Colaboración del C. de N. Edgardo Loret de Mola
Responsable de la edición: Rosario Yika Uribe
Fuente: Cinco
siglos del destino marítimo del Perú, de Esperanza Navarro Pantac:
Instituto de Estudios Histórico-Marítimos del Perú, 2016
Efemérides Navales de Hoy 23 de julio
23 de julio 1866: El almirante John R. Tucker es nombrado jefe de la división peruana de la Escuadra Aliada.
Si bien muchos oficiales estadounidenses fueron llamados a servir en nuestra Marina en el Siglo XX, John R Tucker parece haber sido uno de los pocos que lo fueron en el Siglo XIX. ¿Quién era Tucker y por qué el gobierno de Prado lo llamó a dirigir nuestra Marina?, motivando que Grau y otros oficiales no aceptaran, por principio, estar a órdenes de un extranjero. Afortunadamente, uno de los hombres que trabajo con él, el CdeN James H Rochelle, escribió un corto esquema biográfico de Tucker que he sintetizado poniendo sólo los subtítulos de los tres capítulos y el inicio del tercero, para que aquellos que leen inglés puedan conocer un poquito más de este personaje.
Life of Rear Admiral John Randolph Tucker
BY JAMES HENRY ROCHELLE.
The Tuckers — Birth of John Randolph Tucker. Boyhood — Appointed a Midshipman in the United States Navy — First Cruise — "The Roaring Lads of the Brandywine" — Passes Examination for Promotion — Appointed a Past Midshipman — Promoted to the Rank of Lieutenant — Marriage — Mexican War. Capture of Tobasco — Commands United States Bomb-Brig Stromboli — Made a Commander — Commands United States Receiving ShipPennsylvania — Ordnance Officer at the Norfolk Navy Yard — Resigns on the Secession of Virginia
Appointed a Commander in the Virginia Navy — In Charge of the Defenses of James River — Transferred to the Confederate States Navy — Placed in Command of the Patrick Henry — Fitting Out Under Difficulties — First Partially Armored American Vessel. Lieutenant Powell's Plan for Armored Gunboats — Officers of the Patrick Henry — Guarding James River — Scaling the Guns — "Naval Skirmish" — A Flag Which Was Not Presented — Battle of Hampton Roads. Sinking of the Cumberland; an American Vengeur — Burning of the Congress — Combat Between the Virginia and the Monitor — Flag-officer Tatnall Takes Command of the Confederate Squadron — Sally Into Hampton Roads — Plan for Carrying the Monitor by Boarding — Evacuation of Norfolk — Towing Unfinished Gunboats to Richmond — Federal Squadron Enters James River — Crews of the Patrick Henry, Jamestown and Virginia
Tucker Offered the Command of the Peruvian Fleet, With the Rank of Rear Admiral — Arrives in Lima — No Precedent for the Return of Money — Commissioned a Rear Admiral in the Navy of Peru — Commands the Allied Fleets of Peru and Chile — Spanish War — Tucker's Plan for a Naval Campaign; Projected Expedition Against Manila — Cessation of Hostilities — Tucker Retires From the Command of the Fleet, and Is Appointed President of the Peruvian Hydrographical Commission of the Amazon — Crosses the Andes and Reaches the Amazon — Explores the Yavari River — Ordered to the United States to Superintend the Building of an Exploring Steamer — Returns to the Amazon With Steamer Tambo. Expedition Up the Ucayali and Exploration of the Tambo River — Ordered to the United States to Procure a Steamer of Light Draught of Water — Returns to the Amazon With Steamer Mairo — Second Expedition Up the Ucayali — Canoe Expedition Up the Pachitea and Exploration of the Pichis River — Expedition Up the Amazon and Huallaga Rivers — Ordered to Lima. Ordered to New York to Superintend the [56]Charts Made by the Hydrographical Commission — Publication of Charts Abandoned on Account of the Financial Condition of Peru — Letter From President Pardo — Letter From Minister Freyre — Tucker Retires to His Home in Petersburg, Virginia — Occupations and Amusements of Old Age — Death — Character and Qualities — Conclusion.
While residing in Raleigh, North Carolina, Tucker received a letter from the Peruvian Minister to the United States, requesting an interview on affairs of importance. Going to Washington, Tucker saw the Minister, and the result of the interview was that he accepted a proposition to go to Peru and enter the Navy of that Republic as a rear-admiral, his commission to be dated from the time of his arrival at Lima. He was allowed to take with him two staff officers, one with the rank of captain and the other with that of commander.
