to-subic-bay-counter-chinas-presence.html|newspaper=Kyodo News}}</ref> On November 24, a day before the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Navy's departure, [[Rolen C. Paulino]], chairman of the SBMA, said that he would be "very surprised" if Subic Bay does not return to service as a U.S. military facility through the [[Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement]], as "during war, time is of the essence."<ref name=":0" />
===Restoration of Subic Bay Airfield===
The restoration of [[Subic Bay]] Airfield (U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay) with a new [[forward operating base]] will host the [[maritime patrol]] assets for [[territorial disputes in the South China Sea]] operations, including [[joint warfare]] in line with the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC). Situated along the former [[Naval Air Station Cubi Point]] at [[Naval Base Subic Bay]] edge, the project will enhance its [[surveillance aircraft]] and [[power projection]] around the [[South China Sea]]. [[Philippine Air Force]] documents reveal that it will be established at [[Subic Bay International Airport]], especially since the [[Armed Forces of the Philippines]] chose SBIA for “Joint Air-Sea-Land Operations,” which can support both [[attack aircraft]] and [[reconnaissance aircraft]]. In 2022, the government established [[Agila Subic Shipyard|Naval Operating Base Subic]], the 100-[[hectare]] northern yard of which is occupied by the [[Philippine Navy]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lariosa |first1= Aaron-Matthew |title=Philippines To Restore Subic Bay Airfield For South China Sea Ops|url= https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/06/philippines-to-restore-subic-bay-airfield-for-south-china-sea-ops/|accessdate=June 12, 2024 |publisher=navalnews.com |date=June 11, 2024}}</ref>
== Commanders ==
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=== Philippine Navy ===
==See also==
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