Wikipedia

Asiatic Squadron

TheAsiatic Squadronwas asquadronofUnited States Navywarshipsstationed in East Asia during the latter half of the 19th century. It was created in 1868 when theEast India Squadronwas disbanded. Vessels of the squadron were primarily involved in matters relating to American commerce withChinaandJapan,though it participated in several conflicts over 34 years of service until becoming theAsiatic Fleetin 1902.

Asiatic Squadron
The Asiatic Squadron defeating the Spanish fleet in theBattle of Manila Bayon 1 May 1898.
Active1868–1902
AllegianceUnited States
BranchUnited States Navy
TypeNaval squadron

History

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Korean Expedition

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Main article:Korean Expedition
Officers and men ofUSSColoradoduring theKorean Expeditionin 1871.

In May 1871,Rear AdmiralJohn Rodgerswent to Korea, commanding an expedition of five Asiatic Squadron vessels, thescrew frigateUSSColorado,thescrewsloops-of-warUSSAlaskaandUSSBenicia,thesidewheelgunboatUSSMonocacy,and the screwtugUSSPalos.The objective of the operation was to ascertain the fate of the merchant shipSSGeneral Sherman,establish trade relations, and receive an assurance from theJoseongovernment that shipwrecked American sailors would be safely treated should they become stranded in Korea.

On 1 June 1871, while Rear Admiral Rodgers was negotiating inInchon,one of the Selee River forts opened fire onPalosas she traversed the Gangwha Straits. In thefollowing engagement,PalosandMonocacybombarded the fort until it was silenced and on 10 June 1871, the expeditionattackedin force. Five of the six hostile forts were captured and destroyed, over 200 Koreans were killed and dozens of cannons were captured. Although the Americans won a military victory, the Koreans refused to sign a trade treaty until 1882.

Spanish–American War

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Main article:Spanish–American War
USSOlympialeading a column of cruisers, painting by Francis Muller.

On 27 April 1898, the squadron, composed of theprotected cruisersUSSOlympia(theflagshipof the squadron's commander,CommodoreGeorge Dewey),USSBaltimore,USSRaleigh,andUSSBoston,the gunboatsUSSPetrelandUSSConcord,and theUnited States Revenue Cutter ServicecutterUSSMcCulloch,sailed fromMirs Bay,China, to thePhilippine Islandsto participate in theSpanish–American War.

In theBattle of Manila Bayon 1 May 1898, the squadron destroyed theSpanishfleet in the Philippines, and effectively took control ofManila Bay.Eight Spanish ships were sunk and over 150 killed while the Americans suffered only slight damage. Vessels of the squadron also fought the Spanish in thebattleto captureManila.Naval gunfire on the Spaniards' left flank helped American troops take the city without severe losses. The Philippines became an American possession.

USSCharlestontaking possession ofGuamin June 1898 during theSpanish–American War.

On 20 June 1898, the Asiatic Squadron protected cruiserUSSCharlestoncapturedGuamfrom the Spanish without resistance, beginning the American possession of the island.

Philippine–American War

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Main article:Philippine–American War

The Asiatic Squadron participated in thePhilippine–American Warfrom 1899 until its disbandment in 1902. American naval forces operated by sending landing parties ashore and by providing them with naval gunfire support. From 1899 to 1902, the squadron conducted several missions against the Filipinos.

Dewey's squadron engaged in naval operation against the Filipinos during and after the 1898 Battle of Manila against the Spanish. At the beginning of the Philippine–American War in February 1899, several American warships supported the occupation of the Philippine Islands. At the same time, themonitorUSSMonadnock,the protected cruisersCharleston,and the gunboatsConcord,USSCallao,andLaguna de Baybombarded Filipino positions during theBattle of Caloocan.Over 300 Filipinos were killed in action and three times as many wounded, with many of the casualties attributed to accurate naval gunfire. USSPetreland USSBostonshelledPanay Islandon 11 February 1899, and, on 22 February 1899, a landing party fromPetreloccupiedCebu.In October 1899,PetreljoinedCallaoin supporting American troops in theBattle of Noveletaby bombarding Filipino troop concentrations atNoveletabefore a shore party made its assault.

USSConcordoff San Francisco, in the 1890s.

