Blockade of Callao

The Blockade of Callao was a military operation that occurred during the War of the Pacific or the Salitre War and that consisted of the Chilean squadron preventing the entry of ships to the port of Callao and the neighboring coves between 10 April 1880 and 17 January 1881.

Blockade of Callao
Part of the War of the Pacific

An image published on 30 January 1881 by La Ilustración Española y Americana shows Civilians leaving the port before the shelling. Several US flags have been raised to mark neutral soil.
Date10 April 1880-18 January 1881
Location
Port of Callao
12°3′S 77°8′W
Result Chilean victory
Belligerents
 Chile  Peru
Commanders and leaders
Chile Manuel Baquedano Peru Germán Astete
Strength
1 ironclad
2 torpedo boats
3 gunboats
1 transport
1 monitor
2 torpedo boats
1 armed tugboat
1 training ship
1 submarine
Casualties and losses
1 torpedo boat
1 gunboat
1 transport
1 monitor
2 torpedo boats
1 armed tugboat
1 training ship
1 submarine
Blockade of Callao is located in Lima
Blockade of Callao
Location within Lima
Blockade of Callao is located in Peru
Blockade of Callao
Blockade of Callao (Peru)
Blockade of Callao is located in South America
Blockade of Callao
Blockade of Callao (South America)

Blockade

Commencing on 10 April 1880, the Chilean Navy 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 effected, the Chilean fleet would sortie and bombard the city. This was frequently in response to a Peruvian attack, such as the repeated successful deployment of disguised floating bombs.

Scuttling of the Peruvian fleet

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. During the night of 16 January 1881, after the defeat of the Peruvian Army in the battles of San Juan and Miraflores, the Secretary of the Navy, Captain Manuel Villar, ordered the destruction of port defences and the remaining ships of the Peruvian Navy[1] to prevent their capture by Chilean troops. This order was executed by the captains Germán Astete and Manuel Villavisencio during the dawn of 17 January 1881. Among the ships scuttled were the last Peruvian ironclad, the monitor Atahualpa, the corvette Unión, the training ship Apurímac, as well as Peru's first submarine, Toro Submarino.

Ships scuttled

The Peruvian ships scuttled by its crew before they could being captured, included:

NameTypeFate
Apurímacpontoon (ex-frigate)
AtahualpamonitorSalvaged 1881
Chalacosteamship transport
Limeñasteamship transport
Loatraining ship
Oroyasteamship transport
Repúblicatorpedo boat
Rímacsteamship transportSalvaged June 1881
Talismánsteamship transport
Toro Submarinosubmarine
Unióncorvette

Surrender

Callao surrendered on 18 January 1881, the day after the fleet was scuttled.

References

  1. Yábar 2001


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