The ship displaced 2,030 tons deep load and was 200-feet in length, 35-feet breadth of beam and with a 15-feet draught of water. The engine produced 1,200 ihp providing a top speed of 12.27 knots. The armament was two 10-inch muzzle loaders with shell weight of 300 lbs. Smaller guns included two 40 pdr and one 12 pdr. like almost all Cole’s turret warships, the Huascar had a low freeboard because of turret weight and to minimize the ship the target area. Huascar was given folding solid bulkheads that were raised to increase freeboard in the open ocean and lowered when in action. To minimize rigging to minimize obstructions for firing the guns, the ship used tubular tripod iron masts. Belt armor was 4.5-inches wrought iron over the machinery spaces and magazine with a 2-inch armored deck and 5.5-inch turret armor. With only a bunker capacity of 300-tons the Huascar had a limited range. The turret was rotated manually with a 16 man crew. It took a full 15 minutes to rotate 360 degrees. Just aft of the turret, the ship had an armored hexagonal conning station to be used as command center in battle. This tiny battle bridge was an ancestor to the elaborate conning towers on later battleships. Below decks, the ship had four coal-fired boilers powering a Penn trunk engine, driving a single screw. At her top speed of 12 knots, she had a crew of 200 men and was world class — competitive with the best ironclads of her day.

ARMAMENT

Huáscar‘s armament was disposed in one twin turret and two single mounts, the turret in the waist abaft the foremast and the single 4.5s in armored positions under an enclosed quarterdeck that stretched from the mainmast to the stern. The heavily armored turret was a Coles model as used in contemporary British ships, mounting two powerful Armstrong 10″ 300-pdr rifled naval cannon. This was entirely appropriate, since her designer was Captain Cowper Phipps Coles of the United Kingdom Royal Navy. As originally built, she had hinged bulwarks that folded down to fire the main guns, the standard arrangement in the 1860s. But the guns’ arc was still partially masked by the foremast shrouds. A later refit remedied this defect by removing the foremast, together with all its lines and cables to deck. The ship also had a formidable ram which proved itself in battle.

Ironclad “Huáscar”’s two Armstrong cannons 12-ton, 10-inch rifles, at Talcahuano, Chile. The 300-pdr rifled naval cannons were of frontal load, mounted on a gyratory circular turret, installed in the amidship gangway, according to the design of the Commodore Cowper Phipps Coles of the British Royal Navy.

HISTORICAL DETAILS

HER FIRST VOYAGE

Peruvian painting depicting the Peruvian turret-ship Huáscar under the peruvian flag. Following: are her dimensions: Tons displacement, 2,032; Length, 200 feet; Breadth of beam, 35 feet; Belt armor, 4 ½ inches; Turret armor, 5 ½ inches; Backing, 14 inches; Indicated horse-power, 1,050. In her turret she had two 10 inch twelve-and-a-half-ton Armstrong muzzle-loadlng rifles, and her secondary battery consisted of two 40-pounders and some rapid-fire guns in her military tops. The ship had a crew of 200 men. (Picture taken from Encyclopedia Historia Marítima del Perú).

"Huáscar" left for Peru on January 17th., 1866. She first went to Brest to await a second Peruvian purchase, the Independencia, which was a iron steam frigate. Spain had already engaged in operations against Peru and Chile. As the Peruvian pair crossed the Atlantic, they seized two Spanish merchants. After reaching the Pacific, the conflict with Spain ended before Huascar reached Peru. Built to fight the Spanish, Huascar would wind up fighting the Royal Navy. She was commissioned on January 17th., 1866.

NAVAL BATTLE OF PACOCHA

Peruvian painting depicting the Naval Battle of Pacocha on May 29th, 1877 (Picture taken from Encyclopedia Historia Marítima del Perú).

