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Battle of Manila Bay 1898 (Battle report)

📅 On May 1st, 1898, the Battle of Manila Bay unfolded between the American and Spanish fleets — a clash that decided the fate of the Spanish colonial empire in the Philippines and significantly influenced the outcome of the war. ⚓🔥

Although the forces were uneven, the battle itself makes for a perfect asymmetric scenario, with both sides having different objectives and coastal artillery playing a key role. To mark the anniversary, we decided to recreate the engagement using the rules of Gods of War: Togo and ships produced by GM Boardgames.
Will the Spanish David challenge the American Goliath? 🚢⚔️

⚓ American Squadron 🇺🇸

Commander: Commodore George Dewey

  • USS Olympia (flagship)
  • USS Baltimore
  • USS Raleigh (Cincinnati-class)
  • USS Boston (Atlanta-class)
  • USS Concord (Yorktown-class)
  • USS Petrel

⚓ Spanish Squadron 🇪🇸

Commander: Rear Admiral Patricio Montojo

  • Reina Cristina (Alfonso XII-class)(flagship)
  • Castilla (Castilla-class)
  • Isla de Luzon
  • Isla de Cuba (Isla de Luzon-class)
  • Don Juan de Austria (Infanta Isabel-class)
  • Don Antonio De Ulloa (Infanta Isabel-class)
  • Marques del Duero (Fernando el Catolico-class)
  • Torpedo steam pinnaces (on a single base)

Support:

  • Fort Cavite (old guns)
  • Sangley Point Battery

Montojo decided to face the American fleet defensively, setting his forces in Canacao Bay and hoping for support from nearby forts. However, Manila’s guns lacked the necessary range and played no role in the battle. Furthermore, several Spanish ships were immobilised due to repairs or engine failures.

Commodore Dewey had to make a crucial decision — whether to risk a decisive battle or proceed cautiously. Ultimately, he chose to enter Manila Bay and, on the morning of May 1st, 1898, gave battle to the Spanish.

Historically, the fight ended after several hours. At one point, there was even a pause due to a false report about ammunition issues — the American crews used this moment… to have breakfast! After resuming the battle, the Americans completely destroyed the Spanish squadron, with all Spanish ships either sunk or stranded in shallow waters.
This was the first major American victory of the war and sealed the fate of the Philippines, ending Spain’s colonial rule in the region. 🇺🇸🏆

Will our players repeat history?
Will the Americans crush the Spanish forces once again, or will a miracle occur in Manila Bay and Spain successfully defend itself?

📖 We invite you to read our battle report!

