Naval campaign of the War of the Pacific

Naval campaign that took place from 1879 to 1884

Main article: War of the Pacific

Naval campaign of the War of the Pacific

Part of War of the Pacific

Capture of the ironclad Huáscar, oil painting by Thomas Somerscales.
| Date| 1879 – 1881

|

Location|

Coast of Chile, Bolivia and Peru; Pacific Ocean, South America

Result|

Chilean victory

* Chile obtains control of the sea.

Belligerents
Chile|  Peru
Commanders and leaders
Juan Williams
Galvarino Riveros
Juan José Latorre|  Miguel Grau †
José María García

* v
* t
* e

War of the Pacific

|  Naval campaign

* 1st Iquique
* Chipana
* Pisagua
* 1st Callao
* 2nd Iquique
* Punta Gruesa
* Huáscar
* 1st Antofagasta
* 3rd Iquique
* Rímac
* 2nd Antofagasta
* Punta Arenas
* Angamos
* Pilcomayo
* Arica
* Naval Battle
* Rupture
* 2nd Callao

Land campaigns

Loa Line and Altiplano campaign

* Calama
* Río Grande
* Quillagua
* Tambillo

Tarapacá campaign

* Pisagua
* Pampa Germania
* San Francisco
* Tarapacá

Tacna and Arica campaign

* Ilo and Pacocha
* Moquegua
* Mollendo
* Los Ángeles
* Locumba
* Buenavista
* Tacna
* Arica
* Palca
* Tarata

Lynch Expedition

Lima campaign

* Chilca
* Yerba Buena
* Bujama
* Humay
* El Manzano
* Rinconada de Ate
* San Juan and Chorrillos
* Miraflores
* Lima

* * *

Chilean occupation of Peru

* * *

Breña campaign

1881

* San Jerónimo
* Letelier Expedition
* Sángrar
* Verrugas
* 1st Purhuay
* Calientes
* 1st Pachía
* Cieneguilla
* Motupe
* Guadalupe

1882

* 1st La Oroya
* 1st Pucará
* Acuchimay
* Comas
* 1st Pazos
* 2nd Pazos
* Sierralumi
* Huaripampa
* Huancaní
* Caratupampa
* Llocllapampa
* Sicaya
* Chupaca
* Acostambo
* Ñahuimpuquio
* 2nd La Oroya
* 2nd Pucará
* La Concepción
* San Pablo
* Tarmatambo
* San Juan Cruz
* 1st Tambo de Mora
* 1st Sunampe
* 1st Chincha
* 2nd Tambo de Mora

1883

* Cañete
* 2nd Sunampe
* 2nd Chincha
* Larán
* Conta
* Ungatá
* Toprará
* 2nd Purhuay
* Huamantanga
* Pampa Blanca
* Crossing of the Andes
* Huamachuco
* Izcuchaca
* 2nd Pachía
* Coarí
* Mirave
* Arequipa
* Titicaca Lake

The Naval campaign of the War of the Pacific or Saltpeter war, was a naval campaign that took place from 1879 to 1884, involving Peru (as well as Bolivia), and Chile, undertaken in order to support land forces in the Atacama Desert. Although the conflict lasted until 1884, the primary naval engagements occurred in 1879 and 1880. Due to the rough terrain and few transport methods it was imperative to have control of the ports in order to have a good supply source in the region.[1] It resulted in a successful campaign by Chile, and the success of their land campaigns eventually led to a Chilean victory, which cut off Bolivia's access to the coast.

## Navies and ships involved

[edit]

In 1879 Bolivia did not possess any ships, but on March 26, 1879, Bolivian President Hilarion Daza Groselle formally offered letters of marque to any ships willing to go to combat for Bolivia.[2] Bolivia had not signed the Paris Declaration Respecting Maritime Law but the United States, Britain and France stood by the treaty and refused to accept the legality of Bolivia's act. Since Bolivia did not have any ports because Chile had occupied them, and because Peru discouraged the use of Letters of Marque, the naval conflict was left to be resolved between Chile and Peru.

The power of the Chilean navy was based on the twin central-battery ironclad frigates, Cochrane and Blanco Encalada. The rest of the fleet was formed by the corvettes O'Higgins, Chacabuco, Abtao, and Esmeralda, the gunboat Magallanes, and the schooner Covadonga.

