title: Blockade of Callao
text: # Blockade of Callao
  
  vteWar of the Pacific :
  
  Naval campaign
  
  1st Iquique
  
  Chipana
  
  Pisagua
  
  1st Callao
  
  2nd Iquique
  
  Punta Gruesa
  
  Huáscar
  
  1st Antofagasta
  
  3rd Iquique
  
  Rímac
  
  2nd Antofagasta
  
  Punta Arenas
  
  Angamos
  
  Pilcomayo
  
  Arica
  
  Naval Battle
  
  Rupture
  
  2nd Callao
  
  Land campaigns
  
  Loa Line and Altiplano
  
  Calama
  
  Río Grande
  
  Quillagua
  
  Tambillo
  
  Tarapacá campaign
  
  Pisagua
  
  Pampa Germania
  
  San Francisco
  
  Tarapacá
  
  Tacna and Arica campaign
  
  Ilo and Pacocha
  
  Moquegua
  
  Mollendo
  
  Los Ángeles
  
  Locumba
  
  Buenavista
  
  Tacna
  
  Arica
  
  Tarata
  
  Lynch Expedition
  
  Lima campaign
  
  Chilca
  
  Yerba Buena
  
  Bujama
  
  Humay
  
  El Manzano
  
  Rinconada de Ate
  
  San Juan and Chorrillos
  
  Miraflores
  
  Lima
  
  Chilean occupation of Peru
  
  Sierra campaign
  
  San Jerónimo
  
  Letelier Expedition
  
  Sángrar
  
  Verrugas
  
  1st Purhuay
  
  Calientes
  
  1st Pachía
  
  Cieneguilla
  
  Motupe
  
  Guadalupe
  
  1st Pucará
  
  Acuchimay
  
  Sierralumi
  
  Huaripampa
  
  Llocllapampa
  
  Chupaca
  
  La Oroya
  
  2nd Pucará
  
  Concepción
  
  San Pablo
  
  Tarmatambo
  
  2nd Purhuay
  
  Huamantanga
  
  Crossing of the Andes
  
  Huamachuco
  
  Izcuchaca
  
  2nd Pachía
  
  Arequipa-Puno Line
  
  Arequipa
  
  Titicaca Lake :
  
  The Blockade of Callao was a military operation that occurred during the War of the Pacific or the Salitre War and that consisted of the Chilean squadron preventing the entry of ships to the port of Callao and the neighboring coves between 10 April 1880 and 17 January 1881.
  
  ## Blockade
  
  Commencing on 10 April 1880, the Chilean Navy fleet began a light blockade of the Peruvian port of Callao. The Chilean fleet would slowly grow as additional ships became available from other regions of the campaign. Likewise, the Peruvian Navy would arm local vessels as equipment allowed.
  
  Several times over the year that the blockade was effected, the Chilean fleet would sortie and bombard the city. This was frequently in response to a Peruvian attack, such as the repeated successful deployment of disguised floating bombs.
  
  ## Scuttling of the Peruvian fleet
  
  After the successful attacks on the Lima suburbs of San Juan and Miraflores it became apparent that the city was going to fall to the advancing Chilean Army. During the night of 16 January 1881, after the defeat of the Peruvian Army in the battles of San Juan and Miraflores, the Secretary of the Navy, Captain Manuel Villar, ordered the destruction of port defences and the remaining ships of the Peruvian Navy to prevent their capture by Chilean troops. This order was executed by the captains Germán Astete and Manuel Villavisencio during the dawn of 17 January 1881. Among the ships scuttled were the last Peruvian ironclad, the monitor Atahualpa, the corvette Unión, the training ship Apurímac, as well as Peru's first submarine, Toro Submarino.
  
  ### Ships scuttled
  
  The Peruvian ships scuttled by its crew before they could being captured, included:
  
  | Name | Type | Fate |
  | - | - | - |
  | Apurímac | pontoon (ex-frigate) | |
  | Atahualpa | monitor | Salvaged 1881 |
  | Chalaco | steamship transport | |
  | Limeña | steamship transport | |
  | Loa | training ship | |
  | Oroya | steamship transport | |
  | República | torpedo boat | |
  | Rímac | steamship transport | Salvaged June 1881 |
  | Talismán | steamship transport | |
  | Toro Submarino | submarine | |
  | Unión | corvette | |
  
  ## Surrender
  
  Callao surrendered on 18 January 1881, the day after the fleet was scuttled.
  
  