The Peruvian 'Submarine Bull' is successful in the War of the Pacific

[Darkest]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toro_Submarino

The first task conferred upon the Toro was to advance at night towards either of the enemy battleships (Almirante Cochrane or Blanco Encalada), which were anchored at the San Lorenzo Island a few kilometers off Callao, pulling two torpedoes. The submarine should deploy under one of the battleships and release the torpedoes, which, activated by a time device, would explode and sink the objective. However, as Toro was preparing to attack and already under 36 feet of water, the Chileans, informed by their spies of a Peruvian secret and powerful weapon, moved their battleships to the South and the mission was aborted.

So, as things go, the Chileans are not informed by their spies of the weapon. Lets say that the Toro pulls off its maneuvers perfectly, it is a spectacular success. It deploys both torpedoes under the Blanco Encalada, then it cruises off. A few minutes later, the torpedos detonate. The battleship sinks into the sea. How could this effect the War of the Pacific and perhaps later military strategy?

 

[Gonzaga]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toro_Submarino



So, as things go, the Chileans are not informed by their spies of the weapon. Lets say that the Toro pulls off its maneuvers perfectly, it is a spectacular success. It deploys both torpedoes under the Blanco Encalada, then it cruises off. A few minutes later, the torpedos detonate. The battleship sinks into the sea. How could this effect the War of the Pacific and perhaps later military strategy?

About the war, depends how much succesfull the Toro could remain during the rest of the conflict. If the Chilean Navy is destroyed, would be very hard supply the troops in Antofagasta, and Chile is probably defeated. But, if the Chilean Navy could not dominate completely the sea, but is still able to confront the Peruvians, I believe they would try to keep only the Bolivian coast, don't going to North and invading Peru.

About military strategy, I'm not sure. How much time the Toro could remain a secret? And, if discovered, with the technology of the 1880's, how could a weapon could be developed against it?

 

[Smaug]

This is an excellent topic. I think Chile still has the advantage, and keeps its fleet more aloof and in deeper water, till they figure out what happened.

Just checked the Wiki ref to , "the war of the pacific",.... I never realized how advanced Chile was at that time. I did know they wanted the nitrates, and minerals, but didn't see them as a very modern power at that time.

Nice