The Asiatic Squadron was a squadron of United States Navywarships 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 forty years of service until being merged into the the Asiatic Fleet in 1902.
In May of 1871, Rear AdmiralJohn 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 recieve an assurance from the Joseon government that shipwrecked American sailors would be safely treated should they become stranded in Korea.
Officers and men of USS Colorado during the Korean Expedition in 1871.
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.
The Asiatic squadron participated in the Philippine-American War from 1899 to it's 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 of 1899, several American warships were supporting the oocupation of the Philippines. Admirals Dewey's squadron engaged in naval operation against the Filipinos during and after the Battle of Manila while other vessels engaged in a campaign to take Caloocan. USS Monadock, USS Charleston USS Concord, and the former Spanish gunboatsUSS Callao and Laguna de Bay bombarded enemy position during the major Battle of Coolacan in February of 1899. Over 300 Filipnos were killed in battle and three times as many wounded, alot of the casualties were attributed to accurate naval gunfire. 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, GeneralHenry 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 ahore. Only minor skirmishing occured 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, Lawton's gunboats fought at the Battle of Zapote River which ended with an American victory. United States Navy gunboats engaged at the Battle of Mabitac River in June of 1900, American naval forces bombarded enemy positions while the United States Army attcked.
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.
Commanders
Successive Commanders-in-Chief of the Asiatic Fleet were as follows[1].
United States
United States Navy