The Peruvian navy based its power on the broadside ironclad frigate Independencia and the monitor Huáscar. The rest of the fleet was completed by the corvette Unión, the gunboat Pilcomayo, and the coastal monitors Atahualpa and Manco Cápac, purchased from the United States at the end of the Civil War. The coastal monitors cannot be classed among the seagoing ships of Perú as they were permanently stationed, one at Callao and the other at Arica.[3] Although both the Chilean and Peruvian ironclads seemed evenly matched, the Chilean ironclads had twice the armor and held a greater range and hitting power

Warships of Chile and Peru at the beginning of the War of the Pacific[4] Warship
| tons
(L.ton)  | Horse-
power | Speed
(Knots)  | Armour
(Inch)  | Main Artillery | Built
Year  | Warship
| tons
(L.ton)  | Horse-
power | Speed
(Knots)  | Armour  | Main Artillery | Built
Year

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Ironclad Capital ships
Cochrane | 3,560  | 2,000  | 9–12.8  | up to 9  | 6 × 9-inch guns

2 × 50-pound guns

1 × 20-pound gun

1 × 9-pound gun

1 × Nordenfelt gun

| 1874  | Huáscar | 1,130  | 1,200  | 10–11  | 4+1⁄2 | 2 × 300-pound guns

2 × 40-pound guns

| 1865
Blanco Encalada | 3,560  | 3,000  | 9–12.8  | up to 9  | 6 × 9-inch guns

2 × 50-pound guns

1 × 20-pound gun

1 9-pound gun

2 × Nordenfelt guns

| 1875  | Independencia | 2,004  | 1,500  | 12–13  | 4+1⁄2 | 2 × 150-pound guns

12 × 70-pound guns

4 × 32-pound guns

| 1865
Ironclad Coastal monitors
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Manco Cápac | 1,034  | 320  | 6  | 10  | 2 × 500 pound guns  | 1864
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Atahualpa | 1,034  | 320  | 6  | 10  | 2 × 500-pound guns  | 1864
Wooden ships
O'Higgins | 1,670  | 1,200  | 12  |  | 3 × 115-pound guns

2 × 70-pound guns

4 × 40-pound guns

| 1866  | Unión | 1.150  | 450  | 12–13  |  | 12 × 70-pound guns

1 × 12-pound gun

| 1864
Chacabuco | 1,670  | 1,200  | 8–10  |  | 3 × 115-pound guns

2 × 70-pound guns

4 × 40-pound guns

| 1866  | Pilcomayo | 600  | 180  | 10–11  |  | 2 × 70-pound guns

4 × 40-pound guns

4 × 12-pound guns

| 1874
Abtao | 1,05  | 300  | 6  |  | 3 × 150-pound guns

3–4 × 40-pound guns

| 1864  | Limeña  | 1,163  | 450  | 12  |  | 2 × 40-pound guns  | 1860
Magallanes | 950  | 1,200  | 11  |  | 1 × 115-pound gun

1 × 64-pound gun

2 × 20-pound guns

| 1872  | Oroya  | 1,159  | 400  | 12  |  | 2 × 40-pound guns  | 1873
Covadonga | 412  | 140  | 5  |  | 2 × 70-pound guns

2 × 9-pound guns

| 1858  | Chalaco  | 1,000  | 300  | 12–14  |  | 4 × 70-pound guns

2 × 12-pound guns

| 1893
Esmeralda | 850  | 200  | 3  |  | 12 × 40-pound guns  | 1854  | Talismán  | 310  | 90  | 10–11  |  |  | 1871
Amazonas | 1,970  | 2,400  | 11  |  | 1 × 6-inch gun  | 1874  | Mayro  | 671  | 250  | 5–6  |  | 2 × 12-pound guns  | 1861
Angamos | 1,180  | 480  | 14  |  | 1 × 8-inch gun  | 1875  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Toltén  | 240  | 240  | 270  |  |  | 1875  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Torpedo boats
Colo Colo | 30  | 60  | 12.5  |  | 2 × Hotchkiss guns

2 × 14-inch Spar torpedoes

| 1880  | Republica, Allay  |  | 100  | 16  |  | 2 × Spar torpedoes |
Tupacel | 30  | 60  | 12.5  |  | 2 × Hotchkiss guns

2 × 14-inch Spar torpedoes

| 1880  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

## Engagements

[edit]

### Blockade and battle of Iquique

[edit]

Main articles: Blockade of Iquique, Battle of Iquique, and Battle of Punta Gruesa

In one of the first naval tactical moves of the war, the Peruvian port of Iquique was blocked by of the Chilean Navy. In the Battle of Iquique, which took place on May 21 of 1879, the Huáscar sank the Chilean corvette Esmeralda. At around the same time, the Peruvian frigate Independencia chased the Chilean schooner Covadonga through shallow coastal zones until the heavier Independencia rammed against a rock and ran aground in Punta Gruesa. The strategic result of the naval battles of Iquique and Punta Gruesa were to lift of the blockade of the port of Iquique.

