Battle of Juncal

Battle of Juncal
Part of the Cisplatine War
Date 8–9 February 1827 Location Juncal Island, Uruguay River 33°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 Imperial Navy	United Provinces Argentine Navy
Commanders and leaders
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.