History's Greatest Battles

The Battle of Manila Bay, 1898, Spanish-American War, First Use of Concentration Camps

September 05, 2024 Themistocles Season 1 Episode 24

Manila Bay, the final grand naval clash of the 19th century, marked the dawn of a new era as steel warships thundered across the seas for the first time. The efficacy of American naval firepower not only secured control over the Philippines for the next fifty years but also forged America’s destiny as a dominant force in the heart of Asia, forever altering the balance of power in Asia's geopolitical affairs.

Manila Bay, Philippines. 1st of May, 1898.
American Forces: Asiatic Squadron of Five Cruisers and Two Gunboats
Spanish Forces: Manila Squadron of Nine Ships

Additional Reading and Resources:

  • Millis, Walter. The Martial Spirit.
  • Wrigley, Herbert. The Downfall of Spain: Naval History of the Spanish-American War.
  • Dewey, George. Autobiography of George Dewey.


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