The Royalists lacked reinforcement from occupied Spain but retained the decisive local infrastructure at Montevideo. Its port supported Spanish naval forces on the South American Atlantic coast and enabled a blockade of Buenos Aires. To challenge that control, the revolutionary government bought five vessels and armed three: the schooner Invencible, brigantine Veinticinco de Mayo, and sloop América. Their small size, questionable guns, inexperienced crews, and improvised organization meant that Buenos Aires possessed ships before it had an operational navy.
Chapter · 29:26-33:35
Montevideo's infrastructure shapes the naval contest
Royalist control of Montevideo provided a naval base and blockade system, while Buenos Aires had to create a fighting force from purchased merchant vessels and unsuitable artillery.