The nineteenth century South American naval arms race (Part 3): The Brazilian reaction

The Brazilians did not take part in this arms race but did ensure that a range of ships were ordered to maintain the strength of their navy in comparison to those of Chile and Argentina. In 1883 the Brazilian Navy comprised:

• Bahia (Monitor) (1864 to 1894)
• Brasil (Ironclad) (1864 to 1890)
• Lima Barros (Ironclad) (1864 to 1905)
• Maria e Barros (Armoured Corvette) (1864 to 1897)
• Herval (Armoured Corvette) (1864 to 1885)
• Para (Monitor) (1868 to 1884)
• Rio Grande (Monitor) (1868 to 1907)
• Alagoas (Monitor) (1868 to 1900)
• Piaui (Monitor) (1868 to 1893)
• Ceara (Monitor) (1868 to 1884)
• Sete de Setembro (Armoured Frigate) (1868 to 1893)
• Independencia (Turreted Ironclad): Ordered in 1873 and purchased by the Royal Navy in 1878 before she was delivered. Commissioned in 1883 as HMS Neptune. (1873 to 1903)
• Alfonso Celso (Gunboat) (1881 to 1900)

Bahia

Brasil

Lima Barros

Maria e Barros

Herval

Para, Rio Grande, Alagoas, Piaui, and Ceara

Sete de Setembro

Independencia/HMS Neptune

Alfonso Celso

Between 1883 and 1901, the following ships were ordered for the Brazilian Navy:

• Riachuelo (Turetted Ironclad) (1883 to 1910)
• Aquidaba (Turetted Ironclad): Renamed Dezesseis de Abril in 1894 and Vinte e Quatro Maio that same year. Reverted to her original name in 1900. (1883 to 1906)
• Almirante Tamandare (Protected Cruiser) (1885 to 1915)
• Benjamin Constant (Training Ship/Protected Cruiser) (1891 to 1926)
• Tiradentes (Torpedo Gunboat) (1891 to 1925)
• Gustavo Sampaio (Torpedo Gunboat) (1891 to 1912)
• Republica (Protected Cruiser) (1892 to 1920)
• Almirante Barroso (Protected Cruiser) (1895 to 1931)
• Tupi (Torpedo Gunboat) (1896 to 1915)
• Timbera (Torpedo Gunboat) (1896 to 1917)
• Amazonas (Protected  Cruiser): Sold incomplete in 1898 to the United States and commissioned as USS New Orleans. (1895 to ?)
• Alimirante Abreu (Protected Cruiser): Sold incomplete in 1898 to the United States and commissioned as USS Albany. (1897 to ?)
• Tamoio (Torpedo Gunboat) (1898 to 1920)
• Marshal Deodoro (Coastal Defence Pre-Dreadnought): Sold to Mexico in 1924 and renamed Anahuac. (1898 to 1938)
• Marshal Floriano (Coastal Defence Pre-Dreadnought) (1899 to 1936)

Riachuelo

Aquidaba

Almirante Tamandare

Benjamin Constant

Tiradentes

Gustavo Sampaio

Republica

Almirante Barroso

Tupi and Timbera

Amazonas/USS New Orleans

Alimirante Abreu/USS Albany

Tamoio

Marshal Deodoro

Marshal Floriano