Battle of Abtao

Battle of Abtao
Part of Chincha Islands War

Spanish screw frigates Blanca and Villa de Madrid during battle, by Federico Castellón Martínez. Naval Museum of Madrid
DateFebruary 7, 1866
Location
Abtao, near Chiloé
41°47′43.35″S 73°17′55.40″W / 41.7953750°S 73.2987222°W / -41.7953750; -73.2987222
Result Indecisive[1]
Belligerents
 Spain  Peru
 Chile
Commanders and leaders
Spain Claudio Alvargonzález Sánchez
Spain Juan Bautista Topete
Peru Manuel Villar Olivera
Peru Miguel Grau
Peru Manuel Ferreyros
Chile Manuel Thomson
Strength
2 frigates 1 frigate
2 corvettes
1 schooner
Casualties and losses
6 wounded 2 to 12 killed, 1 to about 20 wounded[2]

The Battle of Abtao was a naval action fought on February 7, 1866, during the Chincha Islands War, between a Spanish squadron and a combined Peruvian-Chilean fleet, at the island of Abtao in the Gulf of Ancud near Chiloé Archipelago in south-central Chile. It was limited to a long-range exchange of fire between the two squadrons, as the allied ships, anchored behind the island, were protected by shallow waters inaccessible to the Spanish ships,[3] whose gunnery, nevertheless, proved more accurate and inflicted damage to the Chilean and Peruvian ships.[4]

  1. ^ "...the Spanish squadron, now commanded by Captain Casto Mendez Nunez, attacked Peruvian and Chilean ships off Abtao, Chiloe, in a two-hour battle that proved indecisive". Scheina, Robert L.: Latin America: A Naval History, 1810-1987. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1987, ISBN 0870212958, p. 30.
  2. ^ Moya Espinoza, Reynaldo: Grau. Lima: Grupo Editorial Megabyte, 2003, p. 119.
  3. ^ Lledó Clarabuig, José: Buques de vapor de la Armada española: del vapor de ruedas a la fragata acorazada, 1834-1885. Madrid: Agualarga, 1998, ISBN 8495088754, p. 97.
  4. ^ VV.AA.: Imperial Wars 1815–1914. Amber Books: London, 2013, ISBN 1782741259, p. 210.