Name Silvado class Built 1864–1866 Construction started 1864 Weight 1,350 tons | Operators Brazilian Navy In commission 1866–1880 Launched 1865 Displacement 1.35 million kg | |
The Brazilian ironclad Silvado was originally ordered by Paraguay in 1864 with the name Nemesis, 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.
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Design and description
Silvado was 216 feet 6 inches (66.0 m) long between perpendiculars, had a beam of 45 feet 10 inches (14.0 m) and a maximum draft of 7 feet 6 inches (2.3 m). Lima Barros displaced 1,350 long tons (1,370 t) and was fitted with a ram bow. Her crew consisted of 170 officers and enlisted men. The ship had a pair of horizontal trunk steam engines, each driving one propeller shaft. The engines produced a total of 950 indicated horsepower (710 kW) and gave Silvado a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). She was barque-rigged with three pole masts and a bowsprit.
Lima Barros was armed with four 70-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.
Construction and service
Silvado, named after Captain Americo Brasilio Silvado, who was killed when his ship, the ironclad Rio de Janeiro, struck a mine and sank, was originally ordered by Paraguay from the French shipbuilding firm of Arman Brothers, and was laid down in 1864 with the name of Nemesis at their Bordeaux 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 in 1865 and completed on 15 September 1866.