Information Density: Mk II Watches – Signal Evidence & AI Readability

[H2]
Project Recover BAKU Edition

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[IMG: watch with canvas strap]

[H3] Project Recover BAKU Edition

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[H3] Project Recover BAKU T-Shirt, Navy

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[H2] The name has two meanings...
First it is a contraction of the Japanese word for demolition, "bakuhatai". An intercepted wartime Japanese 14th Division intelligence report referred to the three captured UDT men as "bakuhatai". Second, in Japanese, a "baku" is a mythical chimeric creature that feeds on nightmares and protects people from evil spirits - a fitting metaphor for the UDTs and Project Recover's mission to bring Black, MacMahon, and Roeder home.

[H2] Project Recover
Project Recover is a nonprofit organization dedicated to locating and repatriating American service members who remain missing-in-action (MIA) since World War II. The organization integrates field work with advanced science, modern technology, and historical research to forward this mission, providing recognition and closure
for families and the nation. With over 81,000 Americans
still unaccounted for, the work of Project Recover is
not only significant, it is also of urgent importance.
Of the more than 3,000 open cases there are currently
200 actionable cases awaiting funding. Project Recover
needs your support more than ever.

Explore Project Recover BAKU

[H2] Press Review
[H2] "It’s hard not to get behind a watch like this — strong design, solid specs, and an important mission." by Hodinkee
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[IMG: Mk II watch dial and hands]

[H2]
About Mk II

The Pursuit

[IMG: Palau / Peleliu 2026]

May 21, 2026
Palau / Peleliu 2026

[IMG: BAKU: Night Adaptation Goggles & Naked Warriors]

Apr 21, 2026
BAKU: Night Adaptation Goggles & Naked Warriors

[IMG: Tell us what you think for a chance to win a watch]

May 16, 2023
Tell us what you think for a chance to win a watch

[IMG: watch with canvas strap]

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[IMG: Project Recover BAKU Edition]

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[IMG: watch with canvas strap]

[IMG: Project Recover BAKU Edition]

[IMG: Project Recover BAKU Edition]

[IMG: watch with canvas strap 3 o&]

[IMG: watch with canvas strap and 9 oclock view]

[IMG: watch with canvas strap and caseback]

[IMG: watch lumes with canvas strap]

[IMG: wristwatch package]

Regular price$649.00
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Shipping calculated at checkout.
Shipping Lead Time: 3-5 days

Package

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[H4] Premium Donation Package
Watch on Haveston canvas strap in customized Toyo box*
Project Recover x MKII, BAKU challenge coin*
Project Recover dad hat*
Balao submarine poster*BAKU mission patch
BAKU zine
Limited to 20 sets for this run
* Items exclusive to the premium donation package

[H4] Standard Donation Package
Watch on Haveston canvas strap in MkII travel case
BAKU mission patch
BAKU zine

Specification

Dimensions

Case Width
39.00 mm ( not including crown )

Case Thickness
13.55 mm

Case Length
48.50 mm end to end

Lug Width
20.00 mm

Weight
78 grams

Crystal
Double domed sapphire crystal, with anti-reflective coating on interior surface only

Luminous
Arclite SuperLumiNova (green emission)

Movement
TMI NH38 (Made in Japan / Regulated in USA)

Water Resistance
10 ATMs (100 meters)

Case Finish
Brushed 316L stainless steel

Other
• Country of Origin: Made in Japan• Double gasket screw-down crown• Timed in 3 positions in the USA• Strap: Haveston M-1944C with brushed hardware

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[H2] Design Overview
Working with Project Recover we wanted to develop a project that would do more than just bear their name; we wanted it to encapsulate their work. The open case of the three UDT men immediately jumped out at us because it captures the imagination as well as showcases the dedication, professionalism, perseverance, and institutional knowledge the Project Recover team brings to bear for each mission. The following is a summary of how the Cruxible-Hellion model was designed to convey the story within these pages.

[H2] Case
The Hellion-BAKU was originally designed as a blend of the A-11 and the UDT’s canteen watch. Using the case architecture introduced by Rolex in 1926, that has become the defacto standard for water resistant watches, paired with modern materials and drilled lugs BAKU is water resistant to 100 meters; suitable for the free diving and “no-decomp” dives the UDTs performed at the time. The oversized “cap” crown is a nod to the “canteen” watches issued to the UDT and makes the crown easier to use with wet and cold hands. At 39 mm in diameter the case is larger than the reference design while still within period norms making it equally at home in 1944 or 2025.

[H2] Dial
We designed the dial around the clandestine and nocturnal nature of the Special Reconnaissance Mission. In reference to the canteen watches of the period the MkII logo and the text on the dial are printed in gloss black over a matte black base. “Project Recover” is featured in italics above the depth rating, historically a placement of distinction on co-branded watches. The choice of italics is meant to evoke ProjectRecover.org’s drive and devotion. Luminous paint was a defining detail of the issued watches. With this in mind, we increased the diameter of the dial’s luminous dots and the font size of the numerals to maximize the amount of luminous paint the dial could hold. The irony of course is that almost all of the UDT missions occurred in broad daylight with the notable handful of exceptions such as Tinian and the Special Reconnaissance Mission to the Palau and Yap islands.