In May 1877 the ironclad was seized by mutineers at the port of Callao in support of an uprising against the national government. The Huáscar cruised up and down the coast, seizing provisions, stopping steamers and generally paralyzing trade. When the ironclad stopped some British steamers and seized mail, the government in Lima saw its chance and asked for the assistance of the Royal Navy. Commodore de Horsey had his flagship Shah, a 6,250-tons unprotected iron steam frigate, and the wooden steam corvette Amethyst of 1.970-tons. The British squadron found the Huáscar off Ilo Peru on May 29, 1877. After ordering the Huáscar to surrender in the name of Queen Victoria, after waiting ten minutes with no response de Horsey opened fire. Shah was armed with 9-inch guns firing a 250-pdr shell. The two hour engagement started at 1,900 yards. Shah fired over 300 rounds and some 70 to 80 hit. Only one hit any real impact and that was just a two inch dent in the belt. The superstructure received superficial damage but the combat capabilities were not impaired. Shah was equipped with Whitehead self-propelled torpedoes. At 5:14 PM one was fired at Huáscar but the ironclad turned away and outran the torpedo. This was the first combat use of the self propelled torpedo. Huáscar proved a difficult target, as she was very nimble, turning 180 degrees in only two minutes. The British were helped by the inexperience of the Peruvian gunners (they were gunners improvised), which de Horsey styled as “singular and providential”. According to Britons: "Huáscar fired her main guns only five times achieving no hits and three near misses". After two hours Huáscar turned toward Ilo and the next day surrendered to the Peruvian government.

Fine art print of the naval combat in the Pacific, between H.M.Ss. “Shah” and “Amethyst” and the Peruvian Ironclad Turret Ram “Huáscar” off Ilo, May 29th. 1877. Courtesy: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.

THE NITRATE WAR IN 1879

Old engraving showing the Peruvian ironclad “Huascar”, the ruler of the South Seas, in the early days of the Nitrate War in 1879. She was a ship of the "Huascar" class of 1865 fitted with a hurricane deck; she was one of six different classes designed and built by Messrs. Laird Brothers, to whom the credit for their great success is due. The "Huascar" is a sea-going vessel of 1,100 tons, 300-horse power, and a speed of 12 1/4 knots; her foremast is fitted with tripods; she carries two 300-pounders in one turret. She can fire right ahead from her 300-pounders, and aft within 15 degrees of the line of keel, but would have a stern chaser either on or under her poop.

The Peruvian ironclad Huascar, designed by Captain Coles, built in Great Britain, and mounting two 12-ton, 10-inch rifles in a single turret. This picture by peruvian painter Fernando Saldías depicts the Peruvian turret-ship Huáscar flying the red, white and red flag of Perú. (Peru's Navy Museum)

The Nitrate War, was the conflict between Chile, Bolivia, and Peru for the territory containing valuable mineral resources, particularly sodium nitrate beds in the Atacama Desert, which grew out of a dispute between Chile and Bolivia over control of a part of the Atacama Desert on the Pacific coast of South America, i. e. in Bolivia’s land.

National borders in the region were not there demarcated; the two countries negotiated a treaty that recognized the 24th parallel as their boundary and that gave Chile the right to share the export taxes on the mineral resources of Bolivia's territory. With this idea Bolivia subsequently became dissatisfied at having to share its taxes with Chile and feared Chilean seizure of its coastal region, by this time Chile already controlled Bolivia's mining industry.

Chile's interest in provoking the conflict arrived from its traditional rivalry with Peru for control of the Pacific coast. The prosperity of the Peruvian government's guano (fertilizer) monopoly and the thriving nitrate industry in Peru's Tarapacá province were a reason for Chileans make the war against Perú too.

In 1874 Chilean-Bolivian relations were ameded by a revised treaty under which Chile relinquished its share of export taxes on minerals shipped from Bolivia, and Bolivia agreed not to raise taxes on Chilean enterprises in Bolivia for 25 years.

In 1878 Bolivia increased the taxes of the Chilean Antofagasta Nitrate Company over the protests of the Chilean government. When Bolivia threatened to confiscate the company's property, Chilean armed forces occupied the port city of Antofagasta on Febuary 14, 1879 Bolivia then declared war on Chile and called upon Peru for help. Chile declared war on both Peru and Bolivia on April 5, 1879. The Chile’s aim was to seize the nitrate beds of Peru and Bolivia. In addition the war made by Chile against Peru and Bolivia was a war of prey.

