Battle of Manila Bay

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Battle of Manila Bay
Contemporary representation. In the foreground the US ship Olympia.
Contemporary representation. In the foreground the US ship Olympia .
date May 1, 1898
place Manila , Philippines
output Decisive US victory
Parties to the conflict

United States 45United States United States

Spain 1875Spain Spain

Atlantic Theater of War
Puerto Rico - Guantánamo Bay - El Caney -  San Juan Hill -  Santiago de Cuba I - Santiago de Cuba II

Pacific theater of war
Manila Bay - Guam - Manila

The Battle of Manila Bay took place on May 1, 1898, during the Spanish-American War . The Asia Squadron of the United States under Commodore George Dewey met the Spanish Pacific fleet under Patricio Montojo y Pasarón .

The entire Spanish squadron was destroyed in the battle. The battle was fought in Manila Bay , Philippines , and was the first significant combat operation of the Spanish-American War .

prehistory

Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón , who had been quickly transferred to the Philippines, only had a number of obsolete ships available. His efforts to improve his position in the field were met with little success. The corruption in the ranks of the Spanish colonial bureaucracy worked against all his efforts. For example, explosives intended for sea ​​mines were instead given to construction companies, and a reinforcement promised by Madrid consisted of two sparsely equipped reconnaissance cruisers .

Despite these difficulties, Montojo decided to anchor his ships in shallow waters out of range of the Spanish fortress cannons - the port was protected by four batteries . His idea was, on the one hand, not to endanger the members of his crew who lived in the vicinity of the guns with a bombardment of the city, and on the other, to give the survivors of his fleet the opportunity to swim ashore in an emergency.

The battle

At dawn on May 1, George Dewey led a small squadron of ships into Manila Bay aboard the cruiser USS Olympia . Two mines exploded as they passed through, but they did not cause any significant damage. At 5:10 in the morning, the Spaniards opened fire. At 5:30 am, Gridley , the commandant of the Olympia , received the order to fire with the words “You may fire when ready” and the artillery battle began , which ultimately resulted in the destruction of the Spanish Pacific Fleet .

The battle in Manila Bay, with Olympia in the center
Monument dedicated to the heroes of Cavite in Cartagena for the approximately 5,000 Spanish seamen and marines who died in the battle of Manila Bay and in the defense of Cuba and the Philippines against the USA

The US squadron sat in a line in front of the Spanish ships and fortresses and fired all of its port weapons. Then the ships retreated a little, turned, and fired their starboard weapons. This maneuver was repeated five times, reducing the distance to the enemy further and further. Most of the Spanish ships were then either destroyed or surrendered. The Spanish fleet fought vigorously, but because the ships were completely out of date, it ultimately had no chance against the modern American ships with their well-trained crews.

The eleven Spanish ships and five shore batteries held up a total of two and a half hours. The US ships withdrew at 7.45 a.m. and attacked again around 10:40 a.m. until the Spaniards signaled their surrender at 12:40 p.m.

The result of the fight was clear. Dewey won the battle with only one person killed in action. An engineer on the not directly involved McCulloch had a heart attack.

The consequences

The Spanish attempt to attack Dewey with a relief squadron (English Camara's Flying Relief Column "Camara's Flying Support Column ") never materialized. The naval war in the Philippines turned into a series of slam-and-go attacks using torpedo boats , a tactic that was carried out unchanged throughout the rest of the campaign. Despite the fact that the Spaniards scored some blows at American dominance, there was still no American casualty associated with direct Spanish fire.

On May 2, Dewey landed with his forces, the Marines , at Cavite . There he completed the destruction of the Spanish fleet and its defensive artillery. He also set up a post to protect the Spanish hospitals.

The fortress' resistance was weak. The Olympia fired a few shots at Cavite's arsenal, causing its magazine to suddenly explode. Some inmates were killed and many more wounded. This direct hit ended the fire of the batteries for good.

In memory of George Dewey's leadership role during the Battle of Manila Bay, a special award known as the Dewey Medal was given to all officers and sailors who had been under the command of the Admiral. Dewey was later awarded a promotion and raised to the rank of Admiral of the Navy , which no one but him held in the history of the United States Navy .

