Battle of Punta Gruesa

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Punta Gruesa
partof=the War of the Pacific


caption=Naval Combat of Iquique - The sinking of the Esmeralda
date=May 21, 1879
place=near Iquique, Peru (present day Chile)
result= Decisive Chilean Victory
combatant1=flag|Chile
combatant2=flag|Peru|1825
commander1=flagicon|Chile Carlos Condell
commander2=flagicon|Peru|1825 Juan Guillermo More
strength1=1 schooner
strength2=1 armoured frigate
casualties1=4 dead
3 wounded
casualties2=18 dead
5 wounded
1 armoured frigate lost

The Naval Battle of Punta Gruesa took place on May 21, 1879 during the War of the Pacific between Chile and Peru. This may be labelled as the second part of the Naval Battle of Iquique, although it is described in many sources as a separate battle.

Context

During the first year of the war, Chilean war efforts were focused on destroying the Peruvian Navy. This was in order to enable the Chilean Navy to help the army to conquer Bolivian and Peruvian territories with troop landings and port blockades without interference.

During May 1879, the main ships of the Chilean Navy were sent towards the Peruvian port of Callao in order to destroy its navy, while two old, wooden ships -the corvette "Esmeralda" and the "schooner Covadonga," commanded by Captain Arturo Prat and Captain Carlos Condell respectively - were left blockading the Peruvian port of Iquique.

However, as the Chilean Navy steamed north towards Callao, two ironclad ships of the Peruvian Navy steamed south from Callao, undetected. These ships were the monitor "Huáscar" and the armoured frigate "Independencia," commanded by Captain Miguel Grau and Captain Juan Guillermo More.

The battle

On the morning of May 21, 1879, the lookout of "Esmeralda" spotted two ships coming from the north. These were the Peruvian "Independencia" and "Huáscar". Attempting to escape the "Covadonga" headed south, but "Esmeralda" experienced engine problems. By this time, the battle was inevitable: while "Huáscar" engaged "Esmeralda", "Independencia" pursued "Covadonga" south.

Captain Condell of the "Covadonga" realized that the quicker but heavier "Independencia" had a deeper draft than his schooner. He kept close to the coast, with "Independencia" in pursuit, while both ships exchanged fire. The "Independencia's" lack of trained gunners and the "Covadonga's" accurate sniper fire prolonged the chase for over three hours. Captain More of the "Independencia" decided to take a riskier approach and ram the Chilean ship. Constantly sounding the depth, he attempted to do so twice, only to have to call off the attack when approaching the shallows. Close to Punta Gruesa, a shallow cove, "Covadonga" scraped and barely cleared a reef. The "Independencia", attempting to ram for a third time, struck the obstacle and immediately took on water while listing to starboard. The "Covadonga" then turned around and opened fire, while "Independencia's" returned fire ref|Farcau_p74 and tried to float her.

As Captain More realized his ship was lost, he ordered her scuttled, but the magazine was already flooded and it could not be blown up. The "Covadonga" kept firing, but retreated when "Huáscar" was seen coming from the north. "Huáscar's" commander checked on "Independencia" and decided to pursue the enemy after seeing she was immobilized, but this cost precious time and "Covadonga" steamed south as fast as possible. Captain Grau realized that "Huáscar" could not catch up on the 10 mile head start before dusk, gave up the chase and returned to assist "Independencia" and salvage her guns; the crew (those aboard and on the beach) were rescued and the ship set on fire.

The Peruvians lost 18 crew with 5 wounded; 4 Chilean crewmen were killed and 3 woundedref|Sondhaus_p159.

Aftermath

The naval battle of Punta Gruesa was a Peruvian defeat; One of the most powerful warships in the Peruvian Navy was lost, while Chile only lost one of its oldest wooden warships. This left the "Huáscar" alone to fight the entire Chilean Navy.

References

# Farcau, Bruce W. (Sep 30, 2000). "The Ten Cents War: Chile, Peru, and Bolivia in the War of the Pacific, 1879-1884", ISBN 0-275-96925-8
# Sondhaus, Lawrence (May 4, 2004). "Navies in Modern World History", ISBN 1-86189-202-0

ee also

*Battle of Iquique
*Battle of Angamos