Battle of Riachuelo

Infobox Military Conflict


caption=The Battle of Riachuelo
partof=the War of the Triple Alliance
conflict=Battle of Riachuelo
date=June 11 1865
place=Riachuelo, on the Paraná River
result=Decisive Brazilian/allied victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=Pedro Inácio Meza
commander2=Francisco Manoel Barroso
strength1=9 ships, 7 barges, 67 cannons, 2 congreve batteries
strength2=9 ships, 58 cannons
casualties1= three steamers, 7 barges, Unknown personnel
casualties2=One steamer, 247 personnel

The naval Battle of Riachuelo was a key point in the War of the Triple Alliance. By late 1864, Paraguay had scored a series of victories in the war; on June 11, 1865, however, its naval defeat by Brazil began to turn the tide in favor of the allies.

The Paraguayan fleet was a fraction of the size of Brazil's, even before the battle. It arrived in Humaitá on the morning of June 9. Paraguayan president Francisco Solano López prepared to attack at Riachuelo the ships supporting allied land troops. Nine ships and seven cannon-carrying barges, totaling 45 guns, plus 22 guns and two Congreve rocket batteries from shore troops, attacked the Brazilian squadron, totaling 58 guns. Paraguay planned to attack in the early morning so that the element of surprise would make up for the differential in firepower. An engine problem caused a delay, however, and the fleet reached Riachuelo in daylight.

The Paraguayan commanders drew the Brazilian ships towards the edge of the river, where they could only poorly maneuver, leading the ships onto sandbars. But the initial Paraguayan success mirrored their early success on land; by 1 p.m. the superior Brazilian firepower and armor had won the battle. Three of the eight Paraguayan ships were sunk before the retreat.

The Paraguayan losses are not known. There were 247 Brazilian casualties (though some sources say the number may have reached 750). The Paraguayan attempt to control the Paraná River failed; the loss in Riachuelo was followed by losses on land, and by 1870 Paraguay had suffered a devastating total defeat.

Description of battle

The Paraguayans came down the river with nine steamers and seven "chatas" (barges or "flatties" in the original), while the Brazilians had only nine steamers. However, the "Rangel" was being towed and was unarmed, so the Paraguayans are normally credited with having only eight ships.

The Paraguayans passed in a line parallel to the Brazilian fleet and continued down the stream. One of the Paraguayan steamers was hit in the boiler and one of the "chatas" was damaged as well. Once out of range, they turned upstream and anchored the chatas, forming a line in a very narrow part of the river. This was intended to trap the Brazilian fleet.

Admiral Barroso noticed the Paraguayan tactic and turned down the stream to go after the Paraguayans. However, the Paraguayans started to fire from the shore into the lead ship, "Belmonte". The second ship in the line, "Jequitinhonha", inadvertently turned upstream and was followed by the whole fleet, thus leaving "Belmonte" alone to receive the full firepower of the Paraguayan fleet—it was soon put out of action. "Jequitinhonha" ran aground after the turn, becoming an easy prey for the Paraguayans.

Admiral Barroso, on board of the steamer "Amazonas", trying to avoid chaos and reorganize the Brazilian fleet, decided to lead the fleet down the stream again and fight the Paraguayans in order to prevent their escape, rather than save "Amazonas".

Four steamers ("Beberibe", "Iguatemi", "Mearim" and "Araguari") followed "Amazonas". The Paraguayan admiral (Meza) left his position and attacked the Brazilian line, sending three ships after "Araguari". "Parnaíba" remained near "Jequitinhonha" and was also attacked by three ships that were trying to board it. The Brazilian line was effectively cut in two. Inside "Parnaíba" a ferocious battle was taking place when the "Marquez de Olinda" joined the attackers.

Barroso, at this time heading upstream, decided to turn the tide of the battle with a desperate measure. The first ship that faced "Amazonas" was the "Jejuy" which was rammed and put out of action. Then he rammed "Marquez de Olinda" and "Salto", and sank a "chata". At this point "Paraguari" was already out of action. Therefore, the Paraguayans tried to disengage. "Beberibe" and "Araguari" pursued the Paraguayans, heavily damaging "Tacuary" and the "Pirabebé", but the nightfall prevented the sinking of these ships.

"Jequitinhonha" had to be put afire by "Paraguari" and "Marquez de Olinda". In the end, the Paraguayans lost four steamers and all of the "chatas", while the Brazilians only lost the "Jequitinhonha", coincidentally the ship responsible for the confusion. Later, the Paraguayans recovered one of their ships. Barroso had turned the tables by creatively ramming the enemy ships. The Brazilian navy won a decisive battle. General Robles was effectively stopped in Rio Santa Lúcia. The threat to Argentina was neutralized.

Forces involved

Brazil

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Unit! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Tonnage! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Horsepower! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Firepower! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
-----
Amazonas
1050
300
1 70lb and 5 68lb
Flagship - paddle steamer

-----
Belmonte
602
120
1 70lb, 3 68lb and 4 32lb


-----
Jequitinhonha
647
130
2 68 lb and 5 32lb


-----
Beberibe
637
130
1 68 lb and 6 32lb


-----
Parnaíba
602
120
1 70 Lb, 2 68 lb and 4 32lb


-----
Ipiranga
325
70
7 30 lb
|
-----
Araguari
415
80
2 68 lb and 2 32lb


-----
Iguatemi
406
80
3 68 lb and 2 32lb|

-----
Mearim
415
100
3 68 lb and 4 32lb

Paraguay

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Unit! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Tonnage! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Horsepower! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Firepower! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
-----
Tacuary
620
120
2 68 lb and 6 32lb


-----
Igurey
650
130
3 68 lb and 4 32lb


-----
Marquez de Olinda
300
80
4 18 lb
Captured from Brazil earlier in the war

-----
Salto Oriental
300
70
4 18 lb


-----
Paraguary
730
130
2 68 lb and 6 32lb


-----
Iporá
300
80
4 guns
Gun rates unavailable|
-----
Jejuy
200
60
2 18 lb


-----
Pirabebé
150
60
1 18 lb|

-----
Rangel


Unarmed
Towed

-----
2 "Chatas"
40

1 80lb gun each
Barges - Towed

-----
5 "Chatas"
35

1 68 lb each
Barges - Towed

-----
Shore troops


22 32lb and two congreve batteries
Shore troops

References

* cite web | title=Riachuelo | work=The South American Military History Webpage
url=http://www.geocities.com/ulysses_costa/riachuelo.html | accessmonthday=December 15 | accessyear=2005 - by Ulysses Narciso
*Fragoso, Augusto Tasso. "História da Guerra entre a Tríplice Aliança e o Paraguai, Vol II". Rio de Janeiro: Imprensa do Estado Maior do Exército, 1934.
*Schneider, L. "A guerra da tríplice Aliança, Tomo I". São Paulo: Edições Cultura, 1945.