[H2] Hands
The design of the hands pay tribute to the US submarine service, the UDT, and Project Recover’s continuing mission to find Black, MacMahon, and Roeder. The gray, black and white color scheme is a variation on the hand design of the UDT watches meant to pay homage to the USS Burrfish’s WW2 era camouflage scheme. US subs spent most of their time on the surface, only diving to avoid detection or initiate an attack. For that reason subs of the era had their sides painted gray to blend in better with the sky when viewed from the surface, everything seen from above painted black to blend in better with the color of deep water, and the low spots on the boat’s surfaces were selectively painted white to flatten their appearance. The shape of the hour and minute hands were based on the UDT watches of the era but have been widened to increase their legibility and night time performance. Per many of the WW2 canteen watches the tip of the sweep is lumed. The sweep seconds hand’s asymmetrical triangle counterweight references Project Recover’s logo which symbolizes the vertical stabilizer of the aircraft at the heart of their origin story and folded flag presented to the families of the fallen; representative of recovery and repatriation.

Case backThe case back engraving of the BAKU edition Hellion is based on a canteen watch issued to Draper Kauffman’s UDT-5. The back of the reference watch is stamped “USN BUSHIPS” and above the stamping is mechanically engraved the text “UDT-5” and below the stamping is engraved the number “95”. This is why “USN BUSHIPS” has been stamped into the BAKU case back and “UDT-10” and “25- 000” are acid etched, producing a visual contrast in textures evocative of the reference piece. Using two different case back marking methods also guarantees mis-alignment between the stamping and etching offering a reminder of the humanity at the center of this story and the watch itself. In honor of Black, MacMahon and Roeder, their names appear on the center section of the case back with these markings. The MkII cypher and the Project Recover logo are engraved outside of the center circle in deference to the men, their status as MIAs, and their pioneering unit.

[IMG: watch with canvas strap]

[IMG: Palau / Peleliu 2026]

May 21, 2026
[H2]
Palau / Peleliu 2026
MkII's Bill and Brock are headed to Palau in June with ProjectRecover ! Here’s a preview of some of the gear they’re bringing along. More about the trip coming in the next few weeks.Note: Bill, as a guest of Project Recover,...
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[IMG: BAKU: Night Adaptation Goggles & Naked Warriors]

Apr 21, 2026
[H2]
BAKU: Night Adaptation Goggles & Naked Warriors
Night adaptation googles:  Worn for an hour before the mission; once on the submarine’s deck the Special Mission Unit's (SMU) night vision would develop within a few minutes versus 20-30 minutes. After a successful pioneering submarine launched night recon at...
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[IMG: Tell us what you think for a chance to win a watch]

May 16, 2023
[H2]
Tell us what you think for a chance to win a watch
Hey all, We hope your 2023 is going well and that you’re getting as excited as we are for the upcoming summer weather. Somehow we’re nearly at the midway point of the year, and with that we’re working hard on...
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[IMG: Paracord Watch Keeper]

Jan 16, 2023
[H2]
Paracord Watch Keeper
This is a "hack" we learned from a friend of ours that is a veteran of Israeli special operations forces. Not every country has the budget that the US military has and when one thinks about the sum total of...
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[IMG: The Cap Comforter and RAF Bomber Command]

Nov 15, 2021
[H2]
The Cap Comforter and RAF Bomber Command
The cap comforter was standard issue to all RAF Airmen (aka "Erks") during WW2. The one thing everyone had in common was they were overworked and uncomfortable. Either they were boiling or freezing, rarely in between, either in the air...
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MkII's Bill and Brock are headed to Palau in June with ProjectRecover ! Here’s a preview of some of the gear they’re bringing along. More about the trip coming in the next few weeks.Note: Bill, as a guest of Project Recover, is paying for all of his own travel and expenses.
MkII Hellion BAKU
PF Flyer
Indy with Alpha Case
Goruck MACV-2

The Corbet Ruck
The James Brand - Carter

Brock, as a member of Project Recover, will be part of the dive team working on a Corsair recovery. The patch was designed in collaboration with Project Recover and donated by MkII to commemorate the mission.
Mk II Hellion BAKU
TR - 660
Oakley Holbrook Sunglasses
PDW Apex Boonie

PDW X WOE The Birdwatcher
PDW S.H.A.D.O. Pack

Rite in the Rain Notebook & Tactile Turn Ti Pen

Back to Bulletins

[IMG: Palau / Peleliu 2026]

May 21, 2026
Palau / Peleliu 2026

[IMG: BAKU: Night Adaptation Goggles & Naked Warriors]

Apr 21, 2026
BAKU: Night Adaptation Goggles & Naked Warriors

[IMG: Tell us what you think for a chance to win a watch]

May 16, 2023
Tell us what you think for a chance to win a watch