- Battle of Manila Bay (1898)
Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Manila Bay
caption=CommodoreGeorge Dewey aboard the cruiser "Olympia".
partof=theSpanish-American War
date=1 May ,1898
place=NearManila ,Philippines
result=Decisive U.S. victory
combatant1=flagicon|USA|1896United States
combatant2=flagicon|Spain|1785 Kingdom of Spain
commander1=flagicon|USA|1896George Dewey
commander2=flagicon|Spain|1785Patricio Montojo y Pasarón
strength1=3 protected cruisers
2 gunboats
1revenue cutter
2 supply vessels
strength2=2 protected cruisers
4 unprotected cruisers
1 gunboat
casualties1=1 dead (non-combat-related)
9 wounded
casualties2=161 dead
210 wounded
Entire fleet destroyedThe Battle of Manila Bay took place on
1 May 1898 , during theSpanish-American War . The AmericanAsiatic Squadron under CommodoreGeorge Dewey engaged the Spanish Pacific Squadron underAdmiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón and destroyed the Spanish squadron.The engagement took place inManila Bay , thePhilippines , and was the first major engagement of theSpanish-American War .Prelude
Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón, who had been dispatched rapidly to the Philippines, was equipped with a variety of obsolete vessels. Efforts to fortify his position amounted to little. The corrupt Spanish colonial
bureaucracy may have worked against the effort, sendingexplosive s meant for mines to friendlyconstruction companies. Reinforcements promised from Madrid resulted in only two poorly armored scoutcruiser s. Montojo compounded his difficulties by retreating from the range of Spanish fortress guns—guns that might have evened theodds —and choosing toanchor in a relatively shallow anchorage. His intent seems to have been to preserve the families of the Spanishsailor s inManila from bombardment, and to allow survivors of his fleet to swim to safety. The harbor was protected by four batteries. [http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq84-1.htm Battle of Manila Bay, 1 May 1898] , Department of the Navy - Naval Historical Center. Retrieved on October 10, 2007]Battle
At daybreak on Sunday
1 May , George Dewey aboard the protected cruiser USS "Olympia" led a small squadron of ships into Manila Bay. Two mines were exploded but were ineffective. Shortly after five A.M., the Spanish shore batteries and the Spanish fleet opened fire. At 5:40 with the now famous phrase, "You may fire when ready, Gridley," the "Olympia's" captain was instructed to begin the barrage that resulted in the destruction of the Spanishflotilla . [http://www.wtj.com/archives/dewey2.htm The Battle of Manila Bay by Admiral George Dewey] , "The War Times Journal". Retrieved on October 10, 2007]The U.S. squadron swung in front of the Spanish ships and forts in single file, firing their port guns. They then turned and passed back, firing their starboard guns. This was repeated five times, each time at closer range. The Spanish forces had been alerted, and most were ready for action, but they were outgunned. The eleven Spanish ships and five land batteries fought back for two and a half hours. The American ships withdrew at 7:45 a.m. to redistribute ammunition, then attacked again at 10:40. Most of the Spanish ships were either destroyed or surrendered. The Spanish colors were struck in surrender at 12:40 p.m. The results were decisive; Dewey won the battle with only a single fatality among his crew: Francis B. Randall, Chief Engineer on the "McCulloch", from heart attack.
ubsequent Action
A Spanish attempt to attack Dewey with
Camara's Flying Relief Column came to naught, and the naval war in the Philippines devolved into a series oftorpedo boat hit-and-run attacks for the rest of the campaign. While the Spanish scored several hits, there were no American fatalities directly attributable to Spanish gunfire.On
May 2 , Dewey landed a force of Marines atCavite . They completed the destruction of the Spanish fleet and batteries and established a guard for the protection of the Spanish hospitals. The resistance of the forts was weak. The "Olympia" turned a few guns on the Cavite arsenal, and its magazine at once exploded, killing some and wounding many. This practically ended the fire from the batteries.Aftermath
In recognition of George Dewey's leadership during the Battle of Manila Bay, a special medal known as the
Dewey Medal was presented to the officers and sailors under Admiral Dewey's command. Dewey was later honored with promotion to the special rank of Admiral of the Navy; a rank that no one has held before or since in theUnited States Navy . Building on his popularity, Dewey briefly ran for president in 1900, but withdrew and endorsedWilliam McKinley , the incumbent, who won.Dewey's flagship, the "Olympia", is preserved as a museum ship in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , at theIndependence Seaport Museum (formerly the Philadelphia Maritime Museum).hips involved
United States
*USS "Olympia" (flag)
*USS "Baltimore"
*USS "Raleigh"
*USS "Petrel"
*USS "Concord"
*USS "Boston"
*Revenue cutter "Hugh McCulloch" (directed to keep out of the main action because of its light armament and lack of armor; her chief engineer died of a heart attack)pain
*"Reina Cristina"
*"Castilla"
*"Don Antonio de Ulloa"
*"Don Juan de Austria"
*"Isla de Cuba"
*""Isla de Luzón"
*""Marques del Duero"
*"Velasco"Engaged vessels ranged in size from 5870 tons ("Olympia") to 500 tons ("Marques del Duero"). [http://www.spanamwar.com/mbay.htm#ORDER The Battle of Manila Bay by Patrick McSherry] , from spanamwar.com. Retrieved on October 10, 2007]
Dispatches Between Dewey and the Secretary of the Navy
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