Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:31:04-2:32:13

US pressure to acquire Almirante Latorre

After Pearl Harbor, the United States pressed Chile to sell its modernized battleship but accepted its value patrolling South American waters.

Almirante LatorreChilean NavyNaval DiplomacyPearl HarborSurface RaidersUS Navy
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

How did the United States pressure Chile to sell Almirante Latorre after Pearl Harbor?

Short answer

It used strong diplomatic and financial pressure, but backed away once Chile activated the ship and demonstrated its regional defensive value.

Notes

Diplomatic pressure reportedly included an open-ended financial offer and coercive hints after Pearl Harbor. Chile responded by taking the modernized ship out of reserve, fully crewing it, and demonstrating that it would not be surrendered casually. The active battleship then patrolled Chilean waters. Washington ultimately recognized that a Chilean 14-inch-gunned ship could deter isolated German or Japanese raiders without the United States having to buy, crew, or refuel it.