Battle of Manila Bay

Battle of Manila Bay
Part of the Spanish-American War
Commodore George Dewey aboard the cruiser Olympia.
Date 1 May 1898 Location Near Manila, Philippines Result decisive U.S. victory
Belligerents
United States	Kingdom of Spain
Commanders
George Dewey	Patricio Montojo y Pasarón
Strength
Engaged Forces: 4 protected cruisers 2 gunboats 2 revenue cutters 2 transports Unengaged Forces: 1 revenue cutter	Engaged Forces: 2 protected cruisers 5 unprotected cruisers 1 gunboat, 5 forts Unengaged Forces: 4 gunboats, 1 transport
Casualties and losses
1 dead, 9 wounded, 1 protected cruiser damaged	161 dead, 210 wounded, 2 protected cruisers sunk, 5 unprotected cruisers sunk, 1 transport sunk

The Battle of Manila Bay took place on 1 May 1898, during the Spanish-American War. The American Asiatic Squadron under Commodore George Dewey engaged the Spanish Pacific Squadron under Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón and destroyed the Spanish squadron. The engagement took place in Manila Bay, the Philippines, and was the first major engagement of the Spanish-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 Spanish bureaucracy knew they could not win a war and saw resistence as little more than a face saving exercise. Administration actions worked against the effort, sending explosives meant for Naval mines to friendly construction companies while the Spanish fleet in Manila was seriously undermanned by inexperienced sailors who had had no gunnery or naval training for more than a year.^[1] Reinforcements promised from Madrid resulted in only two poorly armored scout cruisers while at the same time the authorities diverted a squadron from the Manila fleet under Admiral Pascual Cervera to reinforce the Caribbean. Montojo compounded his difficulties by placing his ships beyond the range of Spanish fortress guns—guns that may have evened the odds—and choosing to anchor in a relatively shallow anchorage. His intent seems to have been to spare Manila from bombardment, and to allow survivors of his fleet to swim to safety. The harbor was protected by six shore batteries and three forts that were to prove ineffective. The Fort St Antonio battery was the only one that had guns with enough range to reach Dewey’s fleet albeit Dewey never came closer than the forts maximum range.^[2][1]

Battle

Olympia entering Manila Bay.

At 7pm on April 30, Montojo was informed that Dewey was had been seen in Subic Bay that morning. As Manila Bay was considered unnavigable at night by foreigners, Montojo expected an attack the following morning. The American Consul in Manila had however provided Dewey with detailed information on the state of the Bays defenses and the lack of preparedness of the Spanish fleet prompting him to enter the bay immediately. At midnight Dewey, aboard the protected cruiser USS Olympia, led a small squadron of ships into Manila Bay. Passing the entrance, two mines exploded but were ineffective as they were well below the draught of any of the ships due to the depth of the water. Inside the bay, ships normally used the north channel between Corregidor Island and the northern coast and this was the only channel mined. Dewey instead used the unmined south channel between El Fraile and Caballo Islands. The El Fraile battery fired a few rounds but the range was too great. The McCulloch, Nanshan and Zafiro were now detached from the line and took no further part in the fighting. At 5:15am on May 1, the squadron was off Manila and the Cavite battery fired ranging shots. The shore batteries and Spanish fleet then opened fire but all the shells fell short as the fleet was still out of range.^[1] At 5:41 with the now famous phrase, You may fire when ready, Gridley^[3], the Olympia's captain was instructed to begin the barrage that ended with the destruction of the Spanish flotilla.^[4]

The U.S. squadron swung in front of the Spanish ships and forts in a single file Line ahead, firing their port guns. They then turned and passed back, firing their starboard guns. This was repeated five times, each time closing the range from 5,000 yards to 2,000 yards. The Spanish forces had been alerted, and most were ready for action, but they were heavily outgunned. Eight Spanish ships, the land batteries and the forts returned fire for two and a half hours although the range was too great for the guns on shore, five other small Spanish ships were not engaged.

