Battle of Manila Bay

For the mock battle, see Battle of Manila (1898).

Battle of Manila Bay
Part of the Spanish–American War

Battle of Manila Bay, James Gale Tyler
Date1 May 1898
Location
off Manila, Pacific Ocean
Result American victory
Belligerents
 United States Spain
Commanders and leaders
George Dewey Patricio Montojo
Strength
4 protected cruisers
2 gunboats
1 revenue cutter
2 transport ships[cn 1]		 2 protected cruisers
5 unprotected cruisers
5 gunboats
1 transport ship[cn 1]
Casualties and losses
1 dead of illness[5]
9 wounded
1 protected cruiser damaged		 77 killed
271 wounded[6]
2 protected cruisers scuttled
5 unprotected cruisers sunk
1 gunboat sunk
1 transport ship sunk
The Battle of Manila Bay, depicted in a lithograph by Butler, Thomas & Company, 1899
"Battle of Manila Bay", painting by W. G. Wood, circa 1898. Reina Cristina (foreground) in action against Dewey's squadron (right).
Batalla de Cavite, painted by Ildefonso Sanz Doménech, depicting the Spanish squadron.
USS Olympia at the Independence Seaport Museum in 2007
Commemorative plate from the Spanish–American War era honoring George Dewey and his victory.
Battles of Manila
See also
Around Manila

The Battle of Manila Bay (Filipino: Labanan sa Look ng Maynila; Spanish: Batalla de Bahía de Manila), also known as the Battle of Cavite, took place on 1 May 1898, during the Spanish–American War. The American Asiatic Squadron under Commodore George Dewey engaged and destroyed the Spanish Pacific Squadron under Contraalmirante (Rear admiral) Patricio Montojo. The battle took place in Manila Bay in the Philippines, and was the first major engagement of the Spanish–American War. The battle was one of the most decisive naval battles in history and marked the end of the Spanish colonial period in Philippine history.[7]

Tensions between Spain and the United States worsened over the Spanish conduct during their efforts to quell the Cuban War of Independence, with many Americans being agitated by largely falsified reports of Spanish atrocities against the Cuban population. In January 1898, fearing the fate of American interests in Cuba due to the war, the cruiser USS Maine was dispatched to protect them. Less than a month later, the cruiser exploded while lying at anchor in Havana harbor, killing 261 sailors onboard and inflaming American opinion.

Upon the outbreak of war, the Americans realized that defeating a significant Spanish squadron then stationed in the Philippines was important to ensuring victory in the war. The U.S. Asiatic Squadron commanded by Dewey, a veteran of the American Civil War, was dispatched to ensure success.[cn 1] On 1 May, the American squadron steamed into Manila Bay to engage with the Spanish. The Spanish, aware that they were hopelessly outgunned, made a desperate defense against the Americans. The battle was not much of a contest, with superior American naval gunnery and seamanship ensuring the entire Spanish fleet would be sunk with minimal casualties for the Americans, who suffered only ten casualties in all. Upon realising that the battle was hopeless, Montojo ordered his two protected cruisers to be scuttled to ensure that they did not fall into the hands of the Americans. The battle remains one of the most significant naval battles in American maritime history.[7]

  1. ^ According to an article titled "The Battle of Manila Bay", written by Admiral Dewey for the War Times Journal, his actual words were, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley."
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference ships was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference navy history was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Symonds, Craig L.; Clipson, William J. (2001). The Naval Institute historical atlas of the U.S. Navy. Naval Institute Press. p. 110. ISBN 978-1-55750-984-0.
  5. ^ Brinkley, Alan (1995). American History: A Survey. McGraw-Hill. p. 561. ISBN 0-07-912114-4.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference RodriguezG was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b "Historic Ships on a Lee Shore". Sea History (144). National Maritime Historical Society: 12–13. August 2013.


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