In March 1914, a rebel Constitutionalist gunboat attempted to break the blockade of Topolobampo, Sinaloa in Mexico.

Realizing that he may hit a neutral vessel, Lieutenant Malpica shifted Tampico's fire to Guerrero.

Captain Torres in Guerrero, receiving fire again, chose to do the same as Morelos by turning around and fleeing, apparently in fear of Tampico's guns.

Tampico steamed back to the safe side of the bar and the two federal gunboats anchored farther south than their prior anchorage.

This time the officers of USS New Orleans noted in their log that the gunnery of Tampico was considerably better than that of Guerrero or Morelos.