Huascar

She carried during the indecisive action fought with British ships off Pacocha, in 1877. From Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905 volume: Dimensions 190'×35'×18', and tonnage 2030 tons, two masts, one funnel. 1-shaft steam engine, 1650 ihp, 12.3 knots. Armour 4.5" belt, turret 8" 2- 10" 12,5 ton guns in one twin turret, 2-40 pounder guns. No torpedo tubes listed.

I know that in the action you describe, HMS Shah *did* fire a torpedoe (legend says it was launched off the wardroom table!) but the Huascar outran it. Shah is listed in Conway's as having two "torpedo carriages". Incidentally. Huascar survives as a musuem ship in Chile, who captured her on 1879-10-08.

1877-05-30: In action with the British ships HMS Shah and Amethyst
A Lima correspondent states that an attempt, made by the Peruvian steamer Huascar, to destroy the Chilean ironclad at Antofagosta, resulted in a singular episode.
A new war torpedo was dispatched towards the Chilean steamer and, when it had travelled half the distance, it changed its course and travelled back, direct for the Huascar. The ship had no time to get out of the way but a Lieutenant jumped overboard, swam to the stern of the torpedo, and diverted its course so that it passed astern of the Huascar.
The Illustrated London News, October 11th, 1879.

Quinn, Paul & Eason, Christopher: Shah Versus Huascar: The Diary of Henry Eason.
The Mariner's Mirror Vol. 86 (200), pp 283-301.
Seeger, Martin L.: The Ten Cent War: Naval Phase.
The American Neptune Vol. 39, Salem, 1979;s. 271-288. The dispute in regard to territorial rights over the seabord of Atacama led to the conflict between Chile and Bolivia in 1879, also involving war with Peru.
Wood, Gerald & Somervell, Philip & Naber, John: The Iron Clad Turret Ship Huascar.
Warship Vol. 10, London, 1986. pp 2-11, 86-94, ill.

Updated 2004-01-03 by Lars Bruzelius.

Sjöhistoriska Samfundet | The Maritime History Virtual Archives.