Independencia was an broadside ironclad built in England for the Peruvian Navy during the mid-1860s. Independencia and Huáscar where the two main ships of the Peruvian Navy at the start of the War of the Pacific with Chile. Independencia ran aground while pursuing Covadonga during the naval battle of Punta Gruesa on 21 May 1879. When the Chileans in Covadonga realized that Independencia had run aground they returned to bombard it causing many deaths. When Huáscar appeared Covadonga fled. The Peruvian survivors were rescued by Huáscar and the remains of the ship set afire to prevent its capture.