The Blockade of Iquique was a military operation that occurred during the
War of the Pacific
The War of the Pacific (), also known by War of the Pacific#Etymology, multiple other names, was a war between Chile and a Treaty of Defensive Alliance (Bolivia–Peru), Bolivian–Peruvian alliance from 1879 to 1884. Fought over Atacama Desert ...
.
[Collier, Simon, and William F. Sater. ]
A History of Chile, 1808-1994
'. Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press was the university press of the University of Cambridge. Granted a letters patent by King Henry VIII in 1534, it was the oldest university press in the world. Cambridge University Press merged with Cambridge Assessme ...
, 1996. 131. Once war was declared by Chile upon Peru on Saturday, April 5, 1879, the first Chilean naval action for the War of the Pacific was set in motion. The plan was to block the Peruvian port of
Iquique
Iquique () is a port List of cities in Chile, city and Communes of Chile, commune in northern Chile, capital of both the Iquique Province and Tarapacá Region. It lies on the Pacific coast, west of the Pampa del Tamarugal, which is part of the At ...
the same day the declaration of war was made. The first phase of the blockade ended on May 21, 1879, after the clashes between the Peruvian ships
''Huascar'' and
''Independencia'' versus the Chilean ships
''Esmeralda'' and
''Covadonga''.
The second phase of the blockade was resumed on June 1, and lasted until August 2, 1879, at which time
John Williams Rebolledo had to resign for failing to succeed in its actions because of the excursions of the ''Huascar'' of Peruvian Admiral
Miguel Grau against Chilean vessels.
References
{{reflist
War of the Pacific