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Online Library of Selected Images
EVENTS--Spanish-American War--
Admiral Camara's Philippines Relief Expedition

The shocking outcome of the Battle of Manila Bay spurred the Spanish government to organize a relief expedition. To confront Dewey's U.S. Asiatic Squadron, Rear Admiral Manuel de la Camara was given Spain's only modern battleship, Pelayo, her largest cruiser, Carlos V, three modern torpedo boat destroyers and two large auxiliary cruisers. Six more steamers carried soldiers, coal and supplies to support the expedition and reinforce Spanish forces already in the Philippines.

Camara's squadron steamed eastward, arriving at Port Said on 26 June 1898, but Egyptian authorities' strict enforcement of neutrality laws greatly hindered his efforts. By the time his ships were able to transit the Suez Canal, more than a week later, the Battle of Santiago had already destroyed Spanish maritime power in the Western Hemisphere, freeing the large U.S. fleet for action elsewhere. Faced with a threat that the Americans would cross the Atlantic and begin operations against Spain herself, Camara was ordered to return home.

This page features photographs of Admiral Camara's ships, taken at Port Said during their abortive cruise toward the Philippines.

If higher resolution reproductions than these digital images are desired, see "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

In all cases, clicking on the small photograph will prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 88722

Pelayo
(Spanish Battleship, 1887-1925)

At Port Said, Egypt, 26 June - 11 July 1898, while serving as flagship of Rear Admiral Manuel de la Camara's squadron, which had been sent to relieve the Philippines.

Copied from Office of Naval Intelligence Album of Foreign Warships.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 51,248 bytes; 740 x 635 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 46869-A

Carlos V
(Spanish Cruiser, 1895-1933)

At Port Said, Egypt, 26 June - 11 July 1898, while serving with Rear Admiral Manuel de la Camara's squadron.
This cruiser was begun as Emperador Carlos V, but her name was shortened prior to completion. Ship at left, with two smokestacks, is a Spanish transport, either Covadonga or Colon.

Copied from Office of Naval Intelligence Album of Foreign Warships.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 60,198 bytes; 740 x 645 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 88729

Patriota
(Spanish Auxiliary Cruiser, 1890-1906)

At Port Said, Egypt, 26 June - 11 July 1898, while serving with Rear Admiral Manuel de la Camara's squadron, which had been sent to relieve the Philippines.
This ship was the former Hamburg-Amerika Line Normannia, purchased by Spain for war service in 1898. After the Spanish- American War, she became the French Line's L'Aquitaine and was scrapped in 1906.

Copied from Office of Naval Intelligence Album of Foreign Warships.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 43,365 bytes; 740 x 565 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 88730

Rapido
(Spanish Auxiliary Cruiser, 1889-1907)

At Port Said, Egypt, 26 June - 11 July 1898, while serving with Rear Admiral Manuel de la Camara's squadron, which had been sent to relieve the Philippines.
This ship was the former Hamburg-Amerika Line Columbia, purchased by Spain for war service in 1898. After the Spanish- American War, she returned to Hamburg-America Line service, but became the Russian auxiliary cruiser Terek during the Russo-Japanese War.

Copied from Office of Naval Intelligence Album of Foreign Warships.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 57,622 bytes; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 74833

Audaz
(Spanish Torpedo Boat Destroyer, 1897-1927)

At Port Said, Egypt, 26 June - 4 July 1898, while serving with Rear Admiral Manuel de la Camara's Philippines relief expedition. She has been fitted with four masts to permit the use of sails to extend her cruising range.
Note furled sails on some masts, and identification letter A on her bow.
Ship at extreme left is the Spanish auxiliary cruiser Patriota.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 66,966 bytes; 740 x 570 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 46863

Audaz
(Spanish Torpedo Boat Destroyer, 1897-1927)

At Port Said, Egypt, 26 June - 4 July 1898, while serving with Admiral Camara's squadron. The Spanish auxiliary cruiser Patriota is in the background.
This photograph's original negative was retouched by the photographer to remove Audaz' identification letters on her bow and stern, permitting sale of the image as representing the virtually identical Osada.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 66,557 bytes; 740 x 535 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 88723

Proserpina
(Spanish Torpedo Boat Destroyer, 1897-1931)

At Port Said, Egypt, 26 June - 4 July 1898, while serving with Rear Admiral Manuel de la Camara's Philippines relief expedition.
Note identification letter P on her bow.

Copied from Office of Naval Intelligence Album of Foreign Warships.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 60,597 bytes; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 88616

Isla de Panay
(Spanish Auxiliary Cruiser, 1882-1929)

At Port Said, Egypt, 26 June - 11 July 1898, while serving with Rear Admiral Manuel de la Camara's Philippines relief squadron. Troops of the Second Marine Battalion are visible on deck.
She was a requisitioned merchant ship of the Compania Transatlantica Expanola, and flies that firm's flag at her foretop.

Copied from Office of Naval Intelligence Album of Foreign Warships.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 65,792 bytes; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 94370

Buenos Aires
(Spanish Transport, 1887-1942

At Port Said, Egypt, 26 June - 11 July 1898, while serving with Rear Admiral Manuel de la Camara's Philippines relief expedition.
She was a merchant ship, requisitioned for naval service during the Spanish-American War.
The three smokestacks in the middle distance belong to the cruiser Carlos V

Copied from an Office of Naval Intelligence photo album.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 72,542 bytes; 740 x 620 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 88615

Colon
(Spanish Transport, 1884-1915)

At Port Said, Egypt, 26 June - 11 July 1898, while serving with Rear Admiral Manuel de la Camara's Philippines relief squadron.
Colon was a requisitioned merchant ship of the Compania Transatlantica Expanola, and flies that firm's flag at her foretop.

Copied from Office of Naval Intelligence Album of Foreign Warships.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 63,354 bytes; 740 x 635 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 94371

Covadonga
(Spanish naval steamship, 1884-1911)

At Port Said, Egypt, 26 June - 11 July 1898, while serving with Rear Admiral Manuel de la Camara's Philippines relief squadron.
Covadonga was requisitioned for naval service in 1898, and soon returned to merchant service. Built as the British Tainui, she was scrapped as Astoria in 1911.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 69,622 bytes; 740 x 610 pixels

 

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19 April 1998