Cavite Naval Base

Naval Station Pascual Ledesma Cavite Naval Base
Fort San Felipe, San Roque, Cavite City in the Philippines
A member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Naval Special Operations Group participates in a battlefield exercise during a combat medic subject matter expert exchange at Naval Base Cavite, Philippines.
Naval Base Cavite Location in the Philippines
Coordinates	14°28′54″N 120°54′58″E / 14.48167°N 120.91611°E / 14.48167; 120.91611Coordinates: 14°28′54″N 120°54′58″E / 14.48167°N 120.91611°E / 14.48167; 120.91611
Type	Naval base
Area	9 hectares (22 acres)
Site information
Owner	Armed Forces of the Philippines
Controlled by	Philippine Navy
Open to the public	No
Condition	Active
Site history
Built	late 16th century
Built by	Spanish East Indies
In use	Spanish shipyard: late 16th century – early 19th century Spanish naval station: early 19th century – 1898 U.S. Naval facility: 1898–1971 Philippine Naval facility: 1971–present
Battles/wars	Battle of Manila Bay
Events	Cavite Mutiny of 1872
Garrison information
Current commander	Cmdre. Romeo Santiago Nebres, AFP
Garrison	Naval Sea Systems Command (NSSC) Naval Logistics Center (NLC)

Naval Station Pascual Ledesma, also known as Cavite Naval Base or Cavite Navy Yard, is a military installation of the Philippine Navy in Cavite City in the Province of Cavite. The 9-hectare (22-acre) naval base is located at the easternmost end of Cavite Point in the San Roque district (specifically Fort San Felipe) of the city. It was the former U.S. Naval Station Sangley Point, transferred to the Philippines in 1971. In 2009 it was named after Cmdre. Pascual Ledesma (b. May 17, 1843 – d. June 6, 1917), a leader of the Philippine revolution and the first Officer-In-Command of the Philippine Navy.

The port town of Cavite Nuevo was established after the Spanish colonizers found that the deep waters around the tip of Cavite Point (Cavite la Punta) are suitable for large ships and established the Astillero de Rivera (Rivera Shipyard). Cavite City became the main seaport of the City of Manila and the staging port for the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade. After the demise of the galleon trade, the shipyard became the Spanish Arsenal.

When the sovereignty of the Philippines was ceded to the Americans after the Spanish–American War, the U.S. took over all the military stations left by the Spaniards including the Cavite Naval Yard. The American made several modifications and improvements, but also included the demolition of Fort Guadalupe and partially of Fort San Felipe.

In 1941, the 16th Naval District was established in the navy yard during the American colonial period. It is the same place the Japanese forces used as a headquarters after they conquered Cavite during the Second World War.

Early in December 1970, it was officially announced that U.S. Naval Station Sangley Point would be closed. On July 1, 1971, Sangley Point changed status from active to inactive in preparation for the turnover of the facility to the government of the Philippines. On-the-job-training sessions were conducted for Philippine naval personnel to ensure the safe and proper operation of all base industrial facilities.On September 1, 1971, the base was officially turned over to the government of the Philippines, ending 73 years as a U.S. Naval facility. It is currently used as a facility of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force. William J. Mitzel and his wife Barbara were the last US personnel to occupy quarters on the installation. Mr. Mitzel was responsible for the final turn over and lived on the installation with his wife, when the turn over was completed.