Picture of the Peruvian Ironclad Turret Ship "Huascar" at the port of Callao taken before the Nitrate War of 1879. The Huascar's armament was composed of two 300-pound guns in her turret, and two pivot guns, 40-pounders on her main deck.

During the nitrate war of 1879, the Peruvian ironclad Huáscar made several incursions challenging the Chilean naval dominion, attacking ports along its entire coast and capturing transports. This sole ship was preventing Chile from invading Peruvian territory, and did so successfully for nearly five months. No attempt to disembark troops could be made, because the Huáscar was preventing the entire Chilean Navy from taking control of the sea. Several efforts were made in order to capture or sink Huáscar, but none succeeded.

Picture depicting the Peruvian warships of the 1st. Naval Division of the Peru's Navy. In the foreground the ram-ironclad turret warship “Huascar” (carrying the Commodore’s flag) on her voyage from Arica to the Peruvian port of Iquique, in convoy with the Peruvian ironclad frigate “Independencia” (in the background) in order to kill the Chilean warships. The turret-ship “Huascar” is 1,100 tons, carried two 12½-ton guns in her turret, and two 40-pounders aft on deck, and was very buoyant and a good sea-boat. The “Independencia” is a broadside box ironclad, of upwards of 2,000 tons and 550-horse power, not carrying any gun heavier than 150-pounders.

On 21 May 1879, Huáscar led the lifting of the Chilean blockade of Iquique. During the battle, Chilean Captain Arturo Prat was killed. After sinking the corvette Esmeralda by repeated ramming, Huáscar then rescued the survivors before continuing pursuit of the fleeing enemy ship "Covadonga".

Picture depicting the Naval Battle of Iquique. The Chilean Corvette “Esmeralda” is sunk by the Peruvian Ironclad "Huáscar" on May 21, 1879.

Painting depicting the end of the Naval Battle of Iquique. After sinking the Chilean corvette “Esmeralda” (to the right) by repeated ramming, ironclad “Huáscar” (in the background) then rescued the corvette “Esmeralda”'s rendered survivors before continuing pursuit of the fleeing enemy ship "Covadonga". The Peruvian warship had the distinction of forcing the surrender of a warship of the Chile Navy's.

Huáscar returned to Callao for minor repairs and at this time the forward tripod was removed to allow forward fire. After the repairs Huáscar went on with her mission and in the following months accomplished the following:

Damaged ports of Cobija, Tocopilla, Patillos and Mejillones, Huanillos, Punta de Lobo, Chañaral, Huasco, Caldera, Coquimbo and Taltal.

Sank 16 Chilean vessels, including ships and boats.

Damaged the Chilean warships Blanco Encalada, Abtao, Magallanes and Matías Cousiño.

Captured the Chilean vessels Emilia, Adelaida Rojas, E. Saucy Jack, Adriana Lucía, Rímac and Coquimbo.

Recovered the Peruvian vessels Clorinda and Caquetá.

Destroyed the artillery batteries of Antofagasta.

Cut the Antofagasta-Valparaíso communications cable.

Drawing of the Peruvian Ironclad Turret Ship "Huascar" sailing off Antofagasta (Bolivia's land occupied by Chilean army). The "Huascar" was the Chile’s tormentor, the phantom of the Chilean coast.

Drawing depicting the capture of the Chilean ship “Rimac” (to the left) made by the Peruvian warships: Corvette “Unión”, in the foreground and to the right, and Ironclad “Huáscar”, in the background, off Antofagasta, on July 23rd, 1879. This capture was the biggest hit made by the Peruvian warships to Chile’s Navy. (Source: “La Ilustración Española y Americana”, Año: 23, Nº 35, del 22-09-1879, página 169.).

Huáscar steamed along the Chilean coast terrorizing the coastal towns. The Chileans were in a blue funk until the Navy’s commander was replaced and the Chilean ironclads made ready to confront their country’s tormentor.

