Second Battle of Topolobampo
Encyclopedia
The Second Battle of Topolobampo was a bloodless naval engagement during the Mexican Revolution
. In March of 1914, a rebel Constitutionalist
gunboat
attempted to break the blockade
of Topolobampo
, Sinaloa
in Mexico
. The attack forced federal gunboats to a further distance but failed to lift the blockade.
Hilario Malpico, stood out for an attack on the federal gunboats, Guerrero and Morelos, commanded by Captain Navio Torres. Tampico was spotted sailing out past the bar and as fast as possible the two federal warships were underway in Tampicos direction. The Guerrero fired the first shots at 9:00 am with her gun battery
of six 4 inch guns. Just like during the First Battle of Topolobampo
, as soon as the Tampico cleared Shell Point, she fired her broadside
of two 4 inch guns and one 6-pounder on the Morelos. Her first shot landed about twenty yards too short at a range of 9,000 to 10,000 yards; none of the others hit Morelos.
The Guerrero and Morelos followed Tampico until stopping so Morelos could return Tampicos broadside with some of her own fire. Morelos fires and then turned about to retreat southwestward; none of her shots hit either. During the retreat, Tampico continued to fire on Morelos which put the USS New Orleans
, who was observing the battle, in direct line of Tampicos fire. Realizing that he may hit a neutral vessel, Lieutenant Malpica shifted Tampicos fire to the Guerrero. Captain Torres in the Guerrero, receiving fire again, chose to do the same as Morelos by turning around and fleeing, apparently in fear of Tampicos guns. The New Orleans, shifted berth as well, to a safer position in the battle area.
Tampico steamed back to the safe side of the bar and the two federal gunboats anchored farther south than their prior anchorage. All the firing ceased by 9:12 am; the Guerrero fired a total of thirteen shells, the Morelos nine, and the Tampico fired six rounds. The range varied between 9,000-10,000 yards and no hits were made. This time the officers of USS New Orleans noted in their log that the gunnery of the Tampico was considerably better than that of the Guerrero or Morelos.
on March 30, a day before the Third Battle of Topolobampo
and the sinking of Tampico. Guerrero continued the blockade.
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
. In March of 1914, a rebel Constitutionalist
Constitutionalists in the Mexican Revolution
Constitutionalists, or Carranzistas were the third faction in the Mexican Revolution consisting of mainly middle-class urbanites, liberals, and intellectuals who desired a constitution under the guidelines “Mexico for Mexicans”...
gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
attempted to break the blockade
Blockade
A blockade is an effort to cut off food, supplies, war material or communications from a particular area by force, either in part or totally. A blockade should not be confused with an embargo or sanctions, which are legal barriers to trade, and is distinct from a siege in that a blockade is usually...
of Topolobampo
Topolobampo
Topolobampo is a port on the Gulf of California in northwestern Sinaloa, Mexico. It is the fourth-largest town in the municipality of Ahome , reporting a 2005 census population of 6,032 inhabitants....
, Sinaloa
Sinaloa
Sinaloa officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales....
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The attack forced federal gunboats to a further distance but failed to lift the blockade.
Battle
On March 13, 1914, at 8:50 am, the rebel gunboat Tampico, under LieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Hilario Malpico, stood out for an attack on the federal gunboats, Guerrero and Morelos, commanded by Captain Navio Torres. Tampico was spotted sailing out past the bar and as fast as possible the two federal warships were underway in Tampicos direction. The Guerrero fired the first shots at 9:00 am with her gun battery
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
of six 4 inch guns. Just like during the First Battle of Topolobampo
First Battle of Topolobampo
The First Battle of Topolobampo was a bloodless engagement and one of the few naval battles of the Mexican Revolution. The small action occurred off Topolobampo, Mexico and involved three gunboats, two from the Mexican Navy and another which mutinied from the armada and joined the rebel...
, as soon as the Tampico cleared Shell Point, she fired her broadside
Broadside
A broadside is the side of a ship; the battery of cannon on one side of a warship; or their simultaneous fire in naval warfare.-Age of Sail:...
of two 4 inch guns and one 6-pounder on the Morelos. Her first shot landed about twenty yards too short at a range of 9,000 to 10,000 yards; none of the others hit Morelos.
The Guerrero and Morelos followed Tampico until stopping so Morelos could return Tampicos broadside with some of her own fire. Morelos fires and then turned about to retreat southwestward; none of her shots hit either. During the retreat, Tampico continued to fire on Morelos which put the USS New Orleans
USS New Orleans (CL-22)
USS New Orleans was a United States Navy protected cruiser.She was laid down in 1895 as Amazonas for the Brazilian Navy by Armstrong, Mitchell and Company, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, launched on 4 December 1896, purchased by the Navy while building on 16 March 1898; and commissioned 18 March 1898...
, who was observing the battle, in direct line of Tampicos fire. Realizing that he may hit a neutral vessel, Lieutenant Malpica shifted Tampicos fire to the Guerrero. Captain Torres in the Guerrero, receiving fire again, chose to do the same as Morelos by turning around and fleeing, apparently in fear of Tampicos guns. The New Orleans, shifted berth as well, to a safer position in the battle area.
Tampico steamed back to the safe side of the bar and the two federal gunboats anchored farther south than their prior anchorage. All the firing ceased by 9:12 am; the Guerrero fired a total of thirteen shells, the Morelos nine, and the Tampico fired six rounds. The range varied between 9,000-10,000 yards and no hits were made. This time the officers of USS New Orleans noted in their log that the gunnery of the Tampico was considerably better than that of the Guerrero or Morelos.
Aftermath
Ultimately Lieutenant Malpica in the Tampico failed to lift the federal blockade, but in the gunnery duel she was able to force the Guerrero and Morelos to break off their attack, despite not actually hitting the federal ships with her guns. Tampico won a tactical victory by forcing the federal gunboats away though the federal gunboats continued a naval blockade of Topolobambo. The Morelos left for AltataAltata
Altata is a small town connected to the Pacific Ocean, located about 45 miles west of Culiacán, Sinaloa in Mexico. It has a very nice beach and much wildlife: octopus, toninas, starfish, jellyfish, shark, birds, and many fish species. El Tambor and Nuevo Altata are nearby beaches. The area would...
on March 30, a day before the Third Battle of Topolobampo
Third Battle of Topolobampo
The Third Battle of Topolobampo was a single ship action during the Mexican Revolution. At the end of March 1914, a Constitutionalist gunboat attempted to break the blockade of Topolobampo, Sinaloa after failing in the First and Second Battles of Topolobampo...
and the sinking of Tampico. Guerrero continued the blockade.
See also
- First Battle of TopolobampoFirst Battle of TopolobampoThe First Battle of Topolobampo was a bloodless engagement and one of the few naval battles of the Mexican Revolution. The small action occurred off Topolobampo, Mexico and involved three gunboats, two from the Mexican Navy and another which mutinied from the armada and joined the rebel...
- Third Battle of TopolobampoThird Battle of TopolobampoThe Third Battle of Topolobampo was a single ship action during the Mexican Revolution. At the end of March 1914, a Constitutionalist gunboat attempted to break the blockade of Topolobampo, Sinaloa after failing in the First and Second Battles of Topolobampo...
- Fourth Battle of TopolobampoFourth Battle of TopolobampoThe Fourth Battle of Topolobampo was a single ship action fought during the Mexican Revolution and the last naval battle of the Topolobampo Campaign...