Battle of Punta Gruesa

Naval Combat of Punta Gruesa - The stranding of the Independencia

Date	May 21, 1879
Location	near Iquique, Peru (present day Chile)
Result	Decisive Chilean Victory

Belligerents

Chile

Peru

Commanders and leaders

Carlos Condell

Juan Guillermo More

Strength

1 schooner

1 broadside ironclad

Casualties and losses

3 dead
5 wounded

5 dead
5 wounded
1 broadside ironclad lost

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.

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.

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.

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Wikipedia