Battle of Callao

2 May 1866, Callao, Peru

Inconclusive; both sides claimed victory

Admiral Méndez Núñez brought his squadron against the forts of Callao. Numancia drew much of the fire and Méndez Núñez was wounded on her bridge; Villa de Madrid was disabled and Berenguela holed. A Spanish shot destroyed the Peruvian La Merced turret, killing the war minister José Gálvez. By evening the forts were down to a few guns and the Spanish withdrew. It was the last action of the war.

Spanish Navy

14 ships, none lost

Ship	Type	Outcome
Numancia Flagship; 45 hits	Ironclad	Damaged
Villa de Madrid Boilers hit; towed out	Frigate	Damaged
Berenguela Holed at the waterline	Frigate	Damaged
Blanca	Frigate	Survived
Resolución	Frigate	Survived
Almansa	Frigate	Survived
Vencedora	Gunboat	Survived

Flotillas and other craft	Number	Lost
Auxiliaries and transports Kept out of the action.	7	0

Flotillas and other craft

Number

Lost

Auxiliaries and transports

Kept out of the action.

Peruvian shore batteries

No ships engaged

Forts, batteries and aircraft	Strength	Outcome
Forts and batteries of Callao Including new Armstrong and Blakely rifled guns and two armoured turrets, Junín and La Merced.	about 50 guns	Held
La Merced turret A Spanish shell set off its powder, killing the war minister José Gálvez.	Not recorded	Destroyed

Forts, batteries and aircraft

Strength

Outcome

Forts and batteries of Callao

Including new Armstrong and Blakely rifled guns and two armoured turrets, Junín and La Merced.

about 50 guns

Held

La Merced turret

A Spanish shell set off its powder, killing the war minister José Gálvez.

Not recorded

Destroyed

Map

Spanish fleet sails north to Callao April 1866