Brazilian monitor Bahia

The Brazilian monitor Bahia was originally ordered by Paraguay in 1864 with the name Minerva, but was sold to Brazil when Paraguay defaulted on the payments. She participated in the 1864–70 War of the Triple Alliance between Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay against Paraguay, and took part in the Passage of Humaitá.

Bahia at anchor after her 1885 refit
Class overview
Preceded by	Brasil
Succeeded by	Barroso
Built	1865–1866
In service	1866–1894
In commission	1866–1894
Completed	1
Scrapped	1
History
Empire of Brazil
Name	Bahia
Namesake	Bahia
Builder	Laird Brothers, Birkenhead
Laid down	1864
Launched	11 June 1865
Completed	22 January 1866
Stricken	1894
General characteristics
Type	Monitor
Displacement	928 long tons (943 t)
Length	175 ft 8 in (53.5 m) (p.p.)
Beam	35 ft 2 in (10.7 m)
Draft	7 ft 9 in (2.4 m)
Installed power	1,640 indicated horsepower (1,220 kW) 2 boilers
Propulsion	2 shafts, 2 trunk steam engines
Sail plan	Barque-rigged
Speed	10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement	120 officers and men
Armament	2 × 120-pounder Whitworth rifled muzzle-loading guns
Armor	Belt: 3–4.5 in (76–114 mm) Gun turret: 4.5 in (114 mm)

Design and description

Bahia was an iron-hulled, single-turret river monitor. She was 175 feet 8 inches (53.5 m) long between perpendiculars. The ship had a beam of 35 feet 2 inches (10.7 m) and a maximum draft of 7 feet 9 inches (2.4 m). Bahia displaced 928 long tons (943 t) and was fitted with a ram bow. Her crew consisted of 125 officers and enlisted men. The ship had a pair of horizontal trunk steam engines, each driving one propeller, using steam from two boilers. The engines produced a total of 1,640 indicated horsepower (1,220 kW) and gave Bahia a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). She was barque-rigged with three pole masts and a bowsprit.

Bahia was armed with a pair of 120-pounder Whitworth rifled muzzle-loading guns. She had a complete waterline belt of wrought iron that ranged in thickness from 4.5 inches (114 mm) amidships to 3 inches (76 mm) at the ends of the ship. The gun turret was protected by 5.5 inches (140 mm) of armor. Both the belt and casemate armor were backed by 230 millimeters (9.1 in) of wood.

Construction and service

Bahia, named after the eponymous Brazilian state, was originally ordered by Paraguay from the British shipbuilding firm of Laird Brothers and was laid down in 1864 with the name of Minerva and the yard number 326 at their Birkenhead shipyard. She was purchased by Brazil the following year, after the start of the war when Paraguay was cut off from the outside world and could no longer make payments. The ship was launched on 11 June 1865 and completed on 22 January 1866. On 19 February 1868 together with five other Brazilian ironclad warships she took part in the Passage of Humaitá.

Bahia was refitted in 1887 during which her boilers were replaced and a bridge was added between the turret and the funnel.

References

• Davis, William H. (1977). "Question 1/77". Warship International. XIV (2): 161–172. ISSN 0043-0374.
• Gratz, George A. (1999). "The Brazilian Imperial Navy Ironclads, 1865–1874". In Preston, Antony (ed.). Warship 1999–2000. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-724-4.
• Gratz, George A. (1998). "Question 1/77: Warships of the Triple Alliance". Warship International. XXXV (2): 210–211. ISSN 0043-0374.
• Holley, Alexander Lyman (1865). A Treatise on Ordnance and Armor. New York: D. Van Nostrand.
• Lyon, Hugh (1979). "Brazil". In Chesneau, Roger & Kolesnik, Eugene M. (eds.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-133-5.
• Silverstone, Paul H. (1984). Directory of the World's Capital Ships. New York: Hippocrene Books. ISBN 0-88254-979-0.
• Wood, Gerald L.; Somvervell, Philip & Maber, John (1986). "The Ironclad Turret Ship Huascar, Pt. I". In Lambert, Andrew (ed.). Warship X. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 2–11. ISBN 0-85177-449-0.

External links

• Brief history of Bahia (in Portuguese)