Bombardment of Callao

"This article is for the Bombardment of Callao during the War of the Pacific, for the conflict during the Chincha Islands War see Battle of Callao."Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Bombardment of Callao


caption=
partof=War of the Pacific
date=April 10, 1880 through January 18 1881
place=the port of Callao
result=Chilean victory
combatant1=flag|Chile
combatant2=flag|Peru|1825
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=1 ironclad
2 torpedo boats
3 gunboats
1 transport
strength2=1 monitor
2 torpedo boats
1 armed tugboat
1 training ship
1 submarine
casualties1=1 torpedo boat
1 gunboat
1 transport
all lost
casualties2=1 monitor
2 torpedo boats
1 armed tugboat
1 training ship
1 Submarine
all lost

The blockade

Commencing on April 10 1880 the Chilean fleet began a light blockade of the Peruvian port of Callao. The Chilean fleet would slowly grow as additional ships became available from other regions of the campaign. Likewise, the Peruvian Navy would arm local vessels as equipment allowed.

Several times over the year that the blockade was affected the Chilean fleet would sortie and bombard the city. This was frequently in response to a Peruvian provocation, such as the repeated successful deployment of disguised floating bombs. After the successful attacks on the Lima suburbs of San Juan and Miraflores it became apparent that the city was going to fall to the advancing Chilean army. The last Peruvian ironclad, the monitor "Atahualpa", as well as Peru's first submarine, the "Toro Submarino" were scuttled to prevent capture on January 16 1881 and Callao surrendered two days later.

ee also

* War of the Pacific

References

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/catawaba.htm navsource.org: USS "Catawba"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/monitors/catawba.htm hazegray.org: USS "Catawba"]

External links

* [http://www.jacobsarts.com/%20KieferinPeru/WarofthePacific/warpacific.htm US Congressional Report]
* [http://boliviaweb.com/mar/sea/chapter3.htm War of the Pacific]