Editing Chaco War (section)

=== Air and naval assets ===
{{see also|Aerial operations in the Chaco War|Humaitá-class gunboat|ARP Humaitá|ARP Tacuary}}
[[File:ARP-Humaitá.jpg|thumb|One of the key Paraguayan assets was the gunboat ''[[ARP Humaitá|Humaitá]]'', shown here shortly after being launched in Italy, without its main armament.]]
The Chaco War is also important historically as the first instance of large-scale [[aerial warfare]] to take place in the Americas. Both sides used obsolete single-engined [[biplane]] fighter-bombers. The Paraguayans deployed 14 [[Potez 25]]s, and the Bolivians made extensive use of at least 20 [[Curtiss-Wright CW-14 Osprey|CW-14 Osprey]]s. Despite an international [[arms embargo]] imposed by the [[League of Nations]], Bolivia in particular went to great lengths in trying to import a small number of [[Curtiss T-32 Condor II]] twin-engined bombers, disguised as civil transport planes, but they were stopped in [[Peru]] before they could be delivered.<ref>Dan Hagedorn and Antonio L. Sapienza, ''Aircraft of the Chaco War 1928–1935'', Schiffer Publishing Ltd, Atglen PA, 1997, {{ISBN|978-0-7643-0146-9}}</ref>

The valuable aerial reconnaissance produced by Bolivia's superior air force in spotting approaching Paraguayan encirclements of Bolivian forces was largely ignored by Kundt and other Bolivian Army generals, who tended to dismiss such reports as exaggerations by overzealous airmen.<ref name="FERN"/><ref>Thompson, R. W., ''An Echo of Trumpets'', London: George Allen and Unwin (1964), pp. 27–64</ref><ref>Zook, David H., ''The Conduct of the Chaco War'', New Haven, CT: Bookman Publishing (1960)</ref>

Four [[Junkers Ju 52]]s were purchased by Bolivia, which used the German transports mainly for [[medical evacuation]] and air supply. The Ju 52s alone delivered more than 4,400 tons of cargo to the front.<ref>Hagedorn, Dan & Antonio Luis Sapienza. (1996) "Aircraft of the Chaco War, 1928–1935." ''Schiffer Publishing Co.'' Atglen, pp. 96–100. {{ISBN|0764301462}}.</ref>

The Paraguayan Navy played a key role in the conflict by carrying thousands of troops and tons of supplies to the front lines via the [[Paraguay River]], as well as by providing anti-aircraft support to transport ships and port facilities.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/08/landlocked-nations-have-navies-part-1-paraguay/ |title=Landlocked navies |access-date=2018-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109150156/http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/08/landlocked-nations-have-navies-part-1-paraguay/ |archive-date=2007-11-09 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

The [[Humaitá-class gunboat|''Humaitá'' and ''Paraguay'']], two Italian-built gunboats, ferried troops to [[Puerto Casado]]. On 22 December 1932, three Bolivian [[Vickers Vespa]]s attacked the Paraguayan riverine outpost of Bahía Negra, on the Paraguay River, and killed an army colonel, but one of the aircraft was shot down by the gunboat ''[[ARP Tacuary|Tacuary]]''. Both surviving Vespas met another gunboat, the ''[[ARP Humaitá|Humaitá]]'', while they were flying downriver. Paraguayan sources claim that one of them was damaged.<ref>Richard, Nicolás (2008). ''Mala guerra: los indígenas en la Guerra del Chaco, 1932–1935''. CoLibris, pp. 286–288.{{ISBN|978-99953-869-3-1}} {{in lang|es}}</ref><ref>Dávalos, Rodolfo (1974). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=EdUrAAAAYAAJ&q=%22humait%C3%A1%22%20%22tacuary%22%20%22bah%C3%ADa%20negra%22%20%22bomba%22 Actuación de la marina en la Guerra del Chaco: puntos de vista de un ex-combatiente]''. El Gráfico, p. 69 {{in lang|es}}</ref> Conversely, the Bolivian army reported that the ''Humaitá'' limped back to Asunción seriously damaged.<ref>Villa de la Tapia, Amalia (1974). ''Alas de Bolivia: La Aviación Boliviana durante la Campaña del Chaco''. N/A, p. 181 {{in lang|es}}</ref> The Paraguayan Navy admitted that ''Humaitá'' was struck by machine gun fire from the aircraft but claimed that its armor shield averted damage.<ref>Farina, Bernardo Neri (2011).''José Bozzano y la Guerra del Material''. Colección Protagonistas de la Historia, Editorial El Lector, [http://www.portalguarani.com/obras_autores_detalles.php?id_obras=15255 Online edition], Chapter ''El Viaje Inolvidable''. {{in lang|es}}</ref>

