Battle of Iquique
Conflict: War of the Pacific
Date: May 21, 1879
Place: near Iquique, Peru (present day Chile)
Result: Indecisive
Combatants
Chile	Peru
Commanders
Arturo Prat †	Miguel Grau Seminario
Strength
1 Corvette 1 Schooner	1 Ironclad Frigate 1 Ironclad Monitor
Casualties
1 Corvette 144 casualties	1 Ironclad Frigate 34 casualties
Template:Campaignbox Pacific 1879 Naval Battle of Iquique File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The War of the Pacific was fought between Chile and the joint forces of Bolivia and Peru, from 1879 to 1884. ... May 21 is the 141st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (142nd in leap years). ... 1879 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Iquique is a city in northern Chile, capital of Tarapacá Region, on the Pacific coast, just west of the Atacama Desert. ... Arturo Prat Chacón (April 4, 1848, Hacienda de Puñual near Ninhue - May 21, 1879, Iquique) was a Chilean naval hero of the War of the Pacific. ... Miguel Grau Seminario Rear Admiral Miguel Grau Seminario (July 27, 1834 - October 8, 1879) was a renowned Peruvian naval officer and hero of the Naval Battle of Angamos during the War of the Pacific. ...

The Battle of Iquique took place on May 21, 1879 during the War of the Pacific between Chile and the joint forces of Bolivia and Peru. This is one of the battles of the Sea Campaign. May 21 is the 141st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (142nd in leap years). ... 1879 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The War of the Pacific was fought between Chile and the joint forces of Bolivia and Peru, from 1879 to 1884. ...

Context

During the first year of the war, Chilean war efforts were focused on destroying the Peruvian Navy. This, in order to clear the seas for the Chilean Navy, whose duty would be to help the army to conquer Bolivian and Peruvian territories with troop landings and port blockades. Military branches: Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru; includes Naval Air, Marines, and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru), National Police (includes General Police, Security Police, and Technical Police) Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 7... Chiles armed forces are subject to civilian control exercised by the president through the Minister of Defense. ... Army (from French armée) can, in some countries, refer to any armed force (for example, the Peoples Liberation Army of China consists of ground force, navy and air force branches). ... A blockade is an effort usually (but not always, see below) at sea, to prevent supplies from reaching the enemy. ...

During May 1879, the main ships of the Chilean Navy were sent towards the Peruvian port of Callao in order to destroy its navy, while two old, wooden ships -the corvette Esmeralda and the schooner Covadonga, commanded by Capt. Arturo Prat and Capt. Carlos Condell respectively - were left blockading the Peruvian port of Iquique. City motto: Chim Pum Callao Districts 6 Mayor Rogelio Canches Area 146. ... French steam corvette Dupleix (1856-1887) Canadian corvettes on antisubmarine convoy escort duty during World War II. A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, smaller than a frigate. ... Arturo Prat Chacón (April 4, 1848, Hacienda de Puñual near Ninhue - May 21, 1879, Iquique) was a Chilean naval hero of the War of the Pacific. ... Iquique is a city in northern Chile, capital of Tarapacá Region, on the Pacific coast, just west of the Atacama Desert. ...

However, as the Chilean Navy steamed north towards Callao, two ironclad ships of the Peruvian Navy steamed south from Callao, unseen. These ships were the monitor Huáscar and the armoured frigate Independencia, commanded by Admiral Miguel Grau and Capt. Juan Moore. Ironclad warships, frequently shortened to just ironclads, were ships sheathed with thick iron plates for protection. ... USS Monitor became the prototype of a form of ship built by several navies for coastal defence in the 1860s and 1870s and known as a monitor. ... Huáscar is a small Ericsson-class ironclad turret ship, similar to the monitor type. ... HMS Victory in 1884 In naval history, battleships were the most heavily armed and armored warships afloat. ... Independencia is a province of the Dominican Republic on the border with Haiti. ... Miguel Grau Seminario Rear Admiral Miguel Grau Seminario (July 27, 1834 - October 8, 1879) was a renowned Peruvian naval officer and hero of the Naval Battle of Angamos during the War of the Pacific (1879-1884). ...

The Battle of Iquique

On the morning of May 21, 1879, the watchtower of Esmeralda spotted two ships to the north. These were the Peruvian Independencia and Huáscar.

