Dates 10 Apr 1880 – 18 Jan 1881 Location Callao, Peru | Result Chilean victory | |
 | ||
1 torpedo boat
1 gunboat
1 transport
all lost 1 monitor
2 torpedo boats
1 armed tugboat
1 training ship
1 submarine
all lost Similar War of the Pacific, Battle of Pisagua, Battle of Chipana, Battle of Punta Gruesa, Battle of Portada de Guías | ||
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.
Contents
The blockade
Commencing on April 10, 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 provocation, such as the repeated successful deployment of disguised floating bombs.
The 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 January 16, 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 defenses and the remaining ships of the Peruvian Navy to prevent their capture by Chilean troops. This order was executed by the captains Germán Astete and Manuel Villavisencio during the dawn of January 17, 1881. Among the ships scuttled were the last Peruvian ironclad, the monitor Atahualpa, the training ship Apurímac, as well as Peru's first submarine, the Toro Submarino.
Ships scuttled
The Peruvian ships scuttled included:
Surrender
Callao surrendered on January 18, 1881, the day after the fleet was scuttled.