Battle of Punta Colares

Significance

The naval Battle of Punta Colares, also known as the Battle of Corales, was the first major naval engagement of the Cisplatine War. The confrontation pitted a Brazilian fleet under admiral Rodrigo José Ferreira Lobo against a United Provinces squadron under admiral William Brown, with fighting lasting approximately seven hours. As the opening significant naval action of the war, it established the contest for maritime control that would shape the wider struggle over the Banda Oriental. The Cisplatine War turned heavily on the ability of each side to project force along the Río de la Plata and its approaches, making this early engagement a signal test of the relative naval capacity of the Empire of Brazil and the United Provinces.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (2)