Some accounts attribute Chilean agents with spreading rumours among the Peruvian population of Iquique, of stationary torpedoes (tethered mines) being deployed aroung the Chilean ships. Outgunned, Capt. Prat may have wanted to take advantage of this by acting the part, staying close to the port itself and stationary. Having word of the rumours, Adm. Grau was faced with the difficult prospect of firing into the Chilean ships, possibly inflicting casualties and damage among Peruvian population and infrastructure right behind, or waiting while fired at by the Chileans. He decided to wait. A modern torpedo, historically called a self propelled torpedo, is a self-propelled guided projectile that (after being launched above or below the water surface) operates underwater and is designed to detonate on contact or in proximity to a target. ... Arturo Prat Chacón (April 4, 1848, Hacienda de Puñual near Ninhue - May 21, 1879, Iquique) was a Chilean naval hero of the War of the Pacific. ... Miguel Grau Seminario Rear Admiral Miguel Grau Seminario (July 27, 1834 - October 8, 1879) was a renowned Peruvian naval officer and hero of the Naval Battle of Angamos during the War of the Pacific (1879-1884). ...

The same accounts tell, however, that coastal guns at Iquique solved the standoff by firing on the Chilean vessels. Their bluff being called they tried to escape but, as Covadonga headed south, Esmeralda's engines experienced problems. By this time, the battle was inevitable: While Huáscar engaged Esmeralda, Independencia pursued Covadonga south.

It was now clear that no mines were in the water, so ironclad Huáscar maneuvered to ram wooden Esmeralda several times, its prow designed to perform as a ram. Esmeralda's captain saw this as an opportunity to board the Peruvian ship and overpower its crew in hand-to-hand combat -the plan not without merit as his ship was definitely no match for the monitor otherwise.

The opportunity came with the first hit, but the plan did not work. Capt. Prat's yell "Al abordaje muchachos!" ("To boarding, boys!") was answered by a single sailor; both were killed by gunfire on the enemy ship's deck. The second collision saw a better organized attempt with about 11 sailors led by 1st. Lt. Ignacio Serrano, which suffered a similar fate. Battered by heavy fire and Huáscar's ram, Esmeralda sank in Iquique Bay after the third collision. Arturo Prat Chacón (April 4, 1848, Hacienda de Puñual near Ninhue - May 21, 1879, Iquique) was a Chilean naval hero of the War of the Pacific. ...

135 Chilean sailors perished, and 62 were rescued on order of the Huáscar's captain; 1 Peruvian sailor was killed and 7 wounded.

Meanwhile, Covadonga tried to escape from Independencia.

The Battle of Punta Gruesa

This may be labelled as the second part of Battle of Iquique, although it is described in many sources as a separate battle.

Heading shouth, Capt. Condell of Covadonga realized that the quicker but heavier Independencia could not clear shallow water as well as his own schooner would. He kept close to the coast with Independencia in pursuit, while both ships traded fire.

Independencia's lack of trained gunners, and Covadonga's accurate sniper fire on gunners and helmsmen, prolonged the chase for over three hours wihtout resolution. Capt. Moore of Independencia decided to take a riskier approach and ram the Chilean ship. Constantly sounding for depth, this was attempted two times, only to call the attack off when approaching the shallows. Close to Punta Gruesa, Covadonga scraped, but barely cleared an underwater reef. Independencia, attempting to ram for a third time, struck the obstacle, immediately took water and settled listing to starboard. Covadonga then turned around and opened fire, while Independencia's crew tried to set her free. A reef surrounding an islet. ...

As Capt. Moore realized his ship was lost he ordered its destruction, but the magazine was already flooded and it could not be blown up; the ship was abandoned and guns thrown overboard. Covadonga kept firing, and took flight when Huáscar was seen coming from the north. Huáscar's commander checked on Independencia and decided to pursue after seeing she was immobilized, but this cost precious time and Covadonaga steamed south as fast as possible. Capt. Grau realized that Huáscar would not catch up on the 10 mile head start before dusk, gave up the chase and returned to assist Independencia; the crew (those aboard and on the beach) was rescued and the ship set on fire.

Peru took 26 casualties between dead and wounded; 3 Chilean crewmembers were killed and 6 wounded.

The twin battles of Iquique and Punta Gruesa were a Peruvian tactical victory: the blockade on Iquique was lifted and Chile left the area. However, this proved to be strategically costly: the biggest, fastest and one of the most powerful warships in the Peruvian Navy was lost, while Chile lost one of its oldest wooden ships.

This left Huáscar alone to fight the Chilean Navy. Huáscar is a small Ericsson-class ironclad turret ship, similar to the monitor type. ...

See also:

• Battle of Angamos