First, the Spanish viewed Philippines as kind of a backwater station, and so sent to that colony old and obsolete wooden ships and gunboats. To Cuba, the Spanish station its best ships there including the steel-clad protected cruiser San Cristobal. The U.S sent the Asiatic Squadron, commanded by George Dewey, to subdue Spanish ships. Dewey’s fleet simply outgunned and tore his way out of the wooden Spanish vessels. Campaign in Cuba needed U.S Navy operations and a land campaign by U.S Army and U.S Marines, and were successful in destroying the Spanish fleet there.