Brazilian ironclad Lima Barros

The Brazilian ironclad Lima Barros was originally ordered by Paraguay in 1864 with the name Belona, but was sold to Brazil when Paraguay could not make the final payments. She participated in the 1864–70 War of the Triple Alliance between Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay against Paraguay.

A drawing of Lima Barros
Class overview
Name: Lima Barros class
Operators:  Imperial Brazilian Navy
Preceded by: Brasil
Succeeded by: Barroso
Completed: 1
Scrapped: 1
History
Empire of Brazil
Name: Lima Barros
Namesake: Midshipman Francisco Jose de Lima Barros
Builder: Laird Brothers, Birkenhead
Laid down: 1864
Launched: 21 December 1865
Completed: 3 April 1866
Stricken: 8 May 1894
Fate: Scrapped, 1905
General characteristics
Type: Ironclad turret ship
Displacement: 1,705 long tons (1,732 t)
Length: 200 ft 2 in (61.0 m) (p/p)
Beam: 38 ft 2 in (11.6 m)
Draft: 12 ft 8 in (3.9 m)
Installed power: 2,100 ihp (1,600 kW)
Propulsion: 2 shafts, 2 trunk steam engines
Sail plan: Barque-rigged
Speed: 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement: 170 officers and men
Armament: 2 × twin 120-pounder Whitworth rifled muzzle loader guns
Armor:

Design and description

Lima Barros was designed as an enlarged, twin-turret, version of the river monitor Bahia. The ship was 200 feet 2 inches (61.0 m) long between perpendiculars, had a beam of 38 feet 2 inches (11.6 m) and a maximum draft of 12 feet 8 inches (3.9 m). Lima Barros displaced 1,705 long tons (1,732 t) and was fitted with a ram bow. Her crew consisted of 170 officers and enlisted men.[1] The ship had a pair of horizontal trunk steam engines, each driving one propeller shaft. The engines produced a total of 2,100 indicated horsepower (1,600 kW) and gave Lima Barros a maximum speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). She was barque-rigged with three pole masts and a bowsprit.[2]

Lima Barros was armed with four 120-pounder Whitworth rifled, muzzle-loading guns mounted in two twin-gun turrets. 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 also protected by 4.5 inches of armor.[1]

Construction and service

Lima Barros, named after Midshipman Francisco Jose de Lima Barros, who was killed at the Battle of Riachuelo, was originally ordered by Paraguay from the British shipbuilding firm of Laird Brothers and was laid down in 1864 with the name of Belona[3] and the yard number 327 at their Birkenhead shipyard.[4] 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 21 December 1865 and completed on 3 April 1866.[3] She played a prominent role in the Paraguayan War, being one of the vessels successfully to run the gauntlet of a Paraguayan fort at the Passage of Curupayty.

Footnotes
  1. Silverstone, p. 33
  2. Gardiner, p. 405
  3. Silverstone, p. 38
  4. Wood, Somervell & Maber, p. 2

References
  • Davis, William H. (1977). "Question 1/77". Warship International. XIV (2): 161–172. ISSN 0043-0374.
  • Gardiner, Robert, ed. (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. Greenwich: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-8317-0302-4.
  • 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.
  • 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.
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