Battle of Manila Bay
Part of the Spanish-American War
Commodore George Dewey aboard the cruiser Olympia.
Date May 1, 1898 Location near Manila, Philippines Result decisive U.S. victory
Combatants
United States	Spain
Commanders
George Dewey	Patricio Montojo y Pasarón
Strength
3 protected cruisers 2 gunboats 1 revenue cutter 2 supply vessels	2 protected cruisers 4 unprotected cruisers 1 gunboat
Casualties
9 wounded, 1 dead	161 dead 210 wounded

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. Combatants Image:US 45 05:40, 8 December 2006 (UTC)$$$@ United States Republic of Cuba First Philippine Republic Spain Commanders Nelson A. Miles William R. Shafter George Dewey Máximo Gómez Emilio Aguinaldo Patricio Montojo Pascual Cervera Casualties 379 U.S. dead; considerably higher although undetermined Cuban and Filipino... Image File history File linksMetadata USS_Olympia_with_Dewey_at_Battle_of_Manila_bay_DSCN4191_at_Vermont_State. ... George Dewey (December 26, 1837 – January 16, 1917) was an admiral of the United States Navy, best known for his victory (without the loss of a single life of his own forces) at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War. ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The City of Manila (Filipino: Lungsod ng Maynila), or simply Manila, is the capital of the Philippines. ... George Dewey (December 26, 1837 – January 16, 1917) was an admiral of the United States Navy, best known for his victory (without the loss of a single life of his own forces) at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War. ... Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón (1839-1917) was the Spanish naval commander at the Battle of Manila Bay (May 1, 1898), a decisive battle of the Spanish-American War. ... ... Combatants United States Spain Commanders Wesley Merritt George Dewey Fermin Juadenes Strength 10,700 U.S. soldiers 10,000 Filipinos 15,000 Casualties 122 150 The Battle of Manila was the land battle between the United States and Spain during the Spanish-American War, not to be confused with the... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Combatants Image:US 45 05:40, 8 December 2006 (UTC)$$$@ United States Republic of Cuba First Philippine Republic Spain Commanders Nelson A. Miles William R. Shafter George Dewey Máximo Gómez Emilio Aguinaldo Patricio Montojo Pascual Cervera Casualties 379 U.S. dead; considerably higher although undetermined Cuban and Filipino... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... A Squadron is a small unit or formation of cavalry, aircraft (including balloons), or naval vessels. ... 19th century Commodore stripes 20th century Commodore insignia Commodore is a rank of the United States Navy with a somewhat complicated history. ... George Dewey (December 26, 1837 – January 16, 1917) was an admiral of the United States Navy, best known for his victory (without the loss of a single life of his own forces) at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War. ... Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. ... Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón (1839-1917) was the Spanish naval commander at the Battle of Manila Bay (May 1, 1898), a decisive battle of the Spanish-American War. ...

The engagement took place in Manila Bay, the Philippines, and was the first major engagement of the Spanish-American War. Montojo, 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, sending explosives meant for mines to friendly construction companies. Reinforcements promised from Madrid resulted in only two poorly armored scout cruisers. Montojo compounded his difficulties by retreating from the range of Spanish fortress guns - guns that might have evened the odds - and choosing to anchor in a relatively shallow anchorage. His intent seems to have been to preserve the families of the Spanish sailors in Manila from bombardment, and to allow survivors of his fleet to swim to safety. The harbor was protected by four batteries. Generally, a battle is an instance of combat in warfare between two or more parties wherein each group will seek to defeat the others. ... Manila Bay Ãœ is the harbor which serves the port of Manila (on Luzon), in the Philippines. ... Combatants Image:US 45 05:40, 8 December 2006 (UTC)$$$@ United States Republic of Cuba First Philippine Republic Spain Commanders Nelson A. Miles William R. Shafter George Dewey Máximo Gómez Emilio Aguinaldo Patricio Montojo Pascual Cervera Casualties 379 U.S. dead; considerably higher although undetermined Cuban and Filipino... Obsolescence is a state of being which occurs when a person, object, or service is no longer wanted, even though it may still be in good working order. ... Italian ship-rigged vessel Amerigo Vespucci in New York Harbor, 1976 A ship is a large, sea-going watercraft. ... Table of Fortification, from the 1728 Cyclopaedia. ... In general, the word colonial means of or relating to a colony. In United States history, the term Colonial is used to refer to the period before US independence. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Bureaucracy is a concept in sociology and political science referring to the way that the administrative execution and enforcement of legal rules are socially organized. ... This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ... A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy ships or submarines. ... Cranes are essential in large construction projects, such as this skyscraper In project architecture and civil engineering, construction is the building or assembly of any infrastructure on a site. ... Armour or armor (see spelling differences) is protective clothing intended to defend its wearer from intentional harm in combat and military engagements, typically associated with soldiers. ... USS Port Royal (CG-73), a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser, launched in 1992. ... In probability theory and statistics the odds in favor of an event or a proposition are the quantity p / (1 − p), where p is the probability of the event or proposition. ... A stocked ships anchor. ... A family in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in 1997 A family consists of a domestic group of people (or a number of domestic groups), typically affiliated by birth or marriage, or by analogous or comparable relationships — including domestic partnership, cohabitation, adoption, surname and (in some cases) ownership (as occurred in the... A sailor is a member of the crew of a ship or boat. ... Swimming is a technique that humans, and other animals, use to move through water using only movements of the body, for exercise, fun and competition. ...

