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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images
EVENTS--Spanish-American War--
Battle of Manila Bay, 1 May 1898 --
Wrecked Spanish Ships after the Battle

The Battle of Manila Bay destroyed all major Spanish warships in the Far East. In an effort to enhance its defensive power and facilitate the survival of crewmen in a battle he despaired of winning, Spanish Admiral Montojo had moored his fleet in shallow water off the Cavite Arsenal. Early in the action, his flagship, the cruiser Reina Cristina, was reduced to a flaming wreck during a gallant sortie to challenge Dewey's squadron. Montojo's second-largest ship, the elderly cruiser Castilla, immobilized by bad engines and a leaky hull, burned and sank. The small cruisers Don Antonio de Ulloa, Don Juan de Austria, Velasco, Isla de Cuba, and Isla de Luzon were also lost, along with several gunboats and smaller vessels, either wrecked by American gunfire or scuttled by their own crews.

This page features views of most of the Spanish ships as they appeared following the battle. Other photographs of the wrecks appear on the Battle of Manila Bay Introductory Page, and on the page Cavite Arsenal After the Battle.

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 #: USN 902936

Battle of Manila Bay, 1 May 1898

Wreck of the Spanish cruiser Reina Cristina, photographed from off its starboard quarter, sometime after the battle.

Donation of Lt. C.J. Dutreaux, USNR(Ret), 1947.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 93,720 bytes; 740 x 635 pixels

 
Photo #: USN 902943

Battle of Manila Bay, 1 May 1898

Wreck of the Spanish cruiser Reina Cristina sometime after the battle, photographed from off its starboard side.

Donation of Lt. C.J. Dutreaux, USNR(Ret), 1947.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 62,312 bytes; 740 x 625 pixels

 
Photo #: USN 902937

Battle of Manila Bay, 1 May 1898

Wreck of the Spanish cruiser Reina Cristina, photographed from aft looking forward with four U.S. Navy sailors posing amidships, sometime after the battle. Note poop deck beams distorted by fire, with wooden decking burned off.
This image may be reversed. Other views of the wreck show the after smokestack leaning to port, not starboard.

Donation of Lt. C.J. Dutreaux, USNR(Ret), 1947.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 102,182 bytes; 740 x 560 pixels

 
Photo #: USN 902938

Battle of Manila Bay, 1 May 1898

View on board the wreck of the Spanish cruiser Castilla, sometime after the battle.

Donation of Lt. C.J. Dutreaux, USNR(Ret), 1947.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 70,138 bytes; 740 x 585 pixels

 
Photo #: USN 902939

Battle of Manila Bay, 1 May 1898

Wreck of the Spanish cruiser Don Antonio de Ulloa, photographed sometime after the battle.

Donation of Lt. C.J. Dutreaux, USNR(Ret), 1947.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 79,374 bytes; 740 x 630 pixels

 
Photo #: USN 902944

Battle of Manila Bay, 1 May 1898

Wreck of the Spanish cruiser Velasco, photographed sometime after the battle.

Donation of Lt. C.J. Dutreaux, USNR(Ret), 1947.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 79,339 bytes; 740 x 570 pixels

 
Photo #: USN 902945

Battle of Manila Bay, 1 May 1898

View on board the wreck of the Spanish cruiser Velasco. Photographed sometime after the battle, looking forward from the remains of the ship's poop deck.

Donation of Lt. C.J. Dutreaux, USNR(Ret), 1947.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 101,274 bytes; 740 x 660 pixels

 
Photo #: USN 902940

Battle of Manila Bay, 1 May 1898

Scuttled wreck of the Spanish cruiser Isla de Cuba, photographed sometime after the battle. This ship was later salvaged and became USS Isla de Cuba.

Donation of Lt. C.J. Dutreaux, USNR(Ret), 1947.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 90,969 bytes; 740 x 660 pixels

 
Photo #: USN 902941

Battle of Manila Bay, 1 May 1898

Wreck of the Spanish cruiser Isla de Luzon, photographed sometime after the battle. This ship was later salvaged and became USS Isla de Luzon.

Donation of Lt. C.J. Dutreaux, USNR(Ret), 1947.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 71,190 bytes; 740 x 620 pixels

 
Photo #: USN 902946

Battle of Manila Bay, 1 May 1898

Wreck of the Spanish armed transport Cebu, photographed sometime after the battle.

Donation of Lt. C.J. Dutreaux, USNR(Ret), 1947.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 67,630 bytes; 740 x 655 pixels

 

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27 March 1998