Ships involved

United States

involved in the battle:

not involved in the battle:

  • USRC McCulloch , Customs Cutter, (should stay out of the main battle as it was lightly armored and poorly armored; her chief engineer died of a heart attack in the battle)
  • USS Nanshan , coal freighter
  • USS Zafiro , supply ship

  • Protected cruiser USS  Olympia (C-6)

  • Protected cruiser USS  Baltimore (C-3)

  • Protected cruiser USS  Raleigh (C-8)

  • Protected cruiser USS  Boston

  • Gunboat USS Concord (PG-3)

  • Gunboat USS  Petrel (PG-2)

  • Customs cutter USRC  McCulloch

  • Coal freighter USS  Nanshan

Spain

involved in the battle:

not involved in the battle:

  • Velasco , unprotected cruiser of the Velasco class, disarmed, under repair
  • El Coreo , gunboat, 560 ts, three 120 mm guns
  • General Lezo , General Concha class gunboat , 520 ts, disarmed
  • Argos , gunboat, 508 ts, an 88 mm cannon
  • Mindanao , transport ship, 1900 ts

  • Wreck of the cruiser Reina Cristina

  • Aragon- class cruiser (like Castilla )

  • Velasco- class cruisers (such as Velasco , Don Antonio de Ulloa, and Don Juan de Austria )

  • Cruiser Isla de Luzón

  • Cruiser Isla de Cuba

Dewey's reports

Raina Cristina.jpg

“HONG KONG, May 7, 1898. (Manila, May 1.)
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, Washington:
The squadron arrived a Manila at daybreak this morning. Immediately engaged enemy and destroyed the following Spanish vessels: Reina Christina, Castilla, Don Antonio de Biloa, Don Juan de Austria, Isla de Luzon, Isla de Cuba, General Lezo, Marquis del Duaro, El Curreo, Velasco, one transport, Isla de Mandano, water battery at Cavite. I shall destroy Cavite arsenal dispensatory. The squadron is uninjured. Few men were slightly wounded. I request the Department will send immediately from San Francisco fast steamer with ammunition. The only means of telegraphing is to the American consul at Hong Kong.
DEWEY. "

"Hong Kong, May 7, 1898 ( Manila, May 1 )
Secretary of the Navy, Washington:
The squadron arrived off Manila this morning at daybreak. Immediately afterwards, the enemy was attacked and the following Spanish ships destroyed: Reina Christina, Castilla, Don Antonio de Biloa, Don Juan de Austria, Isla de Luzon, Isla the Cuba, General Lezo, Marquis del Duero, El Curreo, Velasco, a Spanish transport ship , Isla de Mindanao, as well as the Cavite Sea Guns. The squadron is not damaged. A few men were wounded. I'm asking for a fast steamer with ammunition through the San Francisco office. The only option for telegraphing is to the American consulate in Hong Kong .
Dewey. "

- George Dewey :

"HONG KONG, May 7, 1898. (Cavite, May 4th)
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, Washington:
I have taken possession of the naval station at Cavite, Philippine Islands, and destroyed its fortifications. Have destroyed fortifications bay entrance, paroling garrison. Have cut cable to main land. I control bay completely and can take city at any time, but I have not sufficient men to hold. The squadron excellent health and spirits. The Spanish loss not fully known; very heavy; 150 killed, including captain, on Reina Cristina, alone. I am assisting and protecting Spanish sick and wounded, 250 in number, in this hospital, within our lines. Will ammunition be sent? I request answer without delay. I can supply squadron coal and provisions for a long period. Much excitement at Manila. Scarcity of provisions on account of not having economized stores. Will protect foreign residents.
DEWEY. "

"Hong Kong, May 7, 1898 ( Cavite, May 4 )
Secretary of the Navy, Washington:
I have taken possession of the naval base in Cavite, Philippine Islands, and destroyed its fortifications. Destroyed the fortifications at the entrance to the bay and dismissed some of the crews. I have full control of the bay and can take the city at any time, but I don't have enough men to hold it. The squadron is in excellent physical and mental condition. I do not fully know the Spanish losses, but estimate them to be very high. 150 dead, including the captain, on the Reina Christina alone. I'm helping protect the Spanish sick and injured, 250 in total, in a hospital within our lines. Do you send ammunition? I ask for an answer without delay. I can supply the squadron with supplies and coal for a long time. Great excitement in Manila. Will protect foreign residents.
Dewey "

- George Dewey :

See also

literature

  • Michael Blow: A Ship to Remember. The Maine and the Spanish-American War. Morrow, New York NY 1992, ISBN 0-688-09714-6 .
  • Antonio Carrasco García: En Guerra con Los Estados Unidos. Cuba, 1898. Almena Ediciones, Madrid 1998, ISBN 84-922644-2-X .
  • Frank Freidel: The Splendid Little War. Little, Brown, Boston MA et al. 1958.
  • Richard Hill: The Ironclad War. Brandenburgisches Verlagshaus, Berlin 2001, ISBN 3-89488-139-9 .
  • Albert A. Nofi: The Spanish-American War, 1898. Combined Books, Conshohocken PA 1996, ISBN 0-938289-57-8 .

Web links

Commons : Battle of Manila Bay  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

supporting documents

  1. ↑ a b Telegrams transmitted between Admiral George Dewey and John D. Long, Secretary of the Navy ( Memento January 18, 2008 in the Internet Archive ), Department of the Navy - Naval Historical Center. Retrieved December 8, 2011.