Many of the captured Spanish gunboats used in the Philippine–American War were manned byUnited States Armytroops and operated together with United States Navy forces. In mid-April 1899,GeneralHenry Lawtonled an expedition of 1,500 men in severalcascoesand three gunboats to a place near Santa Cruz to find another former Spanish gunboat which was being used by the Filipinos; during the ensuingBattle of Santa Cruz,the American force captured sixsteamlaunchesalong with two cascoes, and later took the Filipino gunboat, which the Filipinos reportedly had disarmed so that they could use her guns on land, without a fight.

BaltimoreandPetrelserved at theBattle of Iloilo,in which about 1,000 Filipinos were defeated when the two warships bombarded the fort there and sentUnited States Marinesand sailors ashore. Only minor skirmishing occurred on land because the Filipinos retreated and burned the town as they left.

On 7 May 1899,Laguna de Bayand another gunboatbombardedSexmoanand routed the Filipinos there. Later that day, the gunboatsfoughtatGuagua,where they bombarded Filipino positions in the town and sent men ashore to fight on the ground. Again the Filipinos retreated and set several buildings on fire as they went.

In June 1899, American gunboats silenced anartillerypiece during theBattle of Zapote River,which ended with an American victory.

USSVicksburgin 1898.

In the summer of 1899, American gunboats started patrollingSubic Bay.During a routine patrol, thecollierUSSZafiroentered Subic Bay and came under fire from ashore batteryprotectingOlongapo.Zafirowithdrew toCaviteand reported the incident to headquarters. In response,Charlestonengaged the battery. On 23 September 1899,Charleston,Concord,the monitorUSSMonterey,andZafirosteamed into Subic Bay and destroyed the battery in theBattle of Olongapo.Then, acompanyof U.S. Marines and sailors landed and took control.

Charlestongrounded on an uncharted reef offCamiguin Islandon 2 November 1899. She sustained heavy damage, and her crew abandoned ship and escaped to the nearby island where they made camp.Charleston's launch was sent out for help and, after ten days of beingmarooned,the American sailors were rescued by the gunboatUSSHelena.

On 7 November 1899,HelenabombardedSan FabianinLingayen Gulfand covered the landing of 2,500 American troops there.

Asiatic Squadron gunboats took part in theBattle of Mabitacin June 1900, where they bombarded Filipino forces while U.S. Army troops attacked their fortifications. In a bloody frontal assault the American troops were repulsed and the Filipinos won the battle.

In November 1900, the Asiatic Squadronauxiliary cruiserUSSYosemitewas heavily damaged in atyphoonwhile inApra Harbor,Guam. Due to damage to her screw, her crew scuttled her. They were picked up later by the collierUSSJustin.

The gunboatUSSVicksburgassisted land forces in capturing the Filipino rebelEmilio Aguinaldoin March 1901 atPalawan Island.Later the gunboatUSSIsla de Luzonsupported the operation which led to the capture of the Filipino generalVicente LukbánonSamarin November 1901.

Boxer Rebellion

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USSMontereyserved inChinaduring theBoxer Rebellion.
Main article:China Relief Expedition

During theBoxer Rebellion,the Asiatic Squadron participated in theChina Relief Expeditionin 1900. At the time, Peking was home to many foreigners who were undersiegeby Boxer rebels. An international force including U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy sailors of the Asiatic Squadron slowlyfoughttheir way to take control ofTientsinaway from the Boxers in order to relieve theSiege of the International LegationsatPeking.

Asiatic Fleet

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Main article:United States Asiatic Fleet

In 1902, the Asiatic Squadron was upgraded in status, becoming theUnited States Asiatic Fleet.Except for a period from early 1907 until 28 January 1910 when it was downgraded to the status of First Squadron,United States Pacific Fleet,the Asiatic Fleet replaced the Asiatic Squadron in defending American interests in East Asia from 1902 until February 1942.

Commanders

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Illustration of RADM Joseph S. Skerrett fromThe San Francisco Call,2 January 1897
Admiral George Dewey, commander of the squadron at theBattle of Manila Bay,as he appears at theNational Portrait Galleryin Washington, D.C.

Successive Commanders-in-Chief of the Asiatic Squadron were as follows:[1]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^Tolley, Kemp,Yangtze Patrol: The U.S. Navy in China,Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1971,ISBN1-55750-883-6,pp. 317–318.
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