Битва при Абтао: Морское сражение у Чили в 1866 году.

The Battle of Abtao was a naval action fought on February 7, 1866, during the Chincha Islands War, between a Spanish squadron and a combined Peruvian Chilean fleet, at the island of Abtao in the Gulf of Ancud near Chiloé Archipelago in south central Chile. It was limited to a long range exchange of fire between the two squadrons, as the allied ships, anchored behind the island, were protected by shallow waters inaccessible to the Spanish ships, whose gunnery, nevertheless, proved more accurate and inflicted damage to the Chilean and Peruvian ships.

Dispatched by Peruvian president Mariano Ignacio Prado, who had rallied the South American republics in defense against Spanish aggression, the allies had sailed in convoy from the town of Ancud to the island of Abtao to await the arrival of two new corvettes acquired by Peru. The Spanish commander Casto Méndez Núñez, informed of the location of the Peruvian Chilean fleet, ordered the steam frigates Villa de Madrid (Captain Claudio Alvargonzález) and Reina Blanca (Commander Juan Topete) to lift the blockade on Valparaiso and sail towards Abtao to intercept the enemy fleet. On January 16, 1866, the combined Peruvian Chilean fleet, composed of the Peruvian frigates Apurímac and Amazonas and the recently captured and refurbished Chilean schooner Covadonga, had convoyed from the port of Ancud towards the shipyards on the little island of Abtao, at the head of the southern Chiloé Archipelago. On Abtao island, the Chileans had also built some military fortifications, which were strategically located at the end of a shallow and treacherous channel. During the difficult voyage, the 36 gun steam frigate Amazonas, overcome by the force of currents, collided with a submerged rock near Punta Quilque and sank. The rest of the allied ships arrived without problems and remained in Abtao with orders to wait for the arrival of the Peruvian corvettes Unión and América in order to start the offensive against the Spanish force. These ships arrived on February 4, 1866, without being detected by the enemy ships. Meanwhile, the Spanish force was informed by the natives about the presence of other ships near Abtao and immediately set sail for the island.

Name Commander Type Displacement Armament Villa de Madrid Claudio Alvargonzález Frigate 4.731 Tm 31 cannons of 68 lb 6 cannons of 32 lb 5 cannons of 16 cm 2 cannons of 12 cm Reina Blanca Juan Bautista Topete Frigate 3.800 Tm 10 cannons of 68 lb 26 cannons of 32 lb 3 cannons of 12 cm

Country Name Commander Type Displacement Armament Perú Apurímac Manuel Villar Frigate 1.666 Tm 8 cannons of 68 lb 20 cannons of 32 lb 1 cannon of 130 lb 1 cannon of 68 lb Unión Miguel Grau Corvette 2.016,66 Tm 12 cannons of 70 lb 2 lower cannons América Manuel Ferreyros Corvette 2.016,66 Tm 12 lower cannon70 lb 2 lower cannons Chile Covadonga Manuel Thomson Schooner 630 Tm 3 cannons of 68 lb 2 cannons of 18 cm

After the results of the Battle of Abtao, Rear Admiral Casto Méndez Núñez traveled south with the Numancia, Resolución and Reina Blanca to try to force a new confrontation with the allies. But his efforts were unsuccessful. The allied fleet had moved to Huito, a position much more difficult to access than Abtao. On March 25, the Peruvian corvettes Unión and América were sent to the Strait of Magellan to intercept the Spanish frigate Almansa, which according to intelligence reports had been dispatched from Spain to reinforce the Pacific fleet. The Peruvian ships remained in the area for over a month, but were not able to locate it. The Almansa didn't reach the Pacific coast until the end of April. The Chilean government also sent the steamer Maipú to the strait to intercept the Spanish steamers Odessa and Vascongada. The rest of the allied fleet remained on the defensive in southern Chile, awaiting the arrival of the ironclads Huáscar and Independencia, which would be the factor to upset the balance of power. Both ships had departed from Brest on 26 February, in what was a long and difficult journey. They were accompanied by the British Steamer Thames, which transported coal and other provisions. On March 30, 1866, off the Brazilian coast, the Peruvian ironclads caused new problems for the Spaniards by intercepting the bergantines Dorotea and Paco. The Dorotea was destroyed, while the Paco was able to avoid capture by moving quickly. On August 22, 1866, the Spanish frigate Gerona captured the Chilean schooner Pampero when it set sail from the jetty of Funchal to Chile.

Sub lieutenant Patricio Montojo y Pasarón, who later became an admiral and commander in chief of the Spanish Navy in the Philippines during the Spanish–American War, participated in this battle on the frigate Almansa. Lieutenants Arturo Prat (Chilean) and Miguel Grau (Peruvian), who were later to battle each other at the Naval Battle of Iquique, were comrades in this battle.