Brazilian monitor Parnaíba (U17)
Parnaíba (U-17) [paʁnaˈibɐ] is a river monitor of the Brazilian Navy. She is currently the last monitor in service.
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Brazil | |
| Name: | Parnaíba |
| Namesake: | Parnaíba |
| Builder: | Arsenal de Marinha do Rio de Janeiro |
| Laid down: | 11 June 1936 |
| Launched: | 2 September 1937 |
| Commissioned: | 9 March 1938 |
| Homeport: | Rio de Janeiro |
| Status: | in active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | River monitor |
| Displacement: |
|
| Length: | 55 m (180.4 ft) |
| Beam: | 10.1 m (33.1 ft) |
| Draught: | 1.6 m (5.2 ft) |
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: | 12 knots (22 km/h) |
| Range: | 1,350 mi (1,170 nmi; 2,170 km) (2500 km) 10 knots (19 km/h) |
| Endurance: |
|
| Complement: | 74 |
| Armament: |
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| Aviation facilities: | Helipad |
History
She was built for the navy in Rio de Janeiro and commissioned on 9 March 1938. She participated in the Second World War and is, as of 2020, the world's oldest commissioned warship still in active service.[1]
She is assigned to the Mato Grosso Flotilla.
During the Second World War, the ship was assigned for service in the port of Salvador, Bahia, where she underwent light escort missions and coastal patrols against the threat of German submarines, mainly because of her extreme shallow draft which in theory would let any torpedo attack pass under her without any damage to the ship. Her escort missions were mainly in coastal waters because of her poor seaworthiness in open waters, which demanded from the navy constant repairs on the ship.
Modernization
She underwent a modernisation program at the Ladario Riverine Naval Base between January 1998 and 6 May 1999, during which her original reciprocating engine plant was replaced with diesel engines to increase her range and endurance. One of her original engines was placed on display at the Sixth Naval District's Lieutenant Maximiano Memorial Hall.[2] A helicopter platform has been fitted over the fantail, allowing her to operate the IH-6B Bell Jet Ranger III, replacing the Eurocopter AS350.
References
Notes
- Beckhusen, Robert (25 May 2018). "One of the World's Oldest Military Ships Is Sailing Down a River in Brazil". warisboring.com. Bright Mountain Media. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
In terms of operational and active ships doing military work, perhaps only the Russian salvage ship Kommuna is older...
- "Diretoria de Engenharia Naval realiza VISITEC às OM do 6º Distrito Naval" [Naval Engineering Directorate conducts VISITEC to OM of the 6th Naval District]. Pantanal News. August 16, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2012. (in Portuguese)
Bibliography
- Wertheim, Eric (2007). Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-955-X.