Third Battle of Manzanillo

Third Battle of Manzanillo
Part of the Spanish–American War
USS Hist
Date July 18, 1898 Location Manzanillo, Cuba Result United States victory Spanish squadron destroyed
Belligerents
Spain	United States
Commanders and leaders
Joaquín Gómez de Barreda	Chapman C. Todd Adolph Marix
Strength
4 gunboats 3 armed pontoons 3 steamers	2 gunboats, 3 auxiliary cruisers, 2 armed tugs
Casualties and losses
4 gunboats destroyed 3 pontoons destroyed 3 steamers destroyed 20 killed	one gunboat damaged 10 killed

United States victory

The Third Battle of Manzanillo was a battle fought in the harbor of Manzanillo, Cuba on July 18, 1898. A large squadron of the United States Navy consisting of gunboats and auxiliaries attacked and cleared the harbor of a comparable force of Spanish vessels in the third largest naval battle of the Spanish–American War.

Manzanillo had been a refuge for blockade runners and gunboats since the beginning of the war, and the United States navy had sent two reconnaissance expeditions to the harbor to determine its defenses. An expedition made up of the gunboat USS Hist, USS Hornet, and USS Wompatuck attempted to clear the harbor on June 30 and a second force made up of USS Osceola and USS Scorpion was sent and repulsed on July 1. Both attacks on the harbor were failed due to superior numbers of Spanish Naval forces. What few ships were sunk in these attacks were refloated and repaired leaving the largest remaining Spanish naval force in Cuba relatively intact. As a result of the failure of the two previous squadrons to eliminate the Spanish gunboats at Manzanillo, Commander Marix requested for armoured vessels to be sent in order to ensure the next assault would be successful. Although Marix had requested heavier units the Navy sent him the gunboats USS Wilmington and USS Helena. The American squadron now under command of C. C. Todd, captain of the Wilmington, set off on July 18 to clear Manzanillo harbor of Spanish presence once and for all. The harbor was defended by a fort and shore battery with ten guns.

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