Spanish cruiser Isla de Luzon

"Isla de Luzón" was an "Isla de Luzón"-class protected cruiser of the Spanish Navy which fought in the Battle of Manila Bay.

Technical Characteristics

"Isla de Luzón" was built by Elswick in the United Kingdom. She was laid down on 25 February 1886, launched on 13 November 1886, and completed on 22 September 1887. [ [http://www.spanamwar.com/islaluzon.htm The Spanish-American War Centennial Website: "Isla de Luzon"] ] She had a steel hull and one funnel. [ "Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905", p. 384 ] She had a large beam for her length, and tended to have poor seakeeping qualities, burying her bow into waves. [ [http://www.spanamwar.com/islaluzon.htm The Spanish-American War Centennial Website: "Isla de Luzon"] ] Small for a protected cruiser, she was often called a gunboat by 1898.

Operational History

. [ [http://www.spanamwar.com/islaluzon.htm The Spanish-American War Centennial Website: "Isla de Luzon"] ]

"Isla de Luzón" was still part of Montojo's squadron when the Spanish-American War broke out in April 1898. She was anchored with the squadron in Cañacao Bay under the lee of the Cavite Peninsula east of Sangley Point, Luzon, eight miles southwest of Manila, when, early on the morning of 1 May 1898, the United States Navy's Asiatic Squadron under Commodore George Dewey, found Montojo's anchorage and attacked. The resulting Battle of Manila Bay was the first major engagement of the Spanish-American War. [ Nofi, p. 17-23 ]

The American squadron made a series of firing passes, wreaking great havoc on the Spanish ships. [ Nofi, p. 17-23 ] At first, Dewey's ships concentrated their fire on Montojo's flagship, unprotected cruiser Reina Cristina, and on unprotected cruiser "Castilla", and "Isla de Luzón" suffered little damage. When "Reina Cristina" became disabled, "Isla de Luzón" and her sister ship, "Isla de Cuba", came alongside to assist her under heavy American gunfire. [ [http://www.spanamwar.com/islaluzon.htm The Spanish-American War Centennial Website: "Isla de Luzon"] ]

went aboard and set her on fire. [ [http://www.spanamwar.com/islaluzon.htm The Spanish-American War Centennial Website: "Isla de Luzon"] ]

After the United States occupied the Philippines, the United States Navy seized, salvaged, and repaired her and commissioned her as gunboat USS "Isla de Luzon" in 1900 for service in the United States. [ [http://www.spanamwar.com/islaluzon.htm The Spanish-American War Centennial Website: "Isla de Luzon"] ]

ee also

*USS "Isla de Luzon"

Notes

References

*Alden, John D. "The American Steel Navy: A Photographic History of the U.S. Navy from the Introduction of the Steel Hull in 1883 to the Cruise of the Great White Fleet, 1907-1909." Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1972. ISBN 0870212486.
*Chesneau, Roger, and Eugene M. Kolesnik, Eds. "Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905." New York, New York: Mayflower Books Inc., 1979. ISBN 0831703024.
*Nofi, Albert A. "The Spanish-American War." Conshohocken, Pennsylvania: Combined Books Inc., 1996. ISBN 0938289578.

External links

* [http://www.spanamwar.com/islaluzon.htm The Spanish-American War Centennial Website: "Isla de Luzon"]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-fornv/spain/spsh-hl/is-luzon.htm Department of the Navy: Naval Historical Center: Online Library of Selected
]