| Asiatic Squadron | |
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The Asiatic Squadron destroying the Spanish fleet off Manila in 1898. |
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| Active | 1868 - 1902 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Type | naval squadron |
The Asiatic Squadron was a squadron of United States Navy warships stationed in East Asia during the latter half of the 19th century, it was created in 1868 when the East India Squadron was disbanded. Vessels of this station were primarily involved in matters relating to American commerce with China and Japan though it participated in several conflicts over thirty years of service until being merged into the Asiatic Fleet in 1902.
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In May 1871, Rear Admiral John Rodgers went to Korea, commanding an expedition of five Asiatic Squadron vessels, USS Colorado, USS Monocacy, USS Benicia, USS Palos and USS Alaska. The objective of the operation was to ascertain the fate of the merchant ship SS General Sherman, establish trade relations and to receive an assurance from the Joseon government that shipwrecked American sailors would be safely treated should they become stranded in Korea.
On June 1, while Rear Admiral Rodgers was negotiating in Inchon, one of the Selee River forts opened fire on USS Palos as she traversed Gangwha Straits. In the following engagement, the Palos and USS Monocacy bombarded the fort until it was silenced and on June 10, the expedition attacked in force. Five of the six hostile forts were captured and destroyed, over 200 Koreans were killed and dozens of cannons were captured. Ultimately, the Americans won a military victory but the Koreans refused to sign a trading treaty until 1882.
On April 27, 1898, the squadron, composed of the flagship USS Olympia under George Dewey, USS Baltimore, USS Raleigh, USS Petrel, USS Concord, USS Boston, and USS McCulloch, sailed from Mirs Bay, China, to the Philippines to participate in the Spanish-American War. The squadron proceeded to destroy the Spanish fleet guarding the Philippines, and effectively took control of Manila 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 the battle to capture Manila. Naval gunfire on the Spaniard's left flank helped American troops take the city without severe losses. In May, USS Charleston captured Guam from the Spanish without resistance, beginning the American history of the island.
The Asiatic squadron participated in the Philippine-American War from 1899 to its disbandment. 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. At the beginning of the war in February 1899, several American warships were supporting the occupation of the Philippines. Admiral Dewey's squadron engaged in naval operation against the Filipinos during and after the Battle of Manila. At the same time, USS Monadock, USS Charleston, USS Concord, and the former Spanish gunboats USS Callao and Laguna de Bay bombarded enemy positions during the major Battle of Coolacan. Over 300 Filipinos were killed in action and three times as many wounded, a lot of the casualties were attributed to accurate naval gunfire. USS Petrel and USS Boston shelled Panay Island on February 11 and on the 22, a landing party from the Petrel occupied Cebu. In October, Petrel joined USS Callao in supporting the attack on Neveleta by bombarding enemy troop concentrations before the shore party made their assault.
Many of the captured Spanish gunboats used in the Filipino War were manned by United States Army troops and operated together with United States Navy forces. In mid April, General Henry Lawton led an expedition of 1,500 men in several cascoes and three gunboats to a place near Santa Cruz. During this operation six steam launches were captured along with two cascoes. The expedition had been sent to find another former Spanish gunboat which was being used by the Filipinos. It was later taken without a fight and reportedly disarmed by the insurgents who took her guns to use on land. USS Baltimore and USS Petrel served at the Battle of Iloilo, about 1,000 Filipinos, were defeated by the two warships when they bombarded the fort there and sent marines and sailors ashore. Only minor skirmishing occurred on land due to the Filipinos who retreated and burned the town as they left. On May 7, 1899, the gunboat Laguna de Bay and one other bombarded Sexmoan and routed the Filipinos. Later that day the gunboats fought at Gaugua where they bombarded insurgent positions within 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, American gunboats silenced a one gun artillery battery during the Battle of Zapote River which ended with an American victory.
In the summer of 1899, American gunboats started patrolling Subic Bay. During a routine patrol, the collier USS Zafiro entered Subic Bay and came under fire from a shore battery protecting Olongapo. The Zafiro withdrew to Cavite and reported the incident to headquarters. In response, the cruiser USS Charleston was then sent to engage the battery. On September 23, 1899, Charleston, Concord, the USS Monterey and the Zafiro sailed into Subic Bay and destroyed the battery. Then, a company of marines and sailors were landed and took control. USS Charleston grounded on an uncharted reef off Camiguin Island on November 2, 1899. Sustaining heavy damage her crew abandoned ship and escaped to the nearby island where they made camp. The Charleston's launch was sent out for help and after ten days of being marooned, the American sailors were rescued by USS Helena. On November 7, USS Helena bombarded San Fabian in Lingayen Gulf and covered the landing of 2,500 troops. United States Navy gunboats engaged at the Battle of Mabitac in June 1900, there they bombarded the enemy while the United States Army attacked their fortifications. In a bloody frontal assault the American troops were repulsed and the Filipinos won the battle. In November 1900, the auxiliary cruiser USS Yosemite was heavily damaged in a hurricane while in Apra Harbor, Guam. Due to damage to her screw, the Yosemite's crew scuttled her and were picked up by the collier USS Justin. USS Vicksburg assisted land forces in capturing the Filipino rebel Emilio Aguinaldo in March 1901, at Palawan Island and later the former Spanish cruiser Isla de Luzon supported the operation which led to the capture of General Vicente Lukban on Samar in November 1901.
The Asiatic Squadron also participated in the China Relief Expedition in 1900. An international legation including United States Marines and United States Navy sailors slowly fought their way to take control of Tientsin away from the Boxer rebels in order to relieve Peking. At the time, Peking was home to many foreigners who were under siege by Boxer rebels. The Asiatic Squadron subsequently became the Asiatic Fleet in 1902.
Successive Commanders-in-Chief of the Asiatic Fleet were as follows.[1]
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