When Tucker entered the Navy of Peru, that Republic was engaged in a war with Spain. Spain had never recognized the independence of her former South American colonies, and thinking a favorable opportunity had arisen for asserting her dormant claims, the Spanish Government sent an iron-clad frigate, accompanied by several smaller vessels, to attack the Chilean and Peruvian seaport cities on the Pacific coast. The attack upon Valparaiso, the chief port of Chile, was successful, but the Spanish [57]squadron was beaten off at Callao by the Peruvian batteries. Whilst preparing for the defense of Callao, the Peruvian Government determined to place its naval establishment on such a footing that it would be able to meet any force Spain could send to the Pacific. Tucker had, and most deservedly, the reputation of being a hard fighter, a thorough disciplinarian, and a splendid seaman; hence the Peruvian Government of President Prado directed its Minister at Washington to engage his services if possible. The cause was one which enlisted all Tucker's sympathies, and he agreed to take command of the Peruvian fleet. Tucker became much attached to Peru, and served the Republic zealously and faithfully. He had many warm friends in Lima, and no matter what party held the Government, the trust and confidence reposed in him by the authorities in Lima was always implicit.
Tucker arrived in Lima accompanied by his personal staff, David Porter McCorkle, captain of the fleet, and Walter Raleigh Butt, commander and aide. Just before their leaving New York the Peruvian Minister handed Tucker a bag of gold, with which he was told to pay all the traveling expenses of himself and staff; this was done, but when the party arrived at Lima the bag was still half full. Tucker insisted on returning this surplus to the Government, but there was no precedent for such a thing, and it was not without some difficulty that there could be found an officer of the treasury authorized to receive and receipt for the unexpected money.
[58]The appointment of a foreigner to command their fleet was distasteful to some of the Peruvian officers, and this fact coming to Tucker's knowledge, he informed General Prado, the President of the Republic, that he had no wish that any officer should be forced to serve unwillingly under his command, and preferred resigning if the dissatisfaction at the appointment of a stranger to command the fleet was general or deep-seated. The officers who were dissatisfied were relieved from duty, and others were easily found who were not only willing but anxious to serve under Tucker.
The Peruvian squadron was lying at Valparaiso when Tucker hoisted his flag on board the frigate Independencia. The Chilean squadron was also lying at Valparaiso, and Tucker, as senior officer present, was in command of the allied fleets of both Peru and Chile.
An efficient state of drill and discipline was soon established in the fleets. A feeble attempt at mutiny broke out on one occasion during the temporary absence of Tucker, but it was easily quelled without bloodshed, and no similar attempt was ever again made whilst Tucker was in command. Officers of the Peruvian Navy, who were themselves opposed to giving foreigners high rank in their service, admitted that the fleet had never been in so good a condition for effective service as whilst it was under Tucker.
The Spanish squadron had retired from the coast, but was expected to return as soon as it had been refitted and revictualed, but no apprehension was felt [59]as to the result of another attack by the Spanish, for the allied fleets were believed to be fully equal to the task of protecting the coasts and ports of the Republics.
Tucker's plan of naval operations was to sail with a small squadron, composed of the most efficient vessels under his command, for Manila, a most important dependency of Spain in the East Indies. He expected to take the Spaniards entirely by surprise, to capture all Spanish vessels in port, and to hold Manila and the other ports of the Philippine Islands until peace was established.
In order to provide for the reappearance of the Spanish fleet on the coast during his absence, Tucker advised the allied Governments to enroll as a naval reserve all the Peruvian and Chilean masters, mates and crews of merchant vessels, pilots and mariners engaged in employments on shore. A part of his plan was that all merchant steamers carrying the flags of the Republics, which could be made available for war purposes, should be inspected and held ready for active service in the Navy and manned by the naval reserve whenever the Government should think it necessary to employ them. This force, with the harbor defense iron-clads, and the forts and batteries on shore, Tucker thought would be a sufficient protection for the coast, whilst his squadron of the most efficient sea-going vessels was absent in the East Indies, where the capture of Manila would have dealt a heavy blow to Spain, and rendered an honorable peace, carrying with it an acknowledgment of the [60]independence of Peru and Chile, a matter of easy attainment.
