Battle of Pacocha facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Pacocha
The Naval Combat in the Pacific between HMS SHAH and HMS AMETHYST and the Peruvian Rebel Ironclad Turret Ram HUASCAR on May 29th 1877, William Frederick Mitchell
Date 29 May 1877 Location Off Ylo, Pacific Ocean Result Indecisive
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Peruvian Rebels
Commanders and leaders
Algernon Horsey	Luis Astete
Strength
1 frigate 1 corvette 2 artillery boats	1 ironclad
Casualties and losses
Unknown wounded	1 killed Unknown wounded

The Battle of Pacocha was a naval fight that happened on May 29, 1877. It was fought in the Pacific Ocean near Ylo, Peru. The battle was between a Peruvian ship called the Huáscar and two British ships, HMS Shah and HMS Amethyst. Even though no ship was badly damaged, this battle is famous for being the first time a self-propelled torpedo was used in a real fight.

Why Did the Battle Happen?

In May 1877, a former government official named Nicolás de Piérola tried to take over the government of Peru. He wanted to remove the current President, Mariano Ignacio Prado.

• On May 6, some of Piérola's supporters took control of the Huáscar.
• The ship was docked at Callao, a main port in Peru.
• The officers and crew on board joined the rebels.
• Luis Germán Astete took command of the Huáscar for the rebels.
• Other Peruvian navy ships were not ready to chase the Huáscar.

The rebels used the Huáscar to bother trading ships. They even stopped some British merchant ships. Because of this, the British government sent two of their own warships. These were HMS Shah and HMS Amethyst. Rear Admiral Algernon de Horsey led the British ships. The Peruvian government also wanted the Huáscar back. They gave permission for the British to capture the rebel ship.

• On May 16, the Huáscar went to Antofagasta, Bolivia.
• There, Nicolás de Piérola himself boarded the ship.
• He declared himself the new leader of Peru.

What Happened During the Battle?

The battle was a fierce exchange of fire. The Huáscar managed to escape.

• The Huáscar had fewer crew members for its guns.
• It fired only 40 shots during the fight.
• The British ship Shah fired 237 shots.
• The Amethyst fired 190 shots.
• However, the British ships did not have special bullets to break armor.
• The Huáscar was hit about 60 times.
• But its strong armor shield made all the shots bounce off.

In a final attempt to stop the Huáscar, the Shah tried something new.

• It launched two small torpedo rams.
• These were the first self-propelled torpedoes ever used in battle.
• The Huáscar was able to avoid the torpedoes.
• It escaped into the darkness as night fell.
• Two days later, the rebel crew had to give up their ship.
• They surrendered to other Peruvian government ships.