At daybreak of 1 May, George Dewey aboard the protected cruiser USS Olympia led a small squadron of ships into Manila Bay. Two mines were exploded, but ineffectively. At 5:10 A.M. the Spaniards opened fire. At 5:30 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 Spain's fleet. The U.S. squadron swung in front of the Spanish ships and forts in single file, firing their port guns. They then passed back, firing their starboard guns. This was repeated five times, each time at closer range. Most of the Spanish ships were either destroyed or surrendered. The Spanish fleet fought back with ferocity, but many crews were caught unaware - painting their vessels, or at Mass. The eleven Spanish ships and five land batteries fought back during two and a half hours. The American ships withdrew at 7:45 A.M., then attacked again at 10:40. 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. May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... USS Olympia (C-6) is a protected cruiser in the United States Navy during the Spanish-American War. ... Historically, artillery (from French artillerie) refers to any engine used for the discharge of projectiles during war. ... A rare occurance of a 5-country multinational fleet, during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Oman Sea. ... To surrender is when soldiers give up fighting and become prisoners of war, either as individuals or when ordered to by their officers. ... A crew comprises a body or a class of people who work at a common activity, generally in a structured or hierarchical organization. ... A Medieval Low Mass by a bishop. ...

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. In military science, an attack is the aggressive attempt to conquer enemy territory, installations, personnel, or equipment or to deny the enemy the use of territory, installations, personnel, or equipment, for example by destroying the equipment. ... During the Spanish-American war of 1898, Camaras Flying Relief Column was a naval task force of Spains most powerful warships, under the command of Rear Admiral Manuel de la Camara, sent in an effort to defeat Commodore George Dewey and outflank the American Pacific Squadron, led by... A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval ship designed to launch torpedoes at larger surface ships. ... In the military sciences, a military campaign encompass related military operations, usually conducted by a defense or fighting force, directed at gaining a particular desired state of affairs, usually within geographical and temporal limitations. ...

On 2 May, 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. May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ...

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 himself would later be 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. Dewey Medal The Dewey Medal was a military decoration of the United States Navy which was established by the United States Congress on June 3, 1898. ... In the United States Navy, Admiral of the Navy is traditionally considered the equivalent of a six-star Admiral. ...

US ships involved in the Battle

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

• 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 due to light armament and lack of armor; her chief engineer also died of a heart attack)

Image File history File links ManilaBayBattle. ... Image File history File links ManilaBayBattle. ... USS Olympia (C-6) is a protected cruiser in the United States Navy during the Spanish-American War. ... The fourth USS Baltimore (C-3) (later CM-1) was a United States Navy cruiser. ... The second USS Raleigh was a protected cruiser commissioned in 1894 and in periodic service until 1919. ... The third USS Petrel (PG-2) was a 4th rate gunboat in the United States Navy during the Spanish-American War. ... The fifth USS Boston, a protected cruiser, was launched 4 December 1884 by John Roach and Sons, Chester, Pennsylvania, and commissioned 2 May 1887, Captain F. M. Ramsey in command. ... The United States Revenue Cutter Service was established by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in 1790 as an armed maritime law enforcement service. ...

Spanish ships involved in the Battle

• Reina Cristina
• Castilla
• Don Antonio de Ulloa
• Don Juan de Austria
• Isla de Cuba
• Isla de Luzón
• Marques del Duero
• Velasco

Dewey's dispatches

Manila, May 1
Squadron arrived at Manila at daybreak this morning. Immediately engaged the enemy and destroyed the following Spanish vessels: "Reina Christina," "Castilla," "Don Antonio de Ulloa," "Isla de Luzon," "Isla the Cuba," "General Lezo," "Marquis the Duero," "Correo," "Velaszco," "Isla de Mindanao," a transport, and water battery at Cavite. The squadron is uninjured, and only a few men are slightly wounded. Only means of telegraphing is to American consul at Hong Kong. I shall Communicate with him.
Dewey.

Cavite, May 4, 1898
Long, Secretary Navy—I have taken possession of the naval station at Cavite, Philippine Islands, and destroyed its fortifications. Have destroyed fortifications at the bay entrance, paroling the garrison. I control the bay completely, and can take the city at any time. The squadron is in excellent health and spirits. The Spanish loss not fully known, but very heavy. one hundred and fifty killed, including the captain of the "Reina Christina." I am assisting in protecting the Spanish sick and sounded. Two hundred and fifty sick and wounded in hospital withon our lines. Much excitement at Manila. Will protect foreign residents.
Dewey

See also

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

Two battles were fought over control of the city of Manila. ... The following are known Battles of the Spanish-American War. ... Combatants Image:US 45 05:40, 8 December 2006 (UTC)$$$@ United States Republic of Cuba First Philippine Republic Spain Commanders Nelson A. Miles William R. Shafter George Dewey Máximo Gómez Emilio Aguinaldo Patricio Montojo Pascual Cervera Casualties 379 U.S. dead; considerably higher although undetermined Cuban and Filipino... Combatants United States Philippines Commanders William McKinley Emilio Aguinaldo Strength 126,000 soldiers 80,000 soldiers Casualties 4,324 U.S. soldiers dead 2,000 Philippine Constabulary 16,000 soldiers killed est. ...

References

• Nofi, Albert A., The Spanish American War, 1898, 1997.
• Carrasco García, Antonio, En Guerra con Los Estados Unidos: Cuba, 1898, Madrid: 1998.

External links

• Spanish-American War Centennial Website
• External site
• [1] (in Spanish)