Q&A · 2:04:21-2:04:50

Was 200 metres still gun range at Angamos?

A viewer asks whether Blanco Encalada's final 200-metre approach was gunnery distance or effectively boarding range.

Question

At Angamos, did 200 metres still count as cannon range rather than boarding range?

Short answer

Yes. It was point-blank naval gunnery range, where the Chilean heavy shells could penetrate Huáscar's armour with devastating effect.

Notes

Two hundred metres was an exceptionally close gunnery range for ironclads rather than merely a prelude to boarding. At that distance the heavy shells retained overwhelming kinetic energy and could penetrate the target's armour. Blanco Encalada's deliberate approach converted an already damaged opponent into a point-blank target. This explains why the late shots caused catastrophic effects inside Huáscar even though the ships had not yet come alongside.