''Rímac'' was a steamer involved in decisive actions of the War of the Pacific (1879–1884) and Thousand Days' War (1899–1902). After construction of the ship in the United Kingdom in 1872, she was purchased by the Compañía Sudamericana de Vapores and arrived in Chile in 1874. On 5 May 1874 the Chilean government issued a

subvention A subsidy or government incentive is a form of financial aid or support extended to an economic sector (business, or individual) generally with the aim of promoting economic and social policy. Although commonly extended from the government, the ter ...

program under which Chilean enterprises supplied Navy with materiel, called "Convenio de subvención." At the beginning of the war and under this agreement ''Rímac'' was handed over to the Chilean Navy, together with the ships ''Loa'' and ''Itata''. In May 1879 she towed ''Covadonga'' to Antofagasta after the

Battle of Punta Gruesa The Battle of Punta Gruesa was a naval action that took place on May 21, 1879, during the War of the Pacific between Chile and Peru. This may be labelled as the second part of the Naval Battle of Iquique, although it is described in many sources ...

. In June 1879 the Peruvian ironclad captured ''Rímac'' with 260 men of a cavalry regiment, weapons and ammunition. This loss caused riots in Santiago and led to the resignation of the Minister of National Defense, Basilio Urrutia Vásquez, and the commander-in-chief of the Chilean Navy,

Juan Williams Rebolledo Juan Williams Rebolledo (1825 in Curacaví, Melipilla Province – 24 June 1910 in Santiago), was a Chilean rear admiral who was the organizer and commander-in-chief of the Chilean navy in 1879 at the beginning of the War of the Pacific. ...

.THE WAR BETWEEN CHILI AND PERU, Timaru Herald, Rōrahi XXXI, Putanga 1605, 12 Whiringa-ā-rangi 1879, Page

retrieved on 6 December 2012 After the defeat of the Peruvian Army in the battles of San Juan and Miraflores, the Secretary of the Navy, Captain Manuel Villar, during the night of 16 January 1881 ordered the destruction of the port defenses and the remaining ships of the

Peruvian Navy The Peruvian Navy ( es, link=no, Marina de Guerra del Perú, abbreviated MGP) is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with surveillance, patrol and defense on lakes, rivers and the Pacific Ocean up to from the Peruvian littoral. Addit ...

, including ''Rímac'', to prevent their (re-)capture by the Chilean troops. The order was executed by the captains

Luis Germán Astete Luis Germán Astete (Lima, 28 May 1832 – Huamachuco, 10 July 1883) was a Peruvian politician and sailor, hero of the War of the Pacific. He died fighting in the Battle of Huamachuco. Biography He was the son of Pedro de Astete Núñez a ...

and

Manuel Villavicencio Manuel Antonio Villavicencio Freyre (13 June 1834 – 20 December 1925) was a prominent Peruvian Navy officer, who participated in the War of the Pacific. He also served as a Senator. Biography Military career He was the son of Manuel Villa ...

during the dawn of 17 January 1881. But few months later, in June 1881 she was refloated and auctioned off to CSAV (again) for $36,000. During the Thousand Days' War in Colombia, ''Rímac'', then renamed ''Lautaro'', was lent to the

Conservative Party The Conservative Party is a name used by many political parties around the world. These political parties are generally right-wing though their exact ideologies can range from center-right to far-right. Political parties called The Conservative P ...

; she was sunk off Panama City on 20 January 1902, fighting against ''Admiral Padilla'' of the Liberal Party.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rimac (1872) Auxiliary ships of the Chilean Navy Auxiliary ships of the Peruvian Navy Ships of the War of the Pacific Shipwrecks of the War of the Pacific Scuttled vessels of Peru Maritime incidents in January 1881 Maritime incidents in 1902 1872 ships Ships built on the River Mersey Shipwrecks in the Gulf of Panama

See also

References