Battle of Islay

The Battle of Islay (Spanish: Batalla de Islay or Combate Naval de Islay) was a confrontation that occurred on January 12 and 13, 1838, during the War of the Confederation, a conflict between Chile and the Peru–Bolivian Confederation.

After the treaty of Paucarpata had been repudiated, the Chilean government again dispatched its fleet, composed of 5 battleships (Aquiles and Arequipeño, the corvettes Libertad and Valparaíso and the Monteagudo) under the command of Robert Simpson, to disrupt Peruvian commerce. On January 12, 1838 they met a Confederate squadron near the Peruvian port of Islay, on what is known as the Naval Battle of Islay. The Confederate squadron was conformed by the Socabaya, Junín and Fundador under the command of commander Juan José Panizo. Simpson attacked but Panizo managed to head him off for several hours until able to escape under the cover of darkness. Both sides claimed victory, but the result was mostly a stalemate that did not affect the course of the war.