Huascar

El Monitor Huascar comandado por el Almirante Miguel Grau junto con la fragata Independencia comandada por el Capitán Juan Guillermo Moore, entablaron combate en la rada del puerto de Iquique, con las corbetas de casco de madera Esmeralda comandada por el Capitán Arturo Prat y Covadoga comandada por el Capitán Carlos Condell el día 21 de Mayo de 1879.

The iron clad vessel Huascar commanded by the Rear Admiral Mr. Miguel Grau, jointly with the armoured frigate Independencia commanded by the Captain Juan Guillermo Moore, faced in combat the day 21st of May of 1879 at the roadstead of the port of Iquique, Chile, with the two Chilean wooden hull corvettes Esmeralda commanded by the Captain Arturo Prat and Covadonga commanded by the Captain Carlos Condell.

In a first instance, the Huascar cautiously attacked the Esmeralda, because of it was believed that the Esmeralda was surrounded by mines or torpedoes, finally and after having seen that there was no such a danger the Huascar sunk the Esmeralda with three attacks with her ram.

At the first ram attack Captain Prat jumped to aboard the vessel jointly with another five sea men, dying all of them on deck.

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Diving in the wrecks of the Esmeralda.

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On the other hand the Independencia immediately began the attack againts the Covadonga, ship which was her engine in good condition and commenced to maneouvre to avoid the attack, initiating the Battle of Punta Gruesa.

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