Battle of Caldera Bay

23 April 1891, Caldera, Atacama

Government victory

Balmaceda's two new torpedo gunboats came up the coast and attacked the Congressionalist ironclad Blanco Encalada at anchor before dawn. One of Condell's torpedoes hit but failed to explode; one from Lynch hit and the ironclad sank within minutes, taking 182 men with her. It was the first time a self-propelled torpedo had sunk an ironclad.