Battle of Juncal

Battle of Juncal
Part of the Cisplatine War
Date8–9 February 1827
Location33°57′15″S 58°23′45″W / 33.95417°S 58.39583°W / -33.95417; -58.39583
Result United Provinces victory
Belligerents

 Empire of Brazil

United Provinces

Commanders and leaders
Empire of Brazil Sena Pereira William Brown
Strength

1 brigantine
11 schooners
5 gunboats
61 total guns

750 men[1]

1 brigantine
5 schooners
1 smack
8 gunboats
69 total guns
745-780 men

[1]
Casualties and losses
12 ships captured
3 burnt
casualties unknown
No ships lost
17 killed in action[1]

The naval Battle of Juncal took place between a squadron of the newly independent United Provinces of the River Plate under command of William Brown and a squadron belonging to the Brazilian Empire, commanded by Sena Pereira. It spanned two days, from 8 to 9 February 1827, in the waters of the Río de la Plata.

The two squadrons were initially of roughly equal strength, but because of superior command and control, and gunnery training, the Argentines scored a decisive victory: out of 17 Brazilian vessels, 12—including the flagship with its admiral—were captured and 3 were burnt. Not a single Argentine vessel was lost.

In the aftermath of the battle, the Third Division, the arm of the Brazilian fleet tasked with controlling the Uruguay River and thus disrupting communications with the Argentine army then operating in the Cisplatina province, was completely destroyed. The result was the biggest naval victory for Argentina in the Cisplatine War.

  1. ^ a b c El País (Uruguay) (2005). "Batallas que hicieron historia", Juncal. Cañonazos en la tormenta. Montevideo.