BATTLE // March 2, 1868
Assault on the battleships Cabral and Lima Barros
Overview
The assault on the battleships Cabral and Lima Barros was a naval action that took place at dawn on 2 March 1868, during the Paraguayan War, when Paraguayan canoes, yoked two by two, disguised with branches and with 50 soldiers each, approached the Brazilian ironclads Lima Barros and Cabral.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Significance
The assault on the Cabral and Lima Barros represented a rare Paraguayan offensive naval action during the Paraguayan War, undertaken against Brazilian ironclads at a point when Paraguay faced severe material disadvantage. Deploying approximately 1,100 troops in a direct strike against armored warships, the operation demonstrated Paraguay's continued willingness to press the conflict despite the disparity in naval capability. Paraguayan casualties of 150 men reflected the difficulty of such an attack against ironclad vessels.
Tactics
Paraguayan forces used canoes yoked two by two and disguised with branches, each carrying approximately 50 soldiers, to approach the Brazilian ironclads Lima Barros and Cabral under concealment. The assault was launched at dawn, using low-profile watercraft and natural camouflage to close the distance before the attack.
Forces & casualties
Troop strength
- Paraguay1,100medium
Casualties
- Парагвай150medium
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6 sibling battles · 1 factions