Angamos matched rival ironclad designs built in Britain

At Angamos, Grau's Peruvian monitor and corvette faced a larger Chilean force that included two armoured frigates, two corvettes, and two transports. The action tested two ironclad design philosophies. Huáscar concentrated two powerful guns in a low armoured turret, while the Chilean Almirante Cochrane and Blanco Encalada used more conventional central batteries and armour-piercing ammunition. Both Chilean ironclads came from Earle's Shipbuilding in Hull, whereas Huáscar came from Laird Brothers in Birkenhead. British commercial yards had therefore supplied competing South American states for the same battle.