Camara's Flying Relief Column
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During the Spanish-American war of 1898, Camara's Flying Relief Column was a naval task force of Spain's most powerful warships, under the command of Rear Admiral Manuel de la Camara, sent in an effort to defeat Commodore George Dewey and outflank the American Pacific Squadron, lead by USS Olympia after the disastrous Battle of Manila Bay in the Philippines. The column consisted of Spain's two most powerful vessels, the pre-dreadnought battleship Pelayo and the armoured cruiser Carlos V, along with numerous other modern cruisers and support vessels. The squadron was far more powerful than that commanded by Dewey.
Far from their objective in the Philippines, the vessels of Camara's Flying Relief Column were delayed (probably intentionally) by British diplomats while attempting to cross through the Suez Canal. By the time Camara's column managed to find its way through the Suez, it was recalled quickly to Spain, after the destruction of Admiral Pascual Cervera's Atlantic Squadron at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.
References
- Nofi, A. "The Spanish American War, 1898"
- The Spanish-American War Centennial Website - http://www.spanamwar.com