Fourth Battle of Topolobampo

Map of the Fourth Battle of Topolobampo, drawn by the U.S. Navy observers during the battle.

Date	June 16, 1914
Location	off Topolobampo, Sinaloa, Mexico
Result	Huertista victory

Belligerents

Constitutionalists

Huertistas

Commanders and leaders

Captain Hilario Malpica†

Captain Navio Torres

Strength

1 gunboat

Casualties and losses

7 killed,
~30 wounded,
unknown captured,
1 gunboat sunk

unknown wounded,
1 gunboat damaged

Both federal and rebel forces flew the same Mexican National Ensign during the naval campaign off Topolobampo.

The Fourth Battle of Topolobampo was a single ship action fought during the Mexican Revolution and the last naval battle of the Topolobampo Campaign. In June 1914, a Huertista gunboat sank a Constitutionalist gunboat off Topolobampo, Sinaloa in the Gulf of California.

After the Third Battle of Topolobampo and the first sinking of the Constitutionalist gunboat Tampico, rebel sailors under Captain Hilario Malpica raised their ship, which had been partially submerged behind Shell Point, at the mouth of Topolobampo Bay. Several United States Navy ships were in the area, observing the campaign. Flagship USS California, USS New Orleans, USS Preble and USS Perry were all present and were under the Pacific Fleet commander Rear Admiral Thomas B. Howard in California. USS Yorktown was also in the area. Much of the campaign is remembered by Rear Admiral Howard's and his officer's reports of the battles.

On June 11, 1914, the Tampico was sighted by Howard when off Mazatlán while commanding his flagship. On Sunday, June 14, 1914, Howard received a report that Tampico was steaming away from Topolobampo to Altata. He ordered the destroyer USS Preble, under Lieutenant Junior Grade Vance Duncan Chapline, to find Tampico and follow her. Preble immediately got underway at about 3:30 pm. From Mazatlán, she steamed north toward Topolobampo. The destroyer Perry, which was off La Paz, was ordered to head for Topolobampo and report to Preble for further instructions with her radio. Preble's commander, did not know what course or speed Tampico was making, so he slowly proceeded to Topolobampo, hoping to sight the ship at around daylight the next morning.

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