During the next 137 days Huáscar under the command of Admiral Miguel Grau Seminario, not only evaded the enemy fleet's biggest fire-powered, heavy battleships (according to orders from the Peruvian Government) but made the coast unsecure for Chilean transport ships. Its biggest prize was Rimac, ship captured with 260 men of the Chilean army elite regiment of line cavalry "Carabineers of Yungay", along with horses, weapons, munitions and supplies.

Huascar was the flying wall of Peru.

Determined to secure the logistic lines needed for the invasion of Perú, the Chileans committed every possible unit to hunt down Huáscar. Nearly six months after the naval combat of Iquique, on October 8, 1879, near Punta de Angamos (Bolivia), the Huáscar confronted the Chilean fleet (two Sir Edward James Reed-designed box battery broadside ironclads “Blanco Encalada” and “Almirante Cochrane”, purchased from Great Britain, plus four unarmored warships) and was dead in the water with her turret knocked out.

Naval Battle of Angamos. October 8, 1879. The Huáscar drifting between the fire of the “Almr. Cochrane” and the “Blanco Encalada”. Drawn by J. G. Tyler (The Century (Illustrated Monthly) Magazine. Vol. LV, No. 6, Abril de 1898, p. 904. New York).

Painting by painter Mitchel depicting the Naval Battle of Angamos. October 8, 1879.

Painting by Peruvian painter Salaverry depicting the Naval Battle of Angamos. The Ironclad “Huascar” confronted the Chilean fleet (two Sir Edward James Reed-designed box battery broadside ironclads “Blanco Encalada” and “Almirante Cochrane”, purchased from Great Britain, plus four unarmored warships) and was destroyed in the water with her turret knocked out, on October 8, 1879.

Painting by Peruvian painter Teofilo Castillo depicting the Naval Battle of Angamos. (Peru's Navy Museum).

Painting by Peruvian painter Fernando Saldías depicting the Naval Battle of Angamos. (Peru's Navy Museum).

Painting by Peruvian artist Etna Velarde depicting the Naval Battle of Angamos.

After the Battle of Angamos, two foreign newspapers published the following reports, dated October 10 1879: The London Times wrote: “Huáscar is a historical ship, figuring in all the naval combats of the war; she has bombarded the populations of the Chileans (only those fortified), pursued and captured their transport ships and has been for several months the terror of the Chilean coast. Under command of a skilled and brave officer and managed by excellent men, Huascar has always been a formidable opponent.” The New York Herald wrote: “It is not needed to have been on the side of Peru in the unfortunate war of South America, to regret that the gallant Huascar has been captured by the Chileans. Something that seemed good luck, but that probably was competence in her handling, has placed suddenly this ship among the most famous that have furrowed American waters. No task was too big neither too small for him. That she maintains its old reputation now that she is in other hands is very doubtful, because commanders so skilled as Grau are not many.”

CHILEAN "HUASCAR" IS DEFEATED BY AN OLD RIVER MONITOR OF THE PERU’S NAVY ON FEBRUARY 27, 1880

Drawing depicting the naval battle of Arica between the Chilean warships: “Huáscar” and “Magallanes” and the Peruvian river monitor “Manco Cápac”, on February 27th, 1879. In the engagement the Chilean “Huáscar” was defeated by the Peruvian warship. (Source: “La Ilustración Española y Americana”, Año: 24, Nº 22.).

The hastily repaired Huáscar was taken into Chilean service. In the bombardments of Arica (27 February and 11 December 1880), Chilean “Huáscar” exchanged fire with the Peruvian monitor “Manco Cápac” (former USS Oneota) in the only known clashes between Ericsson and Coles type turreted ironclads. "Manco Cápac" was armed with two 15-inch Rodman guns firing a 500-pdr shell. A Peruvian shot hit the Chilean “Huascar”, causing damage and killing 20 men of the crew. In the leaving the bay, the "Manco Cápac" was pursued by the Chilean "Huascar", in order to attack the Peruvian monitor with the ram. Chilean “Huáscar” was knocked out by Peruvian warship. One shot of the “Manco Cápac” hit the Chilean “Huáscar”, destroying mizzen and killing Huáscar’s commander Thomson, situation that would force Chileans to retreat.