Great War at Sea : Manila Bay, 1898. Campaign Study

Publisher: Avalanche Press
Series: Great War at Sea
Product Code: APL1898
Type: Campaign Study
Scale: Naval warfare
Period: Spanish-American War, 1898
Players: 2 players
Language: English

OVERVIEW

On 1 May 1898, the U.S. Navy's Asiatic Squadron, commanded by Commodore George Dewey, entered Manila Bay and destroyed Admiral Patricio Montojo's Spanish Pacific Squadron.

The American victory at Manila Bay became one of the most famous naval actions of the Spanish-American War and represented an important step in the emergence of the United States as a major world power.

Manila Bay 1898 is a Campaign Study for the Great War at Sea series focusing on the battle and the surrounding campaign. Rather than simply recreating the historical engagement, the study also examines several historical alternatives that could have dramatically changed the outcome in the Philippines.

THE HISTORICAL CHALLENGE

Dewey possessed a substantial advantage in fighting power when he confronted the Spanish squadron in Manila Bay. But the situation could have developed very differently.

The Campaign Study explores several alternatives, including:

• the possible arrival of the Spanish reinforcement squadron that had been dispatched toward the Philippines but never reached the theater;
• the possibility that these reinforcements could have arrived after Manila had already fallen;
• Montojo's abandoned plan to scatter his fleet throughout the Philippine archipelago instead of concentrating it for a direct confrontation with Dewey;
• alternative reinforcements and force structures for both sides.

This combination of historical reconstruction and alternative history gives Manila Bay 1898 its particular appeal: players can examine how a decisive American victory might have become a much more difficult campaign.

SCENARIOS

The Campaign Study contains 14 scenarios, covering both the historical events and a range of possible alternative outcomes.

The scenarios allow players to recreate the historical Battle of Manila Bay while also exploring how the balance of power might have changed had Spanish reinforcements arrived or had Montojo adopted a different naval strategy.

GAME SYSTEM

Manila Bay 1898 uses the Great War at Sea system developed by Avalanche Press.

The operational scenarios use:

• the Second World War at Sea: Java Sea map;
• naval counters from Great War at Sea: Remember the Maine – Second Edition.

It is therefore not a standalone game. Both source games are required to play the scenarios.

CONTENTS

1 Campaign Study dedicated to Manila Bay 1898

14 scenarios

• historical background and campaign analysis
• historical and alternative-history scenarios
• use of the Java Sea operational map
• use of the counters from Remember the Maine – 2nd Edition

REQUIRED GAMES

Great War at Sea: Manila Bay 1898 requires:

Second World War at Sea: Java Sea
→ for the operational map.

Great War at Sea: Remember the Maine – 2nd Edition
→ for the naval counters.

Both games are required to play the Manila Bay 1898 scenarios.

WHY PLAY MANILA BAY 1898?

Manila Bay 1898 is particularly suited to players who enjoy historical naval wargames, late-19th-century naval warfare and scenarios exploring how historical events might have unfolded differently.

It also provides an interesting addition to the Great War at Sea system by moving the focus to a conflict fought before the First World War and to one of the most important naval engagements of the period of rising American naval power.

An excellent addition for players interested in naval warfare, maritime history and military alternative history.