### Excursions of the Huáscar

[edit]

The outgunned Huáscar managed to avoid engagement with the superior battleships of the Chilean navy for six months. Among the actions of these "Excursions of the Huáscar" are the Battle of Antofagasta (May 26, 1879) and the Second Battle Antofagasta (August 28, 1879). The most successful of the excursions was the capture of the steamship Rímac on July 23, 1879. Not only was the ship captured, but the cavalry regiment Carabineros de Yungay which was on board was also captured, making this the largest loss of the Chilean army so far. This caused a crisis in the Chilean government[5]: 78  which in turn caused the resignation of Admiral Juan Williams Rebolledo commander of the Chilean fleet, who was replaced by Commodore Galvarino Riveros Cárdenas, who devised a plan to catch the Huáscar.

### Battle of Angamos and the Capture of the Huáscar

[edit]

Main article: Battle of Angamos

Due to their successes, the Huáscar, and her captain Miguel Grau Seminario, became the primary target for the Chilean navy. In September 1879, the decision was made to launch a land invasion of Peru with the intention of sectioning off Callao and Arica. The navy was split into two parts, under the control of Admiral Galvarino Riveros Cárdenas, and planned to blockade Callao and Arica. In order to be successful, Grau and the Huáscar needed to be eliminated. The battle took place on October 9, 1879, it involved the Chilean ironclads Cochrane and the Blanco Encalada , and the Peruvian ironclad Huáscar and wooden Unión. Admiral Grau believed he could evade the Cochrane due to his perceived speed advantage,[6] but he was unaware of the upgrades to the ironclad that elevated its speed to 12 knots, which equaled the Huáscar. After falling into the Chilean trap, the Huáscar had no choice but to engage the Cochrane.[7] At 9:25 AM, the Huáscar fired on the Cochrane, which prompted the ironclad to move close to the Huáscar. After getting closer to the Huáscar, the Cochrane opened fire, striking the Huáscar multiple times.[7] At 9:45 AM, one of the shots hit the conning tower of the Huáscar, which was occupied by Admiral Grau, killing him instantly.[6] By 10:10 AM, the Blanco Encalada arrived, and by 10:55 AM, the battle was essentially over. After failing to intentionally sink the ship, the remaining crew of the Huáscar were captured and the ship was added to the Chilean fleet. By eliminating the most formidable Peruvian ship and Admiral Grau, the Chilean gained control of the sea, which they would retain for the remainder of the conflict.[7] This was the last engagement at sea between the two navies. The Chilean navy began to focus on blockades, and used their weaponry to support land troops, and bombarded cities.[8]

### Blockade of Arica

[edit]

The blockade of Arica was conducted by the Chilean navy's ships Cochrane, Covadonga, and an unnamed armed transport, all three having arrived by December 7, 1879. The town of Arica was relatively well defended, with four batteries including one on a bluff, the other three built of sand and turf. Several foreign ships observed during the blockade, including corvettes from the US, France, and the UK. They also observed, on the 13th, an allied army of mixed armament, about 2,000 strong, augmenting the garrison to around 8,000. Many were native Amerindians from the mountains.

Arica was later taken by Chile in the Battle of Arica, on June 7, 1800, after the town had been weakened by the blockade, which prevented supply from the sea.

### Blockade of Callao

[edit]

Main article: Bombardment of Callao

Callao was the primary port in Peru, located only eight miles (13 kilometers) from the capital city, Lima. The blockade began on April 10, 1880, and would last until January 17, 1881. Lima was captured by Chilean land forces on December 17, 1880, and when the Peruvian navy got word of this, they scuttled all the ships that were still in Callao's port. The city would be taken a month after Lima on January 17, 1881, which led to the eventual Chilean victory.[9]

## See also

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Naval battles of the War of the Pacific.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ships of the War of the Pacific.

* Chilean torpedo boat Colo Colo

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Bruce W. Farcau, "The Ten Cents War", p. 65:

"As the earlier discussion of the geography of the Atacama region illustrates, control of the sea lanes along the coast would be absolutely vital to the success of a land campaign there"
2. ^ William F. Sater, "Andean Tragedy", pp. 102 and ff:

"… to anyone willing to sail under Bolivia's colors …"
3. ^ Thomas Wallace Knox "Decisive Battles Since Waterloo" p. 435
4. ^ William F. Sater, "Andean Tragedy", pp. 113–114.

