Battle of Riachuelo

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Battle of Riachuelo

The Battle of Riachuelo

Date	June 11, 1865
Location	Riachuelo, on the Paraná River
Result	Decisive Brazilian/allied victory

Combatants

Paraguay

Brazil

Commanders

Pedro Inácio Meza

Francisco Manoel Barroso

Strength

8 ships, 36 cannons

9 ships, 59 cannons

Casualties

three steamers, 6 barges, Unknown personnel

One steamer, 247 personnel

War of the Triple Alliance
Mato Grosso – Rio Grande do Sul – Corrientes – Riachuelo – Jataí – Tuyutí – Curupaity – Piquissiri – Campaign of the Hills

The naval Battle of Riachuelo was a key point in the War of the Triple Alliance. By late 1864, Paraguay had scored a series of victories in the war; on June 11, 1865, however, its naval defeat by Brazil began to turn the tide in favor of the allies.

Paraguay's fleet before the battle was a fraction of the size of Brazil's. It arrived in Humaitá on the morning of June 9. Paraguayan president Francisco Solano López prepared to attack at Riachuelo the ships supporting allied land troops. Eight ships and six cannon-carrying barges, totaling 36 guns, attacked the Brazilian squadron, totaling 59 guns. Paraguay planned to attack in the early morning so that the element of surprise would make up for the differential in firepower. An engine problem caused a delay, however, and the fleet reached Riachuelo in daylight.

The Paraguayan commanders successfully tried to draw Brazilian ships towards the edge of the river, where they could only poorly maneuver, leading the ships into sandbars. But the initial Paraguayan success mirrored their early success on land; by 1 p.m. the superior Brazilian firepower had won the battle. Three of the eight Paraguayan ships were sunk before the retreat.

The Paraguayan losses are not known. Brazilian casualties counted 247 (though some sources say the number may have reached 750). The Paraguayan attempt to control the Paraná River failed; the loss in Riachuelo was followed by losses on land, and by 1870 Paraguay had suffered a devastating total defeat.

Ships involved:

1 Brazil
2 Paraguay
3 Description of battle
4 References

[edit] Brazil

Amazonas (1050 tons)
Belmonte (602)
Jequitinhonha 647)
Beberibe (637)
Parnaíba (602)
Ipiranga (325)
Araguari (415)
Iguatemi (406)
Mearim (415)

[edit] Paraguay

Tacuary (620)
Igurey (650)
Marquez de Olinda (300)
Salto Oriental (300)
Paraguary (730)
Iporá (300)
Jejuy (200)
Pirabebé (150)
Rangel
2 "chatas" (barges) (40)
5 "chatas" (35)
shore troops

[edit] Description of battle

The Paraguayans came down the river with nine steamers and seven "chatas" (barges or "flatties" in the original), while the Brazilians had nine steamers only. However Rangel was being towed and was unarmed, so the Paraguayans are normally counted as eight ships only.

The Paraguayans passed in a parallel line to the Brazilian fleet and continued down the stream. One of the Paraguayan steamers was hit in the boiler and one of the Chatas was also damaged. Out of range they turned upstream and anchored the chatas, forming a line in a very narrow part of the river. This was intended to trap the Brazilian fleet.

Admiral Barroso noticed the Paraguayan tactic and turned down the stream to go after the enemies. However the Paraguayans started to fire from the shore into the lead ship, Belmonte. The second ship in the line, Jequitinhonha, inadvertidly turned upstream and was followed by the whole fleet, thus leaving Belmonte alone to receive the full firepower of the Paraguayan armada being put out of action soon. Jequitinhonha ran aground after the turn, becaming an easy prey.

Admiral Barroso, on board of the steamer Amazonas, trying to avoid chaos and reorganing the Brazilian fleet, decided to lead the fleet down the stream again and fight the Paraguayans rather than saving the Amazonas for preventing the Paraguayan escape.

Four steamers (Beberibe, Iguatemi, Mearim and Araguari) followed the Amazonas, and the Paraguayan admiral (Meza) left his position and attacked the Brazilian line sending three ships after Araguari. Parnaíba remained near Jequitinhonha and was also attacked by three ships that were trying to board it. The Brazilian line was effectively cut in two. Inside Parnaíba a ferocious battle was tooking place when the Marquez de Olinda joined the attackers.

Barroso, at this time was heading upstream decided to turn the tide of the battle with a desperate measure. The first ship that faced Amazonas was the Jejuy which was rammed and put out of action. Then he Rammed Marquez de Olinda, Salto and sank a "chata". At this point Paraguari was already out of action. So the Paraguayans tried to disengage. Beberibe and Araguari pursued the evaders heavily damaging Tacuary and the Pirabebé, but the fall of the night prevented the sinking of these ships.

Jequitinhonha had to be put afire with Paraguari and Marquez de Olinda. In the end, the paraguayuan lost four steamers and all "chatas" while the Brazilians only lost the Jequitinhonha, coincidentaly the responsible for the whole confusion. Later, the Paraguayans recovered one of their ships. Barroso had turned the tables by creatively ramming the enemy ships. The Brazilian navy won a decisive battle. General Robles was effectively cut and stopped in Rio Santa lúcia. The threat to Argentina was neutralized.