On July 3, 1898, the United States Navy delivered a decisive blow to the Spanish fleet in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba, one of the most significant naval engagements of the Spanish–American War. The Spanish squadron, trapped in the harbor, was subjected to heavy fire as it attempted to break out, resulting in the destruction or sinking of nearly all Spanish ships while American losses were minimal.
The victory at Santiago paved the way for Spain’s ultimate defeat and marked the end of its colonial empire in the Americas, while establishing the United States as a major naval power on the world stage.