[2] The Colo Colo-class was a port defense torpedo boat of dimensions that allowed it to be transported by larger ships to its area of operations.

[3][4] Being of very light construction, like all torpedo boats, they were covered from bow to stern with a thin steel plate to somewhat protect the steam engines and the crew.

[3][4][5] These and other torpedo boats, built in British shipyards for Chile, arrived in this country during the War of the Pacific.

The engagement was later joined by the largest Chilean ships under Commander Óscar Viel y Toro and the Peruvian coastal batteries.

[9][15][13] The torpedo boat, in port of Mollendo, was disarmed and prepared to be transported by rail to Puno, where it was assembled and put into service to patrol Lake Titicaca.

[12] Command of the torpedo boat was handed over to First Lieutenant Angel Custodio Lynch Irving, with twenty-six crew.

[12][16] The deployment of the torpedo boat also induced the Bolivian government to agree to a peace treaty with Chile in 1884.

[13] With this mission, the torpedo boat marked the historic milestone of being the first foreign warship to navigate the highest navigable waters in the world[Note 2] and demonstrated the ability of the Chilean Navy to deploy in support of land forces.