The wreck El Capitan, a cargo vessel most likely japanese is located
in subic bay in the philippines. I am trying to find the history of
that vessel and also looking for original pictures of the vessel.

Dear markusgerber:

Thank you for your question. I have found one website with an article
on the vessel, as well two photographs of the wreck. I was also to
pull up a schematic of the ship, but not a original photograph of the
vessel. Here's what I have found:

"Other than its name, no one seems to know anything about the history
of El Capitan, a fairly conventional steam-powered freighter resting
on its port side at the entrance to Ilian Bay, an inlet on the south
side of Subic Bay. Only one bay along from the patrol boat wreck,
visibility here is consistently good.
    Steam-powered with a plate rudder, the El Capitan was obviously an
older design of ship than most freighters in the Pacific during WWII,
but its wartime use is evidenced by a sturdy gun platform above the
bow.
    The starboard side of the wreck is only 6m down. I enjoy two long
dives and explore just about every hole there is to find. The wreck is
extremely intact, and though there are some popped plates, I can find
no sign of war damage to the hull or superstructure. Perhaps it just
ran aground and sank, or was scuttled."
Source: http://www.divernet.com/travel/0701philippsb.htm

Photo #1:
http://www.divernet.com/travel/pics/0701philipsb5.jpg

Photo #2:
http://www.liddiard.demon.co.uk/photoix/subic_bay/01_113_06_small.jpg

Schematic:
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Rapids/2637/wlcu.gif

Schematic was pulled from the following page:
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Rapids/2637/wrecks.html

Google Search Strategy:

    "el capitan" wreck philippines

I hope this helps!

Best Regards,
blader-ga

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Clarification of Answer by blader-ga on 30 Jul 2002 20:12 PDT

Dear markusberger:

On follow up, I have also found that El Capitan is a "Spanish merchant
vessel," according to this website:
http://www.planethuddleston.com/diary2.html

Hope this helps.

Best Regards,
blader-ga

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Clarification of Answer by blader-ga on 30 Jul 2002 21:04 PDT

Dear markusberger:

Sorry, the schematic for the El Capitan should be here:
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Rapids/2637/wcapitan.gif

Best Regards,
blader-ga

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Clarification of Answer by blader-ga on 31 Jul 2002 14:19 PDT

Dear markusgerber:

Here is what I have found in addition that is related to the history
of the El Capitan:

The El Capitan is a Spanish freighter, which was scuttled or destroyed
on a generally unknown date. The best date, which is not verfied, is
"scuttled around 1898," putting it around WWI. This is contradictory
to the source I have provided in my answer, but very little is known
about this vessel.
Source: http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&threadm=01bc8608%244400e160%24b68d15a5%40dtagc.singnet.com.sg&rnum=1&prev=/groups%3Fhl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26safe%3Doff%26q%3D%2522el%2Bcapitan%2522%2Bsubic%2BOR%2Bilanin%2BOR%2Bbataan%26sa%3DN%26tab%3Dwg

I don't believe any more information is available beyond this, if
you'll allow me to explain why: for my answer and clarification, I
scanned through all of the 92 websites which resulted from the
following search terms:

"el capitan" subic OR ilanin OR bataan
://www.google.com/search?q=%22el+capitan%22+subic+OR+ilanin+OR+bataan&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&start=50&sa=N

Only two of the websites had pictures, and I had provided all three
pictures, with the exception of the bad cut and paste for the
schematic. =)

I also searched through the Google Groups USENET postings, and I
turned up one result, which is noted in this clarification.

I understand that you have already requested a refund, but I can say
with certainty that the information I have provided you is all that is
available on the internet. If you still feel that my answer is not
worth the price of the question, please request a refund again here:
https://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=refundrequest

I sincerely apologize for the lack of information, and hope that you
may use Google Answers again.

Best Regards,
blader-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by markusgerber-ga on 31 Jul 2002 17:20 PDT

A original picture of the vessel means for me a picture of the vessel
before it ssunk, above water in its original condition.
I am not loking for links to dive web pages, I know there are hundrets
of them with most of them little information. I dive on that wreck
almost weekly, so I don't need underwater photographs.
I just look for a picture of that vessel before it sunk!!!!!!

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Request for Answer Clarification by markusgerber-ga on 31 Jul 2002 17:57 PDT

Futuremore, the information that the el capitan is a spanisch
freighter and sunk around 1898 is incorect. El capitan is defenetly a
japanese vessel and sunk in 1942. The ship wreck in subic which sunck
1898 is the St. Quintin. I am also familiar with that wreck (with all
the wrecks in subic).
I belive what I am looking for can not be found with searching el
capitan, subic bay or bataan. The only way i think is to search on
japanese sites with ship wreck database or war history and searching
inside the pages for el capitan. The problem is most of those sites
have japanese caracters.
I have spent days searching on google and other engines with el
capitan, subic ... There is nothing to find. Hope you can understand
my disapointment.

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Clarification of Answer by blader-ga on 31 Jul 2002 18:46 PDT

Dear markusgerber:

Sorry, please understand that I did try my best! I can't read much
kanji, but if anything else turns up, I'll let you know.

Best Regards,
blader-ga

I came along those sites by myself before. The schematic is not even
from the el capitan it is from the wreck LCU. I am looking for a
original picture and the brief history. Don't need diving pictures,
dive on it almost weekly by myself!!!