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A review by komet2020
Warships in the War of the Pacific 1879–83: South America's Ironclad Naval Campaign by Angus Konstam
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Warships in the War of the Pacific 1879-83 sheds light on a little known conflict in Latin America that nevertheless was influential in the way the major world powers of the day developed and employed their respective naval forces for the remainder of the 19th century.
The War of the Pacific was waged among 3 nations, which began as a territorial clash between Chile and Bolivia. Chile went to war with Bolivia and Peru (which entered the war against Chile owing to its secret defensive alliance with Bolivia) over natural resources. While Bolivia lacked a navy, both Chile and Peru boasted of a number of modern warships of British design and manufacture. A series of naval battles were fought in 1879 and 1880 off the coasts of the 3 nations. Chile embarked upon a campaign of blockading key Peruvian port cities, through which Peru exported nitrates, a key element in the making of explosives that accounted for much of that nation's wealth.
The book provides valuable insights into the types of technology - ironclad and steam-powered warships - employed by the navies of Peru and Chile, along with the impacts the various naval engagements had in the shaping of modern South America. For example, Bolivia's loss of its Pacific coast to Chile made it a landlocked nation.
Furthermore, there are illustrations, detailed information pertaining to the training and tactics of the clashing navies, and photos of the Chilean and Peruvian warships. All in all, this helps to give the reader a grasp as to how the naval aspects of the War of the Pacific impacted upon the conflict itself.
The War of the Pacific was waged among 3 nations, which began as a territorial clash between Chile and Bolivia. Chile went to war with Bolivia and Peru (which entered the war against Chile owing to its secret defensive alliance with Bolivia) over natural resources. While Bolivia lacked a navy, both Chile and Peru boasted of a number of modern warships of British design and manufacture. A series of naval battles were fought in 1879 and 1880 off the coasts of the 3 nations. Chile embarked upon a campaign of blockading key Peruvian port cities, through which Peru exported nitrates, a key element in the making of explosives that accounted for much of that nation's wealth.
The book provides valuable insights into the types of technology - ironclad and steam-powered warships - employed by the navies of Peru and Chile, along with the impacts the various naval engagements had in the shaping of modern South America. For example, Bolivia's loss of its Pacific coast to Chile made it a landlocked nation.
Furthermore, there are illustrations, detailed information pertaining to the training and tactics of the clashing navies, and photos of the Chilean and Peruvian warships. All in all, this helps to give the reader a grasp as to how the naval aspects of the War of the Pacific impacted upon the conflict itself.