Battle of Punta Gruesa The 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 , since the strategic importance of sea domination . This was in order to enable the Chilean Navy to help the army to conquer Bolivian and Peruvian territories with troop landings and port blockade s 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 . Forces in combat . 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 and tried to float her . As Captain More realized his ship was lost , he ordered her scuttle d , 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 5 crew with 5 wounded ; 3 Chilean crewmen were killed and 5 wounded . 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 .