INDEPENDENCIA 1866

[aukepalmhof]

Built as a broadside ironclad frigate by Samuda Brothers, Poplar on the Thames U.K. for the Navy of Peru.
01 March 1864 it was authorized to order the ship.
June 1864 keel laid down
8 August 1865 launched as the INDEPENDENCIA.
Displacement 3,500 ton, dim. 65.53 x 13.63 x 6.62m. (draught).
Powered by a steam engine, manufactured by John Penn & Sons, 2.200 ihp., one shaft speed 12 knots.
Bunker capacity 450 tons of coal.
Range by a speed 8 knots, 1,536 miles.
Armament: 12 – 70lbs. Armstrong guns. 2 – 150 lbs. Armstrong guns and 4 – 9lbs. Armstrong for the boats.
Carried two mahogany boots of 40 feet.
Brigantine rigged.
Ram bow.
Crew 375.
17 February 1866 commissioned under command of Capt. Aurelio Garcia y Garcia.

To prevent that the ship was seized when war broke out between Spain and Peru commander Garcia left 26 January 1866 Greenhithe (most probably Greenwich) on the Thames for the River Scheldt to install the guns, and the rigging, the engines tuned and tested before she headed for Brest in France to join the HUÁSCAR and THAMES.
24 February the three ships left Brest in convoy for Peru.
28 February 1866 she collided with the HUASCAR, whose machine had stopped without noticing the duty officer, she got severe damage on her bulwarks with was repaired in Funchal, Madeira.
During the voyage to Peru she seized a Spanish vessel.
25 May 1866 she anchored off Punta Arenas, on joined the Allied fleet on 06 June 1866 at Ancud.
24 August she sailed from Valparaiso for Callao, after arrival in Callao she underwent a maintenance she returned to Chile.
Stayed in Valparaiso until the revolution broke out in Peru in September 1867, causing the resignation of the President Mariano Ignacio Prado in January 1868.
26 February 1868 sailed from Valparaiso and returning to Callao where she arrived on 26 February.

06 May 1877 the Peruvian warship HUÁSCAR was taken over by supporters of Nicolas de Pierola in a failed coup attempt in Peru.
The HUASCAR sailed south towards Chile to embark the exiled Pierola, underway interfering with British shipping, attempting to seize Peruvian government mail.
When the commander of the British Pacific Squadron was informed about this, he ordered his ships the HMS SHAH and AMETHYST to capture the HUÁSCAR.
At the same time a Peruvian squadron under which the INDEPENDENCIA chased the HUÁSCAR.
22 May at Cobija Pierola boarded the HUÁSCAR
27 May the HUÁSCAR was sighted by the Peruvian squadron where after the Battle of Punta Pichalo took place without much success, during the darkness the HUÁSCAR escaped.

Two days later the HUÁSCAR was sighted off Ilo by the two British vessels and demanded her surrender, which was refused and a battle began, but again the HUÁSCAR escaped during the night.

She headed to the Peruvian squadron and handed the ship over to Capt. John G. More the commander of the INDEPENDENCIA on 31 May.

When the war began between Peru and Chile the INDEPENDENCIA was under repair and refit.
Her armament was changed during the refit to 12 – 70pdr Armstrong guns, on deck 1 – 250 pdr. Vavasseur gun, 1 – 150 pdr Parrot gun, 2 – 15-pdr. Armstrong guns, 2 – 9pdr. Armstrong guns and 2MG.
10 May 1879 she joined the First Marine Squadron under command of Captain Miguel Grau the squadron consisted of the INDEPENDENCIA, HUÁSCAR and the transport CHALACO.

Then she took part in the Battle of Iquique on 21 May 1879 and the same day in the Battle of Punta Gruesa was sank with the loss of 18 men killed and 5 wounded. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Punta_Gruesa gives about the battle as follows:
On the morning of May 21, 1879, the lookout of ESMERALDA spotted two ships coming from the north. These were the Peruvian INDEPENDENCIA and HUÁSCAR. Attempting to escape the COVADONGA headed south, but ESMERALDA experienced engine problems. By this time, the battle was inevitable: while HUÁSCAR engaged ESMERALDA, INDEPENDENCIA pursued COVADONGA south.
Captain Condell of the COVADONGA realized that the quicker but heavier INDEPENDENCIA had a deeper draft than his schooner. He kept close to the coast, with INDEPENDENCIA in pursuit, while both ships exchanged fire. The INDEPENDENCIA's lack of trained gunners and the COVADONGA's accurate sniper fire prolonged the chase for over three hours. Captain More of the INDEPENDENCIA decided to take a riskier approach and ram the Chilean ship. Constantly sounding the depth, he attempted to do so twice, only to have to call off the attack when approaching the shallows. Close to Punta Gruesa, a shallow cove, COVADONGA scraped and barely cleared a reef. The INDEPENDENCIA, attempting to ram for a third time, struck the obstacle and immediately took on water while listing to starboard. The COVADONGA then turned around and opened fire, while INDEPENDENCIA's returned fire and tried to float her.
As Captain More realized his ship was lost, he ordered her scuttled, but the magazine was already flooded and it could not be blown up. The COVADONGA kept firing, but retreated when HUÁSCAR was seen coming from the north. HUÁSCAR's commander checked on INDEPENDENCIA and decided to pursue the enemy after seeing she was immobilized, but this cost precious time and COVADONGA steamed south as fast as possible. Captain Grau realized that HUÁSCAR could not catch up on the 10 mile head start before dusk, gave up the chase and returned to assist INDEPENDENCIA and salvage her guns; the crew (those aboard and on the beach) were rescued and the ship set on fire.
The Peruvians lost 18 crew with 5 wounded; 4 Chilean crewmen were killed and 3 wounded
The naval battle of Punta Gruesa was a Peruvian defeat; one of the most powerful warships in the Peruvian Navy was lost, while Chile only lost one of its oldest wooden warships. This left the HUÁSCAR alone to fight the entire Chilean Navy.

Chile 1979 3p50 sg818 scott539. (she is the ship on the right of the stamp.) Chile 1987 50p sg1134, scott? Right vessel INDEPENDENCIA, left is the COVADONGA
http://www.shipstamps.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 029#p17029

Source: Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1860-1905.
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independen ... _blindada)

[D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen]

COVADONGA
Built in 1858-'59 by Arsenal de la Carrara, Cadiz.
Displacement:630 tons, L:48,50m. 160 hp. 7 kn. Armement:2-70 pdrs., 3-40 pdrs. and 2-9 pdrs.
(Chili 1987, 50 P. StG.1134) Left ship on the stamp