This plan, which would probably have been entirely successful if carried out with skill, daring and judgment, as it would have been by Tucker, was favorably considered by the Governments of the allied Republics, but it was not carried out, probably on account of the financial embarrassments under which the Republics labored, and which rendered it exceedingly difficult to find the funds required to fit out the expedition.
The Manila expedition having been abandoned, and the Spanish fleet which had been employed on the Pacific coast having returned home, Tucker requested permission to visit Lima, in order that he might lay before General Prado, President of the Republic, a plan for making an exploration and survey of the Peruvian or Upper Amazon River and its tributaries. The President heartily approved of the enterprise, for the Government was at that very time considering the practicability of opening better communications between the west coast and the eastern part of the country, and of finding an outlet by the waters of the Amazon for the rich productions of the interior.
Tucker resigned his commission as rear-admiral in the Navy of the Republic, and was immediately appointed President of the Peruvian Hydrographical Commission of the Amazon. He left Lima with a full corps of assistants, and made his way across the mountains to the head of navigation on the Palcazu river, where the party was received on board a [61]Government steamer that had been dispatched from Iquitos to meet them. The headquarters of the Commission was established at Iquitos, the principal settlement on the Upper Amazon river, and the place where the Government factories and magazines were located.
23 de julio 1879: Captura del vapor chileno Rímac por el Huáscar y la Unión. Este vapor era uno de los mayores transportes chilenos que navegaba con pertrechos de guerra y un escogido número de tropas para desembarcar en Antofagasta. Conducía al regimiento Carabineros de Yungay, 215 caballos, gran cantidad de carbón, armas, proyectiles y otros importantes artículos de guerra. El buque fue conducido a Arica. Su captura produjo tumultos y protestas contra el gobierno chileno en Santiago y otras ciudades chilenas.
En día anterior se ha presentado el relato de la captura del Rímac por la Unión y el Huáscar. Hoy se presenta el parte del capitán del Rímac, Sr P. Lautrup, y no el comandante del mismo, CdeF Ignacio Luis Gana, ya que el parte de Lautrup es más breve y sin intentos de adornar una derrota para tratar de hacer pasar por algo glorioso
23 de julio 1879: Captura del vapor chileno Rímac por el Huáscar y la Unión. Este vapor era uno de los mayores transportes chilenos que navegaba con pertrechos de guerra y un escogido número de tropas para desembarcar en Antofagasta. Conducía al regimiento Carabineros de Yungay, 215 caballos, gran cantidad de carbón, armas, proyectiles y otros importantes artículos de guerra. El buque fue conducido a Arica. Su captura produjo tumultos y protestas contra el gobierno chileno en Santiago y otras ciudades chilenas.
En día anterior se ha presentado el relato de la captura del Rímac por la Unión y el Huáscar. Hoy se presenta el parte del capitán del Rímac, Sr P. Lautrup, y no el comandante del mismo, CdeF Ignacio Luis Gana, ya que el parte de Lautrup es más breve y sin intentos de adornar una derrota para tratar de hacer pasar por algo glorioso
23 de julio 1886: Por decreto supremo se reabre la Escuela de Grumetes, señalando su alcance y características como centro de instrucción.
23 de julio 1941: En el marco del conflicto con Ecuador, se captura la lancha ecuatoriana Hualtaco. Las patrulleras peruanas cumplían una labor de patrullaje en los esteros para impedir el transporte de tropas y de pertrechos. Ese día la patrullera P101, al mando del alférez de fragata Germán Castillo, tiene un encuentro con la lancha Hualtaco, que después de un tiroteo es abandonada por sus tripulantes y capturada por la patrullera peruana.
23 de julio 1941: A las 0750 despegó la escuadrilla 41 compuesta por 4 aviones NA-50 al mando del teniente Antonio Alberti, y compuesta por el teniente Fernando Paraud, el teniente José Abelardo Quiñones Gonzales y el alférez Manuel Rivera. A las 0800 llegaron a su objetivo en Quebrada Seca y maniobraron para bombardearla. Al iniciar su pasaje la aeronave de Quiñones fue alcanzado por el fuego de una batería antiaérea ecuatoriana que la envolvió en llamas, a lo que Quiñones en evidente maniobra voluntaria y controlada se dirigió hacia la batería enemiga estrellándose en ella y destruyéndola. Por ley Nº 16126 de 10 de mayo de 1966 el Congreso de la República lo declaró héroe nacional y declaró el 23 de julio como el Día de la Aviación Militar del Perú.
