Context During the first year of the war, Chilean war efforts were focused on destroying the Peruvian Navy, since the Chileans understood 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 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. Forces </div> Technical characteristicsSchooner Covadonga 245pxIronclad Independencia 245px Commissioned 1859 1866 Displacement (t) 412 t 3,300 - 3,750 t Draught 3,35 m 6,62 m Armor (mm) None 114.3 mm Naval artillery 2 x 70 lbThe covadonga had two cannons of 70 pounds, after May 21, 1879 were installed two cannons of 9 pounds, 3 cannons of 40 pounds. Armada de Chile 1 x 250 lb, 3 x 150 lb, 12 x 70 lb, 2 machine guns Speed (Knot) 4 knOn May 21, 1879, the Covadonga, had a power of 140 HP engine, that allowed a walk of 4 knots, because only two of his 3 boilers operated (Data from Chile Navy) 11 kn Crew 130 menCombate naval de Iquique, boletines y nacionales y extranjeros de 1879. Guerra del Pacífico. Pascual Ahumada Moreno. Valparaíso. 1886 375 men 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. 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.  
History During the first year of the war, Chilean war efforts were focused on destroying the Peruvian Navy, since the Chileans understood 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 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. History 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. 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. Forces Technical characteristicsSchooner Covadonga 245pxIronclad Independencia 245px Commissioned 1859 1866 Displacement (t) 412 t 3,300 - 3,750 t Draught 3,35 m 6,62 m Armor (mm) None 114.3 mm Naval artillery 2 x 70 lbThe covadonga had two cannons of 70 pounds, after May 21, 1879 were installed two cannons of 9 pounds, 3 cannons of 40 pounds. Armada de Chile 1 x 250 lb, 3 x 150 lb, 12 x 70 lb, 2 machine guns Speed (Knot) 4 knOn May 21, 1879, the Covadonga, had a power of 140 HP engine, that allowed a walk of 4 knots, because only two of his 3 boilers operated (Data from Chile Navy) 11 kn Crew 130 menCombate naval de Iquique, boletines y nacionales y extranjeros de 1879. Guerra del Pacífico. Pascual Ahumada Moreno. Valparaíso. 1886 375 men
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Forces </div> Technical characteristicsSchooner Covadonga 245pxIronclad Independencia 245px Commissioned 1859 1866 Displacement (t) 412 t 3,300 - 3,750 t Draught 3,35 m 6,62 m Armor (mm) None 114.3 mm Naval artillery 2 x 70 lbThe covadonga had two cannons of 70 pounds, after May 21, 1879 were installed two cannons of 9 pounds, 3 cannons of 40 pounds. Armada de Chile 1 x 250 lb, 3 x 150 lb, 12 x 70 lb, 2 machine guns Speed (Knot) 4 knOn May 21, 1879, the Covadonga, had a power of 140 HP engine, that allowed a walk of 4 knots, because only two of his 3 boilers operated (Data from Chile Navy) 11 kn Crew 130 menCombate naval de Iquique, boletines y nacionales y extranjeros de 1879. Guerra del Pacífico. Pascual Ahumada Moreno. Valparaíso. 1886 375 men
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Technical characteristicsSchooner Covadonga 245pxIronclad Independencia 245px Commissioned 1859 1866 Displacement (t) 412 t 3,300 - 3,750 t Draught 3,35 m 6,62 m Armor (mm) None 114.3 mm Naval artillery 2 x 70 lbThe covadonga had two cannons of 70 pounds, after May 21, 1879 were installed two cannons of 9 pounds, 3 cannons of 40 pounds. Armada de Chile 1 x 250 lb, 3 x 150 lb, 12 x 70 lb, 2 machine guns Speed (Knot) 4 knOn May 21, 1879, the Covadonga, had a power of 140 HP engine, that allowed a walk of 4 knots, because only two of his 3 boilers operated (Data from Chile Navy) 11 kn Crew 130 menCombate naval de Iquique, boletines y nacionales y extranjeros de 1879. Guerra del Pacífico. Pascual Ahumada Moreno. Valparaíso. 1886 375 men