Battles & Campaigns · 1866
Battle of Abtao
Abtao Island, Chiloé Archipelago, Chile
What happened
A Peruvian and Chilean squadron under Manuel Villar fought two Spanish frigates under Claudio Alvargonzález and Juan Bautista Topete. The allied ships waited in shallow water behind the island of Abtao. The bigger Spanish frigates could not come in, so both sides fired at long range for about two hours. The Spanish then sailed back to their base.
Why it matters
It ended without a winner. It showed that shallow water protected the allied ships from the Spanish fleet.
What came next
The allies moved to an even safer anchorage, and new Peruvian ironclads were on their way.
Did you know?
Arturo Prat of Chile and Miguel Grau of Peru fought on the same side here, but later faced each other at Iquique.
Timeline
- 26 Nov 1865Battle of Papudo.
- 7 Feb 1866Battle of Abtao.
- 1879Prat and Grau meet as enemies at Iquique.