En 1973 tuve la fortuna de conocer y establecer gran amistad en San Juan de Marcona con el Ingeniero Marco de la Fuente que en su juventud había sido miembro de la Fuerza Aérea del Perú y había servido con Quiñones el el mismo Escuadrón en Chiclayo. A solas en un vuelo en un Cessna 150 que efectué con Marco, le pregunté si el pensaba que Quiñones, luego de ser tocado por el fuego enemigo, verdaderamente había dirigido su avión en llamas hacia la batería enemiga o simplemente el avión había caído por si sólo sobre ella. Su respuesta fue contundente en el sentido que el no solo pensaba sino que estaba seguro que Quiñones lo había hecho en forma consciente porque conociéndolo como el tuvo la oportunidad de conocerlo y sabiendo muy bien su forma de ser: alegre, valiente, aguerrido y líder nato, era la reacción lógica de este héroe nuestro.
¡Un saludo afectuoso a nuestros hermanos de armas de la FAP!
23 de julio 1945: Se asigna el nombre Dos de Mayo a la grúa flotante que se armó en el Arsenal Naval del Callao.
23 de julio 1989: Se reflota el submarino BAP Pacocha.
23 de julio 1999: Los cañones Vorux de la corbeta Unión son colocados en la explanada Unión de la Escuela Naval.
23 de julio 1886: Por decreto supremo se reabre la Escuela de Grumetes, señalando su alcance y características como centro de instrucción.
23 de julio 1941: En el marco del conflicto con Ecuador, se captura la lancha ecuatoriana Hualtaco. Las patrulleras peruanas cumplían una labor de patrullaje en los esteros para impedir el transporte de tropas y de pertrechos. Ese día la patrullera P101, al mando del alférez de fragata Germán Castillo, tiene un encuentro con la lancha Hualtaco, que después de un tiroteo es abandonada por sus tripulantes y capturada por la patrullera peruana.
23 de julio 1941: A las 0750 despegó la escuadrilla 41 compuesta por 4 aviones NA-50 al mando del teniente Antonio Alberti, y compuesta por el teniente Fernando Paraud, el teniente José Abelardo Quiñones Gonzales y el alférez Manuel Rivera. A las 0800 llegaron a su objetivo en Quebrada Seca y maniobraron para bombardearla. Al iniciar su pasaje la aeronave de Quiñones fue alcanzado por el fuego de una batería antiaérea ecuatoriana que la envolvió en llamas, a lo que Quiñones en evidente maniobra voluntaria y controlada se dirigió hacia la batería enemiga estrellándose en ella y destruyéndola. Por ley Nº 16126 de 10 de mayo de 1966 el Congreso de la República lo declaró héroe nacional y declaró el 23 de julio como el Día de la Aviación Militar del Perú.
En 1973 tuve la fortuna de conocer y establecer gran amistad en San Juan de Marcona con el Ingeniero Marco de la Fuente que en su juventud había sido miembro de la Fuerza Aérea del Perú y había servido con Quiñones el el mismo Escuadrón en Chiclayo. A solas en un vuelo en un Cessna 150 que efectué con Marco, le pregunté si el pensaba que Quiñones, luego de ser tocado por el fuego enemigo, verdaderamente había dirigido su avión en llamas hacia la batería enemiga o simplemente el avión había caído por si sólo sobre ella. Su respuesta fue contundente en el sentido que el no solo pensaba sino que estaba seguro que Quiñones lo había hecho en forma consciente porque conociéndolo como el tuvo la oportunidad de conocerlo y sabiendo muy bien su forma de ser: alegre, valiente, aguerrido y líder nato, era la reacción lógica de este héroe nuestro.
¡Un saludo afectuoso a nuestros hermanos de armas de la FAP!
23 de julio 1945: Se asigna el nombre Dos de Mayo a la grúa flotante que se armó en el Arsenal Naval del Callao.
23 de julio 1989: Se reflota el submarino BAP Pacocha.
23 de julio 1999: Los cañones Vorux de la corbeta Unión son colocados en la explanada Unión de la Escuela Naval.
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