Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata
1845–1850
During the long Uruguayan Civil War, Juan Manuel de Rosas, ruler of the Argentine Confederation, backed the Blancos besieging Montevideo and closed the rivers Paraná and Uruguay to foreign shipping. Britain and France intervened: they seized the Argentine squadron blockading Montevideo, blockaded Buenos Aires, and in November 1845 fought their way up the Paraná past the chains and batteries at Vuelta de Obligado to open the river to trade. The steamers got the merchant convoys through, but the trade never paid, Rosas did not give way, and Britain (1849) and France (1850) made peace on terms that left him in power.
How the fleets moved
Click a route to see which ships made it, or a battle for its summary. Routes are approximate.
Loading map…
British movement
French movement
Battle (size: ships engaged)
Routes are approximate.
Battles
In date order.
August 1845
Seizure of the Argentine squadronOff Montevideo
Argentine squadron seized without a fight
0
vs
1 (1 lost)
20 November 1845
Battle of Vuelta de ObligadoVuelta de Obligado, Paraná River
Anglo-French victory; the Paraná forced
11
vs
1 (1 lost)
4 June 1846
Battle of Punta QuebrachoAngostura del Quebracho, Paraná River
Argentine success; convoy got through with losses
0
Fleets
Each navy's ships in the war, from its biggest down.