Everything about Minas Gerais Class Battleship totally explained
The
Minas Gerais class battleships were built in British shipyards for the
Brazilian Navy.
Design
The
Minas Gerais class were ordered in 1906, just as the
HMS Dreadnought was completing trials and was about to be commissioned. Consequently, the
Minas Gerais ships were considered state of the art. However, unlike
Dreadnought, which had
turbines, they were powered by reciprocating engines with coal-fired boilers. They were considered the most powerful dreadnoughts when completed, carrying a main armament of twelve 305mm (12") main guns mounted in six dual turrets: fore and aft had two each, with another two as wing turrets. They were later converted to oil-burning.
History
In 1904 the Brazilian government approved a naval expansion programme and in 1906 ordered two battleships from British yards, the vessels were built in an attempt to enhance the Brazilian naval power in South America. Their completion sparked a mini South American naval race, however this quickly ended upon the outbreak of World War I with Argentina and Chile ordering two battleships each from the American and British shipyards, respectively.
Minas Gerais was involved in the
Chibata Mutiny on 22 November, 1910 where several officers were killed, among them the commanding officer.
Brazil declared war on Germany in 1917 and
São Paulo was to join the
Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow, and was subsequently sent to the United States for a major refit. However the refit wasn't completed until 1920, by which time World War I'd ended and therefore the ship never fired its guns in anger.
Minas Gerais also underwent a refit in 1923.
Minas Gerais was modernised between 1934-37, however
São Paulo was judged in too poor condition to justify a refit. During World War 2, although Brazil entered the war on the Allied side, neither ship saw action and both were decommissioned and were slated to be scrapped.
São Paulo was decommissioned in 1946, and its hull was sold to British breakers in 1951. While being towed across the Atlantic, a heavy gale from the Azores caused the tow-ropes to snap and the ship has never been sighted again. In 1954,
Minas Gerais was successfully towed to Genoa, Italy and scrapped.
Ships in Class
Minas Gerais was named after the state of
Minas Gerais and built by
Armstrong Whitworth at
Elswick. Laid down on 17 April, 1907, launched on 10 September 1909 and completed on 6 January, 1910.
São Paulo was named after the city of
São Paulo and was built by
Vickers,
Barrow in Furness. Laid down on 30 April, 1907; launched on 19 April, 1909 and completed on July 1910.
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