# Blockade of Callao

vteWar of the Pacific :
Naval campaign
1st Iquique
Chipana
Pisagua
1st Callao
2nd Iquique
Punta Gruesa
Huáscar
1st Antofagasta
3rd Iquique
Rímac
2nd Antofagasta
Punta Arenas
Angamos
Pilcomayo
Arica
Naval Battle
Rupture
2nd Callao
Land campaigns
Loa Line and Altiplano campaign
Calama
Río Grande
Quillagua
Tambillo
Tarapacá campaign
Pisagua
Pampa Germania
San Francisco
Tarapacá
Tacna and Arica campaign
Ilo and Pacocha
Moquegua
Mollendo
Los Ángeles
Locumba
Buenavista
Tacna
Arica
Tarata
Lynch Expedition
Lima campaign
Chilca
Yerba Buena
Bujama
Humay
El Manzano
Rinconada de Ate
San Juan and Chorrillos
Miraflores
Lima
Chilean occupation of Peru
Breña campaign
1881
San Jerónimo
Letelier Expedition
Sángrar
Verrugas
1st Purhuay
Calientes
1st Pachía
Cieneguilla
Motupe
Guadalupe
1882
1st Pucará
Acuchimay
Sierralumi
Huaripampa
Llocllapampa
Chupaca
La Oroya
2nd Pucará
Concepción
San Pablo
Tarmatambo
2nd Purhuay
Huamantanga
Crossing of the Andes
1883
Huamachuco
Izcuchaca
2nd Pachía
Arequipa-Puno Line
Arequipa
Titicaca Lake :
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

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 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 be captured, included:
| Name | Type | Fate |
| Apurímac | pontoon (ex-frigate) | |
| Atahualpa | monitor | Salvaged 1881 |
| Chalaco | steamship transport | |
| Limeña | steamship transport | |
| Loa | training ship | |
| Oroya | steamship transport | |
| República | torpedo boat | |
| Rímac | steamship transport | Salvaged June 1881 |
| Talismán | steamship transport | |
| Toro Submarino | submarine | |
| Unión | corvette | |

## Surrender

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