01 happened May 1898: The Oceanic Naval Div. Is constituted

01/05/14

The Oceanic Naval Division was established under the command of Rear Admiral Camillo Candiani with an insignia on the armored cruiser Carlo Alberto.

In addition to the Carlo Alberto, flagship, the torpedo rams Giovanni Bausan, Umbria, Calabria (formerly in the Caribbean Sea), Etna (sailing for the American coasts of the Pacific) and shortly after also Piedmont and Dogali are destined to be part of the Division. : an important complex of forces to which the steamship Bisagno is attached for the logistic part.

Wanted by Minister Benedetto Brin to watch over national interests in America during the turbulent political situation on the island of Cuba (since the beginning of the XXIX century Cuba, like many other Spanish colonies, began to ask for independence from Spain), the hostilities between Spain and United States (accentuated after the sinking caused by an explosion aboard the USS Maine in the port of Havana due to accidental causes but which the United States interpreted as an act of sabotage), but also to resolve particular issues underway with some Central American republics that could give the opportunity to a naval demonstration or to a coercive action by the Royal Navy.

Source: Military Navy