Atlas of Battles

battle, notable, nineteenth century

Battle of Callao

Battle of Callao was a battle fought on 2 May 1866 at Callao, in what is now Peru. It was part of the Chincha Islands War, which ran from 1864 to 1866. The recorded result: Inconclusive. Recorded strength: 1 ironclad; 5 frigates; 1 corvette against 2 small ironclads; 3 gunboats; 52 shore-based guns; 3,000 infantry and cavalry.

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An artist's depiction of the battle of Callao.
An artist's depiction of the battle of Callao.. Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought2 May 1866
WhereCallao, Peru12.048S, 77.154W
OutcomeInconclusive
BelligerentsSpainagainstPeru
Part ofChincha Islands War1864 to 1866

Where it sits in the Chincha Islands War

Action of 17 November 1865, 1865Battle of Papudo, 18651865 Calderilla clashes, 1865Action of 22 August 1866, 1866Battle of Abtao, 1866Battle of Huite, 1866Capture of the Paquete de Maule, 1866Bombardment of Valparaiso, 1866Battle of Callao, 186618651866Battle of Callao, 1866
9 placed engagements of the Chincha Islands War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date2 May 1866
PlaceCallao, Peru
12.048S, 77.154W
KindBattle, nineteenth century
Strength1 ironclad; 5 frigates; 1 corvette2 small ironclads; 3 gunboats; 52 shore-based guns; 3,000 infantry and cavalry
Casualties and losses43 killed; 83 wounded; 68 lightly woundedSources vary: 180–200 killed and wounded; 83 – 90 killed; 260 wounded; +350 killed; 2,000 killed and wounded
Commanders
  • Casto Méndez Núñez
  • Mariano Ignacio Prado
Battle of CallaoBattle of CallaoCapture of the schooner PeruvianaBombardment of CallaoFirst Siege of CallaoSecond Siege of CallaoThird Siege of CallaoCapture of the schooner PeruvianaChancayJaujaJunínChilcaChosicaHuachoTarmaLa Oroya100 km12.048S, 77.154W
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

Contested ground: this site was fought over 6 times between 1821 and 1880.

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1866

Battle of Callao is one of 3,694 engagements of the 19th century in the atlas and one of 96 in present-day Peru.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q2394918, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Callao, revision 1381423327, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.