The Chilean Navy wasn't large enough to take on the Argentinians by themselves, but attempted to, anyway. By the middle of 1916, the Chileans' war was going badly, prompting the US Navy to send a squadron down to help them. Once the US fleet reached Valparaiso, they hooked up with the Chilean Navy and swung around the Falklands to engage the Argentines. Chilean ships had been constructed by the US, but painted their ships sky blue instead of the US Gray.