Montojo accepted the cause was hopeless and ordered his ships to ram the enemy if possible. He then slipped the Cristina’s cables and charged. Much of the American fleets fire was then directed at her and she was literally shot to pieces. Of the crew of 400 more than 200, including Montojo, were casualties and only two men remained who were able to man her guns. The ship managed to return to shore and Montojo ordered it to be scuttled. The Castilla, which only had guns on the portside had her forward cable shot away causing her to swing about, presenting her weaponless starboard side. The captain then ordered her sunk and abandoned. The Ulloa was hit by a shell at the waterline that killed her captain and disabled half the crew. The Luzon had three guns out of action but was otherwised unharmed. The Duero lost an engine and had only one gun left able to fire.^[1]

Contemporary colored print, showing USS Olympia in the left foreground, leading the U.S. Asiatic Squadron in destroying the Spanish fleet off Cavite. A vignette portrait of Rear Admiral George Dewey is featured in the lower left.

At 7:45 a.m., after Captain Gridley messaged Dewey that only 15% of their ammunition remained, he ordered an immediate withdrawal. To preserve moral, he informed the crews that the halt in the battle was to allow the crews to have breakfast. According to an observer on the Olympia, At least three of his (Spanish) ships had broken into flames but so had one of ours. These fires had all been put out without apparent injury to the ships. Generally speaking, nothing of great importance had occurred to show that we had seriously injured any Spanish vessel. Montojo took the opportunity to now move his remaining ships into Bakor Bay where they were ordered to resist as long as possible..^[1]

A captains conference on the Olympia revealed little damage and no men killed. More importantly it was discovered that the original ammunition message had been garbled. Instead of only 15% of ammunition remaining, the message had meant to say only 15% of ammunition had been expended. During the conference, reports arrived that sounds of exploding ammunition had been heard and strong fires sighted on the Cristina and Castilla. At 10:40 a.m. action was resumed but the Spanish offered little resistence and Montojo issued orders for the remaining ships to be scuttled and their breechblocks taken ashore. The Olympia, Baltimore and Boston then fired on the Sangley Point battery putting it out of action and followed up by sinking the Ulloa. The Concord fired on the transport vessel Mindanao whose crew immediately abandoned ship. The Petrel fired on the government offices next to the arsenal and a white flag was raised over the building after which all firing ceased.^[1] 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.^[4]

Subsequent 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 of torpedo 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 at Cavite. 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 the United States Navy. Building on his popularity, Dewey briefly ran for president in 1900, but withdrew and endorsed William McKinley, the incumbent, who won.

Dewey's flagship, the Olympia, is preserved as a museum ship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the Independence Seaport Museum (formerly the Philadelphia Maritime Museum).

Order of battle

United States

The Battle of Manila Bay, depicted in a lithograph by Butler, Thomas & Company, 1899

Engaged Vessels:

• USS Olympia, flagship, 5,870 tons. Twin 8 inch guns mounted in barbettes fore and aft, nine 5 inch guns and six torpedo tubes. Top speed 20 knots.
• USS Baltimore, 4,600 tons. Single 8 inch guns mounted fore and aft, two 8 inch and two 6 inch guns aiming axially and three 6 inch guns aiming on each broadside. Top speed 20 knots.
• USS Raleigh, 3,200 tons. One 6 inch and two 5 inch guns aiming forward, four 5 inch guns aiming astern and two 5 inch guns aiming on each broadside. Top speed 19 knots.
• USS Boston, 3,200 tons. Single 8 inch guns mounted in barbettes fore and aft with 6 inch axial firing guns mounted beside each. Four additional 6 inch guns. Top speed 13 knots.
• USS Concord, 1,710 tons with six 6 inch guns. Top speed 17 knots.
• USS Petrel, 867 tons with four 6 inch guns. Top speed 12 knots.

Unengaged Vessels:

• Armed Revenue Cutters Nanshan and Zafiro and McCulloch. The three Revenue Cutters were directed to keep out of the main action because of their light armament and lack of armor. The McCulloch's chief engineer died of a heart attack.