Shortly before 29 March 1933, a Bolivian Osprey was shot down over the Paraguay River,<ref>Hagedorn and Sapienza, p. 21</ref> and on 27 April, a strike force of six Ospreys launched a successful mission from the base at Muñoz against the logistic riverine base and town of Puerto Casado, but the strong diplomatic reaction of Argentina prevented any further strategic attacks on targets along the Paraguay River.<ref>Hagedorn and Sapienza, p. 23</ref> On 26 November 1934, the Brazilian steamer ''Paraguay'' was strafed and mistakenly bombed by Bolivian aircraft while it was sailing the Paraguay River near [[Puerto Mihanovich]]. The Brazilian government sent 11 naval planes to the area, and its navy began to convoy shipping on the river.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1934/11/29/archives/brazil-gets-apology-for-bolivian-attack-consul-at-ladario-voices.html Brazil gets apology for Bolivian attack] ''[[The New York Times]]'', 29 November 1934</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GWk1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=UX4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6802,1763948&dq=bolivian-airplanes+ship&hl=en Brazilian ship is fired upon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604065106/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GWk1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=UX4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6802,1763948&dq=bolivian-airplanes+ship&hl=en |date=4 June 2016 }} [[Associated Press]], 27 November 1934</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gaNAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kaUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2601,4005864&dq=bolivia+paraguay-river+boat&hl=en Brazilian boat bombed in Chaco] [[Glasgow Herald]], 27 November 1934</ref>

The Paraguayan navy air service was also very active in the conflict by harassing Bolivian troops deployed along the northern front with [[flying boat]]s. The aircraft were moored at Bahía Negra Naval Air Base, and consisted of two [[Macchi M.18]]s.<ref>Hagedorn & Sapienza, pp. 61–64</ref> The seaplanes carried out the first night air attack in South America when they raided the Bolivian outposts of Vitriones and San Juan,<ref>Scheina, p. 102</ref> on 22 December 1934. The Paraguayan Navy has celebrated ever since the annual "Day of the Naval Air Service" on the anniversary of the action.<ref>''Los Ecos del primer Bombardeo Nocturno en la Guerra del Chaco'', Chaco-Re, No. 28 (julio/septiembre 1989), 12–13. {{in lang|es}}</ref>

The Bolivian Army deployed at least 10 locally-built patrol boats and transport vessels during the conflict,<ref name=navb>[http://www.aviacionboliviana.net/uae/fnb/resena2.htm ''Fuerza Naval Boliviana: Reseña Histórica''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330235252/http://www.aviacionboliviana.net/uae/fnb/resena2.htm |date=30 March 2012 }} {{in lang|es}}</ref> mostly to ship military supplies to the northern Chaco through the [[Mamoré River|Mamoré]]-[[Madeira river|Madeira]] system.<ref name=th>Scheina, Robert L. (1987). ''Latin America: a naval history, 1810–1987''. Naval Institute Press, p. 124. {{ISBN|978-0-87021-295-6}}</ref> The transport ships ''Presidente Saavedra'' and ''Presidente Siles'' steamed on the Paraguay River from 1927 to the beginning of the war, when both units were sold to private companies.<ref name=navb/> The 50-ton armed launch ''Tahuamanu'', based in the Mamoré-Madeira fluvial system, was briefly transferred to [[Laguna Cáceres]] to ferry troops downriver from [[Puerto Suárez]] and challenged for eight months the Paraguayan naval presence in Bahía Negra. She was withdrawn to the [[Guaporé River|Itenez River]], in northern Bolivia, after Bolivian aerial reconnaissance revealed the actual strength of the Paraguayan Navy in the area.<ref name=navb/><ref>''Historial de combate de la patrullera V-01 Tahuamanu''. [[Bolivian Naval Force|Fuerza Naval Boliviana]], Comando Naval, La Paz {{in lang|es}}</ref>