Historical map of the Battle of Manila
(source: Wikipedia)
Our admirals are ready for battle!
View of the battle area from the Spanish side — Fort Cavite visible on the right.
View of the battle area from the Spanish side — Fort Cavite visible on the right.
In the first turn, the first American ships arrive — the flagship USS Olympia and USS Petrel.
In the first turn, the first American ships arrive — the flagship USS Olympia and USS Petrel.
Spanish squadron — at the front, two ships of the Isla de Luzon type, followed by two of the Infanta Isabel type (a modified Velasco-class), Marques del Duero, Castilla (immobilised), and Reina Cristina
Cavite Fort.
Spanish squadron — at the front, two ships of the Isla de Luzon type, followed by two of the Infanta Isabel type (a modified Velasco-class), Marques del Duero, Castilla (immobilised), and Reina Cristina
It is worth noting that Don Antonio de Ulloa (yellow sign) and Castilla, positioned in the middle, were immobilised. They were placed to make the best use of their broadside artillery.
USS Olympia and USS Petrel begin the battle!
USS Olympia and USS Petrel begin the battle!
USS Olympia and USS Petrel begin the battle!
View of the entire battle area at the end of Turn 1.
It is clearly visible that the American squadron is heading further south to stay as much as possible out of range of the Sangley Point battery.
Second turn.
USS Concord (on the right) and USS Boston have entered the battle area.
View of Fort Cavite.
Will it play a role in this battle?
The lead ships of the Spanish formation — Isla de Luzon class.
At first, the Spanish player kept them anchored, then ordered them to slowly move forward to stay as close as possible to Fort Cavite.
Spanish squadron.
Sangley Point Battery.
Will its guns help the Spanish?
A third turn.
The remaining American ships have entered the battle area — the US Navy squadron was now complete.
They were clearly heading south, closer to Fort Cavite, while staying away from the Sangley Point battery.
In the foreground, USS Raleigh; a bit more towards the centre, USS Baltimore.
Flagship of the Spanish squadron — Reina Cristina.
The immobilised Castilla and Don Antonio de Ulloa, with the small Marques del Duero between them.
Cavite fort.
General situation at the end of Turn 3.
The Spanish are clearly waiting to see what the Americans will do, while the American squadron is heading further south.
Turn Four.
Significant speed differences between the American ships and the short distances created a dangerous situation within the American squadron.
Will there be a collision?
Luckily, USS Petrel passed USS Baltimore by a hair’s breadth.
USS Olympia advanced boldly ahead, as if Commodore Dewey (played by Krystian and Łukasz) wanted to decide the entire battle with her alone.
Given her potential, that was not entirely impossible…
The first exchange of fire between Don Juan de Austria and USS Olympia.
At first inaccurate, but soon hits will start landing…
The first exchange of fire between Don Juan de Austria and USS Olympia.
At first inaccurate, but soon hits will start landing…
Turn 6 (we skipped photos on turn 5).
The American squadron in all its glory.
In the foreground, USS Olympia and USS Baltimore — the strongest ships in the squadron.
On the right, USS Concord, followed by Petrel, Boston, and Raleigh.
Another exchange of fire by USS Olympia, this time with the Isla de Luzon-class cruisers.
The template is used to check the field of fire.
Under fire from USS Olympia.
General view at the end of Turn 6. ⚓
USS Olympia, leading the American squadron, took on the initial burden of the fight. Nearby, USS Baltimore had also begun firing.
Boston and Raleigh were clearly moving more towards the centre of the battle area. The Spanish squadron had split into three groups:
Two Isla de Luzon-class ships and Don Juan de Austria were slowly moving south near Fort Cavite . The immobilised Castilla, Don Antonio De Ulloa, and Marques del Duero remained in the middle. Reina Cristina headed north, towards the Sangley Point battery
Turn 7.
USS Boston, which had advanced forward, began taking hits from Reina Cristina.
Nevertheless, she returned fire, but the first fires broke out on board.
Reina Cristina engaging USS Boston.
USS Baltimore opened fire with her forward 203 mm (8-inch) guns at the leading Spanish Isla de Luzon-class ship.
A direct hit struck the ammunition chambers, sending the Spanish vessel to the bottom.
This ship had already been damaged earlier by USS Olympia’s fire.
Now, the American cruiser shifted her fire to new targets.
But USS Olympia herself also came under fire from Spanish ships.
One of the hits reached the ammunition magazines, causing a small explosion and a fire (most likely in the magazines for the light-calibre guns).
For a moment, before the dice roll result was revealed, everyone waited in great suspense, wondering if the American flagship might blow up…
Don Juan de Austria under fire from USS Olympia.
Turn 8.
The start of this turn was extremely dramatic.
In the previous turn, Spanish torpedo boats (pinnaces) appeared on the battlefield. USS Olympia was bow-on to them and couldn’t fire effectively, nor could USS Baltimore.
At the start of Turn 8, the torpedo boats closed in on Olympia and… scored a hit with a torpedo! The explosion wasn’t massive, but:
➡️ It damaged the rudder — Olympia was forced to turn to port (left).
➡️ Water started flooding the hull, though the dangerous leaks were eventually sealed.
Spanish torpedo boats (unfortunately represented here by proxy models), along with two Isla de Luzon-class ships and an Infanta Isabel-class ship.
With USS Olympia damaged, the main burden of the fighting on the southern side of the battle area was taken over by USS Baltimore.
Meanwhile, in the centre of the American formation, USS Boston was struggling with increasing damage from Reina Cristina’s fire, as well as from two immobilised Spanish cruisers. Fires were raging more and more fiercely on board…
Fortunately, USS Petrel and USS Raleigh (in the background) were coming to her aid.
Marques del Duero carried out a heroic and almost suicidal „charge” against the American ships .However, fire from USS Petrel, USS Raleigh, and USS Baltimore sent her to the bottom… A brave, old ship had sailed her final voyage.
The situation at the end of Turn 8, just before the sinking of Marques del Duero. Although USS Olympia was heavily damaged, she still fired at the Spanish with her operational guns. USS Baltimore had also fully joined the fight.
The fire from Fort Cavite proved to be largely ineffective — the old guns couldn’t do much. Meanwhile, the situation for USS Boston was critical, as she was under heavy fire. However, Reina Cristina was also badly damaged, both by Boston and USS Raleigh. The outcome of the battle seemed all but decided.
Turn 9.
The burning and damaged USS Boston went to the bottom.
The battle continued for two more turns — 9 and 10.
USS Olympia and USS Baltimore finished off and sank the second Isla de Luzon-class ship and Don Juan de Austria. Afterwards, USS Baltimore, supported by USS Raleigh, USS Petrel, and USS Concord, destroyed two immobilised Spanish ships — easy targets at that point. Finally, Reina Cristina, already heavily damaged by USS Boston and finished off by salvos from USS Raleigh, also sank to the bottom. By the end of the battle, no Spanish ships remained afloat… only wrecks marked the site of the fierce clash.
The Americans lost USS Boston, and USS Olympia was heavily damaged.
The Spanish lost all of their ships — none survived the battle.

The battle has come to an end — it ended in an American victory, although it was slightly smaller than in history 🇺🇸⚓.
The brave Spanish defenders put up a very good fight 🇪🇸🛡️.

Fort Cavite and the Sangley Point battery did not play a major role — either the American ships stayed too far away (good tactics), or the forts’ fire was too weak and inaccurate 🏰🔫.
Key moments included the ammunition magazine hit on USS Olympia and later a torpedo strike 🚢💥.
Even so, had Olympia been lost, the rest of the squadron was strong enough to secure victory ⚔️.

Most importantly, the battle was a lot of fun for everyone involved! 😄🎲

📢 Huge thanks to Łukasz, Krystian, and Mikołaj for the game, and to Bolter.pl for hosting us and providing a great gaming space 🫱⚓🫲.

In the future, we plan to play a second version of this battle, where:
➡️ The Americans will defend (with reinforcements) 🇺🇸🛡️
➡️ They will face an attack by Admiral Camara’s squadron (Pelayo, Emperador Carlos V, Rapido, etc.) 🇪🇸⚓

We will definitely write a battle report for that one as well! 📝🎮

Of course, the game was played using the Gods of War: Togo rules.

Become the most famous commander in history!