"There are numerous differences of opinion as to the ships' speed and armament. Some of these differences can be attributed to the fact that the various sources may have been evaluating the ships at different times."
5. ^ B.W. Farcau, "The Ten Cents War"
6. ^ a b Mason, Theodorus B. M. (1885). The war on the Pacific coast of South America between Chile and the allied republics of Peru and Bolivia. 1879-'81. Govt. Print. Off. OCLC 3682289.
7. ^ a b c Little, I.C. (2012-02-14). "THE NAVAL CAMPAIGN IN THE WAR OF THE PACIFIC 1879-1884". Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies. 24 (1). doi:10.5787/24-1-282. ISSN 2224-0020.
8. ^ Worcester, Donald E. (January 1963). "Naval Strategy in the War of the Pacific". Journal of Inter-American Studies. 5 (1): 31–37\. doi:10.2307/165281. ISSN 0885-3118.
9. ^ Little, I.C. (2012-02-14). "THE NAVAL CAMPAIGN IN THE WAR OF THE PACIFIC 1879-1884". Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies. 24 (1). doi:10.5787/24-1-282. ISSN 2224-0020.

* v
* t
* e

War of the Pacific

Participants|

| Allied|

* Peru
* Bolivia

|

Chile|

* Chile

Timeline|

| preliminary|

* Atacama border dispute
* Boundary Treaty of 1866 between Chile and Bolivia
* Treaty of Defensive Alliance (Bolivia–Peru)
* Peruvian Saltpeter Monopoly
* Boundary Treaty of 1874 between Chile and Bolivia

|

1879|

Refugees

* Expulsion of Chileans from Bolivia and Peru in 1879

Naval Maneuvers
Naval campaign of the War of the Pacific

* Blockade of Iquique

Naval Battles

* Battle of Chipana
* Battle of Iquique
* Battle of Punta Gruesa
* Battle of Angamos

Amphibious

* Battle of Pisagua

Land Battles
Land campaign of the War of the Pacific

* Battle of Topater
* Tarapacá campaign
* Battle of Tarapacá
* Battle of San Francisco

1880|

* Tacna and Arica campaign
* Battle of Arica
* Bombardment of Callao
* Battle of Los Ángeles
* Battle of Tacna
* Order of Battle at Tacna

1881|

* Battle of San Juan and Chorrillos
* Chorrillos order of battle
* Battle of Miraflores
* Occupation of Lima
* Chilean occupation of Peru
* Boundary treaty of 1881 between Chile and Argentina
* Battle of Sangra

1882|

* Battle of La Concepción
* Battle of Pucará

1883|

* Battle of Huamachuco

Ending|

* Treaty of Ancón
* Treaty of Valparaíso
* Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1904 between Chile and Bolivia
* Treaty of Lima (1929)

Aspects|

| General|

* Torpedo boats in the War of the Pacific
* Toro Submarino
* Strategies of the War of the Pacific

|

Aftermath|

* Chilean–Peruvian maritime dispute
* Puna de Atacama dispute
* Consequences of the War of the Pacific
* Charaña agreement

Personnel|

| Peru|

* Miguel Grau Seminario
* Francisco Bolognesi
* Andrés Avelino Cáceres
* Mariano Ignacio Prado
* Alfonso Ugarte
* Mariano Bustamante
* Nicolás de Piérola
* Lizardo Montero Flores
* Melitón Carvajal
* Juan Buendía
* Juan Fanning
* Juan Guillermo More
* Miguel Iglesias
* Francisco García Calderón
* Leoncio Prado Gutiérrez
* Luis Germán Astete
* Emilio Cavenecia

|

Bolivia|

* Eduardo Abaroa
* Ladislao Cabrera
* Narciso Campero
* Hilarión Daza
* Mariano Baptista
* Pedro José Domingo de Guerra
* Ismael Montes

Chile|

* Irene Morales
* Juan de Dios Aldea
* José Luis Araneda Carrasco
* Luis Gómez Carreño
* Juan Bravo
* Manuel Baquedano
* Orozimbo Barbosa
* Marcos Segundo Maturana
* Manuel Bulnes Pinto
* Estanislao del Canto
* Ignacio Carrera Pinto
* Carlos Condell
* Luis Cruz Martínez
* Erasmo Escala
* Alejandro Gorostiaga
* Tomás Guevara
* Pedro Lagos
* Juan José Latorre
* Patricio Lynch
* Arturo Prat
* Pedro Julio Quintavalla
* Eleuterio Ramírez Molina
* Enrique Simpson
* Policarpo Toro
* Óscar Viel y Toro
* Cornelio Saavedra Rodríguez
* Roberto Silva Renard
* Robert Souper Howard
* Hernán Trizano
* Luis Uribe
* Gregorio Urrutia
* José Velásquez Bórquez
* Juan Williams Rebolledo
* Galvarino Riveros Cárdenas
* Jorge Montt Álvarez
* Domingo Santa María
* Aníbal Pinto
* Alberto Blest Gana
* Ramón Allende Padín
* Juana López
* Diego Dublé Almeyda
* Sofanor Parra

Others|

* Abel-Nicolas du Petit-Thouars
* Roque Sáenz Peña
* Otto von Moltke

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