Battle of Riachuelo

11 June 1865, Paraná River, near Corrientes

Brazilian victory

Paraguay planned to surprise the Brazilian squadron at anchor below Corrientes and board it, but its flotilla arrived late and steamed past firing instead, then anchored under shore batteries at the mouth of the Riachuelo. Admiral Barroso turned back and used his flagship Amazonas as a ram, sinking Paraguayan steamers one after another. Paraguay lost four steamers and its gun barges, and never again challenged Brazil on the rivers. Barroso's signal echoed Nelson: "Brazil expects every man to do his duty".

Imperial Brazilian Navy

9 ships, 1 lost

Ship	Type	Outcome
Amazonas Barroso's flagship; rammed Paraguayan ships	Frigate	Survived
Belmonte Knocked out of action	Corvette	Damaged
Jequitinhonha Ran aground and was lost	Corvette	Wrecked
Beberibe	Corvette	Survived
Parnaíba	Corvette	Survived
Ipiranga	Gunboat	Survived
Araguari	Gunboat	Survived
Iguatemi	Gunboat	Survived
Mearim	Gunboat	Survived

Paraguayan Navy

8+ ships, 4 lost

Flotillas and other craft	Number	Lost
Armed river steamers Including Tacuarí (flagship of Captain Meza, who was mortally wounded), Ygureí, Marqués de Olinda, Paraguarí, Salto Guairá, Yporá, Pirabebé and Río Apa. Paraguarí was rammed by Amazonas and burned. A ninth, Yberá, broke down before the battle.	8	4
Chatas (towed gun barges) All were lost.	several	?

Flotillas and other craft

Number

Lost

Armed river steamers

Including Tacuarí (flagship of Captain Meza, who was mortally wounded), Ygureí, Marqués de Olinda, Paraguarí, Salto Guairá, Yporá, Pirabebé and Río Apa. Paraguarí was rammed by Amazonas and burned. A ninth, Yberá, broke down before the battle.

Chatas (towed gun barges)

All were lost.

several

Map

Brazilian squadron goes up the Paraná Spring 1865
Paraguayan flotilla comes downriver 10–11 June 1865