The Spanish Navy in 1898 - Armada Options

A quick run-down of the state of the Spanish Navy (yes, it's still called the Armada) at the outset of the Spanish-American War.

[Drachinifel]

Pinned post for Q&A :) (Also, I hope I came within shouting distance of saying the Spanish names correctly)

[stanfrymann]

I remember reading that at the Battle of Manilla Bay the US sailors were cheering as the Spanish fleet was being destroyed. Dewey said something like, "Don't cheer. Those men are dying."

[daveharrison]

I actually saw the Spanish submarine last year. Quite an incredible bit of kit considering it was designed and built in 1888. Isaac Peral was something of a visionary.

[chiquitokaiba]

Hi form Spain. Here in Spain we have the expression more was lost in Cuba. The fact is that many spaniards believe it was a war between woodden ships and modern battleships. A relieve attempt was sent to the philippines, but this was not allowed to pass through the Suez Canal

[andresmartinezramos]

By the way, to this day the Spanish Navy is still called la Armada and so are the other Spanish-speaking navies of the world.


Which I'm not too sure but it probably roots it's name to the difference between "Marina Mercante" Merchant Navy (Merchant Marine in the US) and "Marina Armada" Armed Navy.


Cheers from Spain!

[richmcgee]

"USS Iowa...no, not that one." Ye gods, the war was enough of a mismatch already, anachronistic WW2 battleships would have just been mean.

[davidpastor]

"Beaten with sticks until it stopped twitching"!! Classic

[mikeggg]

An amazing video - one cannot help but marvel at the bravery and audacity of the Spanish, charging the American fleet, knowing that death was coming.
I remember when Iowa, I think, sank a Spanish cruiser, and the American crew began to cheer, the her Captain silenced them with a roar "Don't cheer men, those are brave men dying over there!"

This was a different era of warfare, altogether. Iron ships, and iron men, and honor over all.

[davehanson]

Another superb historical video. One surprise: Drach's comment about the U.S. battleships not being capable of rounding South America. U.S.S. Oregon famously did exactly that in March--May 1898. The Indiana-class Oregon was built in California and based there from her 1896 commission onward. In preparation for hostilities the Navy Department called her to the Atlantic Fleet. Oregon steamed steadily from San Francisco to the East Coast: 14, 000 miles in 66 days. [This "fast" trip was later used as justification for undertaking to dig the Big Ditch across the Panama Isthmus.] Oregon participated at Santiago and contributed materially to the U.S. Navy victory.
Notably, the Spanish admiral commanding in Manila heard that Oregon had left California. He feared that she was coming to join Admiral Dewey in China, whose then-assigned four ships already outweighed his own squadron. [The ship that did augment the Asiatic Squadron turned out to be the protected cruiser U.S.S. Baltimore--another 8"-gunned protected cruiser that plainly outclassed the Spanish ships.]
Pelayo and cruisers were sent to Manila. They got as far as the Red Sea when they were recalled [on what may have been a planted story that the U.S. Navy was going to raid Spanish home waters]. The Navy Department was properly concerned for security of the East Coast [far closer to Spain than to the Philippines] so Oregon's orders to the Atlantic made good sense. But she easily could have been sent instead to join Dewey--and surely would have made short work of Pelayo.

After the war concluded Oregon returned to the West Coast [via Cape Horn, of course]. She conducted multiple operations across the Pacific Ocean during a long and useful life that included WW2 logistical service as an ammunition transport hulk participating in the 1944 invasion of Guam.

[kromozoma]

Nice work with the spanish spelling. As both cuban and spaniard, I have to say that I hardly can imagine the what if scenario of prioritizing The Phillipines over Cuba. The political, social ties were a lot stronger with Cuba. Is also worth of mention the ongoing conflict in the island long before the American intervention. Excellent video!

[iowanimperium]

I would like to see the Spanish navy fight Senator Tillman and his battleships.

[richardtaylor]

3:53 - Kamchatka: Did someone say Torpedo Boats?!

[powellmountainmike]

Interesting video. In high school I did my senior year independent study paper on Naval Campaigns Of The Spanish - American War. I did a lot of research using primary sources for the time including newspapers both American and European. At the outbreak of war, the outcome was still considered very much in the air in Europe. The Spanish ships had Krupp guns and armor, and the general opinion was that was superior to what was being produced in the U.S. Of course, hindsight is 20 / 20, but at the time things were not as clear. The American view was, from the start, that we would win; although, perhaps, not in as one sided a thrashing as took place.

[danjohnston]

Good job as usual Drach. I really like the "Big Picture" and "What If" aspect of this one.
May you always have Fair Winds and Following Seas

[Aelvir]

I got confused when you mentioned the submarine Holland. Thought you were talking about the HMS Holland 1, but found out that USS Holland was named after John Philip Holland, who apparently was an Irish engineer who developed the first submarine formally commissioned into the US Navy, AND the first Royal Navy submarine, HMS Holland 1.

[MigueQuinta]

Excellent account of the relative naval strengths of Spain and the US before the Spanish-American War. But, politically, it was unthinkable for the Spanish goverment of the time to abandon Cuba and put a strong fight for the Philippines. For the Spanish people Cuba was not a colony, but an integral part of Spain, just as Cádiz or the Canary Islands. However, the Philippines did were considered a colony.

[miguelmontenegro]

4:55 The Riachuelo would be a great ship to talk about. It was from far out most advanced (at each time period ofc) vessel ever.

[davidwright]

USS Maine would have been a better ship if they had remembered to put up no smoking signs in the magazine...

[kreolqq]

Thing was, Cuba was vastly more important to the Spanish than the Phillipenes. It was considered almost a part of Spain in some respects, and just abandoning it wasn't politically possible.

[carlosbah]

18:10 That's exactly what happened, very few historians recognize that even today. In some Spanish military groups it's thought as a betrayal from the Spanish politician's.