Iquique Naval Combat

Iquique Naval Combat is a battle that took place 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.

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.

During May 1879, the main ships of the Chilean Navy were sent towards the peruvian port of Callao, in order to destroy its Navy. Meanwhile, two old, wooden corvettes -the s Esmeralda and the Covadonga, commanded by Arturo Prat and Carlos Condell respectively – were left blockading the Peruvian port of Iquique.

While the Chilean Navy was travelling towards Callao, two ironclad ships of the Peruvian Navy were travelling south from Callao. These ships were the armoured frigate Independencia and monitor Huáscar.

The Naval Combat of Iquique

During the morning of May 21, 1879, the watchtower of Esmeralda distinguished two ships in the north. These ships were the Peruvian Navy's Independencia and Huáscar.

Esmeralda and Covadonga tried to escape south, but only Covadonga managed to, because Esmeralda was experiencing problems with its engines.

By this time, the battle was inevitable: While Huáscar engaged Esmeralda, Independencia persued Covadonga south.

The ironclad Huáscar rammed the wooden Esmeralda many times, this is due the fact that it was designed to perform as a ram. The second of these attacks was answered with the boarding of the Peruvian ship by Esmeralda captain, Arturo Prat, and other two sailors. They were all killed by gunfire. The third collision was followed by a boarding of somewhat 11 sailors, who were killed too. After receving heavy fire and Huáscar collisions, The Esmeralda sank in Iquique Bay.

Meanwhile, Covadonga tried to escape from the Independencia.

The naval combat of Punta Gruesa

This is the second part of Iquique Naval Combat, altough is described many times as a combat independent from Iquique's.

The Covadonga crew realized that Independencia could not cross Punta Gruesa reef, although – in a smaller ship – they could. Even with a ship as small as Covadonga, it almost jammed whit the reefs. After it crossed them, always near the coast, the reefs blocked Independencia and it couldn't continue. Covadonga turned around and gun battered Independencia, until Huascar came to the rescue of its partner ship.

This way, one of the Peruvian strongest ships was lost, leaving only Huáscar to fight the Chilean Navy.

See also:

• Naval Battle of Angamos