Blockade of Iquique
Encyclopedia
Once war was declared by Chile upon Peru on Saturday, April 5, 1879, the first Chilean naval action for the War of the Pacific
was set in motion. The plan was to block the Peruvian port of Iquique
the same day the declaration of war was made. The first phase of the blockade ended on May 21, 1879, after the clashes between the Peruvian ships Huascar and Independencia versus the Chilean ships Esmeralda and Covadonga.
The second phase of the blockade was resumed on June 1, and lasted until August 2, 1879, at which time Williams Rebolledo had to resign for failing to succeed in its actions because of the excursions of the Huascar of Peruvian Admiral Miguel Grau against Chilean vessels.
War of the Pacific
The War of the Pacific took place in western South America from 1879 through 1883. Chile fought against Bolivia and Peru. Despite cooperation among the three nations in the war against Spain, disputes soon arose over the mineral-rich Peruvian provinces of Tarapaca, Tacna, and Arica, and the...
was set in motion. The plan was to block the Peruvian port of Iquique
Iquique
Iquique is a port city and commune in northern Chile, capital of both the Iquique Province and Tarapacá Region. It lies on the Pacific coast, west of the Atacama Desert and the Pampa del Tamarugal. It had a population of 216,419 as of the 2002 census...
the same day the declaration of war was made. The first phase of the blockade ended on May 21, 1879, after the clashes between the Peruvian ships Huascar and Independencia versus the Chilean ships Esmeralda and Covadonga.
The second phase of the blockade was resumed on June 1, and lasted until August 2, 1879, at which time Williams Rebolledo had to resign for failing to succeed in its actions because of the excursions of the Huascar of Peruvian Admiral Miguel Grau against Chilean vessels.