Spain

Engaged Vessels:

• Reina Cristina, flagship, 3,042 tons with six 6.4 inch guns. The fastest Spanish vessel with a top speed of 16 knots.
• Castilla, 3,289 tons with four 5.9 inch and two 4.7 inch guns. The vessels 8 inch guns had been removed to arm the shore batteries. The ship was used as a floating battery as the temporary repair of the leaks had immobilized her propeller shaft.
• Don Antonio de Ulloa, 1,152 tons with two 4.7 inch guns aiming portside. Under repair with her engines ashore. Her entire starboard armourment had been removed to arm the shore batteries.
• Don Juan de Austria, 1,152 tons with four 4.7 inch guns. Top speed 13 knots.
• Velasco, 1,152 tons. Under repair and had neither boilers nor guns aboard.
• Isla de Cuba, 1,030 tons with six 4.7 inch guns. Top speed 14 knots.
• Isla de Luzón, 1,030 tons with six 4.7 inch guns. Top speed 14 knots.
• Marques del Duero, 492 tons with one 6.4 inch and two 4.7 inch guns. Top speed 10 knots.

These Spanish vessels had 19 torpedo tubes between them but no servicable torpedos. Engaged vessels ranged in size from 5870 tons (Olympia) to 492 tons (Marques del Duero).^[5]

Unengaged Vessels:

• General Lezo gunboat, 520 tons, two 4.7" guns which were apparently removed to El Fraile Island, 2 secondary rapid fire guns, 1 torpedo tube, 115 men.
• Velasco gunboat, 1152 tons, three 5.9" guns which were apparently removed to Caballo Island, 4 secondary rapid fire guns, 145 men.
• El Coreo gunboat, 560 tons, three 4.7" guns, three secondary rapid fire guns, 1 torpedo tube, 115 men.
• Argos gunboat, 508 tons, one 3.5 " gun, 87 men.
• Manila transport ship, 1900 tons, 2 secondary rapid fire guns, 77 men.

Dispatches between Dewey and the Secretary of the Navy

Engraving of the Battle of Manila Bay with the respective commanders, depicted at the top corners as depicted inThe history and conquest of the Philippines and our other island possessions; embracing our war with the Filipinos by Alden March, published in 1899.

Multiple dispatches were exchanged between Dewey and John D. Long, Secretary of the Navy, immediately prior to, and following, the Naval Battle of Manila Bay. One dispatch notified Dewey of his promotion to the acting grade of Rear Admiral:^[6]

HONGKONG, 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 Hongkong.
DEWEY.

HONGKONG, May 7, 1898. (Cavite, May 4.)
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.

WASHINGTON, May 7, 1898.
DEWEY (care American consul), Hongkong:
The President, in the name of the American people, thanks you and your officers and men for your splendid achievement and overwhelming victory. In recognition he has appointed you acting rear admiral, and will recommend a vote of thanks to you by Congress as a foundation for further promotion. The Charleston will leave at once with what ammunition she can carry. Pacific Mail Steamship Company=s steamer Pekin will follow with ammunition and supplies. Will take troops unless you telegraph otherwise. How many will you require? LONG.

Gallery

The wreck of the "Regina Cristina"	The wreck of the "Castilla"	|The wreck of the "Don Antonio de Ulloa"	The wreck of the "Isla de Cuba"
The wreck of the "Isla de Luzon"	The wreck of the "Velasco"

See also

• Battle of Manila
• Battles of the Spanish-American War
• Spanish-American War
• Philippine-American War

References

Additional References

• Nofi, Albert A., The Spanish American War, 1898, 1997.
• Carrasco García, Antonio, En Guerra con Los Estados Unidos: Cuba, 1898, Madrid: 1998.
• Freidel, Frank Burt. The Splendid Little War. Boston: Little, Brown,1958.
• Blow, Michael. A Ship to Remember: The Maine and the Spanish-American War. New York : Morrow, 1992. ISBN 0688097146.

External links

• Spanish-American War Centennial Website
• External site
• Alejandro Anca Alamillo, Investigador Naval (in Spanish), Batalla de Cavite (1 de mayo de 1898), Revista Naval (Naval review), http://www.revistanaval.com/armada/batallas/cavite.htm, retrieved 2007-10-10 

Coordinates: 14°30′N 120°45′E / 14.5°N 120.75°E / 14.5; 120.75