The principal armament was five Whitehead torpedo tubes, one in the bow and two in each broadside.

[1] Almirante Lynch was part of the small force of ships at disposal of President José Manuel Balmaceda in the 1891 Chilean Civil War.

Early in April a portion of the revolutionary squadron, comprising Blanco Encalada and other ships, was sent southward for reconnoitering purposes and put into the port of Caldera.

During the night of April 23, and whilst Blanco Encalada was lying quietly at anchor in Caldera Bay, Almirante Lynch, belonging to the Balmaceda faction, steamed into the bay of Caldera and discharged a torpedo at the rebel ship.

[2][3] After the arrival of the destroyer Almirante Lynch the torpedo gunboat was renamed Tomas.